Giving as a King

Few things make as large an impact as simple generosity.  Being generous makes others feel welcome and loved.  It is both personal and practical.  The beautiful thing about giving is you need not be a king to have the generous heart of one.  God was more pleased with the two mites of the poor widow than the surplus gold of the wealthy.  All the money and precious resources of the earth are already Gods:  He loves to see a heart lay hold of His giving heart.  2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us of God's perspective:  He loves a cheerful giver.  Givers consider the needs of others more important than bolstering their own reserves.  Because Christians find their provision and security in God and not in things of this world, our giving ought to emulate the giving of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Last night I read a great example of giving in 2 Samuel which describes the aftermath of David numbering the children of Israel.  A grievous plague broke out among the people, and King David approached Araunah with an offer to buy his threshing floor for the purpose of offering a sacrifice to God.  2 Samuel 24:22-24 reads, "And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. ²³ All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. ²⁴ And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."

Araunah was not a king, but verse 23 says he had the generosity of a king.  He offered his threshing floor, oxen, and even his tools and equipment for kindling wood!  David had asked to pay for the threshing floor, but Araunah offered the threshing floor, oxen, and tools at no cost!  He gave unto his king as he would unto God.  Though David was a king, he refused even such kingly benefits.  He knew something about giving to God as well.  David refused to give to God which cost him nothing.  Araunah's generosity revealed his heart.

David's philosophy of giving is one we ought to observe.  If he would not give to God what cost him nothing, then all David gave to God cost him something.  In fact, it is clear through scripture that because Jesus has purchased believers with His own blood, we owe Him everything!  Everything God requires us to do will come at a cost.  Yet it is an amazing thing:  giving unto the LORD is not without great benefits!  When we give in faith, we recognise that God knows our needs, has led and enabled us to give, and will not forget to supply our needs - even as He faithfully supplies food and water for birds every day.  Once our eyes are opened to how God freely has given to us, we then follow His example to give as He leads.

Let's give God our first and best.  Let us not be content to give our leftovers, but tithes and offerings which He richly deserves.  God's willing to receive your tithes and offerings, but not your donations.  It's a funny thing - I've never known anyone who gave themselves into bankruptcy.  People become bankrupt when they overextend their finances on themselves.  A man who goes bankrupt giving unto God can never be bankrupt, because such a man is rich in God.  He is a wise man who gives as a king on earth and stores up heavenly rewards which do not make wings and fly away.  Let us give of our time in God's service, even if it is at great cost to us.  Jesus is coming quickly, and His reward is with Him!