The Essentiality of Giving

by: Ben F Vick

God has given man the world in which he lives; he has given him life, and breath, and all things (Acts 17:24-25). Every good and perfect gift has come from the Father of lights in whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning (James 1:17). The Lord of all life sends his sunshine and rain on the evil and good, the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45). These things are essential to physical life. God by his wisdom, love, mercy, and kindness sent his only begotten Son to die for sinful man. God's gift of his Son was essential for our eternal salvation. Is giving essential for our salvation? Absolutely. Without the Father's unspeakable gift, we would be of all men most miserable, without forgiveness of sins, and without the hope of eternal life. Without the Son of God's immeasurable sacrifice, we would be lost forever.

Over one hundred years ago, Frances R. Havergal wrote these words:

" I gave my life for thee,

My precious blood I shed

That thou might'st ransomed be

And quickened from the dead;

I gave, I gave, My life for thee,

What hast thou giv'n for me?"

When one considers what God has given to us in order that we might have life, both physical and spiritual, the question, "What hast thou given for me?" echoes down through the valley of time to each of us. What am I giving to God?

It is essential that one give himself to God. We sometimes sing, "Bring Christ you broken heart, so marred by sin" and "All to Jesus I surrender." These lyrics underscore the Lord's words: "...If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). Paul wrote, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). In his inspired words to encourage the Corinthian church to give, Paul held up the Macedonian church as an example of sacrificial giving. The key to their generous giving is found in II Corinthians 8:5, which reads: "And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." They first gave themselves to the Lord. Show me an individual who is stingy in his giving, and I will show you one who has not given himself to the Lord.

In every age, man has been required to give to God. During the Patriarchal and Mosaic period, God called upon man to give (Genesis 4; Hebrews 11:4; Deuteronomy 12:11). Giving in the Gospel age is a command of God as well. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (I Corinthians 16:1,2). In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (II Corinthians 9:6,7).

The above quoted verses emphasize that giving is to be done on the first day of the week -- "Upon the first day of the week." It is the responsibility of every Christian -- "let every one of you" and "every man." How much we are to give is also stated -- "as God hath prospered him" and "according as he purposeth in his heart." Our giving is preventive -- "that there be no gatherings when I come." In our giving, there is the principle of sowing and reaping, i.e., if we sow sparingly, we shall reap sparingly, but if we sow bountifully, we shall reap bountifully. We are not to give grudgingly or of necessity. Keep in mind: God loves a cheerful giver. Does your giving please God?

Let each of us determine to lay up treasures in heaven. Let us give of ourselves, our abilities, and of our money to help the cause of Christ.