The Gift is Acceptable According to What One Has

Many Christians excuse themselves from giving because they think they don't have enough to give. They think "What good would my little amount do?" and as a result miss the joy and privilege of giving to help others.

But this attitude is contrary to what the Bible says. In fact, it says that it's not the amount you give, but your attitude and the level of sacrifice you make based on what you have. In 2 Corinthians 8:12, the Bible says, "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." In other words, if you have a heart to help people and give sacrificially out of what you have, that is a gift that pleases the Lord.

We know that a gift doesn't need to be large to please God. In Mark 12:42-44 (also in Luke 21:1-4), the Bible tells the story of a woman who had very little, but had the right attitude of giving and sacrificed accordingly:

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." (NIV)

So if you're putting off giving because you think your $1, $5, or $10 won't matter, go ahead and give it. God knows your heart and if you give willingly, the gift will be acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don't have.

Comments

[Carol]

I have a Christian co-worker who is barely making ends meet with the paycheck that she receives...I help her with her budget for each paycheck and although she barely has enough to make the bills, her first priority is giving 5% to the church. So before we figure out anything else, she puts aside money for the church and then we work with what is left.

[coglethorpe]

I thought of the story of the widow's mite even before i hit that part of the article. Very good thoughts.

[Phillip]

Your articles on Biblical principals and money are great - keep up the good work.

My wife and I learned a long time ago that if we commit to tithing regularly that we will be blessed as the Bible promises. We struggled for many years and finally realized that we had to be faithfull with what we had been given before we could be trusted with much.

The Bible says to give of our "first fruits" so our tithe comes right off the top, even before Uncle Sam takes his chunk.