Giving According to God’s Word

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.  (Deuteronomy 8:18)

I don't know about your past giving experience, but I will tell you what the Bible says. When it comes to giving, many of us get defensive, either because we haven't been taught about giving, or we have never personally studied what the Word of God says about our belongings. We have created our own theology on how we will give to God, according to our personal assumptions.

Over the years, I have heard people use different excuses to justify why they are giving in a certain way, rather than doing what Scripture describes. This is a very personal and private thing. We give privately and yet collectively as the body of Christ. It is a personal decision and experience. We don't send bills to people, and we don't send notices that say you haven't been giving your tithe or offering. We don't send out letters like that. I know some congregations do that. I just want to teach you what the Bible says about your belongings because this is part of the basics of living as a believer.

Giving is part of the Christian experience. As a pastor, I didn't want to address giving in my early days. I did everything I could to avoid speaking on giving. Do you know why? Because you hear most people say, “The church is full of hypocrites. That's why I don't go,” or “All they want is your money.”

The actual commentary that we need to understand is that giving is part of life. You cannot go anywhere without giving; it is part of creation. God created plants; they give. God created the moon and the sun; they give. For us to do anything separate from that is to be in discord with creation itself.

It is important that we understand exactly what the Word of God says. That is why we look at Scripture (like today’s passage), to remind us of what God has to say about giving.

Don't think for a moment that your employer is the one who supplies your funds. They come from God. God is the one who gives you the ability to earn wealth. There is nothing wrong with earning wealth and earning a lot of it. Don't ever think that someone who God blesses financially is doing something illegal or unscriptural. God doesn’t want you to take a vow of poverty and live in abject poverty, and give it all away. However, if He does lead you to do that, you need to do it, because wealth and the accumulation of wealth should not be the primary driver in your life.

Scripture says it is God who gives you the ability to earn wealth. Regardless of how you earn wealth, as long as it is legal and moral, it comes from God. Your money comes from God. Never forget that you are not at the whims of an employer or government. You and I live under the protection of Jehovah-Nissi; The Lord is our banner. Therefore, as a child of God, you must trust Him with your money and choose to give out of obedience and love for the One who gives so much to you.