Giving Proverbs. 3:9
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”
Many Christian struggle with giving. They fail to see that giving to the Lord is a matter of faith and that God always honors one’s faith. If a believer overcomes the problems, he has with giving, he makes a great leap forward in spirituality and His relationship to the Lord. God says, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) Living by faith refers to every area of a believer’s life, and that includes giving. How often have I heard believers say they could not give to the Lord. They had too many bills and expenses.
Yet, on the other hand, I have had many more tell me that the day they understood giving and surrendered the matter to the Lord was one of the greatest days of their lives. Many experience the blessing of giving and believe me….giving is a blessing. God wants to honor our faith. Hebrews 11:6 sets God’s instructions for us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Giving is certainly a matter of faith. It is obeying God and putting one’s trust in Him. Money is one of the most important things in our lives, and God wants us to live by faith with our money.
It is also disappointing that many pastors and Bible teachers do not understand what the Word of God says about giving giving. Most have simply taken what they were taught or read in someone’s commentary and accepted it without researching the matter from God’s word. It is not about tithing, but rather about our attitude concerning giving to the Lord.
The Old Testament teaches two kinds of giving. There were required offerings and also freewill offerings, which were not required.
1. Tithing was required giving by the Lord to keep up the government of Israel which was a theocracy! ( a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God ) It was strictly civil taxation. Numbers 18:24 “But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave (oblation) offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit:” Legal governing was place in the hand of the Levites.
2. There was also a freewill offering in the Old Testament was not the same as the tithe. It was not required and nor was the amount specified.
Exodus 25:1-2, gives the principle that God established considering giving. Offerings to the Lord were to be given willingly and from the one’s heart. God told Moses: “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.”
The Old Testament teaches these free will offerings given to the Lord were not a specified amount, but freely given from one’s heart. A person was to give to the Lord from the heart in gratitude as God had blessed them. Note the following passages:
Proverbs. 3:9-10, “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
The principle of giving, not tithing, in Old Testament involves the following:
a. Offerings are given freely. b. Offerings are given willingly from heart – from a true heart! (No specified amount!)
c. Offerings are to be an act of faith. It was at matter of offering thanksgiving and investing with God.
Now what does New Testament say? By understanding the principles of giving in the Old Testament we can better understand giving in the New Testament. The principle will be the same in all the Bible, however, the application of the principle may change.
I. Required giving in the New Testament and examples found in the New Testament
A. Giving to Pay Taxes. In Matthew 17:24f, the tax collectors came and ask Peter did the Lord Jesus pay his taxes! Peter replied “yes.”
1. Maybe the reason it is so hard to pay taxes as we do not follow the Lord’s example! He told Peter to go cast a hook into the sea and there would be a coin in the fishes mouth. He was to take the money and give it to the tax collects. Maybe we don’t fish enough!
2. Jesus sets the example for us to pay our taxes.
3. However, in a true sense He did not have too! Why ? Because He was the KING! Kings don’t pay tax.
B. Jesus Told the Jews to Pay their Taxes. Matt. 22:15-22. He was asked was it lawful to give Roman taxes?
1. The Pharisees and scribes tested the Lord Christ trying to trick Him into saying something they could use against Him to the Romans. They thought they had Him because if he said no, he would be in trouble with Romans, if Jesus said yes he was unpatriotic because the Jews were being forced to pay taxes to their conquerors the Romans!
2. Jesus called them hypocrites! Verse 18.
3. Verse 21. Jesus said to pay your taxes and give to government what they are due! He also said to give to God what is due to Him. Taxes are not given freely they are required….to carry on our government. Free will offerings are not required by God, but He gives us the instruction that we should and then tests us in this by seeing if we are living by faith. Our giving is a way for us to see if we are truly trusting the Lord or not. Giving does not make a person spiritual….but spiritual people do not have a problem with giving.
4. This is the same teaching found in the Old Testament.
C. Hypocrisy in Giving. Matthew 23:23. Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees saying they paid their tithes, but they did not give spiritually.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
They were blameless in that they paid their tithes to the Temple, but is was not done in thanksgiving to the Lord or in faith. They gave because they had too or were under pressure to do so. The Lord was not pleased with their giving.
What is the New Testament teaching on Giving?
A. The Christian’s Relationship to the Government is to be Submissive. Romans 13:1, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
Romans 13:6-7 states God’s universal principle given to Christians. “For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour..”
B. In regard to paying taxes Old Testament and the New teach the same principles. Christians are to pay their taxes which is required giving the same as was established by God in the Old Testament.
1. Required giving is related to taxation to government. 2. We are not under a theocracy as was Israel- so they paid the tithes (plural) to the priests who were in charge of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. This was their government. 3. We ought to be under theocracy and that Christ rule our every action in our lives!
II. Principles for New Testament freewill giving.
A. Some say the New Testament teaches that we invest our money with the Lord. I understand what they mean, but I also think the statement is misleading. We do not give to get….! Yes, believers will be rewarded for their faithfulness in giving, but the attitude the giver is more important that the gift. Those that use the term investing with the Lord are referring to the fact that God will reward us for giving and also for living a faithful life for the Lord.
1. Luke 6:38 The only requirement on giving in the New Testament is to GIVE! “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
2 Cor. 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
The principle that God gives us is that we give trusting the Lord and He provides for us. In other words, we are to be “Channels of Blessings” to others and let God use us.
Matt. 6:19 says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”
B. What is the New Testament principle? In 2 Corinthians 9:6, Paul answered the Corinthians who ask, “How much shall I give?” But first let’s look at what he said before he gave the principle. “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly”
In Chapter 8 Paul explains how the Macedonians gave. Paul began by commending the Macedonians, who gave out of deep property and gave more than they were able.
“Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves” (2 Cor. 8:1-3).
C. Paul’s states the principle in 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 and specifically in verses 6-7.
God says if you sow sparingly, you will reap same. Sow bountifully and reap bountifully. This is not giving to get a return, but giving as a man purposes in his heart to God. When Paul says to sow bountifully he is telling us that God blesses our faith. God blesses our faith is the principle.
Let me again make it clear this is not the formula to get rich. The “health and wealth” preachers on TV and in many churches should be warned. They are not teaching the Word of God when they promise that God will make Christians rich…! Christians should be warned. These preachers and churches are in error and in their perverted minds distorted the word of God for their own financial gain.
D. All Giving Should be Sacrificial. David said it. “I will not give the Lord that which cost me nothing!”
Mark 12:41-44 “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
E. Giving affects spiritual riches. Luke 16:11, Jesus said, “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? If you have not been faithful in your true riches.” True riches involve spiritual things.
G. Amount to give is personally determined.
1. God says the Christian is to give the amount that he “purposes” in his heart.
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
In Luke 19:8, when Zacchaeus was saved, he promised the Lord that the 1/2 of my goods I give to the poor. Further, he vowed that if I stole anything, I will return 400 percent. Some robbed God, not willing to make it up or even start. Zaccheaus set the amount…not Jesus. 2. Jesus in verse 9 said, “this day salvation has come to this house.” Zacchaeus’ showed his repentant heart and his thanksgiving for his salvation by his giving. (I’m suspect of a man’s salvation if he is not a giver. I know this cannot be a rule, but how can a man truly trust the Lord to save him and not be able to trust the Lord to provide his needs?)
3. Our example is Jesus 2 Cor. 8:9, “For ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his property might be made rich.”
H. Giving is in response to need
1. In Acts chapters 2 & 4 The early Christians saw a need someone else had, and they sold something that they had and gave to meet that need. 2. They had all things in common. This is not communism! They gave money from sell of lands and houses to the apostles; they gave to those who had a need. The people did not give everything they had into a pool and then let the Apostle give back to them. What they did was to give what they had to meet individual needs of people in their congregation.
I. Giving is to Show Love not Law.
1. Romans 15:25-28, Paul says that Gentiles are sending money to Jews to show their love for them, because the gospel came to Gentiles from Jews. They loved their brothers and sisters in Christ. 2. 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 “I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:8-9)
How much a Christian is to give is between him and the Lord. It is a private matter. Jesus said “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” (Matthew 6:3)
J. Giving is to be planned.
1. 1 Cor. 16:2 On the first day of the week they were to set aside a sum of money on each Sunday to be given to Paul, so when Paul arrived, no special offering would have to be taken. 2. Give every week, once a week.
3. Note Paul says everyone of you.
K. Giving is to be Generous.
1. 2 Cor. 9:5 teaches that giving should not be from the attitude of how much can I KEEP, but how much I can GIVE. 2. We are not to give not covetously-but bountifully.
3. Phil. 4:13-19, Paul thanked them for their generous offering.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well leasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” In verse 14, Paul says what they did was good in that they shared his troubles.
Generosity and sacrificial giving to God is an indication of person’s spirituality…..the lack of generosity in giving is almost a positive indication of one’s lack of spirituality and love of God. It certainly is a test of our faith. God honors our faith and the adage the we cannot out give God is certainly true.
Victory Baptist Church 02 June 2021 victorypalmetto.com