GIVING

 In our search for the church that Jesus built, the one we read about in the New Testament, we need to look at the way God’s people should give. We need to know what instructions we have in the Bible for giving back to God.

Giving is a command, so we need to look at who is to give, what we are to give, where, when, and how much we are to give. Then we need to compare what the different churches teach about giving.

Under the Old Law, the Jews gave 1/10^th of everything (Leviticus 27:30). Throughout the Old Testament, we see examples of the Jews giving from their land, their animals, their other assets, and giving it willingly because it was commanded.

The New Testament is very different. In the examples of giving we will study, you will notice that the amount is not specified. In other words, the amount of our giving is not a specific command in terms of an exact dollar amount. However, giving is a command.

Paul said in I Corinthians 16:2 that they were to give on the first day of the week. They didn’t have yard sales, bake sales, car washes, bingo parties, etc.

They gave as they were prospered.

They gave from their hearts as we read in II Corinthians 9:6, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

We have an example of improper giving in Acts 5. Many Jews had descended on Jerusalem to celebrate Pentcost. On that day, Peter and the other apostles stood before the group and told them how they had crucified the Son of God. Upon hearing this, they wanted to know what they needed to do, and Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38).

After the people heard what they needed to do, 3,000 of these Jews were baptized. Many of them stayed to hear more about the life and death of Jesus. There was a need to help support many of these people. Acts 4:34 says, “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (KJV).

A man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold some possession they had and gave the money to the apostles.  They were not commanded to give any certain amount, but Acts 5:2 says that they kept back part of the price they received for the possession. In other words, they gave the money and pretended that was all of what they received from the sale.

God rewarded both of them for their lies by striking them dead. They were killed, not because they kept part of the money, but because they lied about what they gave. Their giving was to be seen of men.

We have very specific commands about giving:

II Corinthians 9:7

1. 1. Purpose what we give.
   2. Do not give grudgingly or of necessity.
   3. Be a cheerful giver.
2. I Corinthians 16:2
   1. Give on the first day of the week.
   2. Give as we are prospered.

The church that Jesus built will follow these commandments.

Sandra Oliver