Give

Christian giving is allowing the character of God to be expressed in the behavior of a person in whom God dwells. As the summation of God’s character is Love, Christian giving expresses God’s Love for others. God is Love (I John 4:8,16). Divine love seeks the highest good of another, with no thought of what I get out of it. God’s love is unconditional and unselfish. He wants to express His character through His people.

Paul tells the Corinthians that by giving they can "prove…the sincerity of their love." (II Cor. 8:8). Later he encourages them to "openly before the churches demonstrate the proof of your love…" (II Cor 8:24).

We love, we give, because the loving, giving God is living and operative in us. Christian love is an expression of God’s loving character. Christian giving is an expression of God’s giving character which has been given to us by the presence of the Spirit of Christ, the presence of Jesus indwelling the Christian.

—James A. Fowler, Christian Giving