With what attitude should Christians contribute to the support of evangelists and those in need?
Hopefully, before we give to anyone or any cause, we pray and ask the Lord to guide us. There are times when giving is very appropriate. There are times when it is inappropriate. We need the Lord’s guidance to show us when to give and who to give to. If we have determined that it is the Lord’s will that we give to an evangelist, someone in need, or anyone else, then our attitude should be as the Lord’s attitude. We read prophetically of the Lord in Psalms 40:8 where He says, “I delight to do thy will, O my God…” This involves more that doing the Lord’s will, this involves loving to do His will. 2 Corinthians 9 speaks to us about “ministering to the saints.” In giving to the needs of the saints, we read in verse 7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER.” How the Lord wants our hearts to be like His, the giver of all good!
If we are able to pass by those who are in need without desiring to help them, how can we say that we have the love of God in us? 1 John 3:17, tells us, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Notice that it is the love of God that will compel us to give. If you are truly saved, you have the love of God within you. Romans 5:5 says that, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” If we are not moved to give when we see a brother in true need, then how can we say we have the love of God? What should be our motivation? LOVE. Always LOVE. We read of the Lord Jesus in Galatians 2:20 that He, “…loved me, and gave himself for me.” Christ’s motivation to give Himself for us was LOVE. We should be moved to give because of our love for them and for the Lord.
The Lord may lead us to support an evangelist or missionary. We should be able to give our money without hesitation when the Lord leads us to do so. If the Lord leads us to give and we are obedient to His leading, then He will reward us for our obedience and faithfulness. Let’s consider Ephesians 4:28, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, THAT HE MAY HAVE TO GIVE TO HIM THAT NEEDETH.” This is a good reason for us to be thrifty and save our money. The Lord may want us to save our money so that we can give it away to someone who needs it, whether it be a poor starving person, or a missionary who needs money to continue his labor for the Lord.
In 2 Corinthians 8, the Apostle Paul speaks of the churches of Macedonia. He says of them in verse 2, “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” Although these people were going through great afflictions, they had abundance of joy, and although in poverty, they were generous in their giving. It is the love of God that allows us to look beyond our own wants and needs to see the needs of others and to graciously and joyously give as the Lord leads.
In Acts 20:35 we are told to remember the words of the Lord when He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” There is a blessing to us from the Lord when we give according to His leading, and we do it joyfully. If you find yourself less than happy to give to others, you should pray, asking the Lord to give you a proper heart to rejoice in being able to minister to others as the Lord leads. (259.8)