Sacrificial Giving

I have heard people talk about sacrificial giving since I started going to church some 30 years ago. Lately I have begun to question the thought that is behind the term. What is sacrificial giving? Is it giving more than a tithe? Is it giving until it hurts? Is it always about money?

Webster’s Dictionary defines sacrifice as, “The act of giving up something that you want to keep, especially in order to get or do something else.”

In Luke 21:1-4 we find Jesus with His disciples near the area where the Jewish people placed their offerings in the temple treasury. He saw rich people dropping in their offerings and then He saw a poor widow drop in two tiny coins. He said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all these people gave from their surplus, but she gave out of her poverty and put in all she had to live on.”

Is sacrificial giving about giving up something that you really want to keep as Webster stated? I guess that is my struggle with the idea of sacrificial giving. If everything we have comes from God, what do we have that is actually ours? If we believe He owns “the cattle on a thousand hills”, is what we “have“ His or ours?

This makes me think of the Parable of the Talents found in multiple Gospels. The servants were given money by the land owner. They were stewards of that money. It wasn’t theirs to possess; it was theirs to invest for the land owner. Some made wise investments; others did not. Some were told they were good and faithful servants; others were not. We often say we want to hear those words, “Good and faithful servant” from the Lord. Are we good and faithful stewards with the resources He has given into our care?

I understand people like the poor widow that Jesus saw give more proportionally than others, but are they sacrificing or giving out of the joy of giving? Do they trust the Lord will supply their needs when their needs arise?

My struggle is twofold. First is a pride issue. Making the statement that a person is a sacrificial giver can drive them to be prideful, which can lead to sin. If people view the volume of giving as more important than the gift itself, aren’t we saying that those that give more are better than others?

My second concern is anyone thinking that the resources they have – money, time, talent – are theirs to do with as they please. Do we believe those resources are 10% His and 90% ours, or are we stewards of all that God has given into our hands? As stewards isn’t it our responsibility to use it as He directs? If He directs us to do something, how can that be sacrificial?

If we apply God’s Word and allow His Spirit to lead, I believe He will show us what to do with His resources. As a steward we are just moving His resources around for His glory. Sometimes to support His work in the Body of Christ, sometimes to support our family and other times to support His children in other families. I find doing that a blessing, not a sacrifice.