Giving
Learn to Give
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- Learning
to give is one of the first lessons God teaches
new believers. There is good reason for it too!
Giving is important to God. In fact, one-sixth
of the Books of Matthew, Mark and Luke and 12 of
Jesus' 38 parables have to do with money.
- Learning
to give is important because of a divine
pattern. God wants us to be like Him. He said,
"Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for
I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter
1:13-16). And since God is a giver by nature, He
wants us to learn to be givers as well. "For God
so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son" (John 3:16). Giving glorifies God
because it makes us more like God.
- Giving is
a biblical principle. Throughout the Bible we
read about the principles of giving. Giving is
to be systematic (1 Corinthians 16:1,2); it is
to be proportionate to your ability to give (1
Corinthians 16:2); it is to be sacrificial (Mark
12:43,44); it is to be spontaneous (Acts 2:45).
Early in our Christian lives we should learn the
biblical principles about giving.
- Learning
to give is important because of thankful praise.
Heart and hand go together. When your heart is
filled with praise to God, your hand will
express that praise by giving.
- Who is
more deserving of our thanks than God? He loved
us; He sent His Son to die for us; He saved us.
Now we are taking steps to be conformed to the
image of His dear Son, Jesus, and one of those
steps is learning to give. After all, isn't
"giving" the last half of the word
"thanksgiving"?
- God loves
a cheerful giver--one who has learned to give
thankfully and with joy (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Each week set aside some of your time for God.
You may do that through your quiet time or
through service to Him in your local church. And
each week set aside some of your income for God.
You may then give it to your church and other
ministries that have blessed you.
- Whatever
you do, get into the habit of giving back to God
a portion of what He has generously given to
you. Giving is one of the delights of being a
Christian and one of the important first steps
in the journey of your Christian life.
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