Without expression, love cannot survive. We know that genuine love finds expression in giving because of the example we have experienced in the love of God. His love found expression in the gift of His Son.
Giving that is motivated by love will be unselfish in its expression. The early church was well-known for her amazing generosity. In Acts 4:32, we read that “the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them.” Then, in verse 34, we read: “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need.” Although this was a very unusual set of circumstances in Jerusalem at the time; it was, nonetheless, a powerful demonstration of their unselfishness. Their love for one another, as expressed in their giving, began when they accepted God’s free gift of salvation in Christ.
Unselfish love does not ask, “How much do I have to give?” but “How much have I been blessed?” God expects better of us than giving just because we “have to.” God requires that we first give Him our hearts.
Jesus reminds us that “God so loved the world that He gave…” (Jn. 3:16). While emphasis is given to the act of giving; we should keep in mind that God’s love did not begin with the gift but resulted in the gift. In other words, God doesn’t love us because of the gift of His Son; rather, He gave the gift of His Son because of His great love for us. Paul says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Love preceded and motivated the precious gift presented at Calvary. God so loved that He gave….
Our giving should be based on the same principle. Paul commended the Macedonian brethren who, in spite of their “deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality” (2 Cor. 8:2). The next verse goes on to say that they gave “beyond their ability” and “of their own accord.” They were not pushed into giving. In fact, they begged for the opportunity (vs. 4). But the key principle in all of this is revealed in verse five where Paul tells us that “they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”
Giving precedes its offering. Give yourself to God and see if that doesn’t impact the way you give of yourself to others and to the Lord!