What is giving according to the Bible?

In New Testament Christianity we are ‘not under law but under grace’ (Rom. 6:14). Does that mean we give less, or nothing at all? We may say with the Apostle Paul: ‘Far be the thought’! But it is necessary that we see that the principle of Christian giving is completely different and on a higher level. A Christian does not give out of a sense of lawful obligation but out of a grateful response to the grace of God, according as God has prospered him (1 Cor. 16:2).

Let us summarise some of the ways and motives that should guide a Christian in his giving according to the teachings of the Bible:

There is first of all a giving of ourselves to the Lord, then a giving out of our material possessions according to the measure of what we have (2 Cor. 8:1–5). We are encouraged to give cheerfully, rather than grudgingly or of necessity: ‘Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver’ (2 Cor. 9:7). God promises that as we give liberally we will also reap liberally: ‘He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully’ (v. 6). How wonderful is the Lord’s promise in Luke 6:38 in this connection: ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.’ Our giving should be purposeful and orderly. In God’s order there are to be collections made on a regular basis on the first day of the week, when the saints are gathered together: ‘Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come’ (1 Cor. 16:1–2). Our Lord Himself has taught us to give secretly. There will be a sure reward. But that will be not of men, but of God. And it will not necessarily be in the present time, but in a coming day: ‘But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly’ (Matt. 6:3–4).

However in New Testament Christianity we are ‘not under law but under grace' (Rom. 6:14 ). Does that mean we give less or nothing at all? We may say with the apostle Paul: ‘Far be the thought!' But it is necessary that we see, that the principle of Christian giving is completely different and on a higher level. A Christian does not give out of a sense of lawful obligation, but out of a grateful response to the grace of God, according as God has prospered him (1 Cor. 13:2).

Let us summarize some of the ways and motives that should guide a Christian in his giving according to the teachings of the Bible (A prayerful study of the following passages will be helpful: 1 Cor. 16:1.2; 2 Cor. 8 and 9):

• there is first of all a giving of ourselves to the Lord, then a giving out of our material possessions according to the measure of what we have (2 Cor. 8:1-5).

In this case, God makes no peremptory demand, but tells Moses to speak to the people to the effect that they should willingly with their heart bring an offering to the Lord. There was no question as to how much each should give, nor if they should give at all if their heart was not in it. This must be a fully voluntary offering. The principle here corresponds fully with the principle laid down for the assembly of God today in their giving. 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 deal extensively with this question. Exodus 9:7 is most plain, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.” Therefore this offering of Exodus 25 shows that even in the giving of the law God looked beyond the law to the grace that would yet be revealed.

Far be the thought that it is a matter of law now with us. Never in the New Testament as far as we are aware is there any suggestion that we must give one tenth of our income. No, it is essentially a "voluntary offering", given entirely of our own free will, given at the time when we are remembering how the Lord gave Himself, gave all, for us, and my gift is the mark of my appreciation of His gift, and is the overflow of my heart in thanksgiving to Him. Mr. J. G. Bellett remarks: "The world will give what it can spare, the Lord gives what cost Him everything. John 14:27." Our giving is in reality just as true worship as our hymns of praise or thanksgiving. Indeed we get them connected in Heb. 13:15-16, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise … But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Then the scriptures connect our joy with our giving. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Our God is a giving God, and now He gives us the privilege and the joy of giving to Him. Though truly every one of us must say with David of old, "Of Thine Own have we given Thee" (1 Chron. 29:14) "Ye are not your own … ye are bought with a price" (1 Cor. 6:19-20.) All, all that we have to offer is really His already. His by creation, and His by Redemption, but He delights to give us the joy of giving of it back to Himself. Is it possible that such matchless Grace shall merely provide an excuse for these wretched hearts of ours to give less to the Lord than the law demanded, and to spend more on ourselves than Israel was permitted to do?

A legal requirement of the whole then would have been unavailing, and a mere bondage. "Not grudgingly, or of necessity," is, as we have seen, the Scripture-rule. But that does not at all mean what people characterize as "cheap religion." It does not mean that God will accept the "mites" of the niggard as the Lord did those of the woman in the Gospels. Christ does not say now, Give as much or as little as you please it is all one. No: He expects intelligent, free surrender of all to Him, as on the part of one who recognizes that all is really His.

The people had apparently not been taught that the Levites depended on their support for the service they performed in the temple. Hezekiah therefore took notice of this and commanded the people of Jerusalem to contribute to the support of the Levites, so that they could devote themselves to their proper service. When this order was circulated the people were quick to respond, for Hezekiah's personal devotion to the Lord had very real influence on them. They brought in grain, wine, oil and honey and other produce in abundance (v. 5). When people's hearts were affected by the truth of God, tithes were not considered a hardship. Under grace there is no commandment given to tithe, but since we are infinitely blessed by the sacrifice of Christ for us, our giving is to be voluntary and spontaneous. "Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7).

In New Testament times many were punctilious in paying tithes of small things, while they neglected the weightier matters of the law — judgement, mercy, and faith. Matt. 23:23. A definite tenth or fifth is not enforced in the N.T., but liberality is enjoined. "God loveth a cheerful giver:" he that soweth sparingly will reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully will reap bountifully: "he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord." Paul told the saints to lay by for the special collection he was making for the poor 'as God had prospered' each. God required of them according to what they had, and not according to what they had not. The poor widow who cast in the two mites cast in more than the rich, for it was her whole living. At the commencement of the church many gave up their possessions and the saints had 'all things common;' but failure soon came in, and we may learn from the general tenour of the epistles that such a state of things would not continue, though the principle abides that we do not call any of the things we possess our own.

In the New Testament, rather than being commanded to give tithes, believers are encouraged to give only as they may purpose in their hearts, in appreciation of the pure grace of God. How good to be reminded that "God loves a cheerful give" (2 Cor.9:7).

And each is called upon to purpose in his own heart as to the amount he gives. If Paul presses upon them to give from a right and godly motive, willingly; yet absolutely no pressure must be used in reference to the amount given. What one can give totally ungrudgingly, let him give, not because he feels it incumbent, but rejoicingly. For God loves a cheerful giver. Indeed, this is God's own character.

Christian giving is something that has to come from the heart before it can have real value before God. If there is not a ‘willing mind’ (2 Cor. 8:12), the giving is just a legal thing. Practical Christianity is not a matter of keeping rules and regulations. It is the answer of our love to Him that reflects itself in every area and aspect of our life. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and we give (ourselves and from our substance) because He first gave to us (Himself and all kinds of blessings).

Christianity is full of apparent paradoxes. One of them is the teaching of our Lord mentioned above: if we give, we will receive (Luke 6:38). There is a transfer taking place so that when we give, we are enriched. This divine principle of giving applies to many areas of life and certainly to the subject of Christian giving. ‘He is the richest man in the esteem of the world who has gotten the most. He is the richest man in the esteem of heaven who has given the most’ (F B Meyer). Where do we want to be rich?