On the Subject of Giving
By its very nature, the topic of giving is the least popular, and the most popular of subjects. It is the least popular because it deals with a man’s wallet, and it is the most popular because everyone wants to know, “Exactly how much should I give?” I want to briefly make three observations on the subject of giving.
PEOPLE WHO GAVE
God was and is a giver. Consider the “Golden Text” of the Bible: “For God [the greatest being] so loved [the greatest thing] the world [the greatest number], that he gave his only begotten Son [the greatest gift], that whosoever believeth in him [the greatest faith] should not perish [the greatest tragedy], but have everlasting life [the greatest reward]” (Jn. 3:16).
The widow was a giver. Read Mark 12:35-44. This widow gave out of her extreme poverty. She gave all her living all that she had to live on. She trusted in God to supply her wants, and devoted her little property entirely to him. Do we truly deny ourselves in giving? Most give out of an abundance. Does it hurt us to give?
Barnabas was a giver. Read Mark 12:35-44. Oh to be like the Christians in the first century. They gave out of love. They looked after their brethren. They even sold their homes to help the church. It is possible that the land Barnabas gave constituted his whole estate*having no dependents, he gave of himself and his possessions for the ministry.
The Macedonians were givers. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-19 the apostle Paul is writing to Christians who have struggled in the area under consideration in this essay. He was encouraging Christians in Corinth to follow the example of those in Macedonia. The Christians in Macedonia: gave while under affliction (v. 2); gave with abounding joy (v. 2); gave with abundant liberality even in “deep poverty” (v. 2); gave as they were able” “according to their power” (v. 3); gave more than they were able” “and beyond their power” (v. 3); gave willingly” “willingly of themselves” (v. 3); begged Paul to receive and administer their gift (v. 4); surprised Paul by their giving (v. 5); “First gave their own selves to the Lord” (v. 5); gave liberally so their giving might be like their other gifts (v. 7); were moved to liberality by the example of others and to prove their love (vv. 8,9); made commitments to give liberally (v. 10); gave out of a willing mind (vv. 11,12); gave that there might be equality (vv. 13-15); considered those who urged them to give as one who really cared (vv. 16,17); realized their giving would bring glory to God and meet the needs of the poor (v. 19).
PARTICULARS ABOUT GIVING.
Giving is obligatory. The text says, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order” (1 Cor. 16:1). This phrase is equivalent to a command. It is just as much a command as “Go into all the world” and “Repent and be baptized”. The Greek word employed here, diatasso, is not only used in reference to a command, but it means command plus arrangement. In other words, God has given a definite plan, order, and arrangement for the financing of his own work.
Giving is specific, relative to time. The text says, “Upon the first day of the week” (1 Cor. 16:2). The KJV and ASV leave out a very important word here “every”. Why, I do not know. The Greek phrase is kata mian sabbatou, and means “on the first day of every week”. The day is significant for several reasons. It’s the day the Lord arose from the dead (Mk. 16:9). It’s the day the church of our Lord was established the first day of Pentecost after our Lord’s resurrection (Acts 2). It’s the “Lord’s Day”, and the early church regularly assembled on that day (Acts 20:7). The apostle Paul explains that when Christians come together in regular assembly upon the first day of every week, they are to give of their means*God, through Paul said it, and that settles it.
Giving is to be personal. The text says, “let every one of you” (1 Cor. 16:2). By principle and application, this refers to every member of every congregation of God’s people—young, old, and in between. Every Christian has as much responsibility to give upon the first day of every week as they do to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
Giving is to be deliberate. The text says, “lay by him in store” (1 Cor. 16:2). The Greek word employed here is titheto, which is the present active imperative, and means “I set, or I place”. The imperative mood signifies the obligatory nature of the matter, and the present tense stresses the continuous action prescribed. So, a liberal rendering might be: “keep on setting aside”. “Let him set it apart; let him designate a certain portion; let him do this by himself, when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence of his prosperity. Let him do it, not under the influence of pathetic appeals, or for the sake of display when he is with others; but let him do it as a matter of principle, and when he is by himself.”
Giving is to be proportionate. The text says, “as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2). Our giving should be properly proportionate to our blessings—our income. This sacred principle is set in the following passages: “Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not” (2 Cor. 8:11-12). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (Jas. 1:17). “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Lk. 12:48). Yet someone still asks, “Exactly how much should I give?” “Is ten percent enough?” The only kind of giving that God accepts is “liberal giving”. Every passage with reference to the amount I am to give says “liberal”. Every example of giving is “liberal”. Whenever you have direct teaching and example, then you have strong evidence to support the position. Liberal giving always does two things: It is always sacrificial. It will always equal or exceed the giving of past dispensations. Patriarchs gave 10% of their monies. Jews gave 10% of their monies, add to that an additional 23% when you consider their gifts of possessions” every seven years they gave equivalent to one year’s salary. Christians, can we do any less? Is Christianity inferior to the other dispensations?
PRACTICAL POINT ON GIVING
If we fail to give as we have prospered, then we are robbing God. Malachi wrote it down this way, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation” (Mal. 3:8-9). Ill: Suppose I said to you, “You have come to the church building today from your stolen house, driving a stolen car, wearing stolen clothes, and adorned with stolen jewelry.” You would not like this, and neither would I. Yet, If we pay for these things with the money we withheld from God on Sunday, and spent it upon ourselves, then we have robbed God. When we rob God, we are making several value statements about ourselves. I am saying, to God, “I am ungrateful for what You have done for me.” I am saying, “I just don’t understand how important it is to my soul and to the church to give as I have prospered.” I am saying, “I’m greedy.” When we rob God, notice what we do to the church of His son. We rob the church of progress. We rob the church of respect. We rob the church of salvation, of our own soul.
PEOPLE WHO GAVE
God was and is a giver. Consider the “Golden Text” of the Bible: “For God [the greatest being] so loved [the greatest thing] the world [the greatest number], that he gave his only begotten Son [the greatest gift], that whosoever believeth in him [the greatest faith] should not perish [the greatest tragedy], but have everlasting life [the greatest reward]” (Jn. 3:16).
The widow was a giver. Read Mark 12:35-44. This widow gave out of her extreme poverty. She gave all her living all that she had to live on. She trusted in God to supply her wants, and devoted her little property entirely to him. Do we truly deny ourselves in giving? Most give out of an abundance. Does it hurt us to give?
Barnabas was a giver. Read Mark 12:35-44. Oh to be like the Christians in the first century. They gave out of love. They looked after their brethren. They even sold their homes to help the church. It is possible that the land Barnabas gave constituted his whole estate*having no dependents, he gave of himself and his possessions for the ministry.
The Macedonians were givers. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-19 the apostle Paul is writing to Christians who have struggled in the area under consideration in this essay. He was encouraging Christians in Corinth to follow the example of those in Macedonia. The Christians in Macedonia: gave while under affliction (v. 2); gave with abounding joy (v. 2); gave with abundant liberality even in “deep poverty” (v. 2); gave as they were able” “according to their power” (v. 3); gave more than they were able” “and beyond their power” (v. 3); gave willingly” “willingly of themselves” (v. 3); begged Paul to receive and administer their gift (v. 4); surprised Paul by their giving (v. 5); “First gave their own selves to the Lord” (v. 5); gave liberally so their giving might be like their other gifts (v. 7); were moved to liberality by the example of others and to prove their love (vv. 8,9); made commitments to give liberally (v. 10); gave out of a willing mind (vv. 11,12); gave that there might be equality (vv. 13-15); considered those who urged them to give as one who really cared (vv. 16,17); realized their giving would bring glory to God and meet the needs of the poor (v. 19).
PARTICULARS ABOUT GIVING.
Giving is obligatory. The text says, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order” (1 Cor. 16:1). This phrase is equivalent to a command. It is just as much a command as “Go into all the world” and “Repent and be baptized”. The Greek word employed here, diatasso, is not only used in reference to a command, but it means command plus arrangement. In other words, God has given a definite plan, order, and arrangement for the financing of his own work.
Giving is specific, relative to time. The text says, “Upon the first day of the week” (1 Cor. 16:2). The KJV and ASV leave out a very important word here “every”. Why, I do not know. The Greek phrase is kata mian sabbatou, and means “on the first day of every week”. The day is significant for several reasons. It’s the day the Lord arose from the dead (Mk. 16:9). It’s the day the church of our Lord was established the first day of Pentecost after our Lord’s resurrection (Acts 2). It’s the “Lord’s Day”, and the early church regularly assembled on that day (Acts 20:7). The apostle Paul explains that when Christians come together in regular assembly upon the first day of every week, they are to give of their means*God, through Paul said it, and that settles it.
Giving is to be personal. The text says, “let every one of you” (1 Cor. 16:2). By principle and application, this refers to every member of every congregation of God’s people—young, old, and in between. Every Christian has as much responsibility to give upon the first day of every week as they do to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
Giving is to be deliberate. The text says, “lay by him in store” (1 Cor. 16:2). The Greek word employed here is titheto, which is the present active imperative, and means “I set, or I place”. The imperative mood signifies the obligatory nature of the matter, and the present tense stresses the continuous action prescribed. So, a liberal rendering might be: “keep on setting aside”. “Let him set it apart; let him designate a certain portion; let him do this by himself, when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence of his prosperity. Let him do it, not under the influence of pathetic appeals, or for the sake of display when he is with others; but let him do it as a matter of principle, and when he is by himself.”
Giving is to be proportionate. The text says, “as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2). Our giving should be properly proportionate to our blessings—our income. This sacred principle is set in the following passages: “Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not” (2 Cor. 8:11-12). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (Jas. 1:17). “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Lk. 12:48). Yet someone still asks, “Exactly how much should I give?” “Is ten percent enough?” The only kind of giving that God accepts is “liberal giving”. Every passage with reference to the amount I am to give says “liberal”. Every example of giving is “liberal”. Whenever you have direct teaching and example, then you have strong evidence to support the position. Liberal giving always does two things: It is always sacrificial. It will always equal or exceed the giving of past dispensations. Patriarchs gave 10% of their monies. Jews gave 10% of their monies, add to that an additional 23% when you consider their gifts of possessions” every seven years they gave equivalent to one year’s salary. Christians, can we do any less? Is Christianity inferior to the other dispensations?
PRACTICAL POINT ON GIVING
If we fail to give as we have prospered, then we are robbing God. Malachi wrote it down this way, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation” (Mal. 3:8-9). Ill: Suppose I said to you, “You have come to the church building today from your stolen house, driving a stolen car, wearing stolen clothes, and adorned with stolen jewelry.” You would not like this, and neither would I. Yet, If we pay for these things with the money we withheld from God on Sunday, and spent it upon ourselves, then we have robbed God. When we rob God, we are making several value statements about ourselves. I am saying, to God, “I am ungrateful for what You have done for me.” I am saying, “I just don’t understand how important it is to my soul and to the church to give as I have prospered.” I am saying, “I’m greedy.” When we rob God, notice what we do to the church of His son. We rob the church of progress. We rob the church of respect. We rob the church of salvation, of our own soul.
posted by Neil Richey @ 5:22 AM
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