The Apostle Paul declared unto the Ephesian elders “I coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:33-35). Paul ministered the gospel at his own expense. He was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) and used this vocation to cover his expenses as well as those who assisted him in the gospel ministry.
Paul refused to give any opportunity for others to think that he was profiting from the gospel. He acknowledged to the Thessalonians that he could have made himself “burdensome” to them since he was an apostle and could have expected their financial and material support. However, he and his co-workers labored “night and day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you” (I Thessalonians 2:6-9).
In so doing, Paul exemplified one of the earmarks of genuine Christianity: giving instead of receiving. This was both the example and exhortation of Christ during his earthly ministry. He ministered wherever he went, giving of himself unto others. Consequently, he taught his disciples and all who would follow him afterwards to do likewise. Jesus testified “whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man [Christ] came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).
Giving is at the heart of Christianity because it is the heart of God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; emphasis added). When we become children of God through faith in Christ, it is natural that the love of God would flow through us unto others. John wrote “we love because he first loved us” (I John 4:19). Paul connected the idea of giving and loving together when he wrote to the Corinthian believers about his love for them without expecting return. “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Corinthians 12:15). When it comes to how we deal with others, Christians are to be givers, not takers.
This giving mindset is to govern every area of the Christian’s life. For example, Paul told the Ephesians “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). As believers, we should not think of our livelihood as the acquisition of material things for self-indulgence. Instead we should care for our own needs with simplicity so that we may help others in their need. To be ready in this fashion mandates that we hold loosely that which God has given us and not count it dear to our hearts. Rather, as Paul told the Philippians, we are with balance to “look not every man on his own things [only], but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4).
Does a giving spirit characterize your life? If we are controlled by his Spirit, we can be sure that it does.
From the Chaplain 