Notes of Faith May 27, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Accountability Series
June 22, 2003
God And Your Giving
Part I
During the reign of Oliver Cromwell in England, the government ran out of silver with which to make the coinage of the realm. Cromwell therefore sent his men everywhere to see if they could find more of the precious metal. They returned to report that the only silver they could find was in the statues of the saints which were on display in various cathedrals of the land. “Good,” replied Cromwell, “We will melt down some of the saints and put them into circulation.” I think God, in His grace, would like to melt down some of the saints in today’s churches and put them and their money into circulation for His glory. What does the Bible say about the Christian and his giving responsibility to the work of God?
Once every year or so we expect the pastor to wail away on the subject of giving – especially if the churches finances are down. We tolerate the pastor’s meddling because we love him – right? But next Sunday we’ll get to the things that are really important – the spiritual things such as prayer, Bible study, the deep things of God. However, giving of tithes and offerings is probably the most spiritual thing we could ever do. In fact, the Bible associates Christian giving with the presence of the love of God (John 3:16).
YOU CAN GIVE WITHOUT LOVING GOD BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOVE GOD AND NOT GIVE. In fact giving is said to be an element of fellowship (II Cor. 8:4). Giving is put on a par with other areas of the spiritual life (II Cor.8:7). In this Pen Pulpit (and Part II next week) I want to ask and answer five questions about giving: (1) Who should give? (2) Why should we give? (3) How should we give? (4) What is the standard for giving? (5) What happens when we give?
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. I Corinthians 16:2
1. WHO SHOULD GIVE? First of all everything we own belongs to God. Giving is an individual responsibility incumbent upon every believer…both wealthy and poor (II Corinthians. 8:2). Under the old covenant offerings were to be brought according to the personal ability of an individual…but no one was exempt. Some in the church have the spiritual gift of giving (Romans 12:8). However, every believer has the responsibility to give.
2. WHY SHOULD WE GIVE? It is God’s nature to give. He cannot help but give – and He gives where there is need. In Genesis 2:18 we read that He provided a helper for Adam and then gave adequate provision in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15-16). Throughout the Old Testament God gave to the needs of the people – manna in the wilderness, water in the dessert. But the greatest demonstration of giving He ever performed was the gift of His Son – to give us eternal life (John 3:16). And once we receive that gift, He gives His people all things according to their needs in Christ (Romans 8:32; Philippians 4:19).
God has placed His nature within believers (II Peter 1:4). We, therefore, are to imitate God and walk in love (Ephesians 5:1-2). To love is to give and to give is to love (I John 3:17).
God gives because it is His nature to give. Christians give because God’s nature is in them and thus it is their nature to give!
3. HOW SHOULD WE GIVE? Giving is to be planned, consistent and systematic - as systematic as planning for our savings, joining the Christmas Club at the local bank, building an IRA, planning our vacation, our retirement, or our children’s education. Giving should be the #1 item in our budget.
Next week we will look at God’s standard for giving and what happens when we give. God bless.
In His love,
Pastor Charles Covington
2 Cor 9:6-8
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed
The heart-prompt to give is the Holy Spirit speaking to trust God for any and all provision of need…even to supply that which is given and shared with others in need. This should be a spiritual discipline to be learned and practiced in the infancy of faith, young or old, to set aside and give back to God in thanksgiving, worship, and service. We should be an example to others, not to boast or brag, but that the attitude of giving might be part of a true disciple, a trust in the Lord for all provision. There are more needs than we could possibly contribute toward…let us participate in those that the Lord puts on our heart, especially toward those of His children in need!
Pastor Dale