(Romans 12:8 KJV) Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Giving is a spiritual gift. This is a gift that officials in the church love to mention. It comes up when special offerings are being taken. One reason for this confusion is that the gift of giving is confused with the Christian responsibility of stewardship. Leaders love it because it lets them lean on the rich people and excuse the poor. People in the pews like this misunderstanding because they can use it as an excuse to ignore the offering plate.
The gift of giving includes the giving of money but it is not used in terms of the weekly collection of the offering. It is used of sharing the gospel, of sharing your clothes and of sharing your resources with those in need. A person with this gift is not moved by the building fund or the Thanksgiving offering for missions. They are moved by the single mother who is looking at the beginning of school and has no money for clothes or school supplies. I have a feeling this gift is more common that pastors think.
All Christians are expected to be stewards. This involves the tithe, offerings, cleaning the church, listening to little old ladies (or men) ramble on and anything else that involves using our resources as God would expect. Not all Christians have a special gift of giving.
homo unius libri
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