by Robbie Alexander

Created on: February 09, 2010   Last Updated: February 17, 2010

What are the characteristics of a Christian? When you hear this title, which can be defined as someone who desires to follow Christ or be Christ (or Jesus)-like, what images or thoughts stir up in your mind? Someone who prays, sings a lot, smiles a lot, goes to church, pays a nice sized offering on Sunday, dresses nice to church or never lies? Love one another? What does that mean? How does a Christian sit, stand, walk or talk? As they go about their days, carrying on with their earthly business, what Christ-like character traits stand out the most? What should shine the brightest out of those traits?

The answer should be unconditional giving, fueled by the same love that miraculously saved us from our eternal death. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches believers the proper way in which Christians should pray and along with this instruction, He teaches the guidelines for our other duties: fasting and giving. There are three main duties here. Think about that for a minute. We have three main duties, three forms of action which require the same thing. A gracious, self sacrificing heart that understands that no matter how much is given or how much sacrifice is involved, it doesn’t even come close in comparison to what God gave to his people. Even still, the goal is to give like the master of giving, Jesus.  Whether you are giving your talents, money or services to the less fortunate, sincerely praying without time being an issue, or you are fasting  and attracting spiritual power by  sacrificing physical food to focus on the spiritual food of prayer and God’s word, these are all forms of giving. I have a few key points for you to consider the next time you a presented with the challenge of giving.

Who Should Give?

What’s better? To be rich and miss out on the real blessings God has to offer? Or is it better to be so self sacrificial that you live in poverty “in the name of God”.  Is it too much and too far away from Christianity to strive for both? I believe that within his will, God desires for us to be really stinking, filthy rich or in other words, financially successful. Why else would He have so many verses and lessons on financial success (somewhere around 1200 to be exact) ready for us to study and apply to our lives? The catch is for us to use this power to bless and be faithful to God by using these funds to serve him. Part of our fantastic journey of power is understanding exactly what it takes to get to both

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