Purposeful Giving, Part 3

Give with Simplicity

In my early days of fellowship with my heavenly Father, I didn’t have a lot of financial or material resources. When I first learned from God’s Word about giving, I thought, “That sounds easy to do, I will give it a try!”

Since then it has been an adventure seeing God always take care of me as I’ve trusted Him to provide. And I’ve learned along the way that God wants us to give with simplicity.

Romans 12:8:
He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity.

The Greek word translated “simplicity” is haplotēs, and can be defined as, “not self-seeking; an openness of heart manifesting itself by generosity; having a readiness of heart; answering the need without a second thought.” Anyone who gives God’s way won’t be self-seeking, but will have a ready and generous heart that loves to meet needs.

You Cannot Serve God and Mammon

The adjective form of this word, haplous, is translated “clear” in Matthew 6:22. In context, it illuminates the spiritual nature of serving the master that we’ve chosen to love.

Matthew 6:22-24: [Amplified Bible]
The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts].
But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].

Jesus Christ understood the importance of staying clear with God’s Word in his heart and not being blinded by the allure of money, material things, or man’s opinion. He gave of all his heart to serve God, to give with simplicity. He always did the will of His Father.

Every Good and Perfect Gift 

We follow Jesus Christ’s example. You and I give with love as he did because we serve the same God, clearly perceiving spiritually that His way is right and beneficial for all. Our heavenly Father always gives good and perfect gifts. He is the Father of lights!

James 1:17:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God Himself gives generously; He is ready to meet our need whenever we ask Him.

James 1:5:
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally [haplōs], and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

In this verse, the word “liberally” is the adverb form of the noun “simplicity” from Romans 12:8. This verse specifically says that God will generously give us all the wisdom we need. And how abundantly do we need wisdom in our giving!

Our heavenly Father is at work within us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13), showing us where the need is among His people, how and when we can help meet the need. Furthermore, He is the source and provider of all we have to give.

Blessings Abound in Thanks to God

II Corinthians 9:6-8: [NIV]
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Can II Corinthians 9:8 really be that simple? Can my only contribution be a heart to give generously, trusting God to provide? Will God then bless me so abundantly that I will be ready anywhere and anytime to abound in every good work? What a walk with the Father! Could life get any better? But there’s more.

II Corinthians 9:10,11: [NIV]
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

What a joy to live so genuinely and generously. As we give with God’s supply, we are enriched; and those who receive our generosity will give thanks to Him.

Verses 12-15:
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Can you hear the love and full sharing of God’s grace in these verses? The result is a wonderful bond of love between giver and recipient. Those who receive of the grace we give will have overflowing thanks to God and their hearts will go out to you! Why? Because you not only say you believe the good news of Christ, you live it.

After “giving it a try” for a while, I see more each day how God blesses me for giving to others His way. We can decide each day to have a ready and generous heart that loves to meet needs. When we give with simplicity, generously, liberally, to supply the needs of the Lord’s people, we are living proof of the good news of Christ and a glory to God. Thanks be to God that we are a part of His glorious plan of love!

PREVIOUS:  Purposeful Giving, Part 2: Who Needs It?