Spiritual Gift of Giving

The spiritual gift of giving is one that enables a believer to recognize God’s blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously, sacrificially, and cheerfully giving of one’s resources (time, talent, and treasure) without thought of return.

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV)

This gift can be described generally in two different ways:

Personal Giving

A deeper desire to give to the church body and others in need. This goes beyond the traditional tithe. It’s a divine enablement to contribute money and resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness. The giver receives great personal satisfaction and joy from giving, and they do not want the praise or recognition for giving. They are unpretentious in their lifestyle, frugal, always looking for a bargain. They like to spend any savings they gleam on others and helping the church. People with this gift do not ask, “How much money do I need to give to God?” but “How much money do I need to live on?”

Cultivating Resources

A gift for resourcefulness and motivation. Those with this gift find ways to meet needs and have an innate ability to persuade in speech and written word. They do not use deception or high pressure sales tactics but instead exude love and confidence through the spirit. Clear communicators, they are able to share needs and show others how they can help meet them through their own examples. They are not impulsive or over-bearing in their work.

Martin Luther on the Spiritual Gift of Giving

Martin Luther, the famous German theologian and leader of the Protestant Reformation, believed that the spiritual gift of giving was an important aspect of Christian faith and practice. He believed that giving was a way for believers to express their gratitude for God’s blessings and to support the work of the church and the needs of others.

Luther emphasized that giving should be voluntary and cheerful, not coerced or done out of a sense of obligation. He believed that giving should be motivated by love and a desire to serve others, rather than a desire for personal gain or recognition.

In his writings and sermons, Luther often used the biblical story of the widow’s mite as an example of the importance of giving. In this story, a poor widow gives two small coins to the temple treasury, which Jesus notes as a greater gift than the large amounts given by the wealthy because she gave all she had out of her poverty.

John Wesley on the Spiritual Gift of Giving

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, believed that the spiritual gift of giving was a vital aspect of Christian discipleship. He saw giving as a way for believers to express their love for God and their concern for others.

Wesley emphasized that giving should be done in a spirit of generosity, selflessness, and gratitude. He believed that giving should not be motivated by a desire for personal gain or recognition, but rather by a desire to serve others and to support the work of the church.

Wesley also believed in the importance of responsible stewardship, encouraging believers to use their resources wisely and to avoid excessive or wasteful spending. He taught that giving should be done in proportion to one’s income and should be planned and intentional.

In his sermons and writings, Wesley often used the biblical story of the widow’s mite as an example of the importance of giving. He also stressed the idea of sacrificial giving, encouraging believers to give beyond what they might initially feel comfortable with, trusting that God would provide for their needs.

The Catholic Church on the Spiritual Gift of Giving

The Catholic Church also recognizes the spiritual gift of giving as an important aspect of Christian discipleship. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that giving is a way for believers to participate in God’s plan for the world and to contribute to the common good.

Catholic teaching emphasizes that giving should be done in a spirit of generosity and compassion, motivated by a love for God and a desire to serve others. The Church encourages believers to give not only of their material possessions, but also of their time, talents, and skills.

Catholic teaching also stresses the importance of responsible stewardship, encouraging believers to use their resources wisely and to support the work of the Church and other charitable organizations.

The Church recognizes the biblical principle of tithing as a guideline for giving, but also acknowledges that giving should be done in proportion to one’s income and personal circumstances.

People with this Gift:

Manage their finances and limit their lifestyle in order to give as much of their resources as possible
Support the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance the Kingdom
Meet tangible needs that enable spiritual growth to occur
Provide resources, generously and cheerfully, trusting God for His provision
May have a special ability to make money so that they may use it to further God’s work
Gives quietly, humbly, and not wanting attention drawn to themselves for their gifts

Bible References

Matthew 6:1-4	Do not do your acts of righteousness in front of men
Matthew 25:14-30	Parable of the Talents
Mark 12:41-44	Widow and her two small coins
Luke 14:12-14	When you have a banquet, invite the poor and you will be blessed
Acts 20:35	It is more blessed to give than receive
Romans 12:8	Paul mentions the gift of giving
1 Corinthians 13:3	Without love, giving is meaningless
2 Corinthians 8:1-7	Excel in giving as much as you excel in anything
2 Corinthians 9:6-15	Sowing generously

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References