Who will Cry When I Die? : The importance of Sacrificial Giving

I cannot forget a Book by Robin Sharma called "Who will cry when you die". The title inspired me to think, and often I ask myself the same question: who will cry when I die? Maybe not literally, but who will genuinely grieve? 

Apart from my family and a couple of friends, I really can't count any. We are so involved with self and careers and God knows what else, we forget to carve out a legacy which we can leave behind. And why should we ? 

Because "Life" is not a career; life is not about just us. There is nothing wrong about doing things for us but that is not the ends. Life is the means to the end. Life is living in harmony with the world around us. Taking care of the world and people around us. Using our talents wisely for the benefit of others. 

Everything we have comes from above. Do we even stop to give thanks? here is how Hen Smith defined it nearly 50 years ago and presented by Rosemary Seimens in a musical format https://youtu.be/qCm8isaSoiI

But seriously. Do we share our blessings, our talents as Rosemary has done? I know of at least 5 individuals, and a couple of great musicians and song writers, who perform the Lord's songs on demand. But never on their own. 

Hebrews 13:16 says-

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Note the word "sacrifices" and "sharing". 

Pastor Rajiv has already talked about sacrificial giving or sharing in the last two posts and clearly defined what it means to give and more so, what is sacrificial giving. 

Careers and material things will end one day as will life itself. What will last will be the legacy we leave. Can we start creating it? 

Think about it. Who will cry when you die. 

The 5 Principles of Sacrificial Giving: Pastor Rajiv's Message

Excel in Giving

1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much urgency [a]that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

2 Corinthians 8 Verses 1 to 7

Continuing our study from yesterday, PAUL’S PASSAGE TEACHES US FIVE PRINCIPLES OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING.

THESE ARE –

1. SACRIFICIAL GIVING GOES BEYOND THE SPECIFIC GIVING

The word sacrifice comes from the latin word “sacra” which means sacred and ficeo meaning ‘to make. So sacrifice means to make sacred or to make Holy. In other words to devote to god.

2. THE OLD TESTAMENT DEFINE “GIVING” BY LAW. THE NEW TESTAMENT ON THE OTHER HAND, DEFINES IT AS GIVING IS OUT OF LOVE.

Giving is through grace, through love, and, from the generosity of the heart as Paul points out in verse 3.

3. OT GIVING IS OBLIGATION SPECIFIC  NT GIVING IS OTHERS SPECIFIC.

4. OT GIVING WAS BY PERCENTAGE (TITHE)  NT GIVING IS BY PROPORTION

In verses 2 & 3 2 Paul says, “that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing”

5. SACRIFICIAL GIVING IS SPONTANEOUS.

It is not done out of obligation or because it had to be done. THE SPONTANEITY COMES FROM THE NATURAL OUTPOURING OF GOD’S LOVE IN ONE’S HEART.

Finally, Paul clearly states that GIVING WAS A RESPONSIBILTY in the Old Testament. But it is a “response” as per the New Testament. We are not bound to give, but because we received grace freely, our hearts respond to need by giving, and giving whole heartedly.

In verses 8 and 9 he says, “I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich”.

Today as we travel through life as stewards of this earth and our fellow men, we are faced with needs all around us. What is our response going to be? Share what we have got out of grace or share what is left over from our own wants. Let us not forget God's desire from us stewards - 

Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it".

Giving that Hurts: Pastor Rajiv's Series on Sacrificial Giving

* Photo Credit: The Kindness Blog 

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Stewardship can be viewed from the biblical sense as the use of God-given gifts and resources for the accomplishment of God-given goals and objectives.

As stewards on this earth, it is our responsibility to use what He has given abundantly, for His purpose. Sharing and giving are all part of it, specially sacrificial giving.

The text book definition of sacrificial giving is “Giving beyond your means (Giving money that you really should be putting somewhere else, not giving money that you don't have) Giving that hurts. Going without something that we want/need in order to supply for the needs of another”. 

The most glaring example of Sacrificial is in Mark Chapter 12:44 - "For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Are there justifiable opportunities to do this? Sure! Look at Turkey and Syria where the death toll has crossed 40,000 and more than 9 Million people have been affected. Food shortages in many parts of the world leave millions hungry everyday. You don’t have to look, they come in the news every single day.

In the Biblical context, “giving’ can take many connotations like tithing, sharing, sacrificial giving etc. The difference between the old and New Testament on this subject is the difference between legal compulsion to give (Old Testament) and the giving through grace (New Testament). The concept of giving and sharing is so important that it is critical we understand it in the deepest sense to be able to fulfil our purpose as stewards, that God laid out for us.

In the next few days we will delve deeper into this subject and understand the cause and the depth of Sacrificial giving and why it is so important.

Next: The Five Principles of Sacrificial Giving