Our Christian giving must be:
...Practical (1 Corinthians 16:1,2)
God's plan for raising funds for the work of the church works, while human plans fail. God's plan is that we give of our means on every Sunday....Periodic
We are to give regularly. Our giving should not depend upon whether we liked the sermon, or for any other selfish reason....Personal
As Christians, each one of us are to take on the responsibility to give as we have prospered....Purposed
We are to determine beforehand what we will give. We are not to give just what we happen to have in our wallets at the moment. This is not giving in a purposed manner....Pleasant (2 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 8:1-4)
Our giving should please us. Some have said, "Give.. til it hurts," whereas we should give.. til it feels good. We should consider it a privilege to give to the Lord....Preferred (Matthew 6:33)
We should prefer to do the work of the church over the pleasures of the world. We are to give our "first fruits" to the Lord. We "preference" should be to God rather than to the world....Plentiful (1 Corinthians 16:1,2; Malachi 3:8)
We should be sacrificial and liberal in our giving....Profitable (Romans 8:32)
We gain when we give to the Lord. Giving is designed to be profitable to the Christian - and not just financially. Our giving will come back to us in profits so much more rewarding.
1 Corinthians 16:1,2
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 8:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
