Question: I’m a Christian with a very low income.  Should I be expected to give money to help others?

Answer:  Yes!  “…Remembering the words  the Lord Jesus,  Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (NIV)  This verse from Acts 20:35 sums up how Christians should view giving.  All income levels should want to be blessed by God.  Even giving one dollar, if that’s all you have to give, will be a blessing to you.  That’s because God knows your heart and your circumstances.  Remember the story from Luke 21: 1-4 about the poor widow.  “As He looked up,  Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  “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. ”  Don’t you believe that this widow was blessed?

Likewise, Christians should also recognize that you’d be giving from what God has blessed you to have.  For we know from 1st Chronicles 29:11  that “…everything in heaven and earth is yours.  Yours, O Lord, is the Kingdom….”  It all really belongs to the Lord, anyway.  Still, in Malachi 3:8-10, God says, “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.”  God has promised to bless those who give.  We know that God does not break His promises!   Christians of all income levels can trust in the promises of God.

Also, all Christians should want to give to help others.  No one should have to beg Believers to give.  Believers should desire to give and give generously.  As 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says,  “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,  and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,  for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Finally, don’t be overly concerned that those who have more than you should be giving more to help others.   The Lord knows what each of us is giving or not giving.  He will judge accordingly.  Be more concerned with how much you are giving.  Be sure that you are not making excuses for why you can’t give more while at the same time you are willingly spending  plenty on non-essentials like the latest fashions, expensive hobbies, or pricey entertainment.  Again, if you are giving your best or not giving your best, God knows.   He wants to bless you, so be a cheerful giver.    For Christians know that it’s not just the other guy who needs to give, but you, too!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family     http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine   www.worldmag.com