Within the Church today, the idea of tithing is often discussed which has lead me to do a short study on giving. I’ve heard sincere questions such as, “what does the New Testament teach about tithing?” or “How much should my family be giving?” or even, “We really don’t have much this month, but I feel guilty…should I feel guilty for not being able to give much to the Church?”. I’ve also heard other statements like, “I give whenever I feel led to because the New Testament doesn’t actually teach tithing” or, “I don’t know why I’m expected to give to the Church, I don’t see that command in the New Testament”. Whether these statements and questions are out of ignorance or not, the new testament certainly teaches giving. I want to look at that in 2 Corinthians 8-9.
Paul is collecting money from churches in order to help support the needy church in Jerusalem. He is going to collect this money and bring it back to Jerusalem with him. This is what Paul is speaking about in 8:4-5. There is a lot in these two chapters, so I’m going to just give some short discussion points throughout.
I find it fascinating that Paul gives the reason for this section of his writing. He begins in 8:1b with this, “…we wish to make known to you the grace of God…”. He continues to define the result of this grace, “…that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality…begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints…” (8:2, 4). It is by God’s grace that the churches of Macedonia were able to give in their poverty. They begged for the opportunity to participate in the financial giving Paul was asking for in regard to the Church in Jerusalem. How often do we see this attitude today (and I’m as guilty as anyone)? Paul then charges the Church in Corinth, “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.” (8:7).
This next part is important. Paul tells the Corinthians that this charge is not a command but instead “proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also” (8:8). Paul tells the Corinthians, which applies to us today, that we should desire to prove the sincerity of our love for others and we can do that through financial giving.
Paul knows the task is much easier said than done. For this reason, and many others I’m sure, he gives us the greatest example of grace giving in the Bible. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (8:9). Jesus gave everything for the sake of our spiritual richness. It is through Christ emptying Himself that we have life and life abundantly. Praise God for this. It is through this example that we learn the true act of giving, and it is through this example that we have the grace of giving. Amen.
So, do I give all that I have to the church and put my family on the streets? Paul seems to answer that question with a “no”. Paul states that we are to give out of what we have, not what we have not. We are not to give for the ease of others but by way of equality. Meaning, if there isn’t a need, and giving would bring affliction on myself or the family, don’t give. If there is a need and giving would bring about equality, or supply a need. “…at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality…” (8:14). Give where there is need, out of the grace of God, for the purpose of equality.
