1. Sacrificial Giving is Commanded

Christians are commanded to give sacrificially. The Old Testament emphasizes the tithe (10% of the harvest/income). The New Testament focuses on sacrificial gifts, beyond the tithe. Paul speaks to the Corinthians:

“Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” —1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Jesus made a strong statement in Luke 21 about sacrificial giving:

“I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” —Luke 21:3-4

God does not prosper us in order to raise our standard of living. He prospers us in order to raise our standard of giving. 

Sacrificial giving requires tough choices about our spending habits. Our lives must look as if we prize God more than our possessions! Your heart will follow your treasure. What do you treasure?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. . . But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . .For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. —Matthew 6:19-21

2. Sacrificial Giving is Joyful

Many people are joy-starved. Even though they have a nice home, nice cars, nice job and nice toys, they are empty inside. Hanging on to all that we earn makes us miserable! The more our wealth grows, the more critical it is we give away increasing amounts of it.

“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” —2 Corinthians 8:1-3

Many Christians hang on to all or most of what they earn. The Bible connects sacrificial giving to lasting, true joy.

3.  Sacrificial Giving Yields Heavenly Reward

Some people think it is wrong to be motivated by heavenly reward. The Bible says otherwise.

Hebrews 11 sets forth the heavenly rewards that were received by Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel. 

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." —Hebrews 11:39-40

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” —Hebrews 11:6

4. Sacrificial Giving Brings Blessing Right Now on Earth

If you are still reading at this point, you might be saying to yourself, “my financial condition is not good ; I can’t possibly give 10% of my gross income to God.” The challenge to you is one that God gave to His people.

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this. Says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”—Malachi 3:8-10

God invites us to test Him in this. He is faithful! Let Him pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.

The Bible directs us to give the bulk of our giving to the place where we get our
primary spiritual care—the local church. This is where giving was directed in the New Testament. Paul said:

“Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”  —2 Corinthians 9:6