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Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously…God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
~ 2 Corinthians 9:6, 8 NIV |
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New Testament Guidelines for Giving
Give
Christians by and large are caring and giving people. We give as unto the Lord who said through the Apostle Paul: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give.”~ II Corinthians 9:7
Give Generously
When building the tabernacle, Moses was faced with a unique problem. “And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.... the people were restrained from bringing more because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” ~ Exodus 36: 3,7 cf. Mark 14:3-9
Give Regularly and Systematically
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.”~ I Corinthians 16:2. “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.” ~ II Corinthians 8:11
Give Voluntarily
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion.” ~ II Corinthians 9:7. It is our volitional giving, gifts that flow from a heart decisively oriented towards God that truly honour the Lord.
Give Joyfully
“God loves a cheerful giver.” ~ II Corinthians 8:4. “All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly, dropping them into the chest until it was full.” ~ II Chronicles 24:10. A cheerful giver does not view giving as a burdensome obligation but as a privilege that brings joy and fulfilment.
Give Worshipfully
As a result of Cornelius’s generous giving, an angel of the Lord said to him: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a remembrance before God.” ~ Acts 10:1-4
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Give Proportionately
“Each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” ~ I Corinthians 16:2. But proportional giving is by no means equal giving. Jesus said of the poor widow’s gift, “this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” ~ Mark 12:43-44. In the Old Testament proportionate giving meant the tithe.
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Give Sacrificially
“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” ~ II Corinthians 8:2. King David said, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” ~ II Samuel 24:24 | 
