Practical Principles for Giving

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Here are the four practical principles Paul gives us which should guide the procedure of giving. First, giving is to be persistent. On the first day of every week it is to be done. There must be a repetitive regularity about our giving. God set aside the first day of the week, the day of our Lord's resurrection, to remind us that we are to operate from the compassionate impulse of the indwelling life of Jesus Christ that keeps us from turning away as we would otherwise do from the demands of human needs around us. This first day of the week is set aside for that purpose.

Second, giving must be personal. On the first day of every week, each of you… — there is a universal inclusiveness about giving. It is not addressed to the rich only, or to adults only, but it includes rich and poor, young and old. No one is excluded from this. Jesus received the widow's mite, the smallest possible gift, to indicate that even the poorest are not excluded from giving. We are all to give because God always associates the gift with the giver. Giving is an intensely personal thing.

Third, giving is to be premeditated. We are to put something aside and store it up. It is a decision made in the home, with thoughtful premeditation, to divide up certain amounts in certain directions. In New Testament days, they would divide their wealth into little piles, piles of goods or food or grain. Today we simply withdraw from our accounts and pay, but it is the same principle. Let each one decide where it is to go, and in what amount, and do this as a premeditated act.

Finally, giving is to be proportionate, in keeping with your income. Here is the New Testament replacement for the Old Testament tithe. In the Old Testament, believers were asked to give 10% of their income to the work of God. But that is the kindergarten practice of giving. Men had to be told how much to give on a legal basis. When you come into the New Testament, you do not find the tithe carried forward. But proportionate giving is definitely taught. As increase in prosperity comes, there should be a corresponding increase in proportionate giving; not simply in the amount, but the proportion increases as God has prospered.

Lord, how futile it is for me to resist the moving of your Spirit in this thing, when the very reason that you have in asking me to give is in order that I might be blessed. Teach me this, and may I respond out of cheerfulness and gladness.