Introduction

Step 1: Make Sure You Are Saved

Step 2: Tell Someone

Step 3: Establish A Quiet Time

Step 4: Pray

Step 5: Make Christian Friends

Step 6: Find A Church

Step 7: Be Baptized

Step 8: Learn To Give

Step 9: Memorize God's Word

Step 10: Accountability Partner

 

Step Eight - Learn to Give

Learning to give is one of the first lessons God teaches new believers. There is good reason for it too! Giving is important to God. In fact, one-sixth of the Books of Matthew, Mark and Luke and 12 of Jesus' 38 parables have to do with money.

Learning to give is important because of a devine pattern. God wants us to be like Him. He said "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:13-16). And since God is a giver by nature, h wants us to learn to be givers as well. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Giving glorifies God because it makes us more like God.

Giving is a biblical principle. Throughout the Bible we read about the principles of giving. Giving is to be systematic (1 Corinthians 16:1,2); it is to be proportionate to your ability to give (1 Corinthians 16:2); it is to be sacrificial (Mark 12:43,44); it is to be spontaneous (Acts 2:45). Early in our Christian lives we should learn the biblical principles about giving.

Learning to give is important because of thankful praise. Heart and hand go together. When your heart is filled with praise to God, your hand will express that praise by giving.

Who is more deserving of our thanks than God? He loved us; He sent His Son to die for us; He saved us. Now we are taking steps to be conformed to the image of His dear Son, Jesus, and one of those steps is learning to give. After all, isn't "giving" the last half of the word "thanksgiving"?

God loves a cheerful giver--one who has learnedto give thankfully and with joy (2 Corinthians 9:7). Each week set aside some of your time for God. YouYou may do that through your quiet time or through service to Him in your local church. And each week set aside some of your income for God. You may then give it to your church and other ministries that have blessed you.

Whatever you do, get into the habit of giving back to God a portion of what He has generously given to you. Giving is one of the delightsof being a Christian and one of the important first steps in the journey of your Christian life.

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