The NIV 365 Day Devotional

3 Truths About Christan Giving

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
  their righteousness endures forever.”[a]

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

2 Corinthians 9:6–14

Paul uses a gauge for the maturity of our faith that tends to make us uncomfortable: Whether we express love for fellow believers in material ways. We might prefer to keep our money and our spiritual formation separate, but Paul doesn’t give us that option. He makes it clear our generosity stems from our devotion to Christ, and that if we truly love Christ, it will be shown in the financial support of fellow Christians.

Here are three truths we need to remember about Christian giving:

1. Giving is expected—The idea that giving of our finances is optional is completely foreign to the teachings in the New Testament. Jesus expected that his disciples would give to the poor (see Mt 6:2). Paul also makes it clear that giving is a sign of our love for Jesus. Giving is therefore a sign of our obedience and an expression of our willingness to love others in the church.
2. Giving should be proportional—We are expected to give in accordance with what God has given us. Paul says, “If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have” (2Co 8:12). And in his first letter to the Corinthians he said, “Each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income” (1Co 16:2). This means at least two things, says Ligon Dun can: “(1) since we are all supposed to give proportionately, those who have more money are expected to give more [we who are particularly blessed materially must remember this], and (2) the Lord never asks us to give what we do not have, or contribute beyond our means.”
3. Giving must be done willingly—Paul says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2Co 9:7). We are expected to give—and expected to give willingly. Again, our giving is a matter of love of Christ. If we love Jesus we’ll give cheerfully to our brothers and sisters who are in need.

Practical Takeaway: Christians are expected to give—cheerfully and willingly—as a sign of our love for Christ.

Taken from the NIV Spiritual Habits Bible.