1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian Spiritual Gifts | Page 9

guideline, but those with the gift of giving are happy to give way beyond that which God
has commanded. Our church has been blessed as a result of people exercising this
particular gift. When people are able to give sacrificially to the work of God this always
pleases God and helps physically to extend the Kingdom of God. These are people who give
with no strings attached, people who are not giving like Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 to
receive the applause of people, but rather they give like Barnabas, in Acts 4 v 36 – 37, who
sold the property and gave the money to the church to be distributed amongst the poor. He
did not want his name to be up in lights, but was just content with being a blessing. God is
always more interested in our motive for giving then He is in the fact that we give. For the
ministries of the church to function effectively, the church is always dependent upon those
who, not only tithe, but understand the “over and above” principle. Thank God for
generous people; where would we as a church be without them? Remember too on this
particular subject that God has given in abundance to us. God gave sacrificially to us in the
form of Jesus and, as a result, we have been blessed way beyond our wildest dreams. As
God has done this for us so too we should be willing to do it for Him. Acts of sacrificial
giving are always affirmed by God and they bring joy to His heart.