“Give” is not a four-letter word!
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Time and Money – both are hot commodities in Northern VA. Both cause a great deal of anxiety in our lives because we never think we have enough of either. People are even now talking of the economy and about pouring money into it to “jump start it.” We as individuals complain we don’t have enough of it, but by the world standards we are living like royalty.
In our world money equates to power and many people strive for it, they ask, “how can I get more money?” Very few ask the question “what should I do with the money?” And even fewer ask, “How can I give more money?” To “give” now days has taken on a bad connotation in some arenas. Today even before Sept 11th you would have been inundated with pleas on T.V. to give. And televangelists have even given “giving” a bad name for churches. TV evangelists have a reputation for exploiting people financially. Now, this is not universally true, but that doesn’t matter. BECAUSE - the media has so stereotyped TV evangelists –as always having their hands out (stealing for little widow ladies), that we desperately want to disassociate ourselves from them..
And today someone will leave here saying, “I went there and all they wanted was money!”
But I want to tell you something. The Bible speaks more on finances than on any other subject, some 2000 plus verses in all. And since this is only the second sermon in 16 months on which we will learn the biblical premise of giving… I would have to disagree with you.
It is like a doctor prodding, poking until something hurts, he either pushed to hard or something on that spot is not right, so goes the pastor preaching on finances… certain members will cry out in discomfort, criticizing the message and the messenger. Either the pastor has pushed too hard. Or perhaps there’s something wrong. In that case, I say, “My friend, we’re in need of the Great Physician because it’s not supposed to hurt there.”
Oddly, we will believe what the bible says about Jesus, salvation, heaven, etc… but we don’t want to believe what it tells us about money, and giving. BUT because the Bible does speak to us about it, we must learn from it…The Biblical Teachings on giving…
These three particular items cover the Biblical ideals and concept of giving back to God.
1. There is the - TITHE – this equals to a tenth of what you have. The first mention of a “tithe” is actually in Genesis when Abram gave a tenth to the priest. And later in Leviticus the “tenth” was instituted as an actual command.
This command was that a tenth of ALL each person had would be consecrated unto God, that it would be brought into the local temple to be used for the service of the temple. And this tenth was not to be the last tenth but the first tenth and in fact there was to be no picking and choosing of the good and bad then the bad tenth given. Plus the command held that it was to be given at a regular systematic interval.
This idea of a command, that is to give to the Lord on a regular basis is indeed covered not only in the OT, in the NT it is mentioned in 1 Cor. 16:2.
What we call the tithe today is not really a tenth, for 94% of the church it is actually only a tip!!!
2. and then –
A Freewill Offering – offerings can actually be traced all the way back to Cain and Abel. They were offering to the Lord what was supposed to be out of their best… Abel gave out of the first portion and Cain…Well most of you know the story.
The freewill offering was to be something above and beyond the tithe. It was an expression of gratitude that was a spontaneous flowing from the heart. This was not giving out of duty it was a voluntary act of devotion. This is what your doing when you buy something for the church and turn the receipt in… it isn’t a tithe it is an offering. This act of giving from the heart was often for a specific need (in Exodus 35 & 36 to build the temple). So much was given then that Moses had to tell them to STOP!
3. and –
SHARING – In the NT this was distinctive and significant, it was giving that was done to meet a special need. It is discussed quite a bit in Acts and even in James.
This is giving that even goes beyond the previous two… It is that Christians would respond to the needs of others and share generously with them. As people would have need both the Church and the Christian would respond above and beyond the tithe or offering.
This sharing was often referred to as “koinoneo” – true fellowship.
BUT - be it OT or NT
Biblically, - it is a matter of the HEART and the SACRIFICE. That is what God is more concerned with.
Now why is it important to know the biblical teachings on giving? It is estimated that less than 20% of the church give 80% of the tithe. You see it is also estimated that if every Christian followed the biblical guidelines that there would be no need for a RedCross or a Salvation Army… Churches would be joyfully fighting each other to help anywhere and everywhere.
As Christians our giving, be it the tithe on a regular systematic basis, the freewill offering for a specific purpose or sharing for a special immediate need has several aspects
For the Christian the “act” of giving is vital because –
Giving is an INVESTMENT (verses 8 & 10) This is an understanding that a lot of people don’t want to talk about. But Paul was not afraid to discuss it. That is the sense of “reward” or reaping what you sow even in regards to giving.
Paul is doing nothing more than taking God’s promise of Malachi 3:10 serious… “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 it overflows.”
So in giving you’re investing, not selfishly because the giving goes to further the mission God gave the church… your investment reaps rewards… to the ones who are reached and hear the gospel and yes to you as God honors your investment, eternally and here. It may not be a monetary blessing you receive but you can be sure your investment will reap returns.
Giving is an act of FAITH (verse 11) When you give biblically you are saying that you believe in what God has said… that He will take care and supply all your needs. Verse 11 says you will be enriched in everything so that you can be even more liberal… and in giving it shows that you really do trust that God will provide and you are trusting that God will help you manage the remaining 90%!
Giving is a PRIVILEGE (verse 12) – The NT churches around the region found it a wonderful privilege to supply for the needs of the saints and the work of the ministry.
A church once sent a box of new toys to a small mission in India, the missionary there upon receiving the box told the children of a village orphanage with children who had no toys and that it would be a wonderful idea to donate their old toys to them. The children loved the idea and agreed. So one week later the missionary returned to collect the toys and found the box of new toys exactly as he had left them and the children gave him the box that they had received only days earlier… when asked why one little girl said… “Think what God did when He gave His Son, could we give Him less than our best?”
Giving is an act of OBEDIENCE (verse 13) Giving to the support of the work of the church, the work of the ministry is given in both the OT and the NT. When God tells you to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength – that means with all you are.
Years ago soldiers would often be baptize in mass. As they marched down into the water they would hold up one hand with their sword and they said they could then feel no guilt in going into battle because their sword hand had not be “baptized.” And for many today they do the same, only it isn’t a sword they’re holding out of the water.
When you give you are following through with an act of obedience to what God has taught. In fact when you don’t God asks, “Why are you robbing me…?” SEE MALACHI 3:8
I guess the question would fall then what do you want to be obedient with, the guideline of the tenth or the NT guideline of the ALL…
Giving is an act of WORSHIP (verse 14) Yes, giving is an act of worship. When you come and return to God a portion of what He has given you, you are indeed worshiping Him for providing all that you do have. Yes, even the act of placing your tithe into the offering plate can be a true act of worship. Hebrews 13 even talks about this “sacrifice” which is an act of praise.
The bottom line in here was not about “how much?” Paul does not lay down a flat rate, what each Christian must give; he tells you, that you must give as your prosperity demands. A man’s heart must tell him what to give. It wasn’t about everyone giving the same thing; it was about everyone sacrificing from their hearts.
And family, you cannot out give God… it says so in Malachi 3 – God says, “try Me and see…”
Buildings don’t get built with out giving – Ministries don’t reach people without giving – Churches do not accomplish their God-given task without giving.
AND Christians are being disobedient when they don’t give. I do want you to know that I am not telling you to do something that applies to you alone – My family gives regularly. And YES, that too is in the Bible - that the pastor is to give. (see Numbers 18)
Finally, Paul closes in verse 14 and 15 with this thought toward Christian giving… “Can you who have been so generously treated by God, be anything else but generous.”
One final thought – would you be obedient or disobedient to God’s command?
