The pattern of Christian giving is not one of box-checking and obligations. We should give sacrificially as we feel led by God and allow Him to use our giving to bring about a great harvest in the lives of others and in His church. Since we are not required to give a certain amount, what does that mean if we don’t give at all? The key to giving is to do so cheerfully as an act of sacrifice and an act of worship. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1
#ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU GIVING BACK MONEY FULL#
But when we give as God leads, we may never know the full extent of how our gifts are used for Him. From our perspective, sometimes our giving may look like a lot, sometimes it may look like a little. Christ came to fulfill the Law, and everything, including each breath, is from Him and belongs to Him. In Christ, we no longer live under a ‘90/10’ arrangement, but prayerfully give God 100% of all we are and all we have - all the time.
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The concept was one that said, tithe to the Temple and do what you will with the rest. It was used to care for the Levites who served in the temple and as a gift to God. The old law required giving 10% of the harvest to the theocratic government of Israel. They instead encouraged believers to give all they had to God and to others. The New Testament writers had many opportunities to teach and require percentage giving, yet they don't do it. God will indeed open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessing on cheerful givers! But if God truly has plans to curse the God-fearing members of His Church because they are not tithing according to this verse in Malachi, why in the world do Paul and the other New Testament writers fail to mention it? The problem with this verse is that, taken out of context, it becomes legalistic and can cause unnecessary fear and pain in the lives of believers. “ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7 We give out of love of others and love of Christ.
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There is nothing wrong at all with being thankful for one who gives generously, but that is not why we give. Our reward for giving comes from God, not from the accolades of others. In Matthew 6:3, Jesus tells us to give ‘so that your right hand does not know what your left hand is doing’. We also don’t give to receive accolades for our generosity. We should seek such a ‘harvest of righteousness’ above any material wealth. God will grow us in righteousness as we give in faith, and will use any gift we give to do more than we could ever imagine. Just like a seed that brings forth a larger harvest than expected, when we give generously we can expect to see a harvest of blessing come from it. He gives us all things, and without Him we are and have nothing. “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” – 2 Corinthians 9:10 There are no records of the apostles, or Jesus himself for that matter, living lives of wealth and comfort because of their giving. Yet our blessing comes not from a financial return, but by the act of giving itself which grows us and draws us closer to Christ. God will certainly bless our giving beyond all we ask or imagine and simultaneously provide for our each and every need. This is wrong thinking and sets up a kind of ‘giving in order to get more back’ scheme. Some have misread this verse to mean that those who give much financially will in turn be rewarded with much financially. Giving benefits the one who gives the gift and the one who receives the gift. “ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6
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Is there a specific amount, or a set rule that we are required to follow? Does our salvation itself hinge on the amount of money we give, and where we give it? Does God really threaten to curse us if we don’t give a certain amount in a certain way? The good news for us is that the answer is extraordinarily simple: we are required to give nothing, yet it becomes our desire to give everything. Following the lead of our Savior who gave all on our behalf, Christians are a giving people.īut how much does the Bible say we should give? Christians have given faithfully to their local churches, to missionaries, to neighbors in need, and have given consistently in ways that others will never know. Christians have given time and treasure to rebuild cities after floods and fires. Christians have funded schools, charities, and hospitals. Throughout the centuries, Christians have given generously and sacrificially for the cause of the Gospel. Even a simple cycle of giving such as this can unite a community and bring a smile to our faces.