What Is Christian Giving?
Giving is never just “taking care of business.” Giving is worship. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, giving was heart-felt worship to God! God doesn’t need our money. (Acts 17:25) Our giving shows God that we love him more than worldly treasures. Jesus taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Old Testament giving was comprised of two parts: The compulsory tithe was the first-fruit, which belonged to God. The secondary gifts were free-will offerings of love and gratitude to God. Tithes and offerings not only demonstrated deep devotion to God, but proper giving also brought abundant blessings from God.
Malachi 3:10 instructs, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Omitting proper worship brought significant consequences.
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.” (Malachi 3:8,9)
You might think God is being harsh about giving? Actually, every commandment of God, as with the Ten Commandments for example, brought either a blessing or curse when obeyed or omitted. (See Deuteronomy 28)
What Changed in the New Testament?
Jesus is God in human flesh. (John 1:14) Christ became the sacrificial “lamb of God” who took away the sin of the world. Forgiveness of sin, salvation from judgment, and resplendent eternal life is personally appropriated by faith in Jesus and his atonement.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21)
Jesus took the curse of sin, so that believers might have the blessing of life eternal. For believers, there is no more condemnation from any curse! (Rom 8:1) Galatians 3:13 explains Jesus’ substantiationary sacrifice this way:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. As it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’“
In the New Testament era, both tithes and offerings remain a beautiful form of worship. Tithes and offerings are no longer compulsory! Tithes and offerings are encouraged to joyfully worship the God we love. “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7) God’s curse is now gone, yet all the blessings of giving remain for the obedient, joyful worshipper! I have found that those who take that step of faith and practice tithing universally report that God’s outpouring of blessing is real. Personally, I would much rather live on 90% of God’s provision with his abundant blessing than live on 100% of my weak efforts.
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Cor 9:6)
God’s blessings include abundantly providing for our needed finances. However, God’s grace abounds toward his family in the wonderful gifts of life that money cannot buy. (See Eph 3:16-21)Tithes and offerings are far from a “give to get money” plan (i.e. the “prosperity gospel” lie). Giving is worship, becoming a two-way expression of love to God and his love to us.
God uses your gifts to expand his kingdom. Your gifts help spread the Gospel message through the many efforts of Greystone Church.Your gifts also support missionaries, community ministries, and people in true need. You can be sure your gifts will be stewarded carefully by the leadership team here at Greystone Church. Please give as unto the Lord in joyous worship.
Thank you and God bless you.
Pastor Brian and the Elders of Greystone Church