THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL; THIS IS A COMMAND. Christ is not just asking us to give money. He is asking us to give of our life, of our time, of our talents and skills, and of our treasures.
Gleaning from Luke chapter 6, here are several reasons WHY WE GIVE:
1. WE GIVE BECAUSE WE ARE RECIPIENTS OF HIS MERCY. (click here to read this)
2. WE GIVE SO THAT WE CAN EXPERIENCE HOW GOD GIVES. (click here to read this)
3. WE GIVE BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE LIGHT, "HAS CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT" AND WE WANT TO LEAD OTHERS TO HIM WHO CAN DELIVER THEM FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS. (click here to read this)
4. WE GIVE BECAUSE WE ARE HIS FOLLOWERS/DISCIPLES WHO EMULATE FROM OUR MASTER. (click here to read this)
5. WE GIVE BECAUSE GOD HAS TRANSFORMED US FROM BEING AN EVIL MAN TO A GOOD MAN. (click here to read this)
6. WE GIVE BECAUSE OUR LIVES HAVE GOOD FOUNDATIONS.
Jesus spoke these words in parable form in Luke 6.47 and 48, "Whosoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings, and does them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man who built a house, and dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."
If and when our life is founded on the BASIC FOUNDATION of coming to the Lord consistently, listening and obeying His Word intently, even when we pass through difficult tests of adversity or any form of crisis, WE WILL GIVE. We will give cheerfully of ourselves, of our time, of our talents, and of our treasures because of our foundation.
Let us not forget what He said in verse 47: COME TO ME, LISTEN TO ME, and DO THEM TO GLORIFY ME.
