In Romans Chapter 8, verse 14, the Scriptures tell us- "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God."  Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God.

The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I have come to realize and understand that in every detail of our life we should be led by the Spirit.  Though we may not intentionally do things apart from God, there is a sense of ignorant pride at work within us whenever we fail to see and accept the fact that we really do need God's help in literally every area of our existence.

True sons of God are the ones who are led by the Spirit in absolutely everything they do.  Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15.5)  Our intellect may argue that fact, but the truth is that only what we do in union with Him is of any real worth.

Everything we think, say, and do should be led by the Spirit of God- and that includes the area of giving.

Once any of us has learned that giving is a good thing and that it is something that pleases God- we are usually inclined to think that as long as we give, we are doing good.  But that is not necessarily always the case.  Yes, giving is good.  But there is more to giving than just giving.  We must learn to be led by the Spirit in our giving.  When we do, we will see the Blessing of God in operation in our world as God designed it to be. 

True, being led by the Spirit in any area of our life is a process we have to grow and develop in- it takes time and discipline to mature in following the direction of the Lord.  Yet, the process itself is not so difficult or hard to obtain.  The only real requirement to being led by the Spirit is to keep the line of communication open and active between you and God. 

Keep in constant contact with Him.  Talk to Him about everything you do or you are thinking about doing.  Check with Him before you make any decision- no matter small or insignificant you may think it is.  No matter how much you may know about something, God always knows more about it than you do.  Talk it over with Him and follow Him however and wherever He leads.  It will always be good- and most of all, it will be right.

It is vital that we remain attentive to how the Lord wants to do things.  At times, it may seem so obvious that a certain course of action would fix a particular need or problem.  However, God may have something different in mind.  If we will stay open to His Spirit and obey Him- even if it doesn't make sense at the time- we will eventually see that His way is far better and meets the need far above what the obvious action proposed.

We have to be willing to step out of our own reasoning and mode of operation and into God's way of doing things.  In Mark 8, Jesus said- "...if anyone is desiring to come after Me as a follower of Mine, let him at once begin to lose sight of himself and his own interests, and let him at once begin to take up his cross and carry it, and let him start taking the same road that I travel in company with Me, and let him continue to do so moment by moment.  For whoever desires to save his soul-life, will lose it.  But whoever will lose his soul-life for My sake and the gospel, will save it.  For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?"    (vv. 34-36 Wuest New Testament)

In order to be followers of Jesus, we must lose sight of our self and our own way of doing things- and begin taking the same road that He travels, in company with Him, and continue in it moment by moment.  Instead of seeking to hold on to our own soul-life- our own thinking, feeling, and reasoning- we must lay it all aside for the sake of Jesus and His gospel.

If we intend to go with Jesus, we must let Him lead.  He said- "If any of you are embarrassed over Me and the way I am leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you'll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when He arrives in all the splendour of God, His Father, with an army of the holy angels."  (Mark 8.38 Message)

We should never be ashamed or embarrassed over Jesus and the way He leads us.  Being led by the Spirit is not normal to the world- but it is the surest way to live, because it is God's way. Psalm 23 says that He will lead you in right paths for His Name's sake.  And Psalm 67.11 says that all His paths drip with abundance.

When we give by the Spirit, we will see Spirit-powered results.

Not long after the day of Pentecost, the Apostles Peter and John went up to the temple for the hour of prayer.  A certain man who was crippled from birth sat daily at the temple to beg alms from those entering the temple.  When he saw Peter and John, he likewise asked them for alms.  But Peter, looking intently at the man, said "Look at us."  Expecting to receive something from them, the man gave them his attention.

Then Peter said- "Silver and gold coins I do not have, but that which I have, this I give to you.  In the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, start walking and keep on walking."  And having firmly grasp his right hand, Peter raised him up. And instantly the man's feet and ankle bones were made strong.  And leaping up he stood and went to walking about, glorifying God into the temple.  (Acts 3.6-8 Wuest)

Let me ask you- what would have happened if Peter and John had acted on merely the obvious and expected- giving of alms to this poor crippled man, like everyone around them was doing?  The man could have had food and shelter for another day, and Peter and John could leave with a good feeling that they blessed someone.

But God had other plans, higher plans- and thank God that Peter and John heard and followed those plans!  Because they were led by the Spirit of God in their giving, this crippled man was not only healed in his body, but he was also liberated from a life of begging alms!  Completely restored, he could now work and be financially independent.  That is what Spirit-led giving can do.

God knows what each person needs far more than we do.  If we will but act on how and what God tells us to give, not only will the recipient be blessed, but we will be blessed also by giving what was really needed or desired.  It is a wonderful experience to give to someone and hear them say- "How did you know that this is exactly what I was needing/wanting?"    Make sure you always give the glory to God.  He knew the need, He met the need- and He wanted you to be a part of it with Him.  It's a wonderful thing to be led by the Spirit.

I don't think it can be emphasized too much that little things really matter.  What we may think of as something little or insignificant may be something really important to someone else.  Jesus said- "If anyone gives you even a cup of water to drink in My Name, because you belong to Christ, I assure you, he will by no means lose his reward."   (Mark 9.41)

If the Lord is leading you to give something and to you it seems too small, do not follow your reasoning- follow the Spirit of God.  Don't be ashamed to give even if it is something small.

Once Jesus sat in the temple and viewed with a discerning eye how the crowd threw in their money to the treasury.  Many wealthy ones were throwing in much. 

But one having come, and she a poverty-stricken widow, threw in two very small brass coins which make a farthing.  Having called His disciples to Himself, Jesus said to them- "This widow, and she poverty-stricken, threw in more than all those who were throwing into the treasury.  For they all threw in out of their excess, but she out of her need threw in all, as much as she had, the whole of her life's necessities."  (Mark 12.41-44)

The remarkable thing about this account is that this widow actually gave her small offering.  If she had any embarrassment about giving something so little, she obviously disregarded it.  In our culture today, the prevalent mindset of many people is to either postpone their giving or not give at all unless they can give something big.  But this is not what God is looking for in giving.

When it comes to giving, or anything else- God looks at our heart.  If we put one penny in the offering and do so full of love and full of faith, God counts it just as precious and will bless it just as He will bless the 10, 100, or 1000 we would give.  We should not be ashamed of a "little" offering or a "little" seed.  Seeds don't stay small forever.  Inside every seed is something great.  But it will only become that something great when we plant it. 

David said- "Because I have set my affection on the House of my God, I have given to the House of my God..."  (I Chronicles 29.3)

If we have set our affection on God and His Kingdom, then we need to give into His Kingdom- whether we have much or little to give.  The important thing is that we give what is in our hands.

If our seed is precious to us, it is precious also to God.

God has provided a grace for giving.  A vital part of giving by the Spirit is receiving that grace.  In II Corinthians 8.7-15 (NLT), the Apostle Paul wrote- "Since you excel in so many ways- you have so much faith... such enthusiasm, and so much love for us- now I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving.  I am not saying you must do it, even though the other churches are eager to do it.  This is one way to prove your love is real.

"You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was.  Though He was very rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich...   Give whatever you can according to what you have.  If you are really eager to give, it isn't important how much you are able to give.  God wants you to give what you have, not what you don't have.  Of course, I don't mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little.  I only mean that there should be some equality.  Right now you have plenty and can help them.  Then some other time they can share with you when you need it.  In this way, everyone's needs will be met.  Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this?  "Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered a little had enough."

When we yield to this grace of giving, we are able to bless others and also receive blessing in our own life as well.  In Philippians 4, Paul wrote to the believers at Philippi and let them know that when he departed from Macedonia, not even one assembly made itself a partner with him in regards to giving and receiving except for them only.  Even when he was in Thessalonica, this church more than once sent to relieve his necessity.

Paul said- "Not that it is my character to be ever seeking the gift, but I am seeking the fruit which is accumulating to your account."  He said that their offering was a fragrant aroma, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.  Because of their continual giving, Paul said- "My God shall satisfy to the full your every need in accordance with His wealth in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4.19 Wuest)

Our outflow (giving) perpetuates the inflow of blessing back into our own life.  The Lord said for us to not be deceived, for He will not be mocked- what we have sown, we will reap.

We give to honour God, to bless our churches and to bless others- but they are not the ones who need our giving the most.  The ones who really need our giving is us.  I know that may sound strange.  But we need our giving more than anyone else does- because it is our giving that produces our harvest.  A farmer doesn't plant seed to  help the ground that he plants it in.  No, he plants seed because he needs a harvest.  We give because we need a harvest. 

When we constantly give and are led by the Spirit in our giving, we will constantly receive an overflowing harvest from God's wealth in glory.