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Alpharic Research Institute

Centre for Research in Philosophy, Theology and
Ethics
Email: alpharicinstitute@gmail.com 09066927954

LIBERAL CHRISTIAN GIVING

(A SPECIAL ACT OF WORSHIP TO GOD)

BY
GODSWILL OME UFERE
Email: uferegodswillmatthias@gmail.com, godswillmatthias99@gmail.com; __GSM: +2347045155575
JULY, 2020

Key excerpt from paper:

Our generosity in giving is a demonstration of God’s character and a response to what He has done
for us. As God has given to us generously, we are to give cheerfully, not by necessity or
grudgingly. When we appropriately receive God’s generosity, it humbles us. We recognize that we
are not worthy of His gift. Out of gratefulness, we become more gracious with others. When one
person gives freely to another, the recipient often “passes forward” the gift. In the Christian life, the
impetus is much greater. Jesus taught us that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts
20:35). Not only does our giving demonstrate God’s character to the world, it results in increased
faith for us. When we are willing to give, we declare that our faith does not depend on material
possessions. Instead, we show that our faith is in God, who is always faithful to provide. Christians
are a light to the world (Matthew 5:14-16). As we become more and more who God has called us to
be – more like Him – through the process of sanctification, we reflect God more and more. We
become more loving, more gracious, and, yes, more giving. Because God is generous, we are also
called to be generous. Generosity not only points others to God, it is an appropriate response to what
God has done for us.

Intro-Quote Christian giving. Christian giving can include

service to those in need, even as the grace of
“Giving is not a human initiated virtue, but
God is His loving favor and graciousness that
divine. The godly way of life is the way of
He extends to those whom He wishes” (Ufere,
giving. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are
n.pg ).
admonished to abound in the grace of
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I. Introduction James 1:17 states: “Every good gift and every

perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
Giving is so important to Christianity that God
from the Father of lights, with whom is no
has ordained an office to see it carried out in
variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
the church: the office of deacon. Deacons
have been given a responsibility to handle II. Liberal Christian Giving
gifts which have been given for the Lord’s
Christians are to give liberally. Liberal giving
work. They are charged with passing on gifts
is listed as a gift of God’s Holy Spirit,
to those who have a particular need. Giving is
involving the grace that has been given to
important to the Christian church. Few times
each of us: “Having then gifts differing
in the Bible, a specific “grace” is noted, which
according to the grace that is given to us, let
is defined as “a special virtue, gift, or help
us use them: … he who gives, with liberality”
given to a person by God.” One such grace is
(Romans 12:6-8). According to Unger’s Bible
liberal or generous Christian giving. God has
Dictionary, “liberality” involves “a generous
given us the example and the right formula for
disposition of mind, resulting in large giving”
us to follow at all times: “He has dispersed
(660). The state of mind of benevolence and
abroad, He has given to the poor; His
generous giving is a description of the
righteousness endures forever” (2 Corinthians
graciousness of God and Christ. God has
9:9). This statement summarizes God’s way of
given to us in many ways. Different skills,
giving. He disperses abroad and gives to the
talents, a marriage partner, jobs, health,
poor. When God gives, it is done liberally.
fellowship in His house. But most of all God
Giving is not a dead practice but it is as old as
gave you His Son Jesus, who offered Himself
mankind. Many times mutual understanding,
up on the cross for the sins of those who know
feelings of pity, or desires move human beings
Him as Lord and Savior, that you would have
to give.
eternal life (John 3:15). God gave us
When we give a gift it is to express love, redemption from sin (Heb. 9:12), salvation
concern, appreciation and thanks. One might through Christ (Heb. 5:9), a kingdom (2 Peter
give a gift of books. It could be a bunch 1:10-11), everlasting joy (Isa. 51:11), and
dozen of flowers, a gift of wears or even a comfort (2 Thess. 2:16-17). In the Lord’s
certificate gift and some other expensive prayer we ask God to give us His kingdom,
gifts.. Yet all these are virtually nonexistent in exercise His will, provide our daily bread,
comparison to God’s giving of Himself.
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forgive our sins, and to deliver us from The apostle Paul wrote to those in Corinth that
temptation and all kinds of evil. they needed to be encouraged to give as
generously as those in Macedonia had done:
John Foster said that, giving with liberality,
“But as you abound in everything—in faith, in
then, is an aspect of God’s nature and grace.
speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in
This implies that the grace of liberal giving
your love for us—see that you abound in this
also flows out from His children, who have
grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Paul refers to
His Spirit and have become partakers of His
the grace of Jesus Christ: “For you know the
grace. Followers of Christ are commanded to
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He
abound in grace, which includes liberal
was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor,
Christian giving.
that you through His poverty might become
III. Scriptural Instance of Liberal rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Christian Giving (2
IV. Evaluation Line of the Liberal
Corinthians 8:1-9)
Giving
During a famine in Palestine, the poor
Our Lord, Jesus Christ came to earth as a
churches of Macedonia were commended for
lowly servant and rejected any pursuit of
their liberal giving to those members who
personal wealth. Instead, He led a life of
were affected: “Moreover, brethren, we make
traveling and preaching and serving people.
known to you the grace of God bestowed on
Through His life of serving others, He
the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial
enriched their lives with faith and truth and
of affliction the abundance of their joy and
healing. He was later seized and arrested as if
their deep poverty abounded in the riches of
He were a common criminal, and then even
their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2). These
gave up His life for all of us. We, through His
Christians gave their lives to God first and
“poverty,” have become (spiritually) rich.
then gave generously to those in need: “And
not only as we had hoped, but they first gave The churches of Macedonia were of the same
themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the generous, giving attitude as their Savior,
will of God. So we urged Titus, that as he had because they had become enriched by the
begun, so he would also complete this grace in Holy Spirit and God’s grace. Paul describes
you as well” (2 Corinthians 8:5-6). them: “For I bear witness that according to
their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they

were freely willing, imploring us with much
urgency that we would receive the gift and the
fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2
Corinthians 8:3-4). The members of these
churches of Macedonia were making a
personal sacrifice by sending a gift of personal
aid to the poor saints, even though they were
poor themselves. They were sending a
generous gift according to what they were
able, and even beyond that. So they were
ministering to the needs of other poor saints
out of a generous and noble heart and mind.
So are also expected of us as children of God
today.
V. Proper Attitude to Giving
Truly, not are attitudes is right for a Christian
giver. Christians are to learn the Christian
principle that Paul taught in Acts 20:35: “I
have shown you in every way, by laboring like
this, that you must support the weak. And
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He
said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to
receive.’” God does want us to have a willing
mind to give generously to others, but He does
not expect His servants to give more than
what they have (2 Corinthians 8:12). God
desires us to give cheerfully, from the heart.
“So let each one give as he purposes in his
heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God
loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
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In fact, God enriches us through His grace and
provides us with what is necessary for all
kinds of liberal Christian giving. “And God is
able to make all grace abound toward you, that
you, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may have an abundance for every good
work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). As a result of what
God provides for us to give, thanksgiving goes
up to Him. “Now may He who supplies seed
to the sower, and bread for food, supply and
multiply the seed you have sown and increase
the fruits of your righteousness, while you are
enriched in everything for all liberality, which
causes thanksgiving through us to God” (2
Corinthians 9:10-11).
God’s intent is that grace, as it abounds and
spreads to others, will bring much glory to
Him. “For all things are for your sakes, that
grace, having spread through the many, may
cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of
God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).
VI. Christian Response to Liberal
Giving
Liberal Christian giving is like sowing good
seed here and there and everywhere, with zeal
and diligence. Solomon advises us: “In the
morning sow your seed, and in the evening do
not withhold your hand; for you do not know
which will prosper, either this or that, or
whether both alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes

11:6). Solomon, a man of God-given wisdom,
tells us to be liberal in our giving and multiply
(as God does) the bread we give out, far and
wide: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for
you will find it after many days. Give a
serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do
not know what evil will be on the earth”
(Ecclesiastes 11:1-2).
We should, as we are able, send bread out to
the corners of the earth, where evil or dangers
has caused much poverty and want. Also, we
are to give thanks to God for His indescribable
gift of grace. And as we have seen, God’s
grace should also extend out from us to others.
And the grace of liberality (generous giving)
is a particular Christian grace that we should
seek to abound in. It is just one of many
aspects of the manifold grace of God.
As the Bible says, “Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to
those who are of the household of faith”
(Galatians 6:10).There are many opportunities
for serving others and many avenues by which
one may become involved. Christians are a
light to the world (Matthew 5:14-16). As we
become more and more who God has called us
to be – more like Him – through the process of
sanctification, we reflect God more and more.
We become more loving, more gracious, and,
yes, more giving. Because God is generous,
we are also called to be generous. Generosity
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not only points others to God, it is an
appropriate response to what God has done for
us.
“To whom much has been given, much more
will be expected.” This has become a common
phrase in Christian society. Its biblical roots
are in Luke 12:48. Because we have been so
freely loved, we now love others (John 13:34).
Because we have been forgiven, we forgive
others (Matthew 18:21-35). Our response to
God’s abundance with us is to share that
abundance with others. When we
appropriately receive God’s generosity, it
humbles us. We recognize that we are not
worthy of His gift. Out of gratefulness, we
become more gracious with others. We begin
to learn the heart of God and want to be more
like Him.
Generosity has positive effects in human
relationships. When one person gives freely to
another, the recipient often “passes forward”
the gift. In the Christian life, the impetus is
much greater. Jesus taught us that “it is more
blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Not only does our giving demonstrate God’s
character to the world, it results in increased
faith for us. When we are willing to give, we
declare that our faith does not depend on
material possessions. Instead, we show that
our faith is in God, who is always faithful to
provide (1 Kings 17:7-16).

VII. Evaluated Responses on
Giving from Christian
Researchers
I prepared a list of six questions which
answers were gotten on from three Christian
theological researchers. And all the answers
got from the researchers corresponded in
thought.
The questions were:
1. When do you think should be the right
time to help people?
2. What should be the approach to giving?
3. When is it necessary for a beneficiary
to reciprocate?
4. Should reciprocation of goods be the
central motive of a giver?
5. Should giving be more immediate or
less?
6. Must it only be acquaintances/ friends
or familie that deserves our giving?
To the first question, Michael John the right
time to help is when people seek help, Nnamdi
Obasi rather said that the right time is when
the need arises, and Joseph Ken replied that
the right time is when we are moved by the
spirit of God to offer help so as not to be
victim of any circumstance.
I summarise by combining their opinions to
say that we should give at that time when the
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need is there and our action is supported by
the Holy Spirit; and having giving as a
command we must not wait till people come
to seek helps from us.
To the second question, Nnamdi Obasi said
that the approach should be humility. Michael
John said it should be determination while
Joseph Ken said that obedience should be the
approach.
I summarize the opinions by saying that a
selfless attitude free of pride should be the
approach because it aligns with obedience to
God’s Word.
To the third question, Joseph Ken said that
it’s not necessary for the beneficiary to
reciprocate at all. Michael John and Nnamdi
Obasi had one view that when the beneficiary
is fit or capable of doing that.
I summarize by saying that the beneficiary
owes the giver nothing; only God can reward,
however, He can choose to use the
beneficiary.
To the fourth question, three of the
researchers had the same answer, no. meaning
that reciprocation is not necessary and should
not be the central motive of the giver. I
strongly agree with them.
To the fifth question, Nnamdi Obasi said that
giving should be immediate as the need arises

(this aligns with his first answer to the first
question); Michael John says that it should be
immediate if only the necessary resources are
available. Joseph Ken said that it should on
the basis of opportunity, chance and
information.
I summarize by saying that, the availability of
all needed may not be enough to handle
pressing situations at more immediate time,
we should be moved with empathy and
sympathy which will make one see and feel
the agony of others.
To the sixth question, Joseph Ken and
Michael John said, no, it must not be people
close to us alone. Nnamdi Obasi had a little
shift in opinion by replying, not in all cases.
Understandably, it means that in some
situations giving is restricted and at other
times it is not.
I summarize by saying that, if giving is at
anything restricted by our own feelings or
actions, then at that time it ceases to be a total
worship to God. This means that God’s spirit
should guide us towards giving of any kind.
VIII. Conclusion
Our God is a giving God. He is a God of
abundance, and He loves to give. He
sacrificed willingly on the cross and then
invited us into fullness of life. As His
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children, we are called to imitate Him
(Ephesians 5:1). Our generosity in giving is a
demonstration of God’s character and a
response to what He has done for us. As God
has given to us generously, we are to give
cheerfully, not by necessity or grudgingly. For
God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). In
this study, there are several characteristics
common to all. The desire to give glory to
God should result in our giving freely and
willingly from our hearts. This giving must
not just be in money, but in time, effort, and
special skills and talents given by God for His
glory. God treats us very special and blesses
us with countless daily gifts.
Christians are giving people, and, in giving,
they lose nothing. As Bunyan wrote, “A man
there was, though some did count him mad,
the more he cast away the more he had.”
When we give, we empty ourselves in order to
be filled again by God. “Give, and it will be
given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be
poured into your lap. For with the measure
you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke
6:38). Are we giving liberally to God what
He has given to us in His houses, our jobs, and
our families? Are we giving to the Lord’s
work obediently, sacrificially, and joyfully?
How often do we help those around us? I
encourage us to grow in our giving daily as an
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act of worship and lifestyle, for God is nothing Perspectives on Tithing: 4 Views by David A.
unrighteous to forget and not to reward our Croteau.
works of love.
Christian Giving by Jim Harline.

Further Readings