Principles for Christian Giving
Devotions for Growing Christians
Principles for Christian Giving
2 Corinthians 8:9 "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
Read all of 2 Corinthians 8.
We all know that the true spirit of Christmas is "not getting, but giving," and our life experiences prove that there really is more joy in giving than in receiving gifts. (This is your experience, isn't it?) But even so, much of our Christmas giving tends to fall short of true Christian giving. A Christmas gift usually doesn't cost us to the point of hurting us, and it doesn’t often help meet someone's real needs. But true Christian giving is different. It goes so much farther. How far? Christian giving goes to the point where it begins to "hurt" the giver, and it begins to really help the receiver. Have you done any Christian giving lately?
Background
Seven principles for Christian giving are scattered throughout 2 Corinthians 8. What were the background and context of this chapter? At that time, because of a famine, the Christians in Jerusalem were very poor. In his missionary travels, the apostle Paul was taking up a collection for the Christians in Jerusalem from various churches in the Mediterranean world. Even thought the believers were not wealthy, the Christians in Macedonia (the northern part of ancient Greece) had already given very generously (v1-2). Now Paul was urging the Christians in Corinth (in the central part of Greece) to follow the example of the Macedonian Christians and to complete the collection that they had begun the year before (v6, 10, 11, & 24).
From Paul's message to the Corinthians, seven principles of Christian giving emerge. These principles apply not only to giving money, but to all areas of Christian giving - our time, our talent, and our treasure. All we can possibly give is included in these three simple categories. God has included these principles in His Word so His growing Christians will become giving Christians.
Give yourself first
This principle is primary to all Christian giving: Give yourself first (v5). The Macedonians first gave themselves, then gave their donations to the fund. If I am not really "into" my giving, it is not true Christian giving. After all, the Lord doesn't need my money or my service! He could have money grow on trees, and He could have angels do all the work! But He wants me! This is primary.
Notice the direction that this giving of ourselves is to take: "to the Lord and to us" (v5). Some Christians have the idea that if they run off and live in seclusion "in dedication to the Lord" that they are giving of themselves. No way! The vertical ("to the Lord") must include the horizontal ("to us") to qualify as true Christian giving. We are to be involved on a down-to-earth basis with people who have needs. Notice: this is "in keeping with God's will" (v5).
Give to the point of sacrifice
Another principle of Christian giving is: Give to the point of sacrifice (v3). The Macedonians were not giving their "surplus" or whatever amount happened to be left over at the end of the month! These Christians were poor (v2). They were pressured financially, yet they gave in the midst of their problems and in spite of their poverty. They gave to the point that it really hurt! Certainly our measly contribution of a few dollars or "an hour a week" falls short of the divine principle of giving to the point of sacrifice. How far should we carry this principle of sacrifice? The next two principles give us guidelines.
Give after the example of our Lord
Follow the example of our Lord (v9). How much did the Lord Jesus give? He gave all! And He didn’t just give for His friends: He gave His whole life for His enemies, and for the likes of you and me. Why? So that "we through His poverty might become rich!"
But how does one give it all? Should we sell all we own, and go around in old clothes, and live in a cheap apartment? Well, that actually wouldn't be the worst reaction to this principle! And some of us may be called upon to live very much like this. However, Scripture is always balanced.
Give towards equality
The balancing principle is found in verses 13-15: Give towards equality. Although the Macedonians were not wealthy, they did have more than those in Jerusalem, so it was right that they aim for equality. The intent was not that the Christians in Jerusalem should be enriched to the point where the Christians in Greece would be poverty-stricken (v13). No, the aim was for equality.
When we see others with greater need than ours, we should at least try to move towards equality. Something is wrong if we’re too comfortable while others are in need! Praise God for Christian organizations that are concerned about the desperate needs of people around the world. We should give liberally to these Christian organizations.
But isn't this equality principle like communism? No! Verse 15 guards against this thought. It quotes the Old Testament account about the manna (Exodus 16:18). When we read how God miraculously provided bread for His people, it becomes clear that equality was accomplished on the basis of needs, not amount. Communism aims for equality, but it is on the basis of the same amount for everyone. Christian giving aims for equality on the basis of meeting needs.
Verse 15 teaches us something else about giving towards equality. It’s something we growing Christians must wrestle with, and it is heavy. We should not have more that we need! Enough to meet our needs, yes! Huge bank accounts, no! We must deal with our hoarding tendencies before the Lord.
Give willingly
A fifth principle of Christian giving comes from verse 12: Give willingly. This principle of giving with desire is also emphasized in verses 3, 4 and 8. From these verses we see that Paul was not commanding them to give. It was to be totally voluntary, as a proof that their Christian love was sincere (v8). The Macedonians had been very willing - in fact, they actually begged Paul for the privilege of being able to share in meeting the needs of their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem! What an example to the Corinthians! What a message to us!
Give what you have
A further principle is also in verse 12: Give what you have. The point here is that the Lord doesn’t expect us to give what we don't have, but He does expect us to give on the basis of what we do have. Do you have the ability to work with smaller children, or teenagers, or lead home Bible studies? How much of that ability is being given to the Lord - and how much is left unused and undeveloped - and un-given?
Do you have the time to talk to your lab partner, or your friend at work, or your neighbor? How much of your time is given in a definite attempt to reach that person with the love of Christ? Maybe another way of stating this principle is: The Lord doesn't look so much on what we give, as on what we have left!
Give according to plan
For the final principle of Christian giving from this chapter, look at verse 11: Give according to plan. Desire is not enough in Christian giving. There must be a deliberate plan - a decision made to set aside time, talent and treasure. Then there must be an actual giving according to the plan. The Corinthians weren’t to just to have good intentions - they were to complete what they had purposed.
Many of us have good intentions and desires in the area of Christian giving. We’ll totally agree with a message like this. But do we ever really get out the pencil and paper and deliberately plan how much leisure time we’ll "sacrifice" so we can give of ourselves to the work of the Lord? Do we decide what percentage of our salary we should give, and figure out the amount? And then actually give it? Christian giving will never come off with desire alone. We must give according to deliberate and studied plan.
These are a few principles of Christian giving from just one chapter of God's Word. There are others, but certainly there are enough here to show us that we all need to "get out that pencil and paper" and make a plan for giving to the Lord! Maybe our birthday or New Year's Eve would be ideal times to make a fresh start, but any time of year will work.
Let’s pray that the Lord would open our eyes to the particular needs that He would have us meet with our time, our talent, or our treasure. Then let’s deliberately plan how we can and will give to meet those needs - willingly, and to the point of sacrifice. Yes, true Christian giving is a lot more than the usual Christmas giving!
- Dave Reid