Are You Moving Forward in Christian Giving?
November is already nearing its end. Who doesn't feel excited about Christmas as December 1 is just a few days away? Some people end up hating Christmas not because they hate Christ. Rather, they hate almost everything associated with Christmas like the stressful lines, inconsiderate people who want justice to be ignored all because it's the season, and not to mention the materialistic associations with Christmas. Christmas ends up occupying the mind of people with, "What gifts will I get?" If they're into gift-giving, they always worry about getting the latest item because the person they're giving it may not want it. A child's view of Christmas is also usually materialistic. Do you ever wonder why there are more decorations of the non-existent Santa Claus over a Nativity scene? Have they forgotten that Jesus is the reason for the season? No wonder the Puritans such as Charles H. Spurgeon had a love-hate relationship with Christmas.
A good topic to talk about on Christmas is the subject of giving. Take note that Christian giving is not only on Christmas but a whole year-round event. I was doing some study on 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 on the Greek city of Macedonia. What I learned during some Sunday worship services ago was that the city itself was poor. Christians tend to get outlawed in their businesses. I even heard how Chick-Fil-A got victimized by foolish homosexual social justice warriors. How often are Christians called bigots even if they aren't calling for forcible conversions? I really find it so irritating at how homosexual activists get away with their use of violence but Christians are charged with a hate crime they didn't commit. The values of the world are indeed getting more warped on a daily basis. Yet, the Macedonians themselves in their great trial still kept giving for the ministry in spite of their poverty. It sounds foolish but they did all for the greater glory of God. Paul exhorted the rich Christians to follow their example.
The focus of Christian giving is under the covenant of grace. After we read the exhortations in 2 Corinthians 8 - we read further instructions in the next chapter. My favorite verse is taken from 2 Corinthians 9:7. I know there's a huge debate on tithing in the New Testament. Personally, I do still believe in the tithing of one's income. Although the tithing of material goods is long gone - I still believe in New Testament tithing. However, this tithing I believe in is not under the Law (Malachi 3:10-11) but under grace. Nobody should be reading Malachi 3:10-11 in hopes of getting money out of churchgoers. Rather, the tithe was established to support the work of the LORD in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, offerings are given to support the local churches. Meat in the storehouse can be translated as, "Filling the needs of the mission." Paying a tenth of the income can be a good way to start. Tithing under grace is that a person tithes not out of necessity or grudgingly. Rather, it's pretty much saying, "Lord, I give my tithes because I love you. I will not rob you because I love you. I will support the missions with the tithe I'm giving!" Regardless, I don't care anymore if it's tithing or not - what's important is to give cheerfully!
It really makes me sick to think that some cults today have become legalistic with their giving. I remembered how some of them even harass their members over their offerings. While nothing is wrong with record-keeping tithes and offerings and who gave them but to harass members over tithing is unscriptural. If a church decides to start harassing its members over their failures to give their tithes and offerings then it goes against cheerful giving. If there's a reason why some tithers may not be blessed - I would assume it's because of a legalistic motive behind tithing. God loves a cheerful giver! How can you expect tithers to be blessed if they only give because of a legalistic preacher who may be running a cult, giving with expectations of great material blessings, or giving only because they're afraid God will charge them robbery? If the motives for giving tithes and offerings are not for God's glory - you can't expect God to bless that offering! The motive has to be to give substance in the Lord's work. Nobody should be tithing hoping that God will exempt them from the trials of life. God said He would rebuke the devourer - not prevent any devourers from otherwise hurting the Christian should He permit it for a good reason! None of these is cheerful giving!
The Christian's cheerful giving may start with the tithes but it doesn't end there. It may start with happily departing from the tenth of one's income for God's glory. Giving of one's tithe in the form of money is just the start. This starts with, "Lord I love you, I'll give a tenth!" Just remember Jacob and Abraham lovingly gave a tenth of their income even before God instituted the tithe in Leviticus. However, any true giving doesn't stop with just the tenth. Remember, it's all about it that all people are guilty of robbing God in tithes and offerings. The Law shows you're a thief by not giving tithes and offerings for the work of the LORD. However, grace makes you willingly give back what's God by starting with the tenth and giving more than a tenth later on. True cheerful giving will not cry over the tenth lost but rejoices it will be done for God's work. Then it goes with, "Lord, I don't want to stop with the tenth of my income! Here, take an extra five percent!" But not satisfied, the Christian may seek God's blessings to earn more not for himself or herself. Rather, asking for God's blessings in order to give more for the greater good of God. In fact, some wealthy Christians give more than half of what they own and keep the rest only for what they need. Others simply give less because God hasn't entrusted them with more for some reason. It's not the amount of the gift that counts bigger. Rather, it's the quality of the heart of the giver. Do you tithe because you love God or do you tithe because you follow a legalistic view of it?
This Christmas, it would be a good time to reflect on this. Do you give your offerings with a loving heart or do you give only because the Law requires you to give? Law can only teach you the need to give. Grace gives you the strength to give. Law can only tell you what to do. Grace through faith in Jesus Christ enables you to do more what the Law requires from a loving heart.
A good topic to talk about on Christmas is the subject of giving. Take note that Christian giving is not only on Christmas but a whole year-round event. I was doing some study on 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 on the Greek city of Macedonia. What I learned during some Sunday worship services ago was that the city itself was poor. Christians tend to get outlawed in their businesses. I even heard how Chick-Fil-A got victimized by foolish homosexual social justice warriors. How often are Christians called bigots even if they aren't calling for forcible conversions? I really find it so irritating at how homosexual activists get away with their use of violence but Christians are charged with a hate crime they didn't commit. The values of the world are indeed getting more warped on a daily basis. Yet, the Macedonians themselves in their great trial still kept giving for the ministry in spite of their poverty. It sounds foolish but they did all for the greater glory of God. Paul exhorted the rich Christians to follow their example.
The focus of Christian giving is under the covenant of grace. After we read the exhortations in 2 Corinthians 8 - we read further instructions in the next chapter. My favorite verse is taken from 2 Corinthians 9:7. I know there's a huge debate on tithing in the New Testament. Personally, I do still believe in the tithing of one's income. Although the tithing of material goods is long gone - I still believe in New Testament tithing. However, this tithing I believe in is not under the Law (Malachi 3:10-11) but under grace. Nobody should be reading Malachi 3:10-11 in hopes of getting money out of churchgoers. Rather, the tithe was established to support the work of the LORD in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, offerings are given to support the local churches. Meat in the storehouse can be translated as, "Filling the needs of the mission." Paying a tenth of the income can be a good way to start. Tithing under grace is that a person tithes not out of necessity or grudgingly. Rather, it's pretty much saying, "Lord, I give my tithes because I love you. I will not rob you because I love you. I will support the missions with the tithe I'm giving!" Regardless, I don't care anymore if it's tithing or not - what's important is to give cheerfully!
It really makes me sick to think that some cults today have become legalistic with their giving. I remembered how some of them even harass their members over their offerings. While nothing is wrong with record-keeping tithes and offerings and who gave them but to harass members over tithing is unscriptural. If a church decides to start harassing its members over their failures to give their tithes and offerings then it goes against cheerful giving. If there's a reason why some tithers may not be blessed - I would assume it's because of a legalistic motive behind tithing. God loves a cheerful giver! How can you expect tithers to be blessed if they only give because of a legalistic preacher who may be running a cult, giving with expectations of great material blessings, or giving only because they're afraid God will charge them robbery? If the motives for giving tithes and offerings are not for God's glory - you can't expect God to bless that offering! The motive has to be to give substance in the Lord's work. Nobody should be tithing hoping that God will exempt them from the trials of life. God said He would rebuke the devourer - not prevent any devourers from otherwise hurting the Christian should He permit it for a good reason! None of these is cheerful giving!
The Christian's cheerful giving may start with the tithes but it doesn't end there. It may start with happily departing from the tenth of one's income for God's glory. Giving of one's tithe in the form of money is just the start. This starts with, "Lord I love you, I'll give a tenth!" Just remember Jacob and Abraham lovingly gave a tenth of their income even before God instituted the tithe in Leviticus. However, any true giving doesn't stop with just the tenth. Remember, it's all about it that all people are guilty of robbing God in tithes and offerings. The Law shows you're a thief by not giving tithes and offerings for the work of the LORD. However, grace makes you willingly give back what's God by starting with the tenth and giving more than a tenth later on. True cheerful giving will not cry over the tenth lost but rejoices it will be done for God's work. Then it goes with, "Lord, I don't want to stop with the tenth of my income! Here, take an extra five percent!" But not satisfied, the Christian may seek God's blessings to earn more not for himself or herself. Rather, asking for God's blessings in order to give more for the greater good of God. In fact, some wealthy Christians give more than half of what they own and keep the rest only for what they need. Others simply give less because God hasn't entrusted them with more for some reason. It's not the amount of the gift that counts bigger. Rather, it's the quality of the heart of the giver. Do you tithe because you love God or do you tithe because you follow a legalistic view of it?
This Christmas, it would be a good time to reflect on this. Do you give your offerings with a loving heart or do you give only because the Law requires you to give? Law can only teach you the need to give. Grace gives you the strength to give. Law can only tell you what to do. Grace through faith in Jesus Christ enables you to do more what the Law requires from a loving heart.