Principles of Giving

Luke 21:4

For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Financial giving is the great revealer of one’s heart toward God. You show me the person who is stingy with their giving, and I will show you a person who is not wholehearted toward God. You show me a person who rarely gives or gives a little, and I will show you a person who is not invested in their church. Matthew 6:21 declares, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus talked about something He saw during the offering. He said there were several giving offerings to the temple and all but one was rich. It was the one that caught Jesus’ attention. The rich men gave of their abundance, but the widow gave all she had to God. Though her two mites didn't seem to be that much, Jesus declared that she gave more than the rich men gave because she gave of her penury and they gave of their abundance.

To understand what Jesus is teaching, we must understand what they gave. The word abundance means a very large quantity of something. In other words, when the rich men gave, they only gave off the extra they had. The word penury means extreme poverty. Jesus better defines this word by saying this widow gave all the living that she had. In other words, she gave in the offering what was supposed to go toward her bills and groceries. This widow had nothing left when she gave; whereas, the rich men still had plenty left to live on. There are five principles of giving that Jesus teaches from this situation.

First, the rich and poor are commanded to give. Just because you are poor does not mean you cannot give. Anyone can give, and everyone is commanded to give. The command to give tithes and offerings is not given just to the rich, but to all. In fact, God gives more attention to the poor giving than He does to the rich because of their sacrifice in giving. The degree of your wealth or lack thereof does not negate God’s command to give.

Second, giving is not to be a show. These rich men gave to show others how much they gave, but that did not impress Jesus. There are two things in the Scriptures that we are commanded to do privately: pray and give. We are never to give to show others what we gave. In fact, if you tell others how much you give to show your spirituality, you are showing others you are unspiritual.

Third, it is not how much is given, but how much of what you have given that matters. The widow gave more than the rich men because she gave her all. God rewards how much of your substance you give more than He rewards the amount that you give. You can actually give more and still give less. God always rewards the sacrifice in giving more than He rewards the token in giving.

Fourth, God looks for His people to give beyond their abundance. God doesn’t just want your extra; He wants your heart. When you give of your penury, you are giving your heart.

Fifth, God looks for and blesses the offering of faith. When your giving gets to the point that it takes faith to give is when you will find God’s greatest blessings. Stop giving of your abundance and give of your penury, and you will see God’s greatest blessings given back to you.