Learning How to Give ... Again

For many years as a single adult Christian, I regularly tithed and gave above and beyond offering gifts. As a newly married couple, we gave generously. And the Lord blessed our lives. Then, one day a few years ago, we began to have financial troubles, and the extra giving from us stopped. 

For the last couple of years, even our tithe has not been a full and true "tithe." I gave excuses and plead my case to the Lord ... you know I'm a missionary, right? You know that in addition to getting a lower salary than most in my field, I also take a cut in pay, right? 

Well, all along this journey, my husband has been graciously waiting for me to "get on board." And so, we've begun giving in faith ... a faith promise between us and the Lord, knowing he always takes care of us. It has been hard! But stretching one's faith always is. But it's also good, knowing and trusting him fully. 

I hope this article encourages you and spurs you on to step out in faith.

How God Taught Me to Give

by Oswald J. Smith

I shall never forget how God taught me to give. I had been pastor of a large church in the city of Toronto. One day I resigned and on the first Sunday of January became pastor of a church which knew how to give in a way I had never known. I started in this pastorate at a time when the church was holding its annual missionary convention.

Now I knew nothing about a missionary convention, I didn’t know the first thing to do. So I just sat on the platform and watched.

The ushers went down the aisles giving out envelopes. To my amazement, one had the audacity to hand me—the pastor!--an envelope. I can still remember that moment as though it were yesterday.

As I held the envelope I read, “In dependence upon God I will endeavor to give toward the missionary work of the church $_____ during the coming year.” I did not know that God was going to deal with me that morning, and teach me a lesson that I was never to forget--a lesson that later I was to teach to hundreds of others.

I started to pray. I said, “Lord God, I can’t do anything. You know I have nothing. I haven’t a cent in the bank. I haven’t anything in my pocket. This church only pays me $25.00 a week. I have a wife and child. We are trying to buy our home; prices are sky high.”

“I know that,” the Lord seemed to answer me. “I know you are getting $25.00 a week. I know you have nothing in your pocket and nothing in the bank.”

‘Well, then,” I said, relieved, “that settles it. I have nothing to give and I can’t give anything.” It was then the Lord spoke to my heart. I shall never forget it.

“I am not asking you for what you have,” He said.

“You are not asking me for what I have, Lord?” I replied. “Then what are You asking?”

“I am asking you for a faith offering. How much can you trust Me for?”

“Oh, Lord,” I exclaimed, “that’s different. How much can I trust You for?”

Of course, I knew nothing about a faith offering. But I knew the Lord was speaking. I thought He might say $5.00, or perhaps even $10.00. I almost trembled as I awaited the answer. Then it came. Now of course God didn’t speak to me in an audible voice, but He might just as well have.

“How much can I give?” I asked.

“Fifty dollars!” I exclaimed. “Why that’s two weeks’ salary!”

But again the Lord spoke and it was still the same amount. It was just as clear to me as though He had spoken out loud.

My hand trembled as I signed my name and wrote in the amount--$50.00.

How I ever paid that amount, I don’t know to this day. All I know is that every month I had to pray for $4.00. And every month God provided it. At the end of the year I had paid $50.00. As I paid the final amount I realized I had received the greatest blessing of my life!

I had trusted God for a certain amount and He had met it. So great was the spiritual blessing that the next year at the convention, I doubled the amount and gave $100.00. Then, at another convention, I doubled the amount again and gave $200.00. At still another convention I doubled it once more and gave $400.00. Then later I doubled it again and made it $800.00. From that day to this I have been increasing the amount and sending it to the Bank of Heaven year by year. If I had waited until I had it, I never would have given it because I never would have received it. I gave a faith offering and God honored it.

That was the first time, I say, that I had ever given what I call a faith offering. The Apostle Paul often took up “faith promise offerings.” He asked a church to promise a certain amount, and gave them a year to pay it. As the year drew to a close, he sent someone to remind the church of their faith promise before he arrived (see 2 Corinthians 9). A faith promise offering is a scriptural offering, it is a Pauline offering, and God blesses it.

Have you only given cash offerings? It requires little faith to give a cash offering. If I have a dollar in my pocket, all I have to do is take it out and put in on the plate. I don’t have to ask God for it. I don’t have to trust Him for any definite amount. I just have it and give it.

But it is entirely different with a faith promise offering. I have to pray and ask God how much He would have me give, then trust Him for it. Month by month I must go to Him in prayer and ask Him for the amount promised. I must wait upon Him until it comes in. What a blessing such dependence brings!

For well over a quarter of a century now, that is the kind of offering I have taken for missions. In our annual missionary convention we never get more than six or seven thousand dollars in cash, but we get a quarter of a million or more in faith promises! And it always comes in! More comes in than the amount promised!

I am not talking about pledges. A pledge offering is between you and a church, between you and a missionary society. Some day the deacons may collect it, or you may receive a letter reminding you of it. You can be held responsible for a pledge offering.

A faith promise offering is between you and God. No official will ever call on you to collect it. No one will ever send you a letter about it. If you are unable to pay it, all you have to do is to tell God about it. Give Him your reason. If He accepts it, you are free.

This, my friend, is the greatest investment you can make. You should make money for Him, use what you need to live on and give as much as you can for the work of evangelization. Put your money where it will accomplish the most for God. Put it into the getting out of the Gospel. Put it into the souls of men. Use it for those who have never heard the message.

Perhaps God would have you support a missionary or Christian organization and then another, and another. Make a faith promise offering unto Him, then trust Him to help you meet it. Immeasurable blessing will be yours.