How much should we give?

How much should we give?

Answer: Extravagantly

“… remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35b

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. -- 2 Corinthians 8:9

The scripture states, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” There is a better treasure to pursue than the things that fade away. And we have been given this treasure in Christ.

How much were we given by God? God gave us who were poor, His Son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God was lavish and open handed with us. We ought to have the same attitude toward others. God is passionate about the righteous caring for others and being open handed. This passion is Gospel driven. The Gospel compels us lay down our lives and to love others. This is not a financial question, but a heart question. How much of ourselves will we give (finances only being an aspect of this)? As the Gospel is understood we will find joy and delight in helping others and giving of ourselves. We will find it grand to love and blessed to give.

Deuteronomy 16:17 states, “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you”. In the Gospel, the blessings God has given us are great and extravagant. So the answer is we should give extravagantly.