Giving Abundantly through Gratefulness

He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”  He gave him a tenth of all.  The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.” ~ Genesis 14:19-21

There appeared on the scene, in Scripture, one Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God.  This priest was intentionally mysterious, thought by most scholars to be Christ Himself[1].  For Melchizedek, it says, had no known beginning or end[2], and seemed to appear appropriately to bless Abram who now was the man found by God to stand in the gap[3] where few men had before.  There was much sin in the world and few, such as Noah, Enoch, and Abram[4] remained righteous and did what God commanded.

One of the most faithful acts, aside from faith, but which included the same, was Abram’s willingness to freely give a tithe of His first fruits[5], the best he had, to God.  We see what amount was required of him as a tenth of all he had and produced.  Looking back as far as the sacrifices brought to God by Able and Cain[6], we are able to see what was acceptable to God, and what was not[7].  Careful examination reveals that what we give to God must be no less than a sacrifice.  It must be something we willingly give up that is precious to us and that we would rather keep.  For this reason, the tithe or sacrifice was often something that was hard come by and precious to the individual.  Today, this is more often money or time than animals or crops.

Giving Abundantly of Your Free Will  

"These are the appointed times of the LORD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations to present offerings by fire to the LORD burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each day's matter on its own day besides those of the sabbaths of the LORD, and besides your gifts and besides all your votive and freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.  On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day”.~ Leviticus 23:37-39

The Lord has set down for those people who would live an abundant life exactly the attitude and demeanor with which they were expected to give offerings to Him.  The offering should be brought before the Lord, everyday and at certain appointed times[8], as a matter of prayerful consideration, as a matter of thankfulness and devotion, as a matter of a pledge or a vow, or expressing a wish or a desire.  The term for this attitude of giving is “votive.”  This indicates that offerings should be of a freewill nature and not begrudged in even the slightest.

Abundance through Obedient Giving

Then Jacob made a vow, saying,“ If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father's house in safety, then the LORD will be my God.  This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.'' ~ Genesis 28:20-22

The patriarchs, down from Abraham, and here we see Jacob, all held pretty true to the tradition of God’s Word about giving a tenth.  You might even accurately say that it was “in their blood” to do so[9].  But, as some have learned, in history, it is wise not to rashly vow what we will give to the Lord, for it may be more than we can do and will be expected, as a vow, from the Lord[10].  He will rightfully expect the fruit of the land from us, because the land and this life and everything that comes from these is rightfully His[11].

Whereas it is a sure thing that we are expected to tithe to God from all the fruit of our labor[12], we can take joy from the fact that we will find abundance in this obedient act.  In fact, the Lord has promised that He will provide us a measure for this measure.  He will make it easy for us to bring this tithe, though it must be brought with the reverence of sacrifice.  Just as the ram in the thicket, in Abram’s case, God provides the sacrifice, or the tithe, after all.  The whole reason for this is to teach us to “fear the Lord [our] God always[13].  We must learn to depend upon and trust Him fully.

Giving without Expecting 

“Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you. You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.” ~ Leviticus 25:36-38

In the abundant life, it is important to God that we are content with that we have, recognizing that it is what God has given us[14].  God is able to see how we think about these things in how we use the things He gives us.  When He provides us with money, in excess of that we need, it reveals to Him where our heart is.  It is not God’s intent that we mount up treasures for ourselves in this life.  That would not be the way to eternal life, and neither would it be representative of the abundant life.

One of the greatest reasons for our excess is to provide for the needy.  There will always be needy and poor in the world.  The person who is living the abundant life would not think of charging interest for the loan of money to a brother in Christ.  God tells us that we are not to do so[15].  It would be unheard of for a person trying to live the abundant life to use the abundance of food, provided by God, for gain over another[16].  Something abominable to God is treating someone who needs food or clothing as if they were in debt, when we come to their aid[17].  An abundant lifer gives without expectation of gain, profit, or return.

Anyone who expects to be rewarded, must expect it for doing what is right during this life and not from interest gained from money, food, or anything else that might be loaned[18].  Reward in this life is the expectation of a person who does not plan to have one in heaven.  The abundant lifer looks for the life that is holy, as opposed to that which is temporal.  This is what God demands of us[19].

Giving the Best that you have 

“Your offering shall be reckoned to you as the grain from the threshing floor or the full produce from the wine vat. So you shall also present an offering to the LORD from your tithes, which you receive from the sons of Israel; and from it you shall give the LORD'S offering to Aaron the priest. Out of all your gifts you shall present every offering due to the LORD, from all the best of them, the sacred part from them” '~ Numbers 18:27-29

Not only does a person who is living the abundant life bring the first of the fruit of their labor and possessions to the Lord, of what He has given, but they are the best that person has.  We often are more than ready to give away to the poor and needy those discards of little or no worth to us, but just ask us to give the best of what we possess and we are less willing.  Giving with abundant life means realizing that what we have is from God and is not ours to choose what we give and what we hold back.  We are very quick to analyze that we should give of only what we have after taxes, when the Lord says we are to give from our “full produce”[20].

Understanding the reason that our tithes must be a percentage from our abundance rather than from what we have left comes from understanding that this is how God provides for those who work for Him.  The priests and preachers get the bountiful offering[21].  These are those who do God’s bidding and carry out His plans.  People who do God’s will, keep their vows to Him, and teach others are those who reap the abundance of these offerings.  These are people who willingly serve God selflessly and ironically without asking to be paid.

Give Abundantly to the Needy 

“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.  You have heard that it was said, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.” ~ Matthew 5:41-43

The true abundant life requires an understanding of the process God instilled for giving and some of the principle that lie therein.  When people ask of us, they are really asking God.  If we are asked to do things we do not desire to do, we have in our grasp the opportunity to reveal God’s glory through our reaction to the request.  There was once a man who was required to pay alimony to an estranged wife.  There were definitely hostilities between the man and woman.  When the man was told the amount by the judge, he sent the woman a check.  The check was for two times the amount of the judgement.  This man had a glimpse of the attitude that is demanded of anyone who will have abundant life.  The woman was so pleased with the man’s sacrifice and willingness to go “the extra mile” that they began speaking to each other and soon rectified any differences they may have had in the past.

It is always a good idea, if you seek abundant life, to keep and open hand to those who are poor and in need of your help monetarily.   If the poor ask you for help, and you turn them down, they may just cry to the LORD against you, and it will be a sin for you[22].  The abundant life finds a person with the attitude of an open hand toward all who are needy.  And, this person gives to the poor, knowing that they cannot repay it, without expectation of return[23].  There is a call with the abundant life to at least be willing to share what you have with others, even if you are not able[24].

Give Abundantly and Unnoticed 

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men.  Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” ~ Matthew 6:1-3

The person living the abundant life would never give in such a way that would be hypocritical, such as by making it well-known that they were giving and how much before men.  With this person there is the exercise of humility that wants only God to get glory on earth.  This person is aware of the responsibilities that go along with giving.  This person does not mind being honored, but not by men.  He reserves any honor here on earth for the honor he will receive from the Lord when he stands before God’s throne on that last day.  This person has read in Scripture that the Lord will announce him by name and that he will receive the honor that God gave His Son, when He said, “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.”  He realizes that if he receives his reward in the temporal, then there will be none in heaven. 

This same understand of rewards applies to praying in public as opposed to praying in private[25] and in fasting publicly as opposed to privately[26].  The key is in what our behavior in giving reveals about our heart and motive.  The Lord looks at these things constantly and then sets up our rewards accordingly[27].  The abundant lifer behaves according to someone who is always under the watch of the Lord[28].

Know to whom you are giving 

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” ~ Matthew 7:5-7

The abundant life requires that we give, in most cases.  As a matter of fact, giving and serving are crucial in understanding abundant life.  However, especially in this day, there are some about which Jesus would warn us.  You can give your best to these and they will take you for everything you have.  In understanding that giving is being a good steward of what God has given us, we are warned not to give to these.  By example, there was a young man who was asked by an acquaintance to allow a young traveler to stay the night in his apartment.  Being generous with what he had, the young man put the travel up for the evening.  The young man had to go off to a job early the next day, so he left the traveler asleep and went off.  When the young man returned home.  The young traveler and most of his possessions were gone.

By analogy, there are people who would enjoy taking what God has in entrusted to you and using it for Satan’s work.  They would, at the same time, enjoy using you as a means to what they want from God’s storehouse and as easy access to other Christians.  We have to learn to discern and to be meek and cunning at the same time, or the only abundance we will have, in this life, will be robbed of us.  It is not in God’s plan for us to give His blessings to the wrong people[29].

Give because you have received

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts.” ~ Matthew 10:7-9

Some people seem to believe that it is at some great cost that they received those things that they have.  They seem to have the idea that they deserved everything that they received.  This is not the thinking of one who lives the abundant life.  Job had much more wealth than most of us would hope to ever achieve, yet he knew that he came into this earth naked and will leave it in the same condition.  He realized an important thing about wealth and possessions.  We are only caretakers of those things, which God has allowed us to possess, during this lifetime.

No matter how hard we worked for them, if God did not want us to have them, we would not have them.  The truth is, then, that we “freely received” all these things.  We were expected to use them and to give them in the right way.  Just as freely as we got them, they can be taken from us.  Therefore, we are called to give them without concern and promised we will be given back more if we do.

The Lord instructed His disciples to take only the barest essentials toward modesty, which were not totally the essentials of life, as they journeyed out to do His will.  He knew that it was essential for them to learn to depend on the God, from which all things come[30].  Little as they had, what they gave to the people they met was more valuable that silver and gold.

Learning to give what comes solely from God is an essential exercise for living the abundant life.  We often think, incorrectly and without understanding, that material provision, in the material world, depends on us.  Somehow, we have adopted sayings, such as “God helps those whom help themselves (Ben Franklin),” as something that is from Scripture.  We erroneously separate the spiritual from the material world, as we do “Church and State[31].”   The very same God that created the spiritual world also created the material world – out of nothing and through the Spirit.

Give What is Required of You 

“When Peter said, ‘From strangers,’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then the sons are exempt. However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.'” ~ Matthew 17:26-27

One might be tempted to think that a person who lives the abundant life is not bound to the tax system, in that they are supporting something that God would not condone.  We find the case not to be so, when we examine the verse above.  There is plenty to be said about the money and to whom it went (to pay for who knows what), however the main point here is where it came from.  We should not be preoccupied with money that God provides for us to give to magistrates.  As we mentioned heretofore, the money is not ours, neither have we provided it.  God can do what He wishes with His money.  It is interesting to believe that God can simply manifest money.  Many people do not believe things that are true about God.  This one is true.

Give Abundantly to the Poor 

“The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’  But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.” ~ Matthew 19:20-22

There is a far greater attitude toward, and understand about, giving in one who has abundant life.  Though these persons may have material wealth on earth, it is not the thing to which they are in servitude.  They do have a tendency, as most human beings, to think of great riches, however, their riches are not on earth, but in heaven.  They don’t expect to win, nor do they even play, the lottery.  They believe and trust in a “sure thing” from heaven. 

If you asked them to sell all that they own and give all the profits to the poor, they would not hesitate[32].  It is very common for the abundant lifer to sell his possessions to help others[33].  It is not so much that these people do not have the need for material things, but rather, that they realize that what they have now is given to them from God.  They have a reality that believes God provides for others through them.  They know that what God has given them, He can give them again – perhaps in more abundance for their willingness to do His will[34].

Giving Abundantly to the Least 

“Naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me,”  Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” ~ Matthew 25:36-40

Jesus laid out a principle of doing for Him, while on this earth, through doing for other people of the faith.  People who would live the abundant life would do well to learn this principle of taking care of the brethren in Christ[35].  Jesus spoke to the disciples about the fruit of true love saying, “It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognize you as my disciples.”[36] 

What the person living the abundant life understands is that there is a very close knit between Jesus Christ and those who trust in Him for their salvation (and everything else)[37].  This is why these are referred to as “the Body of Christ.”  They are sewn within His fabric and are a part of Him.  Likewise, He is a part of them.  It is the same with Jesus and His Father in heaven.  Therefore, giving to His disciples is, in essence, giving to Him.

There is great reward from giving to those who are the disciples of Jesus[38].  This is how to both live in abundance and be a light, in the same instance[39].  The act of giving will not give you salvation[40], but will give concrete evidence of salvation in you.  Ironically, it is through God’s gracious giving that salvation has been made possible.

Christians, in our society today, find many facets and modes of expressing what, to them, is religion, however, these forms do little more than spoil what is true religion in the eyes of the Lord[41].  The person living the abundant life practices true religion through giving of themselves to others whom God wishes for them to help -- namely orphans and widows.  This person also recognizes that more people are widows and orphans than what is apparent to many people in the world.

The Benefits of Giving Abuundantly

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”               ~ Luke 6:37-38

There is an operative force that was set forth into this world by God that comes directly out of His grace and reveals, perhaps as strong as anything, His heart in the matter of a person’s giving.  We read, of giving, that it is more blessed than receiving[42].  Things or actions that are blessed, in Scripture, are those things that God wills for the Christian to acquire as attributes.  

When we choose to judge another person, though, by some, we have not over stepped our bounds, we have chosen to receive rather than to give.  This is an understandable choice, since it is much easier to receive than to give.  However, the person who understands the importance of sacrificing his or her own desires in the matter, has found the way to abundant life.

The blessing of God is much more satisfying than the temporary satisfaction that comes from thinking we can be gratified by revealing faults in another, no matter how right it is or seems.  For example, it is right and just for Christ to send us marching off to hell for the transgressions we commit.  However, it is eternal to show us grace in the matter, even though it cost Him his life on the cross and even though He had to suffer Himself for our transgressions.

As we see through Christ’s example, the blessings far outweigh the costs of giving.  There is a law that God built into giving which is termed “reciprocity.”   To the worldly, this law means that whatever we truly give is lost, for the time being, or, when it is paid back, interest is the fair thing.  In the abundant life, reciprocity means that whatever is truly given, is not given with expectation of return from those who receive it.  Understanding that it was God’s in the first place, this person believes in His promise that whatever is given is an investment in God’s kingdom.  This person realizes that, as God has promised, He will return what we give with a larger-than-life blessing attached.  This blessing could be monetary, but could also be according to our needs and prayers.  In effect, God has given the Christian an avenue to purchase heavenly things, at His discretion.

Giving to Brethren in Need 

“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord. ‘BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  ~ Romans 12:19-21

Many Christians find merit in giving to the brethren, which is certainly a right thing to do.  However, Paul reminds us of a kind of giving perhaps more valuable than this.  He expresses that our enemies sometimes live under pressures greater than us.  After all, these people do not have the umbrella of God’s protection that the Christian has privilege to enjoy.

Even though we have learned that it is not correct to toss God’s good things to “swine” (those who do not appreciate it), can we rightly say that an enemy who is starving or thirsty will not appreciate our kindness?  After all, it is the sinner, in his deepest state of depravity that knows it is time to come to the Lord in repentance[43].  It is in real need that giving is appreciated the most.  Who is in greater need of what is freely given?[44]  The person living abundant life realizes that Christ is about the business of saving souls and wants to be a part in this cause.  Many are drawn to His kingdom by His mercy.  Though it might seem that they do not, even our enemies have a conscience.  God uses His Spirit to convince them of how they are wrong[45].  We create a stumbling block to God, when we make vengeance important to us.  In giving this up to God, He is able to work on our enemy’s conscience to wield good results in them.  We are to be a blessing to God and our enemy by giving all our anger and revenge to Him and see abundant life through doing so.  We can give by learning to love our enemies and pray for them[46].