The importance of giving financially to the cause of Christ corresponds to the importance of the cause itself.  Without members of the Lord’s church being willing to give of their means, much of the work of the church would be impossible to complete.  Almost everything comes with a price.  Because of this, God has always instructed His people to give.

Under the Old Testament law, the command to give came in the form of tithing.  The children of Israel were instructed to give a tenth of their income and property to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30-34).  In the New Testament, however, there is no such commandment.  While we are commanded to give, paying tithes is not what we are instructed to do.  Our instructions are found in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (KJV)
¹  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. ²  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Why must we give on the first day of the week?  It is because that is the Lord’s Day, and it is the day upon which saints were commanded to assemble to worship God.  For verification of this, we have the apostolic example of Acts 20:1-7.

Notice that the specific amount that we are to give is left to us, but we must meet the criterion of giving as God has prospered us.  To God, the attitude we have when we give is just as important as the amount that we give.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV)
⁶  The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Why should we give cheerfully?  It is because we recognize that it is a blessing to be able to give in the first place.  It is a result of God allowing us to prosper.  Do you remember what Moses told the children of Israel when he knew they were inclined to take credit for their prosperity?

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (ESV)
¹⁷  Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ ¹⁸  You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth…

We should also be cheerful givers because we count it a privilege to be a part of the greatest cause this world has ever known—the cause of Christ as ordained and predestined by God.  When we give financially on the first day of the week, we are contributing to the furtherance of this cause.  Why wouldn’t we do this with joy in our hearts?

Having the privilege to support the cause of Christ is something, like the Lord’s Supper, that we can only do on the first day of the week.  That is the pattern set forth in the New Testament as we have seen from 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.  Let us all rejoice that God has blessed us with the ability to give to His great cause and sow bountifully.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.