It is a myth to say that we have to give. Those committed to Christ see giving as a grace and a privilege.

Myth No. 6: We give to other causes to help them.

"...but they first gave themselves to the Lord...” (2 Cor. 8:5).

Some people give today by saying, "Here is a need: let's give to this need and help this cause or help this particular person." But that in itself is a myth! Look at the Macedonians. Look at their priorities. They saw it not so much as giving to others as a gift to God Himself. Paul says. "They first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God" (2 Cor. 8:5). This is what makes Christian giving different from any other kind of giving. Some people give “A Day's Pay the United Way.” Others give to the Salvation Army. As followers of Jesus Christ we give ourselves first to Him. Our giving is always to the Lord. The Lord Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you do it unto one of these the least of mine. you do it unto me:" When David was raising the money to build the temple he said, "I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you" (1 Chr. 29:17).

Advertisement

Myth No. 6 says that we give to other causes to help them. No, in Christian stewardship we give ourselves first to the Lord and then our resources. If our priority is giving ourselves over to the Lord, then we will have no problem with giving our resources. This is why many churches have such a high level of stewardship participation. They have a high level of personal discipleship and devotion.

How should we then give? Some are miffed today by modern money myths from Corinth. Where do we get our motivation in stewardship? Paul relates it in the context of these verses when he says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). Our Lord laid aside His glory and became poor. He did not begin in Bethlehem. He became poor. He laid aside His glory and stooped down to earth. He veiled His deity in a cloak of humanity. Why? Because the Son of God became the Son of Man in order that "for your sakes He became poor that you through His poverty might become rich." What ultimately matters is not what money can buy but what money cannot buy. Christ is who makes us rich!

Paul said, "You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ?” Do you? He did not leave heaven gritting His teeth nor clenching His fists. He did not leave shouting to the Father, "OK, OK." No, it wasn't obligation that caused Him to give. It was grace! They did not drag Him up the Via Dolorosa screaming and kicking. No, they led Him like a sheep to the slaughter. Yes, we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich. And, that is our motivation for Christian stewardship. No wonder Paul concludes his discourse on giving in 2 Corinthians by saying, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15).

_________________

O.S. Hawkins is President of Guidestone Financial Resources in Dallas, Texas. He is a Contributing Editor of Preaching.