In Touch Ministries

Dr. Charles Stanley: There are people who are in need who have needs, and God impresses your heart to say something to them, to give them something, to go see them, to express some form of love to them. Don't make excuses, just be obedient to God. He would not impress your heart to do something if there were not a need. He would not impress your heart to do something, to go, to be, to give, if God didn't have in mind something specific he wanted to accomplish.

Guest (Male): The subject of giving makes many Christians stiffen with resistance. But for others, it's something that brings great joy. If you find fulfillment in meeting the needs of others, then you may have the gift of giving. Today on In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley, we'll learn about this spiritual gift as we continue our series, Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Charles Stanley: Each believer has a motivational gift. That is the thing that gives you the most sense of confidence when you operate out of that gift. You'll have the greatest sense of fruitfulness, being more productive that way, greatest sense of contentment because you're operating and working out of that particular gift. Now, a person can have any one of the seven gifts that he mentions and do well at whatever vocation God calls you.

For example, a person can have the gift of service and be an excellent administrator. A person can have the gift of mercy, for example, be an excellent leader. So it doesn't mean that just because you don't have that particular specific gift doesn't mean you can't do well at what you do. The issue is, do you know what that spiritual gift is you will operate out of that? And so when it comes to the gift of giving, what does he mean when he speaks of the gift of giving?

Let's look at the characteristics and you ask yourself the question. Well, certainly I don't have the gift of giving because I'm not wealthy. It has nothing to do with being wealthy. You could have the gift of giving and be wealthy, or you could have the gift of giving and not be wealthy. So it's not so much how much you have, but your attitude about it and what you do, how resourceful you are, and how you take care of those resources.

So what's one of the first characteristics? One of the first characteristics is this, and that is a person who has the gift of giving is able to see resources. They're able to identify things that oftentimes people overlook. And so that person is able to make wise purchases, wise use of their money in order to have money to give for the Lord's work.

And whereas someone would say, well, I just don't have anything to give, the person with the gift of giving, they're able to see. If I use this wisely, if I spend my resources wisely here, if I don't purchase that at this time, I'll have more to give to the Lord's work. And so they're able to plan ahead. That's why they have resources to give because they're very careful with their money.

A second characteristic of this person is simply this, and that is they desire when they give to feel a part of the work. The person with the gift of giving isn't somebody who just sort of gives with no relationship. They first of all give themselves. They have to see that they are involved in that work. For example, whether it's some other ministry or whether it's a church or whatever it might be, they want to be involved themselves. Their heart's got to be in it.

They just don't give it out there and spread it out and have no relationship. They want to be involved. They want to feel like they're a part of it. They want to feel like they're making a contribution to the Lord's work. And so their heart goes before their money. And oftentimes that person needs assurance in their heart, they need assurance that their decision is a decision that God has enabled them to make, not just giving it, but they want to be certain that God has led them to give because their heart is there, not just their money.

A third characteristic that's so evident in them is this. They desire to give high-quality things. For example, the person with the gift of giving isn't going to find the cheapest thing they can find to give you a gift. But they're going to buy something that is of the quality that they can be proud that they gave it, not that they want credit. And also they want to give the kind of gift that has a lasting value to it. They don't buy trinkets and junk. They want to buy something that has a lasting value that will be meaningful to you because it was meaningful to them to purchase it.

And of course, there's also the characteristic that they hope that their gift is an answer to prayer. The person with the gift of giving is very careful. And so they hope that somehow they have discovered a need. And without you even mentioning it, they are able to meet that need. And they get the greatest pleasure in recognizing the fact and realizing that they, without being told, have given to meet a need that God impressed them to give.

The person with the gift of giving lives with a sensitivity. They live with a sensitivity of what is God saying, how does God want me to handle this? And the greatest sense of satisfaction that they get is simply this. They gave not knowing what the particular need was, or didn't know it when they knew that they wanted to give, and then find out that what they gave was a specific answer to prayer.

Now, so when it comes to our relationship to money, and money can corrupt people as well as also crown them with many blessings, it depends on your attitude toward it and how you handle it. And so the person with the gift of giving is very careful. They want to be sure that God has told them to give it. And that's a very wise thing because people can just squander God's money on the basis of being generous or giving to others when sometimes the motive is wrong.

When you're giving to be recognized and giving to get thanks and giving to be seen and giving to be heard and all the rest, as the scripture says, in Matthew he's the one who said it, you already have your reward. We give because we love him. We give because he's told us to do this and to speak to that person or to give to them. The person with the gift of giving is very careful, and what brings them the greatest satisfaction is they gave and discovered there was a need. God spoke to my heart and I obeyed God.

Now, this person also has a desire to give secretly. And they love giving without telling anybody. And one of the reasons the person with the gift of giving just keeps on giving is because as they keep on giving, not asking for anything in return, not looking for recognition, what does God do? God honors that. But giving secretly, the person who has the gift of giving, they take great delight in doing that because as we said first of all, they want to meet needs of the Lord's work.

They're not looking for credit, not looking for recognition, but they're looking to be involved in the work. Because the person with the gift of giving is not interested in getting rewards here and now. They're interested in future rewards. And so they can give generously, they can give however God requires them to give and know in their heart that one of these days at the judgment, they'll be rewarded accordingly.

And then of course, the person with the gift of giving prefers to give without appeals. Now there was a time, for example, on television when many people were asking for money and here's what they'd say. And I can remember this. If you don't give to this ministry, if you don't send it in today, we're going to be off the air next week. If you don't give now, we're going to be gone. And my feeling was, be gone.

And here's the reason. If God wants you on, he'll keep you on. You don't have to browbeat people to give. If it's the Lord's work, then listen, imagine Almighty God not providing for Almighty God's work. So we trust God. There are times when you make the need known in a very wise way. But when you start pressuring people to give, the person with the gift of giving may have tons of money to give, but you know what? They just start backing off. They don't like pressure appeals.

The truth is, none of us do. The person with the gift of giving, if you want to turn them off, turn up the pressure, you turn them off. Because that's the way they think, and that's how they're wired for God. Just like the prophet's wired a certain way, the teacher's wired a certain way, the exhorter, everybody is wired a certain way. And so the person with the gift of giving is very careful what they do with their finances. They're not being tight and they're not being stingy. It's just the fact that they choose because they understand the value and the power of financial resources.

Then of course, there is the concern that giving corrupts. The person with the gift of giving also has an understanding that money can corrupt. Now money is neither good nor bad, it's simply a tool. You would not say this hammer is good or bad if it's made correctly. It's just a tool. Money is a tool. And listen carefully, money can corrupt. And you look at the people, for example, who win the lottery. How many of them are disciplined? How many of them are broke within a few years? Why? Because they didn't know how to handle money to begin with, they don't know how to handle it today and it doesn't last.

And the scripture tells us and warns us that it's like a bird with wings that can leave you very fast. You can lose it a whole lot easier than you worked for it and made it. And so the person with the gift of giving is very sensitive to those things and very sensitive and realizes that you cannot be undisciplined with money. And when I say floating through the malls, for example, I simply mean that a lot of people simply are not disciplined with their finances.

They somehow never stop to think, if I go shopping, should I ask God about whether I should buy this or not? And here's what happens. They ask the wrong question. The wrong question is this. If I buy this, how much will I have left? That's not the right question. The right question is, is this the wisest thing to do? Because you can always rationalize. Well, if I buy this, let's see, maybe I'll have to scrounge a little bit, but I think I'll make it.

Why are Americans in debt? Lack of discipline. Lack of discipline. We don't have to have everything we see. We don't have to have the most expensive. There are some people who shop at the most expensive places. Do you know why? Not because they can afford it, but they love to talk about where they went shopping. Why pay twice the price of something equal in value so you can boast of it? Poor handling of your resources.

Person with the gift of giving, they're going to ask the right question. Is this the wisest thing I can do? Is this the wisest way for me to handle? Am I getting the best value for my money? And oftentimes people do not. They ask the question, what do I have left? God holds us responsible for the way we spend all of our money. And let me ask you a question. Wouldn't you really rather have what God would provide for you with freedom, financial freedom, you don't owe anybody anything?

Wouldn't you rather be financially free than to have all the stuff that's not needed, not necessary? And the truth is, listen, one of the characteristics of that person is contentment. Person with the gift of giving who is walking in the spirit, they're contented. And if God wants to add something, or if he says you can have this or you can do this, here's what you'll discover. Watch this. God will give you much more than you expect, anticipate, or deserve if you let him do it in his timing and in his way.

But if you go out there and get yourself in debt, you know what happens? Oftentimes God would provide for people what they get in debt buying because they don't give him time to provide it in his way. You say, well, now God would never do so and so. How do you know he wouldn't? And I think it must grieve the heart of God when he sees a person going out and purchasing something that he already knows he's lining up somebody over here to give them that very thing.

You say, well, now God wouldn't give me that. You don't know that. Well, I don't think I deserve that. Well, that's not the issue. The issue is this. Is God trying to teach you something? Does he want to show you how awesome he is? Does he want to show you how great he is, how good and loving and kind he is? Just give him the opportunity. And sometimes we don't. Most people don't. And so they get themselves in debt and then they wonder why they're having a hard time and what's God up to in their life.

Now, that person also is very thrifty in what they purchase, not just what they think about other people. Very thrifty. The result of that is this, that sometimes that person in realizing what it took for them to make what they have, and most people who have an abundance worked hard. Most people who have an abundance, they worked hard, they saved, they tried to be disciplined in the things that God wanted them to have. And so what they have, they have because they have practiced some very simple principles.

So the person with the gift of giving, they understand the value of money, how it can corrupt you. Listen, think about this. Anything that enslaves you is not good. And so any conduct that you and I have, any way we live that puts us in any form of slavery is not good because he said, listen, he came to set us free, free in every aspect of our life. We all agree that any form of slavery is wrong. But God wants us free to obey him.

Then of course, there is the whole issue of giving to motivate others to give. Sometimes the person who gives, and all of us are giving, and there's nothing wrong with sharing with someone else, not so much how much you give, but you might say, you know what? God impressed my heart to give so and so, and I didn't, let me tell you what he did. You see what happens is we have wonderful testimonies of what happens in our lives when we give.

Especially and the person with the gift of giving, they love to give sacrificially because they see God at work. And you see a person maybe who has plenty or certainly more than they need, for them to give sacrificially sometimes is hard because they have to ask, well, what's sacrificial because the more I give, the more I receive? And so they don't even feel the sacrifice, but they love the idea of giving to the point that they recognize, well, listen, at least I've sacrificed something here.

So sometimes a sacrificial gift isn't so much the fact that we give when there's so much plenty, but the fact that we sacrifice something else. And the person with the gift of giving understands that there is blessing when we put the Lord first and obey him in whatever he may require of us. And then of course they're able to see, they're able to see financial resources that other people overlook.

If I challenge you today, not putting pressure, challenge you to give more than financially, you say, well, you know there's no way I could give that much. But here's what the gift of giving says. Well, I don't have that much cash, but what else do I have? What would happen in your house if you went in your basement, in your closets, in your attic, things that you haven't looked at in years, things you have not used, dresses or trousers or suits you've not worn, you said, I'm going to collect everything in my house that I'm not using and I'm going to see what happens.

You may be surprised at how much money you have invested in stuff or things that you don't use, that you don't use them anymore. Let me ask a question. How many of you ladies have pushed dresses back in the corner, you never wear them anymore? You wouldn't give them away, but you don't wear them anymore. How many of us have suits we don't wear anymore, trousers or shirts or whatever it might be, or shoes? But how many of them do you really use?

So listen, the person with the gift of giving, you know what they do? They see resources other people say, well, you know I just don't have the money. Well, look around. And the reason I know that's true is because on one occasion we were raising money and asking people to make sacrificial gifts. You'd be surprised what people came up with. They had yard sales, garage sales. They looked at their jewelry, they gave jewelry. They looked at other things they have. They sold all kinds of stuff. I mean hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stuff that was not being used, they cashed it in, sold it in some fashion, gave it to the Lord's work.

So the person with the gift of giving, they see these resources that oftentimes are overlooked. And then of course the person with the gift of giving oftentimes before they give, they will confirm it with their husband or wife. And let's say that God challenges you as a husband to give so much money to whatever, to whomever. Person with the gift of giving doesn't give just off the cuff. They want confirmation. And so the man's going to say to his wife, let me tell you what I'm thinking. Why don't we pray and ask God to show us both so that we'll both know that we're doing the right thing?

And there's a great sense of security because you see the person with the gift of giving wants, desires to protect what God has given them. Not that they're not going to give it, they want confirmation. Now there's a greater sense of security. She and I both prayed about it, he and I both prayed about it. Here's what we believe God wants us to do, and they give in that fashion. So somebody says, well, I'm not rich. Will this make me wealthy? Let me tell you why it will.

You say, like that's what I've been waiting for you to tell us. I've been waiting the whole message to find out how this will make me wealthy. Tell you how it will make you wealthy. You'll have a fantastic relationship to Jesus Christ because you've bringing your life under discipline and you're being obedient to him. That is the greatest form of wealth possible. Now you say, well, I had something more in mind like dollar marks. Well, let's put it this way. Here's what he says. Give and it shall be given to you, and it shall be given to you the way God gives, and that's a full measure.

The person with the gift of giving has a wonderful opportunity, but a great sense of responsibility and accountability. And I would simply say this, learn first of all the principle of discipline. I do what is right, what is wise, what is best, and then I watch God operate and you'll see what happens. You may be surprised at how much money you save in one given week by watching carefully how much you spend, what you spend it on, how much you give, and how much you listen to God before you part with your resources you had to work for, and God in his grace gave you the strength to do it. You may find out that you're more wealthy than you thought. And you may find out with a little practice of discipline that God will multiply your resources. And you may find out as you operate on discipline, he will set you free of debt and you thought it could never happen. That's my prayer for you.

Guest (Male): Thanks for joining us today for In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley. Does giving bring you joy? If so, explore your gift and offer what you've been given to the body of Christ as you're directed by the Holy Spirit. You can hear a replay of this lesson at our website, intouch.org. Follow the link to Today on Radio. And jump over to the store page to order a copy of today's complete message, The Gift of Giving. It's also included in Dr. Stanley's teaching set, Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Again, that's intouch.org. To call or text, it's 1-800-IN-TOUCH. You can write to us at In Touch, Post Office Box 7900, Atlanta, Georgia, 30357. Again, call or text 1-800-IN-TOUCH.

Guest (Female): Tired of faith feeling like a performance? Worn down by constant striving? Jesus never meant it to feel that way. His call was always to something more, to a life that's generous, vibrant, joyful, and sustainable. A real life with him. That's the heart of Follow Me, our book created to help you answer that call. Get your copy at intouch.org/store.

Guest (Male): In Touch Plus is streaming on Local Now, featuring all the best of Dr. Charles Stanley. We need to have strong convictions based on the word of God. He's working out things that you and I would never know about in our future. In Touch Plus, your streaming network for quality Christian programming 24/7. Now watch this. In Touch Plus, streaming free on Local Now.

You're listening to In Touch. We need to pay attention to the little things because they often make a big difference. With an illustration for believers, here's a moment with Charles Stanley.

Dr. Charles Stanley: You go out and leave your lights on and they burn all day long while you're gone. You know what you just did? You just took money God gave to you and gave it to the power company because you didn't use it, nobody's there, nobody's reading, nobody needs any lights. What would happen if we left all the lights on in these buildings all day long, all week long? We would be wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars. And so somebody says, well, if I leave the lights on in one room, what difference is that going to make? Now I'm not saying you shouldn't leave a nightlight on or something like that, but I'm just talking about just walking out and leaving lights here and leaving lights there.

People say, my kids just walk out and leave the lights on. What about the parents? Did you teach them to do that? And so if you grew up when there wasn't very much money and every penny counted, you know what you did? You walked out of the room and you cut the lights off. And so just because now you have plenty or have enough, you just leave them on and give it to somebody else. And so it doesn't take but a few mistakes like that. And you know what happens? Over a period of a year, you have just given away money and you have absolutely nothing to show for it.

Guest (Male): Learn more about being a good steward of God's blessings at intouch.org. Is there someone who needs the truth you heard today? Share it with them and then tell us what happened. When In Touch returns, can you juggle several tasks at once and still accomplish your goal? Can you delegate responsibility and effectively manage people? You might have the gift of organization. We'll learn about this spiritual gift when we return again for In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley. This program is a presentation of In Touch Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, and remains on this station through the grace of God and your faithful prayers and gifts.