What Does The Bible Teach About Giving?
Introduction: What does the Bible actually teach about giving? It is an important subject that must not be ignored if we are going to be faithful to proclaim the whole counsel of God (see Acts 20:20 and 27). Jesus talked about money a great deal during His earthly ministry. He presented as a test and a revealer of our spiritual condition. He said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 7:21).
Also, it is important to remember that the biblical context for any discussion about giving is in the overall context of stewardship. A steward is someone who manages the resources of another. Every Christian is a steward because everything we have is a gift from God (James 1:17). God owns it all. However, we are responsible for the way we use what God gives us. Ultimately, God desires that we be totally surrendered to Him. Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” God wants us to totally commit our lives; time, talents and treasures; to Him. He wants us to use our time and talents in serving Him by serving other people. He wants us to use our treasures in supporting the work of His kingdom. A good steward invests his resources, monetary and otherwise, in the Lord’s work. Here are the biblical principles of stewardship (from Matthew 25:14-30):
Principles of Stewardship
God is the ultimate owner of all things in this world.
God graciously entrusts us with different blessings. These are gifts from the Lord.
He is the Lord while we are His servants.
We are responsible for how we manage the resources/blessings that He gives to us.
Our responsibility, accountability, and opportunity is based on what God entrusts to us.
God expects a return on what He invests in us.
Our evaluation is based on the proportion and not the portion.
We are accountable only for ourselves and not anyone else.
God rewards those who are faithful.
God judges those who are unfaithful (see 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 and Revelation 20:11-15).
With that said in the way of introduction, let’s specifically examine what the Bible teaches about giving monetarily. We will look at the attitude of our giving and the amount of our giving.
Our Attitude About Giving
God is not only interested in what we give, but why we give. He wants us to give willingly and cheerfully from a right heart. 2 Corinthians 8-9 is an extended passage about giving. Here are some of the principles that it teaches:
God wants us to give sacrificially (8:1-4). We haven’t really given unless it truly costs us.
God wants us to first give our lives to Him (8:5).
God wants us to excel in this virtue just as in other areas of our lives (8:6-7).
Generous giving is evidence of our love for God (8:8).
God is the ultimate giver because He gave His Son, and we are only following His example by giving (8:9).
Giving is proportionate based on what we have (8:12-15).
The church should carefully, wisely, and legally use God’s money (8:16-21).
Generous giving motivates others to give (9:1-2).
God wants us to give with the right attitude, which is cheerfully and willingly (9:5-7).
God blesses and provides for those who give (9:8-11).
Giving glorifies God (9:11-14).
12. Giving is to be an expression of thanksgiving to God (9:15). God gave everything to us. What will we give to Him? Our attitude should be one of wishing we had more to give.
The Amount Of Our Giving
Malachi 3 is very clear that the biblical basis for giving is the tithe, which is the first 10% of our income. God wants our best and not our leftovers. That is really the context in the book of Malachi. In chapter 1, the Lord spoke to them about offering defective animals as sacrifices instead of giving Him our best. That is what we are doing if we do not give God our firstfruits. God says we are robbing Him if we do not tithe. He promises a blessing to those who obey in this area and discipline to those who do not. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the firstfruits of all your increase.” For those who question whether or not the practice applies today, remember that tithing predates the Law (Genesis 14:20) and that Jesus commended the practice (Matthew 23:23). As New Testament Christians we may be led by the Holy Spirit to give offerings beyond this amount, but this is the basic amount that God requires. Pastor Mac Brunson says, “For Christians under grace to give less than those under the Law is a disgrace. The Lordship of Jesus Christ in the life of the believer requires each area, including our wallets, to be surrendered to Him. Giving stimulates spiritual growth while a lack of giving greatly hinders it so I want to encourage you to obey the Lord in this area if you are not. Jesus talked a lot about money and taught us that our handling of money is a test that indicates the condition of our hearts. Please remember these 9 important facts about tithing:
It is an act of faith that says I can live better on 90% with God’s blessing than on a 100% on my own.
It is an act of obedience that acknowledges Christ’s Lordship over my life.
It is an act of stewardship that acknowledges God as the owner and provider of all that I have.
It is an act of worship that expresses gratitude for God’s gracious provision.
It is an act of ministry that enables people’s lives to be touched with the power of the gospel.
It is an act of sharing that is an antidote to the sin of greed.
It is an act of blessing that blesses me in return.
Because people’s lives are touched, it is really an investment in eternity (Matthew 6:19-21).
It is an act of testing that God uses to reveal the condition of our hearts.
Conclusion: Let’s obey the Lord in this area of our lives and experience the blessings that He has for us individually and corporately. Giving is an opportunity to bless God, to be blessed, and to be a blessing to others. Therefore, let’s view it as a wonderful opportunity to worship God and impact people instead of a grudging obligation.
We also realize that taking the step to begin tithing is difficult for many people because of debt. I believe that God still comes first. However, the church can help with financial courses and/or counseling if there is a need.
