Preaching on giving is one of the topics that some preachers often avoid but is nonetheless included in Scripture. Many churches and pastors have various ways of approaching this topic, and today, we will discuss one of the most popular approaches, while at the same time discussing some fundamental New Testament principles about giving.
The first recorded example of giving in the Christian church is found in Acts 2:44-46, where believers in Jerusalem had all things in common, selling all their possessions and belongings, distributing them to all, according to need. This has led some commentators to note that the Jerusalem church had practices some form of primitive communism. There is no evidence, however, that this model was ever implemented as a norm in the subsequent congregations elsewhere.
The two letters of Paul to the Corinthians have several references on giving, and from these, we can derive some basic principles about Christian giving as it applies today.
Before we go to Corinthians, let us first learn the background of our story.
In Acts 11:27-30, we can read of a prophecy of Agabus about a great famine.
27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:27-30)
Part of this effort included Paul’s encouragement of Gentile Christian churches, particularly those he has founded, to help send relief to the Jewish Christians. Among the churches he approached were those in the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia, and one of the richest churches in Achaia was the church in Corinth.
In the book of Romans, Paul mentioned that he was taking to Jerusalem the collection made from the Gentile churches:
25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. (Romans 15:25-27)
The churches in Macedonia were mentioned by Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians. From this letter, we shall learn something from the Macedonian Christians and seek lessons in giving by observing: how they gave, what they gave, and what they did first.
First, let us have background on the Macedonians.
Edwin A. Judge (1982) describes Macedonia as a splendid tract of land, centered on the plains of the gulf of Thessalonica. It was a prosperous area. Running up the great river valleys into the Balkan Mountains, it was famous for its timber and precious metals. The churches of Macedonia had been planted by Paul on his second missionary journey--Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea.
Two of these churches have received letters from Paul, and the third is commended in the book of Acts (17:11) for their devotion to the Scriptures. The Bereans did not simply believe what Paul proclaimed to them, but they searched the Scriptures to find out if what he said was true. This, brethren, is something we should always do.
Now let us examine our passage for today:
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, 4 begging us earnestly for the favorof taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
§ POINT 1: HOW THEY GAVE: need is not an excuse not to give
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. (V.2)
The Macedonian churches had their own problems. The term “severe test of affliction” is “commonly used of the harassment that God's people experience at the hands of the world.” This may mean persecution, both at the hands of unbelieving Gentiles and perhaps, Jewish communities that were hostile to the gospel. In fact, in Acts 17, Luke records a riot led by Jews against Paul and Silas, forcing Christians to send the two of them to Berea, where the Jewish synagogue was more welcoming. While the verses are not explicit on the nature of their affliction, Paul writes of their extreme poverty. In Greek, this literally translates into “down-to-the-depth” or “rock-bottom poverty.” They were not only poor: they were very, very poor.
Despite their poverty and their own needs, brethren, the Macedonian churches did not hesitate to give. Rather, it was from their own affliction that their great generosity came. Perhaps they were living out what James said and what was preached last Sunday.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
They found joy in the middle of their troubles, and their faith grew stronger even in the middle of their trials. This joy was expressed through their generosity and manifested in their willingness to share what they had to the church in Jerusalem.
This is one point we should observe: the Macedonian Christians did not use their need as an excuse to not give.
§ POINT 2: WHAT THEY GAVE: ACCORDING TO THEIR MEANS, & EVEN BEYOND IT
3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will (v.3)
As implied by verse 3, the Macedonian Christians first determined what their means were. By doing so, they sought to find out just exactly what they were able to give. As Paul reminds us later in verse 12:
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. (2 Corinthians 8:12)
Giving must always take into consideration our means. It would be totally unrealistic, and even cruel, to demand, for example, that each one of us should give $100,000.00. We simply do not have that! Christians are first to determine what they are able to give. This implies purposeful planning. We cannot give what we do not have.
The Macedonians Christians, remember, were facing severe affliction and extreme poverty. It would have been justified if they excused themselves, since they too were suffering. Paul does not tell us how much they actually gave, but considering their situation, they gave much more than what was expected. Not only that, but the Macedonians were begging us earnestly for the favorof taking part in the relief of the saints (v.4).
Brethren, can you imagine someone giving something to the church and insisting that his contribution is received? Most of the time today, it is the other way around: churches, ministries and pastors soliciting for support, preaching on giving, and asking the believers to give. They use many methods, including some that are little more than blackmail. I have read of radio and television ministries using blackmail, appeals to emotion, and even threats to compel supporters to give. This, brethren is completely unscriptural and goes against the heart of Christian grace giving.
Christian giving must come from the heart. Brethren, observe that the Macedonian churches gave of their own free will. They were not compelled or threatened to give. They gave because they wanted to give, and this is something that Paul also encouraged the Corinthian Christians to do in chapter 9: Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
At the heart of this passage is the example of GENEROUS GIVING. The second point I would like us to observe: the Macedonian Christians gave freely and generously.
§ POINT 3: WHAT THEY DID FIRST: THEY GAVE THEMSELVES FIRST TO THE LORD
Paul did not expect the Macedonians to give as generously as they did, but he also tells us why they were able to give so much: they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us (v.5).
Christian giving must come from the heart, as I said earlier. Before this is possible, one must first GIVE HIS HEART TO GOD. God must first own the heart. Of course, this means that the person must be a genuine born-again Christian who has repented and trusted Christ as Lord and Savior (Acts 20:21).
This also means that the person must be right with God. Psalm 66:18 tells us that if a person has hidden or cherished sin in his heart, the Lord will not hear. 1 John 1:8-10 also tells us:
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)
To give oneself to God is to acknowledge the sovereignty of God, to submit ourselves to His will and purpose, and to have the glory of God as our highest purpose, our greatest joy, and our ultimate meaning in life. The Reformers described this as Soli Deo Gloria, or giving all the glory and honor to God alone.
This, brethren, must be true in our hearts first and foremost. God deserves, and yes, God demands, no less than our total surrender to His will and purpose. This is the third point from the example of the Macedonians: The Macedonian Christians gave themselves first to God before they gave.
§ WHY SHOULD A CHRISTIAN GIVE?
Brethren, before we ask how much to give, let us reflect on our relationship with the Giver Himself. Paul reminds the Corinthians that:
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
This does not mean that Jesus was a beggar, but more than that, it means that Jesus Christ freely chose to leave His heavenly glory and walk the earth as a human being, like you and me, and more, He humbled Himself even to the point of dying on the cross for our sins (cf. Philippians 2:8, Romans 5:6-8). Christ gave His all so sinful, unworthy, ungodly, unrighteous, rebellious people like you and I would be saved. While many psychologists today will tell us that man is basically good, brethren, the Bible will tell us straight that we are sinners! Sinners! Habakkuk 1:13 tells us that God is too holy to look at sin! As sinners, we are, by nature and by choice, everything that God abhors, and yet, out of His great love, He chose to be one of us so that unworthy sinners might be saved.
Some people say that when we give, we are merely returning the part that belongs to God. But what really belongs to God? Is it 10% of our income?
No! The Bible says that Christians are purchased or ransomed with His blood (Revelation 5:9). To the Colossians, Paul writes:
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)
The NIV uses the word “rescued us” but in all cases, there is a clear transfer of ownership. All that we are, all that we have, and our very selves are God’s property. God owns it all, and God owns us all. Until we realize the full import of this fact, brethren, we will miss the heart of what it is to be a Christian.
The Bible is full of descriptions of what Jesus Christ has done for those whom He saved. One passage and the longest sentence in Greek in the entire New Testament, Ephesians 1:3-4, is overflowing with promises for those who are in Christ. Let us review some of them:
§ Verse 3 says we are blessed with every spiritual blessing
§ Verse 4 says that we were chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless
§ Verse 5 says we were predestined for adoption as sons
§ Verse 7 says we have redemption for his blood and forgiveness
§ Verse 9 says we have received from Him knowledge of His will
§ Verse 11 says we have obtained an inheritance
§ Verse 13 says we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit
Brethren, the point is clear: if you have a living and real relationship with God in Christ, you have many, many blessings already. This generosity of God, this recognition of God as the gracious giver should motivate us to give. We can never out-give God, and we cannot repay God, but for someone to whom so much undeserved grace has been given, surely gratefulness should follow. Brethren, Christians have so much to be grateful for. We can only thank God for His graciousness, and likewise, as imitators of Christ, seek to reflect the same kind of generosity.
§ How shall A CHRISTIAN give?
In the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul laid down how the Christians there were to prepare for his coming:
1 Now concerningthe collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
This sets several points on giving. J. Hampton Keathley, in his book Financial Faithfulness, notes on this passage:
(1) Regularly: “On the first day of every week” helps promote diligence and disciplined giving. This creates a consistency and regularity that translates good intentions into actions (1 Cor. 16:2).
(2) Personally: “each of you” brings out the need for every believer to take giving as a personal responsibility for which God holds us each responsible (1 Cor. 16:2).
(3) Systematically: “put something aside and store it up” brings out the need to have a method or system whereby money for the Lord’s work is specifically set aside, stored up for giving, so that it is not used for other things (1 Cor. 16:2).
(4) Proportionately: In the New Testament, set amounts of compulsory giving (as in the tithe) have been replaced by the grace principle of voluntary, purposeful, and proportionate giving. The new standard for today is “as He may prosper” (1 Cor. 16:2).
§ HOW MUCH SHALL A CHRISTIAN GIVE?
We finally come to the question of “how much.” Many Christian churches would automatically answer this question by saving: 10%. They tell us to tithe to the church, and some also say that those who do not tithe are robbing God.
Brethren, let me assure you that NOWHERE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ARE CHRISTIANS EVER COMMANDED TO TITHE. In fact, the often-quoted verses in Malachi 3:8-10 are not addressed to Christians but to Jews. Malachi 1:1 alone shows that, as does Malachi 3:6. The practice of systematic tithing is part of the Old Covenant made by God with Israel, and it was mainly a means of supporting the tribe of Levi, which had no inheritance in the Promised Land. This tribe was responsible for duties in the Temple, and the book of Leviticus describes their many responsibilities. Today, we do not have a physical temple, but we ourselves are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We do not have a Levitical priesthood, but rather, we ourselves are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) with Jesus Christ as our High Priest (Hebrews 5:10).
There are other references often quoted to support the practice of tithing, but almost all of these are used out of context and without regard for the differences between the Old and the New Covenants. The clearest verse that should guide Christians on this subject is this:
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
What can we learn here?
§ Each one must give - First, the privilege of giving is for everyone. Some with more resources can give much, and some with less can give little, but in all instances, Christians are expected to give
§ as he has decided in his heart – Second, the decision to give and how much to give must come from the heart. It must be planned and purposeful: it must be because you want to give.
§ not reluctantly or under compulsion - We should not give grudgingly our out of obligation. We should not be forced and we should not force anyone on how much to give. This must be a personal decision for each person. If it were compelled, then it would not be giving anymore but taxation.
§ for God loves a cheerful giver. – David Guzik notes in his commentary the following: The Greek word for cheerful (hilaros, used only here in the New Testament) is the rot for our English word hilarious. God wants us to give happily, because that is how God Himself gives!
As children under the New Covenant, let us give ourselves willingly first to God, and ask Him to give us both the means and the desire to give. We can all see the needs of our church, so we do not need to be reminded that our support, which includes our time, our talent, and our treasure, can be put to good use to serve God through this church, His church. Let us close with the admonition from Paul:
7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7, NIV)
[PRAYER]
