23. Giving
A. Introduction
Giving is not a single action, but a lifestyle that we need to develop.
When we give, we display the loving heart of Jesus, and we need to do this even to the point of sacrifice - Jhn. 3:16, Acts 20: 35, Phil. 4:18b.
The word giving appears over 900 times in the Bible; of these:
150 refer to giving thanks;
50 refer to our attitude of giving materially; and
the rest is what God gives us!
Giving fits in to the general principle of sowing and reaping Gal. 6: 7-10 - Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh, shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit, shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Both the principle of giving and the lack of it will reap definite results in our lives.
2Cor. 9: 6 - we need to sow generously.
B. The attitude of heart in giving
We need to embrace the Biblical principle of giving with the following attitudes:
2Cor. 9: 7 - giving is a heart matter, because God loves a cheerful giver;
Ps. 37: 21 - give generously, e.g. Ex. 36: 5-7, where the Israelites were told to stop giving;
Prov. 21: 26 - giving without sparing;
Matt. 6: 2, 3 - do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing;
2Cor. 8: 7-9 - we are encouraged to excel in the grace of giving;
Luke 11: 42 - do not let giving become a religious practice (without a conviction of the heart);
Luke 21: 1-4 - giving sacrificially;
2Cor. 9: 2 - give with enthusiasm;
1Cor.10: 31 - the correct heart attitude is giving for the glory of God; we give to see the Kingdom of God sustained and going forward;
Acts 5 - Ananias and Sapphira stand out as a bad example of giving with the wrong motives.
C. The different types of giving
The Scriptures pose five types of giving with definite purposes for each. They are:
1. Tithes
Mal. 3: 6-12 -
For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, o sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes, and have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
But you say: How shall we return?
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!
But you say: How have we robbed Thee?
In tithes and contributions.
You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more need.
And all the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts.
Everything belongs to God (Ps. 24:1,2). God blesses us with income, and in turn asks for the tithe (tenth) of it.
Tithing is not an Old Testament principle, because it was instated by God before the law was given to Mozes (Heb. 7: 4-10, Gen. 14: 20). Jesus endorses tithing (Matt. 23:23). We are to tithe on all our income (Lev. 27: 30-32), and according to these verses pay back 20% more of tithes not paid.
Scripture seems to indicate, that one must tithe on the “gross” amount of income - Neh.10: 37, 2Chr. 31: 5,6.
Also, the tithe is for the priests’/ elders’ sustenance (Ezek. 44: 30, Deut. 26:12, 1Cor. 9: 7-18, 1Tim. 5:17) and, therefore, the tithe comes into the storehouse, i.e. into the place where you are fed spiritually, your “spiritual home”. In turn the priests / elders are also commanded to tithe (Num.18: 26).
In conclusion: the encouragement in Mal. 3: 6-12 needs to be taken to heart.
2. Offerings
Offerings are talked about in Mal. 3: 8 - …..tithes and contributions (= offerings), and constitute giving over and above tithes (this holds true for 3., 4. and 5. as well).
The Old Testament calls offerings freewill offerings - Lev. 22:17, Num.15: 3, Ezra 3:5.
Offerings were called for and given by the people for the establishing, rehabilitation and upkeep of the temple - Ex. 36: 2-7, Ezra 8: 24-30.
In the New Testament context offerings are made for the establishing and maintenance of buildings and all material things facilitating the work of the ministry.
3. Almsgiving
Almsgiving, as the word implies, is giving to the poor and needy, e.g. Acts 4: 32-37, 2Cor. 9:12,13 and Rom.12:13. Jesus and the disciples practised almsgiving - Jhn.13: 29.
Two interesting and challenging passages of Scripture on our attitude to the needs of the underprivileged are Is. 58 : 6-10 and Matt. 25: 31-46.
When it comes to almsgiving we are to be motivated by love and a clear conscience before God, and not by guilt and confusion. Allow the Spirit of God to lead, as the needs are many.
The purpose of almsgiving is, that there might be equality - 2Cor. 8:14.
4. Apostolic giving
This type of giving is giving, that supports the Great Commission, giving that underwrites the great expense of fulfilling the apostolic mandate the church has - Matt. 28:19-20, 2Cor.10:15-18.
Phil. 4:10-20 shows how Paul was resourced by the Philippian church, so that he could take the gospel to Thessalonica.
5. General generosity
Giving of this type is where we feel moved in our hearts to refresh an individual or a cause (e.g. parachurch organisations) with finances.
D. The promises associated with giving
Luke 6: 38, 2Cor. 9: 6, Eccl.11:1 - Give, and it will be given to you….. (the reward we reap will not only be financial);
Mk.10: 21 - when we give, we store up treasure for ourselves in heaven;
2Cor. 9:10 - God will enlarge our harvest;
Ps. 37: 25 - those who are righteous will never be forsaken;
Phil. 4:18b-19 - our gifts are seen as a fragrant offering and an acceptable sacrifice to God;
2Cor. 9: 7 - cheerful givers are loved by God.
E. General Biblical financial principles
2Thess. 3:10, 1Tim. 5: 8 - God requires us to work and provide for our families;
1Tim. 6:10,11 - …..the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil….. , so we are urged to flee from the love of it;
1Tim. 6:17-19, Marc 10:21 - good advice to the rich;
Matt. 22:17-22, Rom.13: 7 - God’s attitude to the responsibility we have to the tax requirements of the government;
Rom.12: 8 - God can raise some among us with the ministry of giving;
Luke 16: 9-13 - we cannot serve two masters -- it is either God or money;
Rom.12: 8 - God does not want us to get into debt, except the ongoing debt to love one another;
Phil. 4:11-13 - we need to learn to content, whatever the circumstances.