"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 15

Biblical Giving

The third response to the Ablaze! movement is Give: “Give to support missions through your congregation, district, and LCMS World Mission.”

What does Scripture say about giving? Why do we give?

We give because God gave–and still gives to us. Giving starts with God. From the very beginning of time, when the Lord set Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God gave. First, He gave humankind His own image: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). Then God told Adam and Eve: “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food” (v. 29).

When Adam and Eve fell into sin, God gave the promise of a Savior: “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). That gift is for you and me–indeed, for the whole world.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

We give because we are God’s. We don’t belong to ourselves. “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3). And again, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Part of those “good works” is the opportunity to be generous with what God has given us.

We give because it is commanded by God. What God wants from us is already His. “The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). And God says, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness” (Psalm 50:12). That makes us managers of what God has given. We need to seek God’s will in how He would have us use the gifts He gives.
We give because God wants us to give. Not because He needs it, but because we need to do so in order to know that all things come from God; to know that we are just managers of what God has entrusted to us; and to know that we cannot outgive God: “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Malachi 3:10).

We give to show honor to God: “Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).

We give because we want to. Through the power of the Spirit, we see needs and want to respond generously. Through the power of the Spirit, we are eager to give. Through the power of the Spirit, others are blessed through our gifts and we rejoice. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Pray:  "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.” Amen. (1 Chronicles 29:10-14).