The Duty and Privilege of Giving

The duty of every Christian is to give. We are to give our time and our talents to the Lord (Matt. 16:24-26; Rom. 12:1-2). We are also required to give of our money to the Lord each first day of the week. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “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.) This special collection was for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem, but this does not mean that a collection need not be taken up each Lord’s day for other authorized works of the church. The passage authorizes a way by which the early church received funds for a particular work of the church. Thus, any authorized work of the church can be funded in the same way – through free will offerings on the Lord’s day.

First Corinthians 16:1-2 teaches that our giving is to be regular. “Upon the first day of the week” literally means “Upon the first day of every week.” The verses teach that every Christian is to give. This makes it personal. The text tells us how much to give: “as God has prospered” us. How much is that? Just consider how much God has prospered you spiritually. Consider: Ephesians 1:3; 2:8-9; Acts 2:38; 2 Peter 1:3-4. How much has the Father of lights bestowed upon you physically?

Some have the false notion that if they give of their time and talents to the Lord, then they can slough off in giving of their money to the Lord. The Lord, however, demands our time, talent and money. The Macedonians first gave of themselves to the Lord, but it did not end there. That was the key to their giving financially. Though in deep poverty, they gave financially beyond what was expected (2 Cor. 8:1-5). A good giver is one who gives himself first. Show me an individual who gives of his time and talents to the cause of Christ and I can show you one who is also more than likely a generous giver.

Some mistakenly think that because the apostle Paul said that we are to give as we have prospered that it means one can give less than ten percent. However, a Christian ought to strive to begin his giving at ten percent. Under the inferior system of Patriarchy ten percent was given. Having rescued Lot from Chedorlaomer and company, Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:1-3). Since Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek and Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, does it not stand to reason that we should give at least a tenth to Christ who is a far better priest and king than his type? When Jacob was at Bethel, he made a vow to the Lord that if the Lord would be with him, give him food and raiment and bring him safely back to his father’s house, he would give the Lord a tenth (Gen. 28:16-22).

Under the law of Moses, a system inferior to the gospel of Christ, the Israelites were required to give a tenth (Deut. 14:22-23) as well as free will offerings. Malachi, the last Old Testament prophet before Christ, wrote, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:8-10.)

Israel was accused of having robbed God because they failed to give their tithes and offerings. Do you suppose that God looks upon members of the church who put in less than a tenth, a mere pittance of what they could give, as being robbers of him?

A few days ago I found this excerpt from a bulletin. I have revised it a bit.

I Had A Nightmare

I dreamed that the Lord took my Sunday contribution

and multiplied it by ten and this became my weekly income. In no time I lost my color tv, had to give up my new car – I could not even make a house payment…. What can a fellow do on $10.00 a week?

Remember Paul’s words: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (II Cor. 9:6-7.) Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Giving is a duty as well as a privilege.

The Informer

Vol. 56 No. 21

March 30, 2003