5 Guidelines For A Man’s Giving

If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.—Billy Graham

Can we all agree on something? Giving is not an option. It’s commanded in God’s Word. It’s not negotiable. We give in part because God wants us to give. But God also provides us with some guidelines for giving on His terms. Here are five big ones:

GUIDELINE ONE | Give as you are able.

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that He has given you.—Deuteronomy 16:17

It’s pretty simple. When God has blessed you abundantly, you give abundantly. When He has blessed you modestly, you give accordingly. The Old Testament prescribes a tithe, or 10 percent of your income. Good rule of thumb. But the New Testament implies that we should give sacrificially. So perhaps even when our income is modest, we give abundantly anyway! “Every man shall give as he is able…” leaves us with a lot of latitude, so certainly it’s a matter of prayer. Seek God’s guidance – let it be between you and Him.

GUIDELINE TWO | Give habitually.

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.—1 Corinthians 16:2

Give weekly! Make it a matter of routine. Let it become part of your regular agenda – to the point where you just do it and not even think about it. A lot of people consider Sunday to be the first day of the week, so that makes it easy if that’s when you attend church. Just toss your gift in the offering plate/basket/bag. But maybe you attend a Saturday service or a Wednesday service instead. A lot of churches these days even offer an online option. Whatever! There are lots of ways to give. The point is, make giving a habit.

GUIDELINE THREE | Give to God first.

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.—Proverbs 3:9

First fruits. This means “Budget Item No. 1.” It’s at the top of the list, ahead of your house payment, your utility bills, and your grocery tab. Make it a priority – a matter of discipline and intentionality.

GUIDELINE FOUR | Give from joyful motivation.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.—2 Corinthians 9:7

Admittedly, most good habits are formed with an initial decision that may not seem particularly appealing at first. But be encouraged. The joy comes more easily as the habit takes hold. Keep in mind Who it is that you’re giving back to, and ask Him to work on your heart. God will free you from any lingering reluctance, and your giving eventually will become an act of pure pleasure. Try it – you’ll like it!

GUIDELINE FIVE | Give without expecting something back.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.—Matthew 6:3

A gift isn’t really a gift if some kind of return is expected, is it? The real return, of course, is in a lost soul found, a hungry child fed, a homeless family sheltered, or a disciple made. Ultimately, however, the return is God’s glory and the building of His kingdom.

So take heart, brothers! Think of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. He paid a debt He did not owe for a debt we could not pay. Kind of puts things in perspective, right? So let us give to the Lord generously – it’s the least we can do.