Giving in the Church Today

Most Christians believe they should give money to their church. Many churches require their people to give a minimum of ten percent of their income and allow the church leadership to use that money as they see fit. Is this what God really wants?

God’s Heart to Give

God held nothing back from us. He so loved that He gave His very Son.

John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We can imitate God, our Father. We can walk in love like our brother, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:1,2:
Be ye therefore followers [imitators] of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

God’s Abundance

God is the source of all wealth. Loving Him first has many benefits. Keeping God first, we will have our true need met.

Deuteronomy 28:11-14:
And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Psalms 50:10:
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Love of God not Money

Loving money rather than loving God is like a child loving clothes rather than the parent who gave them the clothes. It is backwards, unnatural, and without understanding. Loving God first allows us to enjoy fellowship with Him, including having our physical need met. However, a person who thinks they are “self-made,” forgets that God is their true sufficiency.

Deuteronomy 8:11-18:
Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

God gives the power to get wealth. When we love God with all our heart and soul, we will keep His Word and He will make us plenteous.

Deuteronomy 30:8-10:
And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.
And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

Those who trust in their own wealth and boast of their riches don’t see the big picture. After all, they can’t take it with them.

Psalms 49:6-12:
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Jesus Christ taught about the folly of being rich toward self and not toward God.

Luke 12:15-21:
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

How and How Much to Give?

Many Christian churches today teach that each believer should give a tithe (ten percent). Some say that tithing is an unchanging law going back to Abraham. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, but Jesus Christ was the end of the tithe (even regarding what Melchizedek did) “when he offered up himself,” as clearly explained in Hebrews 7:1-28.

The tithe was set up in Old Testament times under the law of Moses for public worship of God (Leviticus 27:30). It allowed for the priests, Levites, and others to minister in the things where God met with His people (Numbers 18:21-26). The Bible says that Christ was the end of the law unto righteousness (Romans 10:4). God does not dwell in temples made by men (Acts 17:24). Since the beginning of the church on the day of Pentecost, those who are born again of God’s spirit are His habitation (Ephesians 2:21,22). God dwells in His people (II Corinthians 6:16). Jesus Christ said that believers today would worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

There is no longer a priest or Levitical class to provide for. So how (attitude) and how much (proportion) should we give today?

Giving: Attitude

Jesus Christ showed the proper attitude of giving. He always did the will of the Father. Jesus Christ gave his entire life in service to God and God’s people. He openly revealed the hypocrisy of tithing and giving without love for God. It was based on spiritual blindness—missing the big picture and focusing on one detail out of context.

Matthew 23:23,24:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

These religious givers tithed and looked good and clean on the outside, but they foolishly missed a love for God on the inside.

Luke 11:39-42:
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
But rather give alms of such things as ye have [Greek text: from the inside]; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and publican hit the very heart of giving. The Pharisee tithed of all that he had. But the publican’s humility toward God was the true riches.

Luke 18:10-14:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The words of Jesus Christ regarding giving to God are wholesome and according to godliness, which is a true and vital spiritual relationship with the Father. The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy of the proper attitude toward money. Having a vital relationship with God as our Father (godliness) and having our physical need met is the greatest possible gain in life.

I Timothy 6:3-11:
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Giving: Proportion

Knowing that God is our sufficiency, trusting in Him to supply our physical needs, and being thankful to give back according to our ability is the proper attitude in giving. So how much should a Christian give today? Are we to tithe as a minimum? Should we give of our need? Should we give to church leaders and depend on them to determine where our giving is used?

The Book of Acts records the activity of the early church. It gives the answers. Acts opens with Jesus Christ, in his resurrected body, speaking of the kingdom of God. He had taught the apostles during his earthly ministry (by way of the spirit of God within him) and had given them commands. This became the foundation of the “apostles’ doctrine” in the early church.

Acts 1:1-3:
…Jesus began both to do and teach,
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

On the day of Pentecost, the church began with a spiritual explosion that brought thousands into the family of God. The apostles set the example and taught what Jesus had taught them.

Acts 2:41-45:
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear [respect] came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all [every one] that believed were together, and had [absolutely] all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all [every one] men, as every man [each specific person] had need.

Looking at the Greek words used in Acts 2:41-45 helps us see more clearly what God is saying in these verses. These words mean that every one that believed had absolutely all things common. They sold what they did not personally need and parted to every one as each specific person had need. In other words, they had all common and divided as each one had lack.

Notice that there is no mention of a tithe among the early believers. There is no mention of a specific proportion to give. Once “all that believed” had received God’s gift of holy spirit, they had the ability to walk with God and know how much to give to those in need. There was no longer a need to supply for the priests, Levites, or the temple. Now they were God’s dwelling place. They could worship by the spirit. True giving was to help their brothers and sisters in the body of Christ and to win others with God’s grace and love.

Acts 4 also describes the early church giving. Many of these same Greek words used in Acts 2:41-45 occur here also.

Acts 4:4,33-35:
Many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
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 [each one] according as he [each specific person] had need.

As on the day of Pentecost, thousands believed the Word concerning Jesus Christ and were born again of God’s spirit. Once again, the apostles set the example by showing forth God’s power as they witnessed of the risen Christ. With so many believers living in Jerusalem, physical needs arose. Those with lands or houses sold them. They kept what they needed and gave of what was left. These were large amounts of money. The apostles were leaders that the believers trusted to deal with such large sums that could be used outside of the local fellowship. The apostles had a larger scope of church activity. It was still the personal responsibility of each believer to know how God wanted them to give, but they enlisted the help of “elders” in making the decision. And the apostles distributed to each person according as each specific person had need.

Giving to Meet the Need

The Greek words for “had need” in Acts 4:35 are used together in other sections of the Bible regarding giving.

Matthew 6:8:
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

I Corinthians 12:20,21:
But now are they many members, yet but one body [of Christ].
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Ephesians 4:28:
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth [Greek: has need].

I Thessalonians 4:11,12:
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack [need] of nothing.

I John 3:16-18:
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he [Jesus Christ] laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

These scriptural truths show that our heavenly Father is fully aware of our need, that we need to support each other in the body of Christ, that we labor so we have need of nothing and can give to help meet the needs of others, and that giving to another believer who has need demonstrates our love.

The Book of Acts includes an example of believers in Antioch helping their brothers in Christ in Judea who had need. God uses specific language to show how this was done.

Acts 11:28-30:
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Then the disciples, every man [each one] according to his ability [specific funds available], determined [marked out, allotted] to send relief unto [to the service of] the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

This record shows many important keys to giving. First, God works in believers to know how and when to give and meet needs. In this case, the Prophet Agabus received revelation of an upcoming famine. Secondly, each person who was a disciple gave from their specific funds available. Thirdly, they marked out or allotted exactly how much to give in service to their brothers in the church. Finally, this gift was sent with trusted leaders (Barnabas and Saul) who delivered such a large sum of money to other trusted leaders (the elders) in Jerusalem.

Notice that this was a special gift. It was outside the norm of each believer taking care of others in their local area on a daily basis. In I Corinthians 16, Paul mentions a special collection among the Galatian and Corinthian churches. He encouraged believers to set aside for this special event.

I Corinthians 16:1-4:
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

These believers were to set aside for a special giving for a specific purpose.  Nowhere in the Book of Acts are believers told to give to the church so that leaders can “bank” their financial gifts until the leaders decide how to use them. Except for special collections like this one and supporting ministers like the Apostle Paul, financial giving was a spiritually motivated, personal decision in a local setting

Attitude and Proportion

As noted in Acts 4:34 and 35, believers sold what they did not need to help those who did. The apostles were local leaders who had a scope of where these thousands of new believers lacked. They helped the believers who had sold lands and houses determine where to give. This record continues with two examples of attitude and proportion in giving. One shows what is right, and the other what is wrong.

Acts 4:36—5:11:
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
And great fear [respect] came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Barnabas was a believer from Cyprus and of a Levitical background. He decided to dedicate his life in service to the church and sold all that he had. His loving attitude to give caused him to determine that his physical need would be met as he served in the church. That is why his proper proportion was to give all he had. God took care of Barnabas’s need as he ministered (Acts 9:27-31; 11:22-30; 12:25—15:35).

Ananias and Sapphira, on the other hand, had the wrong attitude and proportion. They wanted others to think that they (like Barnabas) gave of all that they had. They wanted to appear to be dedicating their lives in service to the church. In reality, they were not committed to such full service, and kept back part of what they had received. There would have been nothing wrong with giving an honest proportion and keeping back what they needed. It was their deceit and trying to lie to God that brought such ruin upon them. Peter walked by the spirit of God, confronted them, and their immense guilt brought about their deaths. This record presents in vivid terms how important attitude and proportion are when giving to the church.

God clearly shows that each believer according to his specific funds available can mark out or allot how much to give (Acts 11:29). The believers at Corinth were encouraged in this kind of giving.

II Corinthians 9:6,7:
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man [Each one] according as he purposeth [to bring forth for oneself, to choose for oneself before another, to prefer] in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly [out of sorrow], or of necessity [out of need]: for God loveth a cheerful [satisfied and persuaded] giver.

This is simple, clear logic. If a farmer sows many seeds, God’s design of creation ensures that many plants will grow. The same is true when we give in the physical and spiritual realm. That is why there is no law to limit how little or how much to give for Christians. We do our best to give our all–like Jesus Christ showed us to do.

The Greek words used in this verse provide a depth of understanding on the believer’s proper attitude and proportion in giving. Each believer is to choose. They are to choose for themselves, within their own heart. This is not done out of sorrow—it doesn’t hurt to give. It is not done out of need. That would defeat the purpose of giving to meet needs in the body of Christ. God loves those who give with the proper attitude and proportion.

What kind of giver does God love? One who is satisfied and persuaded in their giving. They know that God is their sufficiency, and so they are able to give freely and joyfully as their heavenly Father works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. No other person can tell them where or how much to give. That is their privilege and responsibility to do so. As they give, God graciously cares for them.

II Corinthians 9:8:
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Money and the Bible

Jesus Christ put money in perspective. We are to have our proper priorities.

Matthew 6:24,33:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We trust in the living God, not in uncertain money. Our true riches throughout eternity will be based on our works today. We give from the heart as much as God wants us to. He directs where we give it. He opens the door to serve and support others financially. The living God gives us richly what we need to enjoy this life. And He will reward us throughout eternity for our loving giving out of thankfulness for what He has done for us in Christ.

I Timothy 6:17-19:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Each believer decides with their heavenly Father where, when, and how much to give. Our attitude is that we are not our own, we are bought with the greatest price, the life of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 6:20;7:23; I Timothy 2:6). So we take on the responsibility and privilege of glorifying our heavenly Father by our giving.

When it comes to proportion of our giving, we are under grace. The only law we follow is “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2). There is no minimum or maximum amount. We primarily give to support the believers we fellowship with locally and are ready to support ministers and other believers in need as well.

Our loving heavenly Father gave us the free will to decide how to love him back. We thank Him for His unspeakable gift to us (II Corinthians 9:15) and use that gift of holy spirit within the body of Christ to give accordingly.