Donation or Sacrifice

A chicken and a pig were walking through the poor section of a city one morning, and as they looked around the chicken said, “Look at all these hungry people. I think we should do something to help. Let’s give them ham and eggs for breakfast.” The pig replied, “Wait a minute! For you, it’s a donation. For me, it’s a sacrifice.”

Can you honestly say that you’ve crossed the threshold from donating to the Lord to really sacrificing for the Lord? Giving beyond your abundance to the point of feeling the pinch and having to demonstrate some risky faith? It was this kind of sacrificial giving that Christ commended in the poor widow (Mk. 12:41-44) and that Paul commended in the Macedonian Christians (2 Cor. 8:1-4). It was also the kind of giving that Christ Himself demonstrated at the incarnation (2 Cor. 8:9).

It has been said, “When it comes to giving, some Christians will stop at nothing.” However, it ought not to be that way. We should see giving as a both a privilege and opportunity to express our appreciation to God. That is why Paul said to give “joyfully” (2 Cor. 9:7).

Christians are never told to “tithe” in the New Testament. It is not required, or even recommended, as the basis of our giving. We are simply to give as we have prospered (1 Cor. 16:2). Hence, it should be proportionate to one’s income — based on prosperity, not percentage. In other words, the more you get the more you give!

A wealthy Christian gave his testimony during service. He said, “I am a millionaire and I give God all the credit for it. In fact, I can pinpoint the exact moment when God began to bless me. I only had one dollar in my pocket when I went to church that night and while I was there, a missionary gave a very powerful speech before the collection basket was passed. I was so stirred by the Spirit that I impulsively gave that last dollar to the Lord. I gave all I had to God! And from that t ime on, he has blessed me more than I could ever imagine.” The congregation was in awe of the man’s generosity and began to applaud. Just then, an old lady leaned forward and yelled, “I dare you to do it again.” May God help us to be — and stay — sacrificial givers!