Over the past thirty-eight years of our church, God has blessed us to witness a powerful truth continually. Our growth in both local and foreign Gospel work has been significantly advanced through the generous and sacrificial giving of our members and friends.
Time and again, when God opened doors for us to proclaim Christ, whether through church planting, missionary support, evangelism, or strengthening of our home ministries, it was your Spirit-led giving that made those efforts possible. Brethren, moved by a desire to see the church advance in her endeavours for the expansion of the Gospel, have consistently responded with open hearts and open hands, giving not only out of abundance, but often through personal sacrifice.
We saw this once again just two weeks ago. When we brought before you the urgent need to meet the deficit for the current financial year, your response was swift and gracious. Many gave cheerfully and promptly, and by God’s grace, the entire shortfall was fully covered.
This is no small matter. It is a clear mark of God’s hand upon our church, working mightily through us as we walk in faith and obedience, with hearts set on seeking first the kingdom of God. Such generosity not only strengthens the ministry, but also fosters unity, faith and joy within the body.
Let us continue in this spirit. This new fiscal year, we have much more to accomplish in the local and foreign Gospel endeavours. God has given us these opportunities, and we should not hesitate to undertake them. For as we give, we grow in grace, Gospel missions, and eternal fruit for the glory of God.
Giving in the church encompasses more than finances. While tithes and offerings are important, the New Testament calls the church to a wide-ranging generosity.
Giving Financially
Paul exhorted the Corinthian church to be intentional and cheerful in their giving: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Our giving should not be under compulsion, but it should flow from a grateful heart.
Giving Time and Service
The church must also give of her time and spiritual gifts in service. The apostle Peter exhorts: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
Every believer has been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit, not for self-exaltation, but for the edification of the body and the advancement of the Gospel. When the members of Christ’s church offer their time and talents willingly and joyfully, the whole body thrives.
Whether one has the gift of teaching, serving, encouraging, leading, praying, showing mercy, or organising ministries, each has a role to play in building up the church. A giving church is a working, serving church. And a serving church is a growing church.
Spiritual gifts left unused are like lamps hidden under a bushel. But when offered to the Lord, they become instruments of divine grace, pointing others to Christ and strengthening the household of faith.
Likewise, time is also a sacred gift from God, woven with divine purpose. Each moment carries opportunities ordained by His providence—to serve, to grow, to bless, and to glorify Him. To value time rightly is to recognise that every hour holds a doorway to obey the will and purposes of the One who orders our steps. The stewardship of God-given time and gift is not optional; it is a sacred trust.
Giving Love and Forgiveness
Perhaps the most powerful gift a church can offer is genuine love and forgiveness. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). The early church’s growth was fuelled by her passionate love and hospitality. They broke bread together with gladness and singleness of heart, bearing one another’s burdens, meeting one another’s needs, and welcoming strangers as family. Whether Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, male or female—all found equal footing at the foot of the cross. This Christlike love was the fragrance of the early church, drawing multitudes who longed for truth and hope. When the early church practised this kind of generosity, the results were astonishing: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32). Their giving created unity, eradicated need, and built mutual trust in the community.
In these days of selfishness and bitter quarrels, genuine love is very rare in this world. Even in churches and Christian families, many people cease to express genuine love and forgiveness. But the church that yields to the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord has abundantly supplied to His people, can produce the spiritual fruit of love (cf. Gal. 5:22-23).
Scripture consistently connects generosity with an increase in the church’s spiritual vitality and outreach effectiveness. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 directly links generous giving to both spiritual abundance and fruitfulness in ministry. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”. Those who give cheerfully are promised sufficiency and grace to abound in good works, including outreach and service.
A giving church attracts, not by marketing or manipulation, but by the compelling testimony of God’s love in action. Acts 2 presents this model: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship… And all that believed were together… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:42, 44, 47). Notice the connection: They gave. They fellowshipped. They taught. And the Lord added. Gospel growth is God’s work, but He uses the faithful generosity of His people as His instrument.
When a church fails to give, her growth is severely curtailed. The Laodicean church in Revelation claimed to be rich, but Christ rebuked them: “Because thou sayest, I am rich… and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor…” (Revelation 3:17). They had ceased to give from the heart. Their spiritual stagnation came from misplaced trust in material wealth. A stingy spirit leads to spiritual starvation.
Hoarding, fear, distrust and selfishness will choke the life out of a church. But the spiritual increase promised will be enjoyed when biblical giving is maintained – freely, cheerfully, and faithfully.
The church of Jesus Christ is called to be a giving body because she represents the giving Saviour. The more she pours out in love, generosity, time and service, the more she will be blessed by God with spiritual vitality and numerical increase that God promised.
