Giving Back to GOD
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV
Giving is a privilege, not a burden; it is an act of joy and not duty. We give because God first gave to us. Because God owns everything in this world, He entrusts part of it to each of us to manage. He still retains ownership, but we are expected to be good stewards of all He owns (Matthew 25:14-30).
Though some believers have the gift of giving (Romans 12:6-8), all are expected to give. We are to give back to God a percentage of what He has given us. Believers in the New Testament are given freedom to determine the exact amount we give depending on our faith.
- In the Old Testament believers were instructed to give specific amounts to God. But in the New Testament we are free to determine the amount we give. What is said about giving in the following passages? — 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
- There are more needs than we can meet, so deciding who to give to can be a challenge. What do the following passages say about the object of our giving? — Galatians 6:6; James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:16-18
Question to ponder: Why does God expect you to give?
Passages for further study: Psalm 50:9-12; 1 Corinthians 16:2
Developing Kingdom Leaders - Tom Yeakley 