• April 1-6 — Caneyville.
• April 3-8 — New Salisbury (IN).
• April 8-13 — Clarkesville (IN).
• April 15-20 — Valley Station; Eastview (Salem, IN)

The command to give is explicit in 1 Corinthians 16:2: “On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.” But it is also pointed out that it is an eminently personal thing, that is, it is between each person and the Lord as to what that person gives. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Let each man (do) according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

I once read a preacher of yore who suggested that the elders in each congregation sit down with each member and go over their finances with them. The elders would then determine what each should give. This logic was based on the passages that condemn the sin of covetousness and how else, this man reasoned, could elders know who was involved in this sin other than by their giving. The passage clearly says that each man should give as he has purposed in his heart, not what elders determine he should give.

It is certainly possible to be a covetous individual who puts undue emphasis on this world’s goods. Many are concerned about their own present comfort and have little regard for the responsibility they have to God and their fellow man. Jesus used the rich fool in Luke 12 to serve as an example of one who misunderstands what being blest materially is all about. In spite of being so richly blessed he could only think of self and the wonderful future his wealth could provide. Jesus ends this story, which pictures this man with all his acquired wealth and his totally selfish view of life, with these words (Luke 12:19-21): “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” God will take into account in the judgment the attitude and the way in which we have used that which he has entrusted to us.

I heard of a brother in Christ who questioned another brother with this revealing query? “Show me in the Bible where it says that I have to give sacrificially?” I wonder what he thinks Paul means when he says, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Such a question does not deserve an answer. If a Christian does not understand the fundamental sacrifice demanded in all areas of life, he does not know what he has gotten himself into.

The simple principles of giving are plainly revealed to guide us. First, we are to be purposeful in our giving, to think about it, and plan what we will give. It is not to be some haphazard thing. Second, it is to be done cheerfully not begrudgingly. The giver is not to feel he is being coerced. If it pains one to give it will not be counted as an acceptable sacrifice by God. To misuse an old fitness saying, “If there is no pain there is no gain,” the spiritual quote should be “if there is pain (in giving) there is no gain.” If we value God’s love we will be cheerful because God loves the cheerful giver. Third, it is to be bountiful. We are to be as generous as possible if we expect God to be generous to us. 2 Corinthians 9:6. There are a number of other considerations involved in giving, but if we understand these basic requirements God will be pleased.

We not only have a responsibility to God but we have a responsibility to our fellowman as well. Please read these insightful words taken from C. S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity:

“In the passage where the New Testament says that every one must work, it gives as a reason ‘in order that he may have something to give to those in need.’ Charity-giving to the poor- is an essential part of Christian morality: in the frightening parable of the sheep and the goats it seems to be the point on which everything turns. Some people nowadays say that charity ought to be unnecessary and that instead of giving to the poor we ought to be producing a society in which there were no poor to give to. They may be quite right in saying that we ought to produce this kink of society. But if anyone thinks that, as a consequence, you can stop giving in the meantime, then he has parted company with all Christian morality.

I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charity expenditures excludes them. I am speaking now of ‘charities’ in the common way. Particular cases of distress among your own relatives, friends, neighbors or employees, which God, as it were, forces upon your notice, may demand much more: even to the crippling and endangering of your own position.”

How penetrating are those words to you and to me? Does it give a new perspective to your attitude about your material possessions? Can we give to the Lord and to others in such abundance with feelings of joy in the ability to do so? Or would it be with pain that we would, in substantial measure, part with our material possessions?