We’re focusing on our need to recognize God as owner and how we’re to manage what He’s entrusted to us. In so doing, He’ll direct us to give a portion of what He has entrusted to us in such as way as to bring Him glory, provide for His household (His church) and expand His kingdom. Today, I want us think further about giving. (READ TEXT)
The Bible speaks about giving in two way: tithes and offerings. Since God is the owner and we are His managers, we should follow His direction and make sure we don’t misappropriating His funds. How might we do this? By not giving to His work in the way He desires. Malachi addressed this problem in his day, when he said:
“‘Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.’ But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ ‘In tithes and offerings.’” - Malachi 3:8 (NIV)
Because people weren’t seeking God and obeying Him in their giving, they were misappropriating what God had entrusted to them. And we can do the same if we aren’t prayerful and intentional in our giving.
What is a tithe? A tithe is 10% of your income given to God’s work, which is centered in your local church. So when I tithe, I give at least 10% of my regular income to the support of God’s work through my local church. We know this by God’s Word. Some important points:
A tithe is not a designated gift. A tithe is given to support the ministry budget of my church without designation. So giving 10% to the building fund or the youth ministry isn’t a tithe.
A tithe is at least 10% of my income. 2%, 5%, or 8% isn’t a tithe. “Tithe” literally means “10th.” Anything less than 10% isn’t a tithe, though God may lead you to give regularly from your income an amount greater than a 10th of your income.
Since a tithe is 10% of you income, it is measured in money. So giving 10% of your time or your talents is not a tithe.
Tithing was created for our benefit. It teaches us how to put God first and how to be unselfish. Unselfish people make better spouses, friends, etc. And they usually have better finances, because God can teach them how to live better on 90% as they follow His direction than on 100% left to their own wisdom. When I give 10% and live on 90% I am living on a very basic budget. When live on a budget, I tell my money where to go, rather than wonder where it went.
This is why Dave Ramsey, who is famous for helping people get out of debt, doesn’t recommend you quit tithing to do so. He recommends the opposite. When he teaches budgeting to get out of debt, the first item he says you to include in your budget is your tithe to your local church.
What is an offering? It is given at God’s direction beyond my tithe.
“After you’ve tithed, you can give in other ways: Giving a cash offering to your church above and beyond the tithe, giving money to a charity you support, giving to a friend or neighbor in need, or giving of your time or talents. Not only does giving of your money or other resources generate good in the lives of others, it also generates contentment in your heart.” - Dave Ramsey
Some important points:
An offering is given at God’s direction. Arrived at through prayer.
An offering can be anything of value.
An offering is given to a designated need.
Paul spent close to ten years receiving an offering from among the Gentile churches to help Jewish believers who faced hard times due to famine. Paul and Barnabas made an initial visit to Jerusalem in 46 A.D. and delivered a gift from the church at Antioch (Acts 11:29-30). The Jerusalem church expressed hope the Gentile believers would continue to remember them, and Paul was eager to help. The collection was completed in 57 A.D. and funds were delivered by Paul and delegates from the contributing Gentile churches, including Corinth.
In our text for today, Paul refers to this offering, but what he shares also applies to tithing as well, as he sought to motivate the Corinthian believers to “excel in this grace of giving” (v. 7).
1. How the Macedonian Christians gave - vs. 1-6
A. They gave willingly - vs. 3b-4; 7
Paul emphasized that any contribution was to made with a motive of love, not a sense of guilt (v. 7). He repeats this later on when he says:
“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.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
If we are going to give in a way that honors God, what is far more important than the amount we give, is the attitude with which we give.
“In God’s economy, the attitude is more important than the amount. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 23:23: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices- mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.” The Pharisees had been careful to give the correct amount, but Christ rebuked them because of their attitude. He looks past the amount of the gift to the heart of the giver.” - Howard Dayton, Compass (finances God’s way)
Notice how Jesus commended tithing here. But the point is that the example of the Macedonians tells us we should give with a heart that’s glad and willing to obey God in every way, including giving.
B. They gave prayerfully - v. 5
They sought God until they’d heard his voice, then gave as He directed. God’s the owner and we’re His manager, and a wise manager checks in with His boss when making decisions.
The boss of a company and two associates were on their way to lunch when they come upon a old brass container. One associate picks it up and starts cleaning it with his handkerchief. Suddenly, a genie emerges out of puff of smoke. The genie is grateful to be set free and offers them each a wish. The first associate says, “I want to live on a beach in Jamaica with a sailboat and enough money to make me happy for the rest of my life.” Poof! She disappears. The other associate says, “I want to be happily married to a wealthy supermodel with penthouses in New York, Paris, and Hong Kong.” Poof! He vanishes. “And how about you?” the Genie asked the boss. The boss says, “I want both those idiots back in the office by 2 PM.”
Moral of the Story: Always let your boss speak first.
When’s the last time you checked in with your boss about your giving?
C. They gave sacrificially - v. 2
We’re told the Macedonians were poor, yet they gave generously. How is this possible? Because of a principle Paul shares later in this chapter:
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” - 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)
Generosity isn’t measured by the size of our gift, but by the size of our sacrifice. So in calling us to a life of generosity, God doesn’t call us to give equal gifts, but to make equal sacrifices. The fact is, whether it’s a tithe or an offering, we’ll have to give up something to give something.
D. They gave miraculously - v. 3
How were they were able to give beyond their ability? Because they gave as God instructed them and as God enabled them.
“‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’” - Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
Open windows let in light and fresh air. The promise isn’t that if you follow God’s direction in giving, you’ll see Cadillacs fall from the sky, but that God will give you fresh perspective and show you have to live better without what He says to give than you could if you didn’t. Note, Paul doesn’t say the Macedonians became rich by their giving, but that they were able to live well despite their giving. Why? Because they had put God to the test and He had proved Himself to be faithful.
2. Why the Macedonian Christians gave - v. 9
The Macedonians give as they did because of the cross. Jesus gave Himself willingly, as the Father directed Him. He sacrificed Himself and His gift purchased the greatest miracle anyone could every know - eternal life. Likewise, as we look to the cross, we will be inspired to give of ourselves to God as Jesus gave of Himself for us - willingly, prayerfully, sacrificially, and God will use that miraculously!
When I survey the wondrous cross,
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Conclusion: If I look at Christ long enough, I will become a giver. So let’s put our eyes on Christ and His cross through prayer, and let God guide us in our giving and lead us to living the generous life.
