People continually ask, or want to know, what the Bible teaches about the subject of giving. This is the start of a biblical study on this important topic. What we quickly discovered when consolidating all the giving related passages, all our acquired notes, and our published “Getting Your Financial House In Order” book, is that this subject is too extensive for one Loose Change article. Let’s begin by addressing and answering one of the eight most often asked questions about giving:
Why do we give to God? (i.e. through churches, non-profit organizations, and charities, etc.)
First, because God is the “owner” of everything, including our money, wealth, and assets. We give in acknowledgement of His ownership:
Psalm 24:1; “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.”
Deut. 10:14; “To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the
earth and everything in it.”
Haggai 2:8; “The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord Almighty.”
John 3:27; “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.”
Old Testament giving centers upon giving in a “reverent” fear of the Lord God – He is God!
Deut. 14:23 “… so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.”
New Testament Gospel Giving centers upon attitudes, and the continuation of the concept of “Tithing” (giving 10%) as instructed in the Old Testament.
Matt. 6:3-4, “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Matt. 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
In Matt. 23:23 and Luke 11:42 Jesus challenges the Pharisee’s wrong attitudes about giving, but He still affirms the giving of the tithe.
Luke 3:10-11, “And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
Luke 6:30-31, “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”
Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
New Testament Epistle giving centers upon giving in response to “God’s grace” toward us:
(Read all of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9)
2 Cor. 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 joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.”
2 Cor. 8:7 “But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.”
Our Role as God’s “Stewards”
God is the “owner” of everything, and we are the “stewards” of His resources (read Matt. 25:14-30). Everything we have belongs to God; i.e. our life, marriage, family, resources, business, etc. As “stewards” we do not own anything! However, we are to manage God’s money and resources well, and only according to His instructions as found in the Bible. This includes His instructions regarding giving, as balanced by God’s clear dispensations, and outlined and illustrated in this series of articles regarding giving.
A key note and reminder::
We don’t give to get closer to God. We give as a result of already having become close to God. It is a response and attitude that stems from our loving God and His only Son, believing by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone for our salvation, and then being led by the indwelling Holy Spirit and through the study of His Word.
Sometimes, new Believers (Christians), even when prompted by the Holy Spirit, have not yet stepped out in faith and started giving to God’s Work. We should encourage them to take those first baby steps and give something. I’m sure we have all heard testimonies on how this small act of giving in turn draws the person even closer to God.
However, we must be very clear at this point. Never does giving money to God amount to someone obtaining eternal salvation with God in heaven. Salvation only comes by faith in Jesus Christ alone. It never comes by works, or by giving money to God, a church, or a charity.
Eph. 2:8-9 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
This ends question #1 regarding giving – Why do we give to God? Should you have any questions regarding your eternal salvation, contact us and ask for: “The ABC’s of Salvation” Our next Loose Change article will address question #2 in this series of, “What are the most often asked questions about giving.”