Page 100 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

It is easier to follow a set of rules. Give 10% and now you can feel good about yourself! But God wants us to be
led by the Holy Spirit in making all our decisions, including giving. The Holy Spirit may ask you to give 35% of
what He gives you. I am not living by rules, but within a relationship with the living God!

5. Giving based on how much God has prospered you! So if God has given you a bunch, give a bunch. Give
according to your ability to give and on occasion, God may ask you to give beyond your ability. Sometimes God
asks us to give sacrificially. But the general principle is, give as God has prospered you.

When God entrusts you with more money, instead of spending it on more junk for yourself (which will rust and
be eaten by moths or stolen by thieves), ask yourself, “Lord, how do you want this money used to expand your
Kingdom?” As God give you more, you should increase the percentage you give, not just the amount. Set a
basic level for your livelihood, then commit to giving the rest to God. You will find that as you are faithful, God
will channel more of his resources through you.

Here is the catch. You cannot start giving someday in the future when you are rich. You start today with the
resources you presently manage. Jesus commended the poor widow who gave all she had to live on, but he was
not impressed with the large gifts of the rich, because they had much left over (Mark 12:41-44)

George Muller is remembered as a man who received millions of dollars to support his
orphanages, in response to secret prayer without making any needs known to others.
What many don’t know is that Muller gave away vast amounts to the Lord’s work out
of funds that were given for his personal support. From 1870 on, he personally
contributed the full support for about 20 missionaries with the China Inland Mission.
From 1831-1885, he gave away 86% of his personal income! As the Lord prospered
him, he could have lived in style. But he lived simply and gave away the rest to advance
God’s kingdom on earth and to see hundreds, if not thousands, of souls saved for all
eternity.

As Charles Wesley said in one of his famous sermons, “Get all you can!” “Save all you can!” “Give all you can!”

Basic Principles for Giving from II Corinthians 9

1. You will reap what you sow…even in the area of giving. You may have heard the
quote, “You cannot out give God!” What this means is that when God gets a hold of
your heart and pocketbook and begins directing you toward giving, He will honor
obedience with blessings. It may be a return on the gift. He may give you more
money to give away and even give you a special bonus of something you need. But
this verse promises that your faithfulness will be rewarded by God in a tangible way.
Our motive to give is not to get, but to express our love for our Savior. Giving to get a
return demonstrates a false motive and does not apply to the promise of a blessing.

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap
generously.

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

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.

99