Spiritual Gifts – Giving

As believers, God has given us spiritual gifts to be used
effectively in expanding His ministry on earth. One of
those gifts is Giving and when it is effectively used, it
will contribute to the Lord’s purpose. It doesn’t require
a special ability or talent, but it does require a heart for
pleasing God and a desire to be an active servant in His
ministry.

CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Has a keen ability to make wise purchases and investments
in order to have resources available for giving.
– Is careful and wise in the use of their finances.
– Does not have to have the very best of everything.
– Is not extravagant.
– Doesn’t make purchases to impress others.

2. Has a desire to give quietly to effective ministries or projects,
without receiving public notice or accolades.
– Is motivated by a ‘desire to give’ and not by a desire ‘to be recognized’.
– Does not need public approval in order to give.
– May readily confess they tithe, but are private about the amount.

3. Enjoys meeting needs without the pressure of appeals.
– Is turned off by high pressure tactics to give.
– Doesn’t need pressure tactics to be motivated.
– Needs information, direction, know-how, and time to wisely give
the way he or she believes God wants him or her to give to His kingdom.

4. Has a desire to use his or her giving as a way to motivate others to give.
– Knows the value and blessings of giving,
and wants others to experience the same joy in giving.
– Enjoys giving, and as a result, expects less than others;
doesn’t maintain a balance sheet of giving versus receiving.

5. Has an ability to see financial needs that other people tend to overlook.
– Looks for ways of being used by God through giving.

6. Has an ability to test faithfulness and wisdom
by observing the way people handle their finances (Luke 16).

7. Has a tendency to practice personal frugality,
and an ability to be content with the basic necessities of life.
– Doesn’t need a multitude of ‘things’ for satisfaction.
– He or she might have some nice things,
but doesn’t have a lot of them, and doesn’t “need” them to be happy.
– Doesn’t try to accumulate, but instead, lives to give.

8. Has a tremendous joy when his or her gift is an answer to a specific
prayer (this lets him or her know that they were used by God).

9. Has a dependency on his partner’s counsel (wife, husband,
or close friend) to confirm the amount of the gift.
– Will listen to his partner’s suggestions
to help determine God’s direction concerning a gift.
Note: God will bring the two of them into harmony
concerning the gift.

10. Is concerned that his or her gift is of high quality
(even if it is better than what they own).
– He or she wants to show good stewardship.
Note: The gift is an expression of his or her love.

11. Has a desire to feel that he or she is a part of the gift.
– Values being used as an instrument of the Lord.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS:
1. The need to be conscious and careful with their finances:
– May appear to be a focus on worldly values, or stinginess.
– May cause people to feel, “All they think about is money”.

2. The desire to increase the effectiveness of a ministry:
– May appear to be an attempt to control the work of the ministry.

3. Any attempts to encourage others to give:
– May appear to be putting pressure on others, who have less, to give.
Note: He or she doesn’t want others to miss out on the blessings of giving,
so he or she encourages giving, but does not put pressure on others.

4. Lack of response to pressure appeals to give:
– May appear as a lack of generosity.
– They do not want their gifts to be a result of pressure,
but out of love and a desire to give.
Note: When the pressure disappears, they are ready to give.

5. The personal frugality by which he or she may live:
– May appear to friends and relatives as selfishness,
and not meeting their own family needs
(a son may say, “Dad, you seem to be giving away
a lot, how about getting me a new car?”).

There are some distinct differences in the use and results
of this gift when a person is ‘walking in the Spirit’
versus ‘walking in the flesh’.
1. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Thrifty; economical; frugal.
1. WALKING IN THE FLESH
Extravagant buying.

2. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Resourceful (if a need arises, he or she will find a way to work it out).
2. WALKING IN THE FLESH
Wasteful (spending on self is extravagant,
which diminishes what is available to give).

3. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Contented (is pleased with God’s provisions for living).
Driven by a desire to please God.
3. WALKING IN THE FLESH
Covetous (is pleased when they have better than what others have).
Driven by a desire to please self.

4. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Punctuality (when an opportunity to give arises,
he or she responds immediately).
4. WALKING IN THE FLESH
Tardiness (misses out on opportunities to give, as a result of thinking
about how they need to keep money to fulfill their own desires)

5. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Obedient (when they feel God wants them to give, they give).
5. WALKING IN THE FLESH
Prejudice (rejects certain groups or persons as recipients of gifts).

6. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Cautious (doesn’t rush in to give large sums of money,
but instead, gathers all the facts and evaluates them first).
Has a concern regarding giving to the wrong areas which
reduces what they should give to God’s purposes.
6. WALKING IN THE FLESH
Rashness (makes decisions that are costly, expensive
and without wisdom, vision, or consultation with God).
Is vulnerable to being persuaded to make luxurious purchases.

7. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Gratefulness (recognizes God’s mercy and goodness
and wants to be used by Him).
7. WALKING IN THE FLESH
Unthankful (focused on his or her finances and possessions, rather
than appreciating what God has provided, and His desire for them to give).