Stewardship calls us to shift our minds from "must give" to "get to help"
If God creates and owns everything, and as Christians we are stewards of money and possessions that He has generously given to us, then we have a responsibility to share with others who are suffering in an unfortunate season.
This requires a change in thinking, to thinking first “How much do I have to generously help others?” instead of thinking “How much do I need to keep before I give away the leftovers?” This makes generous giving our top priority in our monthly spending plans, our savings plans, and our investment plans. Paul explains this concept of firstfruits generosity to the Corinthians:
Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously. Each one must give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written (in Psalm 112:9):
“He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.”
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 (all quotes NASB)
Let’s break down Paul’s generous giving principles he taught the Corinthians:
We should invest (sow) and work (reap) to be able to give generously.
We should cheerfully and generously give to others as we decide in our hearts. This giving is without guilt from being persuaded or commanded.
God wants to bless us abundantly, more than we need, so that we can give to the poor in need.
Generous giving is a character issue, because giving produces righteousness in us, a harvest of good character, in fact.
The more you give, the more God can bless you with more to give.
This generosity snowball turns into an avalanche of praise and thanksgiving that honors God, which is our purpose.
The needs of our fellow Christians will be supplied as a testimony ministry.
Generous Giving in Action
Paul modeled his generous giving concepts in the book of Acts when he said,
“…In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35
Who exactly are the weak? Who are the fellow saints we should be generously giving to help? Jesus Christ explained who we are to generously help when He told the judgment parable of the sheep and the goats in the Gospel According to Matthew.
Eternal Implications of Generosity Today
In context, Jesus is telling His trusted disciples about things that will happen in the future when He returns from heaven to earth as eternal king for the world’s final judgment.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’” Matthew 25:34-40
If you are looking for ways to be generous, start with helping the least of our Christian brothers and sisters in need; in your church, your town, your nation, and worldwide. We generously give to help the Six Sheep – fellow believers who are hurting. Here are each of the Six Sheep, with examples of United States nationwide Christian non-profit organizations that specifically help them:
Hunger – Salvation Army
Thirsty – Lifewater
Hospitality – Catholic Charities USA
Clothing – Goodwill
Prison – Prison Fellowship
Our priority as Christ-followers is to generously give to our brothers and sister in need first, anywhere in the world, because it is like giving directly to Christ. Paul reiterates this concept with repentant believers in Ephesus.
The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. Ephesians 4:28
The purpose of honest labor is not to give first priority to the church organization – it is to give first priority to fellow believers whose basic living needs are not met. Want to do something for Christ? Feed His sheep – literally! Don’t give them leftover cans from the pantry or worn out clothes and shoes from back of the closet. Give your money to reputable organizations that can meet the needs best – they are pros! In Proverbs, we find this is the true principle of the firstfruits:
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9-10
There are many proverbs that explain that the firstfruits are generous gifts to share with the poor. Here is just a sampling:
A generous person will be prosperous, and one who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty. Proverbs 11:25
One who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but one who is gracious to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:31
One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17
One who gives to the poor will never lack anything, but one who shuts his eyes [to the poor] will have many curses. Proverbs 28:27
In fact, the prophet Isaiah was even more direct about how God’s people should help the poor, including four of the six sheep in this prophetic word from God Himself:
Is this not the fast that I choose: To release the bonds of wickedness, To undo the ropes of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And break every yoke? Is it not to break your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Isaiah 58:6-7
If Christ wants us to prioritize giving generously to the poor sheep among us, how did the church decide Christians should give a 10% tithe of their gross monthly income – the firstfruits - to the church budget, and then additional offerings above that tithe go to the benevolence fund, missionaries, and other charitable projects?
Tithing versus generosity? Or tithing and generosity?
The connection of the 10% tithe from the Old Testament to Christianity is in Hebrews 7:1-2, where the author (probably Apollos, but that’s another discussion for another time) explained how Abraham wanted to honor God and thank Him for protection in battle by giving an offering:
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part [tithe] of everything.
Later on in the book of Hebrews, Christ is compared to Melchizedek as a similar King/High Priest. From this principle of giving a tenth (tithe) back to God in thanks and worship came giving a tithe of 10% of our individual gross income to the church to worship Christ. There's only one issue with that – it is not commanded by Christ, Paul or anyone else in the New Testament. The 10% tithe actually goes back to the Jewish Law given by Moses:
You shall certainly tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes from the field every year. You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. Deuteronomy 14:22-23
The purpose of this tithe in the Law was to feed and support the Levites, specifically the priests chosen to operate the Temple and worship God as their profession. This Law was fulfilled in Christ. For a church to require a 10% tithe from members is giving by compulsion, which Paul did not approve of and Hebrews did not command. The Law also described freewill offerings of thanks. These were special additional sacrifices Jews gave to worship God for His generosity, provision, healing, and other miracles. These are heartfelt, generous gifts of a joyful, cheerful giver Paul would approve.
Don’t misunderstand – as Christians we should generously give to support our local church operations and our pastors, musicians, teachers, custodians, assistants and other workers. The issue is this – the poor and suffering believers in our local churches should be prioritized first. Christ commanded us to help poor sheep and neighbors; He did not command us to give to the church. We give to the church from cheerful, freewill worship and gratitude. And we don’t have to limit ourselves to giving 10% of our gross income. Giving generously means above and beyond as God purposes in our hearts.
Giving Sacrificially Does Not Mean Giving While in Debt
If you are in debt, and you are not paying off your debts, then why are you giving to the poor and the church? It’s a character issue.
The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives. Psalm 37:21
Giving while in uncontrolled debt is not sacrificial, it is wrong. Get the debts paid down, and at the same time get the generous gifts up. But the scale should be weighted toward the debts until they are smaller than the gifts.
Sometimes we have opportunities to give sacrificially. This means giving up discretionary spending on wants to meet another person's needs. It does not mean that you have to go in need yourself, because then you are both in trouble. Build a cushion into your monthly spending plan, or else you have nothing to give to opportunities without hurting your own family. Is it a good testimony to give when you are in debt you cannot pay? If you are short on money, then give in time – and vice versa – but do some of both. Try for 50/50 money to time. Both are using the resources that God has given you.
Grow into Generous Giving
If you are not giving regularly, start with a generosity giving plan just as you would a savings plan. Every quarter when you (and your spouse if married) review your monthly spending plan and your savings goals, start with your giving goals. First give to specific organizations for a specific purpose from your monthly gross income. Here are some examples:
Church benevolence fund
Missionary you know personally
Child sponsorship where you receive documentation and correspondence
Local organizations that help Six Sheep
Next, every quarter increase your giving rate until it reaches the amount you (and your spouse) purpose in your heart with God and can give cheerfully. Let’s say for example you purpose to give 16% of your gross income:
Quarter 1 = 4%
Quarter 2 = 8%
Quarter 3 = 12%
Quarter 4 = 16%
Then, with your consistent monthly giving level set, as you receive additional income from bonuses, dividends, less spending or other gifts, put all or some of that money aside in a generosity account. When an opportunity presents itself that you can fulfill, generously fund that need. Giving does not have to be sacrificial to the point of hurting yourself or your family to count in God’s eyes – wise stewards plan ahead and sow seeds to give later, and grow their resources through investing accordingly.
Paul reminds his protégé Timothy to teach Christians to be generous to one another.
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:18
Generosity here and now builds the foundation for treasure in the hereafter. Be a cheerful giver!
If you need help with creating a generosity giving plan and how to achieve it, contact us for a no-obligation, complementary Discovery Call with a certified financial coach.
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