“Giving and Worship” (2 Cor. 9:6–15)

Series: TopicalText: 2 Cor. 9:6–15

By: Shaun Marksbury Date: May 5, 2024

Venue: Living Water Baptist ChurchOccasion: AM Service

Introduction

People don’t like it when pastors talk about money, partly because some churches and ministries become obsessed with it. For instance, big-box churches are always announcing the next big project, asking for donations for another building project because they’re running at 80–90% of their budget already (something manuals tell them is the best way to keep people excited and giving). There are other churches that twist theology, selling false promises about giving more to become rich (and usually, the pastor is the one getting rich). There are still others with a warped fundamentalism browbeating people who they deem are not giving enough. Bad apples like these cause the rest of us to not want to talk too much about the topic of money!

Yet, pastors need to talk about money every once in a while. One reason is because the Bible talks about it. Another reasons is to confront why other people don’t like it when pastors talk about money: people serve and worship it. Yes, pastors and churches can do it, but so can everyone else.

We've been going through the book of John on Sunday mornings, we just considered how the Holy Spirit helps us and empowers us to do good works. We spoke generally of good works, many of us could think of things we could do which require the Spirit’s presence — things such as evangelism, overcoming sin, and the like. We don't always think of how the spirit might move us to give.

Our usage of money is a good work which flows directly from our worship of God. So, starting next week, we are returning to a common practice in our worship services: the offertory, a time where we pass the plate as part of our worship service. This morning, we’re taking a break to consider everything the Bible has to say about this act of spiritual worship.

The Misunderstandings of Giving

You might expect me to start talking about tithing, but our Lord does not require tithing of Christians. That might strike you as controversial. That’s because of misunderstandings about this subject.

Let’s consider what tithing is. Both the Hebrew and Greek words for “tithe” are mathematical terms that mean “one tenth.” It isn’t a term only found in the Bible; pagan cultures would often pay tithes. In Scripture, when Abram met Melchizedek, he gave him a tenth of his spoils (Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:2), and when Jacob vows to the Lord at Bethel, he promises God a tithe (Gen. 28:22). These are examples of voluntary tithes, based on cultural ideas about owing deities and their representatives a tenth of one’s wealth.

God does adopt the requirement of the tithe for the nation of Israel. Under the Law of Moses, the tithe was a tax, a civil responsibility. The tithe “of the land” was holy and went to the Levites (Lev. 27:30).

But, that wasn’t all; the tithe came in multiple parts. Along with the first 10% offering, as the MacArthur Study Bible explains, “there were two other OT tithes which totaled about 23 percent annually (cf. the second tithe—Deut. 14:22; and the third tithe every 3 years—Deut. 14:28, 29; 26:12).” So, the tithe was more than 10%, and it went to help feed the orphans, widows, and foreigners (Deut. 14:29).

The people in Israel were required to pay tithes (plural), and these taxes were more than 10%. The first tithe went to the priests and Levites. The second tithe supported the social and religious life of the nation. The third tithe, paid every third year, was for the welfare system. None of these were freewill; they were all required and totaled some 22% or more.

That wasn’t all the Old Testament saints gave, either! For instance, we haven’t said anything about the fact that farmers were forbidden from harvesting the corners of their fields so the poor will have extra (Lev. 19:9). Moreover, Exodus 30:13 requires a half a shekel from everyone for the funding of the sanctuary. They were also required to allow their land to rest every seventh year, forfeiting a year of potential earnings. And there is much more to consider there which pushes the required giving in Israel higher. And then, after such requirements as these, there were the freewill offerings they brought before the Lord.

The New Testament never requires the tithe of believers. We never see the apostles going to the Gentiles and telling them that they had to pay a tithe, though they did talk about giving. Why would the Gentiles outside of Israel give money to the system that rejected Jesus and help pay for works within Israel? To import the requirement for tithing into the church is a practice without biblical precedent.

The misunderstandings are numerous. Some pastors think they are the New Testament version of the Levites, which isn’t exactly correct. Some pastors teach that all the laws of Israel apply to the church. Some teach that, if you give, you are holding God to promises He made to Israel to give back. Some simply desire to manipulate people, and even ask for the W2s of church members to verify that they are giving the full 10% of their income (these are wolves devouring widows’ houses). All these teachings make us misunderstanding the point of the Old Testament tithe.

We don’t want to misunderstand. So, the New Testament provides different principles. And that’s where we turn next.

The Principles for Giving

Christians should obviously give, just as God gave to us greatly in Christ. So, as we look to the Old Testament, we might consider what the tithe teaches us. Certain eternal principles arise there; it implies we should pay taxes, and Jesus did (cf. Matt. 17:24–25; 22:21). The tithe also considered all income — livestock, produce, and landowning — and it called for giving God the best. Tithing was consistent giving and regular, which we’ll revisit in a little while. Tithing also funded the ministry of the Lord and protected the needy.

These are important principles for us to bring into the NT era. Yet, NT giving is broader than a simple tithe. Rather than laying down a required amount, God calls Christians to give everything. He calls us to a joyful, living, freewill offering of ourselves. That lack of requirement is both an opportunity and a test of our character — will we worship God with our money?

Let’s consider three principles which should guide our giving. Our giving first comes from God’s wealth, and then it helps to meet the need of the poor and the ministry. Let’s consider each.

First, Our Giving Comes from God’s Wealth

The Lord never requires anything of us that He doesn’t supply. In terms of faith, He sends His Spirit to transform our hearts and see our need for salvation. He is also gracious and giving, so we can reflect His attitude because of His ongoing work in our hearts.

Our giving comes from resources the Lord already owns. As Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” He’s the Creator, so He it’s all His! He owns every precious metal, every gemstone, every bank note, and even the cryptocurrencies. Every resource is His, and He moves it sovereignty as He wishes from hand to hand.

Every paycheck you receive comes from the Lord. He provides you the work, and sometimes, He gives from unexpected sources. That’s why we’re told not to worry about our resources, like what we’ll eat, drink, or wear, for He lovingly provides (Matt. 6:31–32). He always provides, and because of that provision, we can give some back.

That’s why it’s important for us to be good stewards of our money. We don’t spend every dime we have on ourselves or on frivolous pursuits. We want to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (v. 33), having our dollars help advance His kingdom and purposes. We should oversee what the Lord has granted us with wisdom.

Of course, the question is: Do you believe this is God’s money you handle? We must consider all money as His as we give. We also must consider what we’re giving to, bringing us to the next point:

Second, Our Giving Meets the Need of the Poor

There’s a little town in Florida called Starke, just an hour southwest of Jacksonville — a place full of memories for me because much of my immediate and extended family have lived in and around the area. In 2013, the American Atheists decided to erect a monument to atheism in the town square. It contained, among other items, a quote from Madalyn Murray O’Hair, saying, “An atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An atheist believes that deed must be done instead of prayer. An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty banished, war eliminated.” Of course, that quote misses one of the most glaring truths of Western history: Christianity built the first hospitals next to their churches, have given to the poor as well as prayed for them, has sought cultural change knowing that the time on earth is so short. Christians created the university system, pioneered the advances of science and preached peace. Meanwhile, while atheist leaders plunged societies in the twentieth century bloodiest years ever known in history.

Christians care for the poor. Here, we have food and clothing drives. People volunteer there time in various ways.

This does start with the needs of our family, of course, as we seek to care for our own as best as we can. As 1 Timothy 5:8 says, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. This love also extends toward other Christians, for we do not close our hearts to the needs of our brethren (1 John 3:16-17). We don’t want to be a burden on anyone, and we care for people because of the love of God. And we extend that giving to others.

That care, though, goes beyond the material. That brings us to the final principle to consider this morning:

Third, Our Giving Meets the Need of the Ministry

Just like in the OT, ministry work continues only through generous donations — the only way pastors can keep preaching, the doors of the church stay open, and missionaries can continue in foreign fields. Of course, we might have to briefly address the question as to whether pastors should get paid. Some see the Apostle Paul’s occasional example of engaging in tent-making or bi-vocational ministry as normative. However, Paul also said that it is right for a minister to making his living by the gospel (1 Cor. 9:3–14; 1 Tim. 5:17–18). God’s people who benefit from the ministry of God’s work should contribute to its continuation. And your gifts fund much more than pastoral salaries.

Hopefully, you have seen plenty in Scripture about giving at this point. There are misunderstandings out there concerning tithing, but Christians still give, which the NT demonstrates. Of course, Scripture has much more to say about giving, particularly about our attitudes. That brings us to the final point:

The Attitudes for Giving

There are several biblical attitudes we’ll consider as we wind down here. I’ll try not to spend much time on each point because we have already considered the guiding principles we need. In no particular order, our Spirit-guided attitudes we should have as we give is generosity, joy, faith, sacrifice, love, discretion, and regularity (those of you who just went through our new members’ class will recognize these). Let’s consider these one at a time.

God calls us to give with a generous attitude

God calls us to give generously. In 2 Corinthians 9:6, the Spirit says, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Some like to start at that 10%, and others give less than that or more. To decide what to give, consider your current resources, pray about it, and make a decision for the next three months. At that time, revisit your finances prayerfully, and see if you can give more. Ask that the Lord help you to have a generous heart, and He will help you to find how to give generously.

The Lord is promising to provide what we need. In Luke 6:38, Jesus says, “Give, and it will be given to you.” He can certainly give back what you give, and often, people find that God does just that.

Sometimes, though, He tests us so we can mature in our attitude. With His grace, we can become more generous, and we can even enjoy giving. That brings us to the next point:

God calls us to give with a joyful attitude

Some people find joy naturally in giving; they have open hearts and wallets! We’re thankful for them, because others seem naturally tightfisted. Others of us want to give, but some find it difficult to feel good about it.

One key is remembering the principles for giving. God owns everything; we’re just stewards. If you ever find yourself thinking that you’re in control of your financial future, you’ll be less willing to give. If, however, you see your resources as a gift from God that you only temporarily have, you’ll have a different mindset.

Another key is prayer. Simply ask that the Lord help you to see how you contribute to helping others and advancing His kingdom. Then, give in faith.

The Lord wants us give joyfully. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, He says, “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We shouldn’t feel guilted in giving; we should feel privileged!

One reason we might still lack this joy is because we haven’t purposed in our hearts what we can give. In Deuteronomy 16:17, God commanded, “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.” This is why I said you should consider your resources — while there are times of great need which requires us to give a bit beyond our ability, it’s good for Christians to take stock of their own needs and budget a reasonable amount for the work of the Lord.

When we know that God is in control of our finances, and we prayerfully consider what we can give, the Lord will begin supply the necessary excitement we need. We can give with cheerful hearts, not worrying about Monday’s bills or whether we gave enough. Free from anxiety, we’re exercising faith in our giving, bringing us to the next point:

God calls us to give with a faithful attitude

Scripture warns us about our attitudes concerning money. For instance, 1 Timothy 6:9 warns that a desire to get rich can ensnare us, prompting ‘many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.’ ” That’s followed by one of the most misquoted verses of Scripture, where God says, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim. 6:10). God doesn’t say, “Money is the root of all evil” — we need money, and it can be a blessing to others. He warns that loving money causes people to apostatize from the faith and other kinds of problems.

An idolatrous view of money will keep us from joyful giving. We think more money will fix our problems, but Scripture warns in 1 Timothy 6:17 not to fix hope “on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” Some Christians hate pastors talking about money, though, because wealth is their idol and their hope. However, as Jesus warned, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matt. 6:24). We must consider whether we are seeking God first in our hearts.

As we let go of our money in obedience to God, He gives us the strength we need to place our faith in Him. As Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” We begin to trust that God will take care of all our needs.

We can even learn to trust Him by giving above our ability at times. That brings us to the next point:

God calls us to give with a sacrificial attitude

Before Paul was talking about giving in 2 Corinthians 9, he was talking about how the Macedonians gave in chapter eight. They were an impoverished people, but they dug deep into their pockets when they heard about the famine in Jerusalem. Their “poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality” (v. 2) and gave “beyond their ability” (v. 3). We see an example there of going beyond ability and sacrificing wants and needs to help with the needs of others.

We tend to think that, if we’re giving to God, we can’t spend money on recreation. God calls us to rest from our labors, even giving a whole commandment about it! Some people go on vacations, some go to sporting events, others play games, others go hunting, or some combination of all the above. Investing in rest isn’t a waste in and of itself.

Still, we need to consider how much money we give to our recreations and amusements. Sometimes, we spend too much. We should consider whether God would have us give up spending money in one area and give to another, if only to prove we are not addicted to our pleasures and comforts. We don’t want an idolatrous view of some amusement! We can give up quite a bit and still live good lives.

We must all prayerfully consider this at times, for the love of the saints and ministry. That brings us to the next point.

God calls us to give with a loving attitude

We work to support our own families because we love them. We save for the same reason; as Proverbs 30:24–25 says, the ants are “exceedingly wise” because they “prepare their food in the summer.” We also invest because, as Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” We think through these things because we love our families.

When we think about our purchases and how we handle our savings and investments, we think about this for the glory of the Lord, as well. Giving is a demonstration of the “sincerity of your love” (2 Cor 8:8). Giving is a conduit, in fact, of the love of God working through us toward others. In fact, it’s our love for the Lord and others that can evoke joy in our giving.

If we are giving for the love of others, then we should not be drawing attention to ourselves. That brings us to the next point:

God calls us to give with an inconspicuous attitude

Jesus said that the hypocritical Pharisees sounded trumpets as they gave (Matt. 6:1–4). They were practicing their righteousness before men. They wanted the honor of men. Jesus said that they have their reward in full.

We, on the other hand, want to store up our treasures in heaven. So, Jesus said, “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (vv. 3–4). We can drop our offerings in the plate, or in the box in the back, without wondering if people will see and congratulate us for being good givers.

In fact, I’ll say that I make a point of not knowing what people give. Sometimes, people give less in their weekly offering to send the pastor a passive-aggressive message; I won’t know. Besides, if you give to be noticed by me, you are giving for the wrong reasons. You should give in secret.

Speaking of a weekly offering, let’s consider the last point:

God calls us to give with an attitude of regularity

We meet on the first day of the week because that was the practice of the early church, in honor of our resurrected Lord. We also take a collection every week because that was practiced in the New Testament context (1 Cor. 16:1–2). This was part of the worship, so that is why many churches pass the plate (and the reason we are returning to the practice).

Not every gets paid weekly, though. Giving regularly is going to mean different things to different people. Some might only be able to give once a month. Others can give every week. Whatever the frequency your able, keep it regular. Every church has ups and downs in giving throughout the fiscal year, and that creates challenges in budgeting and finance. Imagine your employer giving you 130% of your salary one month, 70% the next, 60% the third month, and 140% the fourth. The bills remain the same, missionaries still need their giving, but there are times where we wonder if we can meet the end of the month. It is vital to give with regularity.

Conclusion

Your money handling does reveal a lot about your priorities and the inclination of your heart. We should give. To encourage that, we are resuming the offertory portion of our worship service. We’ll have envelopes for you if you want to use them for receipt of the cash you put into the plate. If you feel more comfortable continuing to give online or through whatever automation you use, that is fine to continue. Just continue to consider your giving as an act of worship.

If you find that you lack the proper attitudes of giving, prayerfully consider why. Have you placed money above God in your heart? Are you are afraid to trust God with the future? If you’ve never practiced generosity, prayerfully start small and watch as God opens your heart to others! Remember that you’re handling God’s money, and He will help you sort through the rest.