Giving is a facet of a larger subject called stewardship. According to James 1:17, God owns everything because He is the Creator, Maker and Giver of all things — so when we give, we are merely giving back a portion of what belongs to God anyway. Our stewardship towards God includes everything that we have been given and how we use this on behalf of the Lord and for the Lord’s work
Five Basic Principles
There are five basic principles of Biblical giving.
1. Giving is a measure of one’s love for God: Matthew 6:19-21 teaches that the believer should lay up treasures in heaven, for where one’s treasure is, there your heart is also. If we lay up treasures in heaven, our heart will be on heavenly things. Further, 1 Timothy 6:17-18 teaches that the rich should have their hope set on God and be ready to give out of their wealth. Believers must remember our hope is not on wealth, but on the Lord God (cf. Titus 2:11-14). According to 1 John 3:17, if one does not give, then the question is, “Does the love of God abide in that person?”
2. Giving as an expression of one’s faith: James 2:15-17 teaches that the believer’s faith becomes useful when it is expressed through works. The work of giving therefore shows one’s faith. The believer is not saved by works, but shows his or her faith through their works.
3. Giving more results in receiving more: This is not a license for the name-it-and-grab-it movement, but simply to say that the believer can never out-give God. This is a promise from God: Give and it shall be given unto you (Luke 6:38). Further, Philippians 4:15-19 teaches that God will supply the believer’s needs (not ‘wants’).
4. Giving should be done in secret: Matthew 6:1-4 states that giving should be done in secret, not for show. Keep your giving between you and God.
5. Giving produces a willingness to work: The believer should be willing to work in order to be able to give more (cf. Acts 20:33-35).
