Lesson 3. Giving. Foundational Biblical Principles for Financial Well-Being. Everyone who applies these principles will have financial provision for themselves and for ministering to others. This school was compiled by the senior pastor of Father’s Blessing Church, Dmitriy Leo.
Giving gives us the opportunity to participate in the work of God.
Many people do not understand what giving is. There is a mistaken belief that you are obligated to set aside the tithe, while you may give an offering only when you have a surplus. Let us turn to the Bible for clarification.
1. Giving is our HELP for people
2 Corinthians 8:3–4, 14: I testify that they gave voluntarily everything they could, and even beyond that. They themselves appealed to us and earnestly pleaded for the privilege of helping the saints as a great grace. At present, your abundance will relieve their need, and in turn their abundance will relieve your need. Then there will be equality.
Through giving, we show care for one another. If someone is in need, we should help. In turn, if we find ourselves in need, someone will help us.
2. Giving is our SOWING for the sake of reaping a harvest
2 Cor. 9:5–8: Therefore, I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance, so that the collection of your gift might be completed, as you yourselves promised. Then it will be clear that you are giving not under compulsion, but voluntarily. Remember: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should give as much as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to provide you with everything you need, so that you will always have everything in abundance and plenty left over for every good work,
The Lord established the law of sowing and reaping in order to bless people in this way. A person sows…
……as much as he has decided in his heart…
…and God creates the conditions so that…
……provide you with everything you need, so that you will always have everything in abundance and plenty left over for every good work.
3. Giving is our MINISTRY to people
2 Cor. 9:12: Your ministry not only meets the needs of the saints, but also leads to ever-increasing thanksgiving to God!
Giving is ministry. For example, many businesspeople do not have the opportunity to serve directly in the Church, yet they gladly give financially to support the ministry. If today you can participate in the work of the Church only through finances, that is also ministry.
4. Giving is our PARTICIPATION in evangelism
Phil. 4:15: You Philippians remember that in the early days of my ministry of proclaiming the Good News, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in giving and receiving except you alone.
It is good that the Philippians supported Paul financially so that he could continue spreading the Good News, but it is unfortunate that the other churches did not help him. Through giving, we participate in spreading the Good News. If we are not going out to evangelize ourselves today, then we need to support those who are.
Many admire John Lake’s ministry, but few know that his family often went hungry and went to bed without dinner. His wife died of malnutrition. And all this happened at the height of their ministry. They cannot be accused of lacking faith or wisdom—they were faithful to fulfilling the Word of God. Yet others who should have supported them proved unfaithful to the Word of God. That is why such tragic stories occurred—and continue to occur—in the ministry of God’s people.
Despite the incredible power with which God moved through John G. Lake, he had many bitterly jealous opponents and adversaries in South Africa. Some people were so opposed to him that they wrote letters to the United States accusing Lake of misusing the money sent to him to support the mission’s work. As it later turned out, all the accusations were false. Nevertheless, some sponsors believed the slander and stopped sending their donations. It was precisely as a result of this that the incident described by Lake took place:
At one point, we had 125 people working in the mission field. Because of the terrible attacks we were facing, our financial situation deteriorated so badly that at the end of the month I could not always send even ten dollars to my coworkers. Sometimes the situation became so difficult that I could not send them even two dollars. Our situation was utterly desperate. What could we do? One evening during a conference, our executive committee asked me to leave the room for a couple of minutes. They wanted to discuss everything in private. So I went to a café to have a cup of coffee and then returned. When I entered the room, I saw chairs arranged in an oval, with a small table in the center bearing bread and wine. Old Van der Vol, speaking on behalf of the entire committee, said: “Brother Lake, while you were away, we made a decision. We ask you to serve communion for us today. We are ready to return to the mission field, even if we have to walk. We are ready to return, even if we have to starve. We are ready to return, even if our wives die. Even if our children die. Even if we ourselves die. We have only one request. If we die, we want you to come and bury us.”
Over the next year, I buried 12 men and 16 members of their families. As far as I understand, they all died of starvation, without even a piece of bread.
5. Giving is our SUPPORT for church leaders
1 Tim. 5:17–18: Church leaders who lead well are worthy of double honor*, especially those who preach or teach. For Scripture says: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain” and “the worker deserves his wages.”
Church leaders are among the most socially vulnerable people in the world. Most countries do not officially recognize the Church or its ministers. In most cases, church leaders have no employment records, no social benefits, and can expect only the most minimal pension. They are closely watched by government authorities and intelligence services. They are in the public eye, and when anything happens, they are the first to be arrested.
The Greek word “honor” [timēō] means “care, payment, recompense, reward.”
The Bible instructs church members to support church leaders financially. Those who lead the ministry well—especially those who teach and preach in the Church—should be supported twice as much. Giving is one such way./p>
Conclusion
Giving helps us participate in God’s work, help others, and care for our future. We can serve through our finances, participate in spreading the Good News, and support those who serve us.
All this advances God’s work, so Christians themselves should take the initiative and give financially. There should be no coercion in this matter; everyone should give voluntarily and joyfully. The Lord’s reward for this will be a great harvest!
Testimonies
$100,000 was transferred to the account
During a conference offering, one sister wrote a check for $1,000, after which she could not find peace. She was not sure she had that amount in her account. She called home and asked someone to check her account. Later, she received a call saying that, from an unknown source, $100,000 had been transferred into her account.
“I have never had as much money as I have had during the past three months.”
One of the pastors told of a schoolteacher who attended their church and was very active. One day, after the offerings had been counted, someone brought him a check and said, “That teacher has given a check for an amount equal to her monthly salary.” The pastor took the check and went to speak with the teacher. “Sister,” he began, “there must be a mistake here. You have given a check for the amount of your monthly income. Are you sure you want to do this?” “Yes,” the teacher replied. “I am sure. You should not be concerned about how much I give to God.”
The pastor had to accept the check. On the first day of the following month, another check from this woman for the same amount was among the offerings. The pastor was a good man, so he took the check again and said to the woman, “For the second month, you have given your entire salary to the church. We do not want you to starve. We want you to pay for your housing. I intend to return some of this money to you.” She calmly looked at him and smiled. “Do you do this with all the members of the church?” “No,” he replied, “only with you.” “Well,” she said, “I give God what I want to give, so please do not be concerned about it.” He thanked her and returned the check to the offering.
The next four weeks went well, until the girls discovered a third check from this teacher among the offerings—a full month’s salary. The pastor finally became angry. He invited the woman to his office. “I have something to tell you,” he declared. “I do not want our church to be disgraced! I do not want anyone to say that I am robbing my congregation! Ten percent is an excellent amount to give to God, and that is all we want.” “I also have something to tell you,” the teacher replied. “I have never had as much money as I have had during the past three months! I have never had so much food and clothing before, and I have never been as joyful as I am now! If you will leave me alone, God will provide everything I need for my life, both spiritually and materially. He gives me more than I could have imagined. When I give to God, He gives back far more than I have ever had before, and I experience such love from God as I have never known before.”
Source: Father’s Blessing Church
Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
