Lesson for May 25, 2022
The Doctrine of Giving
In order to properly understand giving we must first understand dispensations. A dispensation is a period of time in which God deals with mankind in a certain way to administer His policies. Each dispensation, therefore, has unique characteristics, as well as certain similar functions, as in the case of giving. In the Church Age, giving is both different and the same as in the Age of Israel (Old Testament).
Giving and tithing are different. Failure to distinguish between the two indicates a person does not know God’s Word and has failed to recognize the differences between the Age of Israel and the Church Age. Giving has always been a legitimate function for believers, but tithing is only for Israel in the Old Testament. (Leviticus 27:30-34; Malachi 3:10)
Tithing was a form of taxation for Jewish believers and unbelievers alike. The word means “a tenth.” There were several tithes that were levied upon the Jewish citizen: maintenance of the office of the Levitical priests, for national feasts and sacrifices, and for the poor. (Numbers 18:21,24; Deuteronomy 14:22-29)
Giving went beyond the requirement to pay a tithe (tax) because it involved the freewill of the giver. Properly motivated giving involves a willingness to honor God with the provisions He has given to us. Unlike the tithe, which was a violation of the law if not obeyed, giving was voluntary. When properly motivated by a desire to bring glory to God, a believer voluntarily gave over and above the required tithe. (Malachi 3:8-10 – tithes and offerings)
In the Church Age, we have no such tithing requirement. We no longer have a Levitical Priesthood; all believers are priests. National feasts and sacrifice worship have ceased, and the local church is supposed to take care of its poor. Grace giving by a believer with the proper mental attitude, will reflect God’s “grace giving” to us. In other words, with the right mental attitude we will use the blessings that God has bestowed upon us to support God’s work. II Corinthians 8-9 gives us a list of principles about our responsibility of supporting God’s work.
II Corinthians 8:1-2, “Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia. That in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of happiness and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.”
Paul used an example of the churches of Macedonia to teach the church at Corinth the doctrine of giving. From verses one and two we learn that the churches of Macedonia were both impoverished and afflicted. In spite of their condition, and the fact that they were Gentiles, they found it in their hearts to give to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. The Macedonians had learned grace orientation (a prerequisite for grace giving) and were advancing in their spiritual lives. This knowledge had resulted in a relaxed mental attitude toward giving, even though they had little themselves to give. They had learned, believed, and applied the principle that God will always provide for His children. This was not an attempt to bribe God into sending blessings, it was a result of their spiritual growth. This was not the case with the wealthy Corinthian believers. They had begun a collection but had never completed it. We can see from these two verses above that a believer’s mental attitude, not the actual gift is what constitutes proper giving. Also notice in verse two that the Macedonians were happy to give. (Acts 24:17; Romans 15:25-28; I Corinthians 16:1-5; Galatians 2:10)
II Corinthians 8:3-4, “For I testify that according to their ability, and far beyond their ability they gave of their own accord. Begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints.”
These believers in Macedonia gave according to (and beyond) their ability, voluntarily and willingly, without coercion from Paul or the other apostles. Grace giving is always a matter of a person’s volition, and one should never feel pressure to give. GOD DOESN’T NEED YOUR MONEY. Giving is a function of the Royal Priesthood and is a matter of privacy between you and God. The principle is: give as God has prospered you.
Grace giving excludes emotionalism, guilt, fear, bribery, personal recognition, or gimmicks. If you give in order to get, then you are giving for the wrong reason. The proper motive for giving should come from the application of and appreciation for Bible doctrine. Grace giving is a privilege that God has granted to every believer. (I Corinthians 16:1-5)
II Corinthians 8:5-7, “Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could]. So, we urged Titus that, as he began it, he should also complete this gracious work among you as well. But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also.”
The Corinthian believers had obviously recovered from their reversionism by the time Paul wrote II Corinthians. The prerequisite for grace giving is grace orientation. Grace orientation is a result of learning and applying the Word of God. It is being familiar with God’s grace in salvation and in the spiritual life. Therefore, grace giving begins in the soul. Anyone can give money, even an unbeliever. Grace giving is to be done “as unto the Lord,” which only a believer can do. But it requires the proper mental attitude of grace under the guidance of God the Holy Spirit.
The actual gift is not what is important when giving; the “soul status” is what really counts the most. When properly done, giving is divine production, which is of eternal value. We must also mention that not everyone is able to give monetarily at all times, but there are many ways to support a ministry. For example: prayer, administration, positive mental attitude, attending Bible class faithfully, helping with the children, etc. Our first responsibility is to take care of ourselves and our family. But we should always have an attitude of willingness to give. (II Corinthians 8:12; I Timothy 5:8)
Paul, in his magnificent way, encouraged the Corinthian believers to follow the example of the Macedonian believers in their attitude of giving. The Corinthians were wealthy, and Paul was issuing a challenge to them to complete the gracious work of the collection for the believers in Jerusalem, which they had previously begun. Paul was not so much concerned about the amount of the gifts as he was about the spiritual growth and mental attitude of the believers in Corinth. It was the spirit of giving exhibited by the Macedonians that Paul wanted to impart to the Corinthians.
But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also. The Corinthian believers had been blessed with a great deal of money and with a great deal of doctrine. This, of course, should be a wonderful combination. In faith refers to their faith in God and His provision of material wealth so that they were able to give. In speech meant they did not just give “lip service” to what Paul had asked of them, they backed it up by starting a collection for their fellow believers in Jerusalem. In knowledge refers to knowing the doctrine of giving and helping other believers. Genuine concern means with sincerity. In your love indicates that the Corinthians were growing spiritually and had begun to exhibit impersonal love toward the believers in Jerusalem.
The doctrine was in the Corinthians’ souls. Paul was encouraging them to allow the doctrine to motivate them to do the right thing and finish what they had started. This was Paul’s advice: “apply what you have learned;” give as God has prospered you. Christian giving comes from the stability that has been developed in our soul.
The principle of Christian giving is based on grace and is a matter of the correct mental attitude of the giver. God loves “a cheerful giver.” Giving cheerfully means giving graciously because we understand that everything that we have is a result of divine grace. None of us deserves the rich blessings of God. Therefore, when we give, we must first make sure that our family has been provided for and then give as we determine in our own soul before the Lord. If you cannot give cheerfully, then don’t give. If you have no money to give, then find another means to support the ministry. The important thing to God is to have the right attitude with regard to giving: an attitude of grace.
II Corinthians 9:7, “Let each one do just as he is motivated to do in his own heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful (gracious) giver.”