Back to the Basics - Giving
ME
Well we are at the end of the Back to the Basics sermon series. Before I started this series I had it planned out the basic things I would talk about. Although I planned out what I was going to preach, I offered up to you all to suggest any topics you would like to hear about, but I didn’t receive any responses so we will end this series today with talking about giving financially to the work of the Lord.
WE
As with communion which was the last thing I talked about in this series and with baptism not everyone agrees on the subject of giving. Generally the main subject matter of discussion when it comes to giving is concerning the tithe and whether or not it is still in place today in the New Testament Christian Church.
On both sides of the subject people hold very strong opinions. My objective this morning is not to consider those strong opinions, but simply look at the scripture to see what it says about giving in the times we live in, which is the church age, under the New Covenant that God made with us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
We have already read the passage in Acts 2 verses 42-47 several times and I have used that as a basis to leap frog into these basics of the church. While I’m not going to read that passage again this morning someone might wonder about where is giving seen in that passage. Well, it is in the fellowship.
Fellowship is not just getting together and having a meal together, but much more than that. It involved doing life together and sharing with one another when and where there is the need. Involved in fellowship is giving to support the needs of others and to see that the ministry of the church can continue.
If you want to get an idea of what these new Christians did to help each other financially take a look at the Acts 2 passage again because it does say they sold possessions to help others in verse 45. But also look at Acts 4:32-37. I’m not going to read that or go into that further for the sake of time this morning.
I do want to read the chapter that is probably to most recognized passage in the New Testament concerning giving, 2 Cor. chapter 9.
GOD
There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.
3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Cor. 9:1-15
Remember I said the argument or discussion concerning giving today is whether we should tithe, or if we are required to tithe in the New Testament. Well, let me ask you, did you hear anything about tithing in this chapter? NO, it is not there. Matter of fact in all of the New Testament when it comes to instructions given to the church on how we are to live out our faith — not a single apostle or writer writes about tithing.
Yes the word tithe or at least the concept of it comes up in the New Testament in Mt. 23:23 Luke 11:42 and in Luke 18:12. In the Mt. 23:23 and Luke 11:42 scriptures it is Jesus talking to the Pharisees. The Luke 18:12 verse is a Pharisee talking about himself. And you also have to remember that when Jesus on earth the Old Covenant was still in place. It also comes up in the book of Hebrews in chapter 7 verses 5-9 as it relates to Abraham and Levi.
However, like I said before, when it come to instructions given to the church tithing is not mentioned whatsoever by any writer. And you have to ask why. If tithing is an essential part of what the church is supposed to do today (as many people who I know today believe) why is it not mentioned in any, not a single instruction, given to the church?
Now remember the church included Gentiles — and most of the Gentiles would not have known the Law. They also would not have known all the rules and regulations given to the nation of Israel, of which tithing was a part of. So if tithing is supposed to be a standard by which the church — Christians today — are suppose to live, why is tithing not mentioned even once in instructions given to the church?
Let me ask you this question then. Since tithing is not mentioned — in any way — as instruction to the church — is tithing a bad thing? Well, God instituted it and God would not institute anything bad. However, God did institute things only for a time.
I want you to see Galatians 2:19-21, “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
I also want you to see what Hebrews 7:18 says, The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
What is that better hope by which we draw near to God? Well, look just a few verses down to Hebrews 7:22. This verse says, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Jesus is the better hope by which we draw near to God. Drawing near to God does not take place by following the Law, of which tithing is included.
So if you tithe does it show that you are mature in Christ. Let me give this illustration and then you decide.
ILLUS: There is a husband and wife who have no children. Both the husband and wife have good jobs. Let’s say this couple both make $100,000 per year so they have an income of $200,000 per year.
There is another couple, the husband works and the wife is a stay at home mom because they have 3 kids and it’s too expensive to send them all to child care because it would cost more than the mom could make outside the home. The husband’s job isn’t that great, but he does make a little more than minimum wage and makes $20,000 per year.
Both couples are Christians and both tithe. The first couple with no kids and making $200,000 per year are giving $20,000 to the church each year. The second couple who is making $20,000 per year are giving $2,000 per year.
Which couple has giving more? Well, the math is obvious, the first couple. Of course $20,000 is more than $2,000. Let me ask another question, who is sacrificing more?
I don’t know about you, but if I was making $200,000 per year and giving $20,000 in tithes I believe I could still live pretty well, even if I have 3 children like the second couple. I would be able to save money for retirement, not be in debt and have money left over.
However at $20,000 per year with a family of five I would be struggling everyday to make ends meet. I would probably be getting food stamps and on state paid insurance and that is without tithing to the church. So if you ask the question, as I did — who sacrificed more? The answer is obvious. The second couple because they gave out of their need not their excess.
Does the illustration of those two couples remind you of anything. How about Mark 12:41-44 — Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44
Just like the with the two couples, one gave out of their excess, the other gave out of their need and the commitment level in giving of the couple who gave less is much greater than the couple who gave more out of their excess.
Instead of tithing as a standard for the New Testament Church giving under the New Covenant in light of what Jesus did for us with His sacrifice on the cross a new standard has been established. Let me read several different passages to help explain.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Cor. 9:6-8
Let me also read 2 Cor. 8:7-9, But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 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 through his poverty might become rich. 2 Cor. 8:7-9
Let’s also read 1 Cor. 16:1-2, Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Cor. 16:1-2
YOU
With these things in mind — this is the application of what I see — in what and how we are to give to the Lord’s people and the Lord’s work in the New Testament Church.
How We Should Give
We should give on a regular basis
The NT Church was instructed to give on the first day of the week.
Some things have changed since then. For instance if you get paid monthly then give monthly if you choose, but it should be a systematic giving.
We should have a savings plan for giving and give according to our income.
This is deciding in our hearts what to give.
According to 2 Cor. 8:12 we are to give out of what we have, not out of what we do not have.
We should give generously considering what Jesus has given us through His sacrifice.
This means we willingly give sacrificially — as Jesus willingly sacrificed for us
As I spoke of before if the tithe is the standard of the NT Church and the rich man is tithing out of his excess, is that giving in light of Jesus’ sacrifice for that person? Is that person sacrificially giving?
We should give cheerfully? Even though it is sacrificial, our giving should still be cheerful.
We should give in such a way that no collections have to be made.
In other words, we should not have to pass the plate to get you to give — which can cause you to give reluctantly or under compulsion
And this leads me to some thing we should not do concerning giving.
We should not give reluctantly
We should not give under compulsion
We should not give unwillingly
We should not give in the spur of the moment without previously praying and thinking about what we should give.
These are some promises concerning giving.
If you give sparingly, you will reap sparingly.
Remember this is according to your income and the sacrifice you make in giving.
If you give generously, you will reap generously
If you decide in your heart what to give and give it cheerfully God is able to bless you abundantly so that at in all things and at all times you will have what you need to do every good work. And believe me God wants to bless you so you can do every good work.
WE
I have heard some people say they feel bad because they can’t give like others can in the church. Well let me just say that if you are giving cheerfully and sacrificially, in keeping with your income you are doing what you should do. And God can do with a little just like He can do with a lot.
ILLUS: Some years ago a woman was preparing a box to be sent to some missionaries in India. A child gave her a penny. The woman used this penny to purchase a tract for the box. Eventually the tract reached a Burmese chief and was used to lead him to Christ. The chief told the story of his conversion to his friends, many of whom believed.
Eventually a church was established and over fifteen hundred people were converted to Christianity. The lesson is plain: no gift willingly given is too small for God to use.
Belleville, L. L. (1996). 2 Corinthians (Vol. 8, 2 Co 8:11). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
So don’t feel bad that you can only give a little now, but don’t give up on giving more. As a Christian we should work our finances in such a way so we can give as much as we can to the Lord’s work. This means if we are in debt we should do whatever we can to get out of debt. If we are not on a budget and are spending our money unwisely we should get our finances in order through budgeting so we are good stewards with what God has given us.
This is why I want to offer Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University to everyone in this church body. I don’t have this set up yet, but will work on it this week. One of my challenges to you this week is to commit to going through this course. Hopefully we will get this set up in the near future.
My second challenge this week is to take to heart in the matter of giving. We have a giving church and I know many already do this. But don’t come to church next week without planning in your heart what to give to the Lord’s work.
We are making a change in how you give and I know some may think this is crazy, but this is the last Sunday for passing the plate to take offering. Why? Because we want your giving to be planned out, set aside, and given cheerfully. In no way do we want you to give unwillingly, reluctantly or under compulsion. Passing the plate can cause you to give in such a way that no blessings are given either from you or to you.
What are we going to do instead? Well, we already have a box that says “Offering” standing on that pedestal at the back of the room. We will receive your offerings in that box and in another box like it we will place just outside this room on a pedestal. This way you can give on your way in or your way out.
And you will be able to give what you have planned ahead to give in your heart to God. Let’s pray.
