Lesson Four
Give

Pastor Patrick Bicknell

Table of Contents

One of the best things in life is having a close friend that you can count on for anything, no matter what. I’m talking about the kind of friend who will answer your call at 3:00 a.m. and meet you with no questions asked. If you have ever had a friend like this, you know they are priceless. I remember one time a few years after I graduated high school, I was trying to finish school and raise a kid. After a series of unfortunate events, I was falling behind on some of the things that I had to pay for, and I had no idea how I was going to make it work. My friends and I were together having dinner at a restaurant and I shared a bit about how rough things were. I wasn’t asking for help; I just wanted to be honest and share how I was doing. Without missing a beat, my friend pulled out his wallet and simply asked, “How much do you need?” I tried telling him that wasn’t what I was looking for, but he insisted and said, “This is what friends do. I know you would do the same for me.” I remember that moment so vividly, and I remember feeling how blessed I was to have a friend like him.

1. Has there ever been a time when you helped a friend like this? Or when a friend helped you like this?

This type of friendship is oftentimes described in songs or is a key element in movies and TV shows. It is easy for us to think of a friend that we would be willing to help in a time of need, or even a family member. However, I wonder, how often do we view giving in the church this way? Are we as willing to support the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ the same way we would our family members or our closest friends? Acts chapter eleven speaks about a time when the early church was about to be in need this way: “Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius)” (Acts 11:27-28).

2. What would have been your first reaction if you were to hear news like this?

I believe the response of the early church is so wonderful. It continues by saying, “So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:29-30).

3. What stands out to you about the way the church responded?

4. What does it mean that “every one according to his ability” sent relief?

5. What key aspects of this story should we apply to the way we view our giving?

What an encouraging thing to read! The believers in this church listened to the prophesied famine that was about to come over the world. This meant people were going to be without food and the chances of death among them would have been very high. They saw an urgent need and determined among themselves that all would support in whatever measures they could. This is how the church is meant to give. In the same way, we would drop everything for our closest friends or family members; when we have the chance to fill a need, we should. Not just to fill physical needs, but in hopes that the Lord would use our giving to fill spiritual needs.

6. How can providing physical needs have a direct impact on someone’s spiritual needs?

I bring up this thought about how physical needs can impact someone’s spiritual needs because I think we see that in a way here in Acts. At the end of chapter eleven, we see a collection is raised, and Barnabas and Saul are going to take that offering to Jerusalem to help support the believers there. At the end of chapter twelve, we read in verses 24 and 25, “But the word of God increased and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.”

7. Do you think the aid that Saul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem helped the Word of God increase and multiply?

8. How can a church that doesn’t prioritize giving like the account we just read become a hindrance to the Word of God increasing and multiplying?

I think this is such a powerful account of how the early church gave us an example that we should follow. People are in need all around us. They have physical needs such as food, water, and clothing. They also have spiritual needs, namely, the sin in their lives. Our giving directly impacts both of these. I want to go to one more verse, commonly brought in when talking about giving, but I think it applies very well here. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

9. What connections do you see with this verse and the earlier account from Acts chapter eleven?

10. How do these accounts in Scripture challenge how you view giving?

Giving can be a difficult topic to discuss in church because so many churches have been unfaithful with their finances. However, that should not lead us to neglect clear teachings in Scripture on giving. My prayer and hope for all of us who are going through this lesson is that we would take the time to see the needs around us, prayerfully consider how God is calling us to supply those needs, and watch God do amazing things with our faithfulness.