What does the Bible say about Giving?
2 Corinthians 9:8: “…God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” ESV
- God owns it all.
- God given us the power to create wealth – we are stewards of the earths resources.
- Our treasure is linked to our hearts, our heart is linked to where/why we put our treasure – what we spend on shows us our heart.
- We are giving to God.
Old Testament Examples of Tithing: (providing us with a backdrop to biblical giving)
Definition: Tithe = 10%
- Genesis 14: Abraham/Saves Lot with 300 men form King Chedorlaomer. Melchizedek, called priest of the Most High God. "And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything." Our first encounter with tithing: the giver is not paying God to get him to act - the giver is responding to God who has blessed him.
- Genesis 28:13–15: Jacob, had a dream at Bethel in which God promised to be with him and give him a great land and many descendants. Giving a tenth to God is like a pledge that all we are and have are at his disposal all the time.
- Leviticus 27:30–33 & Deuteronomy 14:22–29: Moses, tithing was made part of the law that governed the people of Israel.
Six Observations on Tithing and Giving: Deuteronomy 14
- Verse 23. Yearly trip to the holy place. The people were to take their tithe to that place and then eat it there, or at least eat part of it in a feast of joy. It was an expression of joy and gratitude. God did not need the tithe. In commanding it, he was seeking them.
- Verse 23. The purpose of the tithing feast was "that you may learn to fear the Lord your God." Tithing seen as a means of remembering how dependent they were on God and how much they should be humble before God, rather than be a people of joyless ingratitude.
- Provision was made for those who had loads! If their grain was too heavy and flocks too many to take them all the way to the holy place, they could sell them and then use the money to purchase substitutes when they arrived in the holy place.
- Provision for the Levites (priests) who were scattered through the tribes of Israel with no land of their own. They were to be supported by the tithers of the other 11 tribes (v. 27). Part of it supported God's institution of the Levitical order.
- Verses 28 and 29: describe a triennial tithe which was designed not only to support the Levites, but also the three most helpless groups of people in that society: the refugees, the orphans, and the widows. It seems that a sort of charity/benevolent fund was replenished every three years for the needs of these people, by the calling in of a special tithe.
- The section closes with a promise of blessing on the people if they are faithful in this act of mercy to men and gratitude to God!
(1) The way most tithes were "given to God" was by giving them to people. God is also honoured by the way we treat others in his name, by acts that celebrate his provision and by our willingness to trust him to supply all our needs when we give.
(2) God always honours people who tithe from a good heart of faith. The promise is that those who love and trust God enough to honour him with at least a tithe will never lack the resources they need.
So - Tithing was God's way of supporting certain ministries/needs. Old Testament tithing goes back to the very beginning of Israel's history before the law was given and seems to have been an expression of gratitude to the Lord who fights for his people and gives them all they have. Mosaic law tithing was made a part of Israel's formal worship, and its various forms and purposes were taught clearly. Giving offerings was above this.
The New Testament Understanding of Tithing and Giving
New Testament the picture changes significantly. Jesus mentions tithing twice, both times in reference to its legalistic abuse. Matthew 23:23.Luke 18:9–14.
Matthew 23:23, "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith; these you ought to have done without neglecting the others."
Jesus:
- Does not reject it.
- He affirmed it for Israel.
- He is much more intent on the weightier matters of the law, like faith, mercy and justice.
- He was not seeking their money but was seeking them – all of them.
Apostle Paul:
- Does not refer directly to tithing.
- Whether he taught his Churches to tithe when he founded them, we don't know.
- We are to told that sowing/giving sparingly will lead to reaping/receiving sparingly (Galatians 6) – the reverse is true if we are generous.
- In the context of giving Paul promises that God will meet our needs (Philippians 4:19)
- He lays down some guidance in his letters. First: "On the first day of the week each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper" (1 Corinthians 16:2).
- Second, in 2 Corinthians 8:3, "they gave according to their means and beyond their means of their own accord." And
- Third, in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
- Finally the promise, 2 Corinthians 9:8, "God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work."
Rest of the New Testament on tithing:
- Tithing is mentioned is Hebrews 7:4–12, where the reference is back to Genesis 14, and the point is simply to show that Christ is like Melchizedek. The New Testament is almost totally silent about tithing – but not giving where the level of generosity is greater.
The Real Question:
- Jesus emphasis seems to be "How much do I keep? - rather than "How much should I give?”
- New Testament Church is a missionary people.
- The spiritual hope as well as physical and emotional provision that Jesus brought to earth is to be extended by his church to the whole world.
- The task he gave us is immense. It requires a huge investment of commitment and money. A tenth does not seem to be enough in the New Testament way of thinking.
- The Word of God is always more radical than a percentage.
Radical Jesus:
- All money is God's (Psalm 24:1)
- Money has been loaned to us as stewards. We are to use in ways that show God's mercy in the world (Matthew 25:14–30).
- 50% not 10%? "He who has two coats let him share with him who has none. And he who has food, let him do likewise" (Luke 3:11).
- 50% again! Zacchaeus stood and said, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor" (Luke 19:8).
- 100%? "If you would be perfect, go sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me" (Matthew 19:21).
- Giving to social needs was cited by Jesus as a key indicator for true followers of Jesus: Matthew 25:31-46.
- Promises to meet all needs when seeking God’s ways first: Matthew 6:33.
Radical Early Church:
- No needs:"All who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need" (Acts 2:44f.). "There was not a needy person among them for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet" (Acts 4:34f.).
- "In a severe test of affliction their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part. For they gave according to their means . . . and beyond their means" (2 Corinthians 8:2, 3).
- Read the book of James.
Putting it all together:
- All our resources are God’s and we are to be good stewards.
- Our giving is to God and is expressed by giving to the Church, projects and needs in society.
- Throughout the Bible there is a call to give generously in terms of money, time, skill etc.
- Clear Early Church Instructions:
o Set aside to give an amount on first day of week.
o Give as you have been prospered; according to your ability.
o Give sacrificially and generously.
o Give deliberately to meet specific need(s).
o Give with the motivation to bless others.
o Give in order to get to give. – sowing, reaping, sowing, reaping.
o Give cheerfully.
o Give voluntarily.
(1 Corinthians 9 & 16. 2 Corinthians 8 & 9. Galatians 6. Philippians 4)
Question: Do I love to use God’s money to facilitate: justice, mercy, hope, healing, salvation, kingdom come into society and those who lead the Church.
A Few Old and New Testament Promises Regarding Tithing and Giving:
- Deuteronomy 28:2-13. Proverbs 3:9-10. Proverbs 28:8. Malachi 3:10-12. Matthew 6:31-33. 2 Corinthians 9:8. Galatians 6. Philippians 4:19.
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