Giving it all you’ve got.
BQ: My friend Luke pointed out the example of Levi the tax collector in Lk 5:27-28, who, when Jesus said, "Follow me," left everything behind. Are we still clinging to things of the past? There's a tendency for us to want to give and receive credit for it, while holding a little back.
Q: What does the Bible say about giving?
A: 2 Cor 9:6-7, Acts 5:1-11, Lk 16:10-12
Ananias and Sapphira wanted to give some money, but they also wanted to hold back a little in secret. Much more dangerous for us is wanting to worship God a little, yet hold back some secret sins. 1 Cor 10:31, Col 3:23, and many other verses tell us to do everything for the Lord, holding nothing back.
(PN54)
"For the entire Law is fulfilled in in this one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."—Gal 5:14
Filtering by Category: Giving
Tithing
BQ: Under the old covenant, the Levitical priests were commanded to receive tithes from the people. (Heb 7:5) In Hebrews 7:11-18, we can see that the priesthood has been changed. So what's up with giving money today? Hint: it's not really a tithe anymore!
A: One thing that has always bugged me is giving money to...what? Enlarge a bank account? Is God somehow poor? Build a water park? Does God wish to go swimming? What about the spirits at stake?
In 1 Cor 16:1-3, we read, "Now concerning the collection for the saints... On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper... When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem." At this time, there were poor brothers and sisters in in Jerusalem who could use help. Here we see a good model for giving, and a great reason.
In the new covenant, no proportion of money is stipulated to be given. Instead, we are to give cheerfully as God has given to us, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7). However, we should give liberally and not be misers because, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (II Corinthians 9:6)
When we give, that money is God's, and it has been entrusted to use as the God's assembly to make it grow. There is no commandment to pass an offering plate (note: a box in a hallway accomplishes the same thing without, say, causing embarrassment to the poor, the widows, etc.), but we do need to give cheerfully. And if the money isn't being used well, we owe it to God to urge that such a situation be corrected.