Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
2 Corinthians 9::11-14
W. A. Criswell told the story of a young man who was launching a new business career. Criswell prayed with the man for God’s blessing, and he solemnly promised that he would faithfully tithe on what God provided. When he started out, he was making just $40 a week, and as he had promised gave $4 to the church. After a few years as his business grew and prospered, the man found himself writing a $500 tithe check. Somewhat disturbed by the amount, he called Criswell and asked if he could stop giving so much. Criswell replied, “I don’t see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40 a week and, then you’d have no problem tithing $4.”
Sometimes people look at giving only in terms of how much we “have” to give without remembering all that has been first given to us. After the Israelites were miraculously delivered from bondage in Egypt, Moses issued a call for those who were willing to bring gifts so that the Tabernacle could be built. With glad and grateful hearts, they brought so much gold and silver and cloth and wood that the builders asked Moses to tell them to stop giving! “And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing” (Exodus 36:6). If we are living in gratitude for what God has done we will not find giving to be grievous.
