Giving as Unto God
Christian giving is a form of priestly service that should be done from a place of love and generosity, with a vast range of influence that fills the throne room of the universe with fragrance.
William MacDonald emphasizes the significance of giving as an act of worship, drawing from Paul's acknowledgment of the Philippians' gift in Philippians 4:18. He highlights that such gifts, though seemingly small, are viewed by God as a 'sweet smell' and a 'sacrifice acceptable,' akin to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. MacDonald encourages believers to see their giving as a form of priestly service, motivated by love rather than obligation, and to recognize the profound impact their generosity has in the spiritual realm. He reminds us that our gifts fill the throne room of God with fragrance, transforming our perspective on giving into an act of joyful worship.
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Â"But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.Â" (Phil. 4:18)
PaulÂ's letter to the Philippians was really an acknowledgment of a gift which he had received from the believers at Philippi. We are probably safe in assuming that it was a gift of money. The surprising thing is the way in which the apostle magnifies the gift. He calls it Â"an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.Â" In Ephesians 5:2 He uses a similar expression to describe ChristÂ's great gift of Himself at Calvary. He speaks of it as Â"an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.Â" It is breathtaking to think that a gift given to a servant of the Lord should be memorialized with language similar to that which describes the Unspeakable Gift.
J. H. Jowett comments finely on this point. Â"How vast, then, is the range of an apparently local kindness! We thought we were ministering to a pauper, and in reality we were conversing with the King. We imagined that the fragrance would be shut up in a petty neighborhood, and lo, the sweet aroma steals through the universe. We thought that we were dealing only with Paul, and we find that we were ministering to PaulÂ's Savior and Lord.Â" When we understand the true spiritual nature of Christian giving and the vast range of its influence, we are delivered from giving grudgingly or of necessity. We are immune forever to the gimmickry of professional fund-raisers who extort by cajolery, pathos or comedy. We see that giving is a form of priestly service, not a legal enaction. We give because we love, and we love to give.
The truth that my minuscule gifts to the Great God fill the throne room of the universe with fragrance should inspire me to humble worship and hilarious giving. Never again will the offering on Sunday morning be a boring, if necessary, part of the service. It will be as truly a means of giving directly to the Lord Jesus as if He were bodily present.
Sermon Outline
- The True Nature of Christian Giving
- The Vast Range of Christian Giving
- The Attitude of Christian Giving
- Giving from Love, Not Necessity
- Delivered from Gimmickry and Extortion
- Inspired to Humble Worship and Hilarious Giving
Key Quotes
“We thought we were ministering to a pauper, and in reality we were conversing with the King.” — William MacDonald
“We imagined that the fragrance would be shut up in a petty neighborhood, and lo, the sweet aroma steals through the universe.” — William MacDonald
“We thought that we were dealing only with Paul, and we find that we were ministering to Paul's Savior and Lord.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- I should give to the Lord with humble worship and joyful generosity, recognizing the vast range of influence my gift can have.
- I should avoid giving grudgingly or out of necessity, and instead give from a place of love and generosity.
- I should understand the true spiritual nature of Christian giving, recognizing it as a form of priestly service that brings glory to God.