Generosity in Giving

Introduction

Generosity is an attitude that demonstrates Christlikeness.

Generosity is the outflow of the inward working of God in our lives.

We will look at this theme of generosity in three ways over the next three weeks.

Next week, we will look at the Generosity of gratitude—of generous thankfulness.

In two weeks, we will look at the generosity of grace—of providing forgiveness, mercy, and patience toward others.

Today, we look at the generosity in giving.

Text

2 Corinthians 9:11–15 ESV

11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Main Idea and Transition

Generosity in giving is a biblical practice for every believer in Christ.

Generosity gives evidence of our relationship with God (God is generous, and so are we).

Generosity reveals a healthy, loving attitude toward those in need.

Generosity shows commitment to the ministry of the church.

Why and how should we give generously?

Answering this question will help us in our desire to honor God and His Word.

Old Testament Giving: More than a Rule

When it comes to the theme of giving and the Old Testament, the word “tithe” comes up.

The word “tithe” comes from the Hebrew word which means one-tenth.

Literally, “tithe” is one-tenth of anything.

Abraham and Melchizedek

Text: Genesis 14:17-20.

The first mention of tithing centered on a voluntary act and an act of worship to God, which Melchizedek represented.

This act of tithing pre-dates the Law of Moses.

Key Point: Tithe is a sign of personal submission to God in gratitude for all his blessings.

Moses and the Israelites

Text: Leviticus 27:30-34.

Tithing was incorporated into the Law of God.

Ten percent of everything a person had belonged to God - it was holy into the Lord.

Key Point: God makes clear what He wants from His people.

Text: Deuteronomy 14:22-23.

Deuteronomy 14:22–23 ESV

22 “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. 23 And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

The last phrase in verse 23 gives us the purpose of tithing: “that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

Fear the Lord—a common phrase in Scripture. Means to honor, respect, and worship to the Lord.

The Living Bible puts it this way: “So that you may lean always to put God first in your life.”

Note that very carefully. That is the purpose of a tithe. It was not merely a legalistic regulation. It was more than an Old Testament income tax. God had a special purpose in asking for the tenth.

Key Point: The purpose of tithing was to teach his people to put God first.

Malachi and the Jewish People

Text: Malachi 3:8-12.

First, a warning: “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me.”

The Jewish people were not giving the tithe and other contributions.

Through their selfishness, they invited a curse from God.

Second, a challenge to doubters: Put me to the test.

There is a promise of God that if you put Him first, God will help you to do that and much more.

The Test: Tithe and experience God’s blessing.

Third, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

God invites you to meet the needs of the community of faith.

Let me sum up from these four passages with what I see as the three great purposes of the tithe in the Old Testament.

First, in relation to God the tithe was meant to glorify God and recognize him as the Lord Almighty and as the source of all human blessing. That’s in the story of Abraham.

Second, in relation to God’s people the purpose of the tithe is to teach us to put God first in our lives.

Third, in relation to the nation of Israel, the purpose of the tithe is to insure that God’s work may be fully supplied.

New Testament Giving: More than a Suggestion

The act of giving and its Old Testament reasons did not cease when Jesus died and rose again.

Although the act of tithing was a regulation within the Law of Moses, the spiritual discipline of giving continued and expanded in the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 16:1–2 ESV

1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

This is very clear New Testament teaching.

First, giving is to be regular (systematic) —"on the first day of every week”.

Second, giving is to be personal—"each one of you”.

Third, giving is to be proportional—"as he may prosper.”

Christian giving is to be regular, personal and proportional.

What is proportional giving?

The meaning is then that one’s giving should be in direct proportion to the way one prospers; it should be determined as a matter of principle, not something done on impulse.

He did not state any particular amount to be given, nor did he indicate a specific percentage.

The Old Testament practice of tithing (Num. 18:21–28; Mal. 3:8–10) probably lay behind the apostle’s words as a basic guide.

Even in the Old Testament, believers were to give according to their means rather than according to a flat rate. Paul seems to have the Old Testament practice of tithing in mind.

It means the more that God blesses you, the more you are to give. That’s New Testament grace giving.

However, there is a little more to it that just this.

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 ESV

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

It is an agricultural truism that, other things being equal, the size of the harvest is always directly proportional to the amount of seed sown.

No farmer considers sowing as a loss of seed because the harvest will provide the seed for the next season.

Consequently, no sower begrudges the seed he casts upon the ground or tries to scrimp by with sowing as little as possible.

He willingly sows all that he can and trusts that God will bless the sowing with a bountiful harvest.

If the farmer, for some reason, skimps on the sowing, he will cheat himself of that harvest.

The more he sows, the greater the harvest he will reap and the more he will have for sowing for the next harvest.

Applying this analogy to giving means that plentiful giving will result in a plentiful harvest.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion.

Paul gives us boundaries for our attitude toward giving.

Not reluctantly—it is easy to cultivate an attitude of unwillingness to be used by God to give toward His work.

Not under compulsion—guilt and humiliation is a terrible motivator to give.

The attitude we are to possess is what God wants us to have: for God loves a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work

God rewards generosity with material abundance to make it possible for people to be even more generous.

I am not telling you that you can be materially wealthy by giving to God (giving to get). All you will reap is spiritual poverty.

Paul assures them that God will supply them with plenty for their needs at all times and uses alliterative repetition to carry his point: “All grace … so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every [all] good work.”

Conclusion

Generosity in giving is motivated by our love for God and one another, rather than to earn our way to God’s favor.

Generosity in giving is a clear teaching in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Generosity in giving is a powerful spiritual discipline that helps us:

Trust in God

Submit to God

Worship God

Engage in the Kingdom of God

Be available to God