Day 4

Bruce Miller, author

This week, we are reprinting Chapter 3 of  Bruce Miller’s book, Giving: Three Questions. We’re answering the question, “How much should you give?” We’ve been considering “3P Giving,” and so far we’ve seen that giving should be planned and proportionate. Today we’re

Progressive 

Most of us want to keep growing in faith, knowledge and love. We want to take next steps to move further down the path to Christ-likeness. Yet in regard to generous giving, many decide a fixed percentage or level giving amount and stay there for life. But spiritual maturity includes growing in generous giving. Paul tells us,

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us^[1]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7).

To excel, in Greek, perisseuete, means to abound, to be outstanding. You do not want to be stagnant in your giving. You should excel in the grace of giving. You may have heard of prayer warriors, people who are amazing at prayer. What about giving warriors? God has entrusted us with so much. Generous givers progress in their giving. One member of our church agreed to let me share his story. Here it is.

 “I hope this encourages everyone to enjoy the blessings of giving and generosity. I have had 4 major milestones in my giving and generosity. Years ago as a new believer with a young family, God led me to know that if I was really going to trust Him, I would have to trust Him with the first 10 percent. Amazingly, we got through those lean years without going into debt while staying in the black. Several years later, I was impressed by a sermon about not just giving, but giving gladly and beyond the tithe. We started giving a greater percentage and each time we got more, we gave more. Then about four years ago, we started to give without being so concerned about the tax deduction. More giving went directly to individuals as needs arose. One year ago, we set out to give more by trying to say yes each time a need arose at church or in the ministries we support. It was a great blessing to meet needs throughout the year. We have been blessed and we are confident that God will bless your giving efforts.” 

Paul motivated the Corinthian Christians by sharing the example of the believers in Macedonia. They still inspire me today to progress in my generosity. In 2 Corinthians chapter 8 Paul writes:

Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means (2 Corinthians 8:1–3).

They gave beyond what could be reasonably expected of them. Even in an ordeal of suffering, which may have been a famine, in their extreme poverty they overflowed in rich generosity and abundant joy. They gave not just according to their means, but beyond their means!

Over the years, I’ve been quietly praying that I could follow the example of R.G. LeTourneau, for whom the university is named. LeTourneau excelled in generosity. As an inventor of earthmoving machines, LeTourneau reached the point of giving 90 percent of his income to the Lord. As he put it, “I shovel out the money, and God gives back more. God has a bigger shovel.” One day I hope to give 90 percent of my income. That would be awesome and so much fun.

Of course, the lady who many consider the greatest giver in the Bible, gave the least amount. Jesus held up a poor widow as an example of generous giving. In Luke 21 we read,

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box. He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on” (Luke 21:1–4).

These two copper coins would be worth today about 58 cents each. She gave $1.16. Which is larger, $1.16 or $11,600? Obviously $11,600, but not to Jesus. While others gave out of their wealth, she gave out of her poverty. It is not the number of coins given, but the number of coins left over. The disciples saw portions; Jesus saw proportion. The disciples saw how much was given; Jesus saw how much was left.

After you give, how much do you keep? In the grace of giving, no one has an advantage. If you have had a big decrease in your income, you may have to decrease your giving, but you can still well up in generosity. Regardless of your income, you can be the biggest giver, not that that’s the goal, but you get the point.

What’s in your heart when you ask the question: How much should I give? I believe God is calling each of us to grow to the place where we seek to give as much as we can. When you see the incredible generosity of God and the high stakes of the gospel, you are compelled.

Your giving funds the advance of the gospel that saves people eternally. One of the most famous and soul-stirring movies of the last few decades won seven Oscars. Schindler’s List tells the story of businessman Oskar Schindler, who though initially motivated by profit, showed extraordinary courage and dedication to save the lives of Jewish people during the Holocaust. The scene at the end of movie is gripping, haunting. Although he had given a huge amount of his resources and made a massive impact, he says in tears with intense emotion, “I could have got more. I threw away so much money. I did not do enough.” He pulls a gold pin off his jacket and says, “I could have sold it and saved one more person.” (It’s worth looking up the clip to watch it.)

May we be equally compelled. When you give to your local church, you impact children and students. Kids’ lives are literally saved spiritually and physically—and you are changed in the process. Like Oskar Schindler, most of us look back on so much money we have wasted, money that could have been invested in saving lives with the gospel of Jesus.

Schindler wished he had given even more. The Scripture calls you to grow in generosity, to excel in the grace of giving. However, godly giving is not inspired by guilt, but by joy. When you give generously you create joy. You put a smile on God’s face. You put a smile on others’ faces when you meet their physical needs and even more when you fund the gospel that saves them eternally. Giving brings blessings. It creates joy.

Reflect

Our generous giving should be progressively growing so we excel in the grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7). How has your giving grown over your lifetime? How do you hope it grows in the years ahead?

[1] Some manuscripts in our love for you