Biblical Principles of Giving

Intro: The purpose of this “series” is NOT to try and pry money out of your hands!
The purpose is for us to see what God’s Word says about giving, so that we can be
obedient and gain a deeper relationship with Him.

GIVING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Gen. 4:3-7
• Offering made before the Law was given
• Firstlings--first born)…act of faith
• fat--the best part…generous
• Why wasn’t Cain’s offering acceptable? Cain’s was not given by faith. (Heb. 11:4)

Gen. 28:20-22
• Tithe made before the Law was given
• Given out of gratitude / acknowledgement of needs being met
• Given out of all that was taken in

LAW WAS GIVEN IN EXODUS 19
• Ex. 30:11-16= atonement money (rich and poor paid the same amount; half a shekel)…the price for all our sin is the same
• SUMMARY OF TITHES
--Lev27:30—tithe for maintenance of Levites
--Deut.14:22—tithe brought to Jerusalem for the Lords feast
--Deut.14:28—tithe given every third year for the poor

Numbers 18:21-24
• Tithe was given to the tribe of priest, because they had no inheritance.
• Josh. 13:33—God was to be their inheritance, they were not to own property
• We are now His holy priesthood—we need to trust in His provision for us, because our true inheritance is Him!

Duet. 14:22-29
• Vs. 22—tithe based off what was “brought in that year”
• Vs. 23—it was a tithe of ALL
• Vs. 26—Act of worship??
• Vs. 27-29—Purpose of the tithe (like a tax)…Levites / visitors / orphans / widows

Duet. 26:1-13
• Feast of First-Fruits (day of harvest in the Promised Land)
• Given out of first fruits (literally first, but also word is used for the “choicest”)
• Given with reflection and acknowledgement
• Given in worship

I Chron. 29:11-21
• Heart of gladness
• Acknowledging God’s provision & that all belongs to Him
• Gave generously (see vs.4-10)

Prov. 3:9-10
• Honor the Lord / First-Fruits
• Giving results in blessing

Malachi 3:8-11
Background note from Ryrie study notes…
About 1000 yrs. Had passed since the return of the Jews to Palestine. The city of Jerusalem and the second temple had been built, but initial enthusiasm had worn off.
Following a period of revival under Nehemiah, the people and priest had backslidden and become mechanical in their observance of the Law.
Though lax in their worship, and delinquent in their tithing, they could not understand why God was dissatisfied with them.
• Vs.8-9—Not giving was considered robbery
• Vs.10-11—test me now in this (have faith)
--expect blessing out of giving
--devourer=bugs that ate their produce (for us=repairs/unexpected bills)
• Also see Acts 5:4

PRINCIPLES WE CAN GATHER FROM OLD TESTAMENT GIVING
• Was proportionate to provision
• Was done regularly
• Was used to take care of gods people (doing His work, as well as, poor)
• Was done as an act of faith
• Was done in reflection of what had been provided
• Was done with a heart of worship
• Was done with an expectation of blessing
• Not giving is considered robbery to God


GIVING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Matt. 6:1-
• The “big picture” in this section is…not doing righteous acts to be noticed by men
• Mentions… prayer/ fasting / giving
• Re: giving…shows importance of motive in giving
• What is your purpose in giving?

Matt. 6:19-24
• Store up treasures in heaven
• What are storing up here? What is it you will not let go?
• We have the ability to actively be storing up eternal rewards
• Where is your heart? Are you preoccupied with eternal things or earthly things?
• Vs. 22-24 Darkness = greed / selfishness / eyes focused on earthly goods

Luke 6:30-38
• Give freely (give liberally with finances & love freely, be abounding in mercy)
• Vs. 38-We see God’s heart of blessing in this verse

Luke 12:13-34
• Vs. 15- more to life than material goods (Think-if you were going to die tonight)
• Keep an eternal perspective regarding earthly goods and heavenly treasure

Luke 14:25-35
• Vs. 25-There was a large multitude (some following out of curiosity / leisure)
• Vs. 26-Cannot be a disciple if…
--love family more than Christ
--love self more than Christ
• Vs. 28-30-Failure to follow results in humiliation
• Vs. 31-32-Failure to count the Cost leads to defeat (destruction)
• Vs. Cannot be a disciple if you…love material things more than Christ
• Vs.34-35-disciple=salt (possible to lose “saltiness”/flavor and become useless)

Luke 16:1-13
• The message is…use what you have now to prepare for the future!
• Don’t be dishonest, but be creative (use what you have)

Acts 2:42-47
• Picture yourself in this situation (getting teaching, around other saints, giving, etc)
• What part of the scene is un-appealing?
• This tells you what in your heart needs to change.

Acts 5:4
• The sin was lying about how much they received
• Beware of giving to please men (God knows)

Rom. 15:25-27

I Cor. 16:1-2
• BACK GROUND…collecting for poor saints in Jerusalem
-much is said in Scripture about helping the poor/helpless, but this is not our only financial responsibility!
I Tim. 5:16-17=notice, DOUBLE PORTION! We have a responsibility to support our ministers!

• Giving should be systematic
--Helps us not to forget when crisis comes (when does/ get to practice more faith)
--If not systematic…tendency would be to not put ourselves in a “risky” situation
• Giving was a part of worship (first day)
--This is one reason why we should be giving with a cheerful heart (II Cor. 9:7)
• Each one of you=giving is to be done by all
• Giving is to be proportionate (as he may prosper)
--like in the O.T. we see an acknowledgment of provision
• No collections when I come…No sense of Obligation? Emotionalism? High pressure?
• Vs.3-4…Leadership is to be above reproach in the handling of money

II Cor. 8-9
• 8:1The opportunity to give is actually God’s grace in allowing us this privilege
• 8:2-Gave out of their poverty (Luke 21:1-4)
• 8:3-gave willingly
• 8:4-they were poor and begged to participate (we get to have a part of a ministry by giving)---Paul was not begging them for money, they were begging to give!!
---Get out of the mindset that we will give when we are more able /Give now whatever your present situation may be…the Macedonians did!

• 8:5-first gave themselves to the Lord (trust), and to the apostles (trust)
--In not giving, is it because of a lack of trust in God?? Leadership??
• 8:7-have been given freel...so give freely
• 8:7-(sarcasm?)…you have all these great qualities, now put your money (literally) were your mouth is!
---or may mean…giving allows us to abound in all aspects of the Christian experience
• 8:8Not commanding (would be a tax), and not a sign of love/ can’t command love
• 8:8-Proves the reality of your love (1 John 3:16-18)

--Paul not paid as he should have been (1 Cor. 9:11-12/ 2 Cor. 11:8-9, 12:13)
--He did not demand this as a sign of his love
• 8:9-give to imitate Christ (1 John 3:16-18)
• 8:10-11-It is actually for our advantage (follow through with our good intentions)
• 8:12-It is about having a ready heart (not waiting…”I don’t have money now”)
• 8:13-15-give now, you may be one who will need to receive at a different time
• 8:20-22-Care in handling the gifts “above reproach”
• 8:24-Again, giving is seen as proof of love
--based on giving, how would others view your love for God / our body ?

• 9:1-5-Embarrassment is result of not following through on previous arrangement
--Paul adds a bit of “pressure for the to follow through on what they said
• 9:6-Using what you have results in more blessing (you wouldn’t try to save seeds)
• 9:7-See many principles below….
--Each one…for all individuals
--have a purposed amount and follow through with it (in good times and bad)
--have a cheerful heart about giving
• 9:8-As we are obedient we will be taken care of
• 9:10-We will receive a harvest of righteousness
• 9:11-Be enriched in ALL ways, by giving!
• 9:12-Provides for ministry to others
• 9:13-Causes other saints to rejoice and glorify God (vs12-14=picture of unity)
• 9:15-God Himself is a giver of gifts

I John 3:16-18