Stewardship - Christian Giving


Biblical Finance - Christian Giving

First of all, it is important to understand a couple of basic principles of the law: 1. A law stands on the books until it is amended or rescinded (repealed). This is true of all laws whether man's law or God's law. 2. When the king speaks, his words become law. This is true whether an earthly king or the heavenly king. The Word of God is therefore, law. The laws established by God in the Old Testament carry over into the New Testament unless they are amended or rescinded. This is called the Biblical carryover principle. Also realize that prior to the cross, we are still in the Old Testament covenant. Note that while the law was given to the Jew, the New Testament Christian is grafted in (Rom 11:17) as a spiritual Jew. This is why we study the Old Testament and support Israel.
When the New Testament quotes an Old Testament passage, that is evidence that passage carries over. Jesus said he did not come to destroy the law, He came to fulfill it (Matt 5:17-18). In Romans 10:4, Paul tells us that Christ was an end to the law pertaining to righteousness. This means that all the things that Israel had been commanded to do to become righteous (temple sacrifice, temple ritual, and acts done for cleansing) were rescinded, because Jesus fulfilled it by shedding His blood. Faith replaced works as the means to become righteous. Those commandments in the law NOT pertaining to righteousness carry over into the new covenant, but we have a new covenant based on better promises (Heb 8:6). In Matthew 22:35, one of the Pharisees asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment, He did not respond "makes no difference, they are all going to be rescinded." Instead, He answers with a surprising quotation, which is Deut 6:5, rather than one of the 10 Commandments - "you shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." Then He follows this with Lev 19:18 - "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Then in John 13:34, He says "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. This fulfills the 10 Commandments, because if you love someone, you will not want to kill them, steal from them, covet their possessions, etc.
There are three ordinances of God about giving in the Old Testament: Tithe, Alms and Freewill Offerings. Each has it's own rules, it's own purpose, and it's own blessing. They should never be considered one deed. The tithe is commanded, and the other two are given freely.

The Tithe (Lev 27:30)

Tithe means tenth, there is no such thing as a 5% tithe. The tithe is NOT First Fruits. First Fruits was given when the first produce came, and was rescinded by Jesus (1 Cor 15:20-23). Tithing predates written history. Early cultures gave tithes to their Gods. We see early in the Bible that Abraham gave his tithe to Melchizedek (Gen 14:18-30). Jacob's tithe is described in Gen 28:22. The purpose of the tithe in the Law of Moses was to fund the Priests, Levites and the operation of the temple (Num 18:21). The animals would be led down a chute, and counted - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, and the tenth would be set aside for the Lord (Lev 27:33). We know the tithe carries into the New Testament, because it is mentioned repeatedly (see Heb 7:4-10). Malachi 3:8-11 is generally quoted regarding the tithe. It says to bring the Whole Tithe into the storehouse, and God will open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing that overflows. And He will rebuke the devourer. Prov 11:24-26 says the giver will be prosperous, but he who withholds will suffer want. Jesus told us to pay our taxes, and give to God what is God's (Matt 22:21). The tithe of the land is the Lord's (Lev 27:30)
In the modern Church, the tithe is given to support the Pastor and ministry staff (that is, those in full time ministry) and the work of God within the Church (body of Christ). The tithe should not be used to pay for building upkeep, utility bills and the like. These things are paid for by offerings

Freewill Offerings (Ex 35:21-29)

There were many types of offerings specified in the Law of Moses, Sin offerings, guilt offerings, drink offerings, wave offerings, burnt offerings and so on. Offerings were made in addition to the tithe, for a specific purpose. The ones that pertain to righteousness are rescinded, but the rest remain.
Freewill giving is to be done as we purpose in our heart, and is to be sacrificial - see the story in Luke 21:1-4.
In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul is talking about giving out of sacrifice, he tells the Corinthians (South of Athens) about the generosity of the Macedonians (Thessalonica in the North of Greece). Notice that in verse 9 he says that Christ was rich, but that he took on poverty so that we could become rich. This refutes that popular teaching that Jesus was poor, and therefore, we should also be poor. In verse 24, he tells the Corinthians to open their wallets to prove their love.
In 2 Cor 9:6, Paul explains that giving in love follows the law of sowing and reaping. In verse 10, he goes on to say that the seed will be multiplied, your needs will not only be fully supplied, but overflowing.
In 2 Cor 9:8 Paul says God provides the seed and increases the seed you have sown, while you are enriched in everything. Sowing and reaping is an immutable law of the universe. It operates for the unbeliever as well as the believer. An atheist farmer can buy a bag of seed, plant it, and expect to reap a harvest. How much more so, the believer who prays over his offering (Deut 26:12-15). Whatever you sow, you will reap the same kind (Galatians 6:7). Thus the farmer who plants seed corn, harvests corn. If he plants wheat, he harvests wheat. If you sow anger, you will reap anger. If you sow love, you will harvest love. If you sow money, you will reap money. There is an increase. In Mark 4:8 it describes a crop of 30, 60 and a hundredfold (Gen 26:12). The blessing of the freewill offering is in Luke 6:38 - it will be running over.
Freewill offerings are given to support the work of the ministry. They can be used for just about anything that agrees with the Word of God, including speakers and Church building and grounds maintenance.

Alms (Psalm 112:9)

Instructions for Alms in the Old Testament are given in the Apocrypha books of Tobit 4:7-16, 12:8-9, 14:2-10 and Sirach 3:29, 7:10, 12:3, 29:8, 35:2-4. Unfortunately these books are omitted from the Protestant Bible. Alms are giving to the poor to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. The Bible speaks repeatedly about taking care of the orphan, the widow and the stranger in the land - those that have no means of income (Deut 10:18, 24:17-21). This is the purpose of alms. Giving alms to the poor will be repaid by the Lord (Prov 19:17). Alms are given in secret. The recipient does not know where the gift comes from (Matt 6:2-5). In some cases, in order to accomplish the giving, it may be necessary for people to know who the giver is. The point Jesus made in Matt 6, was not to give to be rewarded by men. It is about your attitude - where is your heart.
In Philippians 4:10, Paul explains God's provision. The blessing for giving is in Phil 4:19 - "my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." In Matt 19:21, Jesus told the rich young man that by giving to the poor, he would have treasure in heaven. Luke 12:33 says the same thing Luke 11:41 says that giving alms cleanses everything for you.
Alms can be in cash, groceries, clothing - anything of value. In modern times it is common to give cash to an organization that takes care of the poor and homeless (Salvation Army, for example).

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