A Summary of my Recent Thoughts on Giving and 2 Corinthians 8-9

These are simply some thoughts that I organized and did further research on the last couple days. I have been seriously considering this topic for over two years now. If any of you have thoughts on aspects of this that I have missed, please give them. I am especially interested in arguments for tithing that I may have overlooked, since I cannot see any good reason why it is still so dogmatically practiced. I would have thought that if it has as little support as I see, it would have been destroyed by dispensationalism by now. Seeking to grow in Him...
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Thoughts on Giving, with particular attention paid to 2 Corinthians 8-9
Giving: this is a topic which has many facets which must be dealt with biblically and thoroughly; it is without doubt that we must give, but the details are often more difficult to discern. What are we to give? When are we to give? Does God require a particular percentage? Basically, what are the Biblical parameters for the Christian’s giving? In seeking answers to these questions, the Biblical passage that will be dealt with primarily is 2 Corinthians 8-9; this is because this passage is the most comprehensive passage on believers’ giving in the Scripture. Let’s look at seven statements that can be used to summarize the teaching of Paul in these chapters.

Giving is a grace (2 Cor. 8:1, 6, 7, 19; 9:14; Rom. 12:8). Paul makes it very evident that giving can only be done properly be the grace of God. The Macedonians had God’s grace given to them in order that they might give freely to the saints in Jerusalem. Paul then sent Titus to help the Corinthians have this grace completed in them as well. They had the prospered well in many of the other graces, but this one had not yet been completed in them. Thus, if we are to give properly, we must once more remember that it is “all of grace, and all of God.”
Another thought that is connected to this is that giving is a spiritual gift just as preaching, helping, and administering are.

Giving is to be voluntary (2 Cor. 8:3-4, 8, 24; 9:5; Phil. 4:15-16). All the New Testament passages that call for giving, particularly for giving to the church or the minister of God call for a voluntary offering of one’s resources to God. There is never a particular standard set (e.g. 10%) except that one give himself fully to God and give what he is able to give to meet the need at hand. Paul talks of the believer’s duty of giving, but he speaks of it as he speaks of the other Christian duties; it is one that we will fulfill more fully as we draw closer to God. This is closely related to the fact that giving is a grace.
The best argument that I have heard for a tithing system as opposed to the free-will, grace offering is that tithing was pre-Law and thus is universal. This argument however does not seem to be borne out in Scripture. John MacArthur points out that both sacrifices and the Sabbath were also pre-Law but were abolished for the Church. Further, he goes on to show that tithing was a tax based on the fact that Israel was a theocracy: God’s priests were His government officials; they were to be paid by the citizens of the land. While tithing is mentioned in the New Testament (Mt., Lk., and Heb.), it is never in relation to the church. Also, the two pre-Law instances of tithing, Abraham and Jacob, were both one-time events; and Abraham was not even tithing his own possessions. (For more study, read MacArthur’s 2 Corinthians; he has 50 pages on chapters 8 and 9 or his book Whose Money is it Anyways?)

Giving should begin with one’s self before one’s wallet (2 Cor. 8:5; I Sam. 15:22). Not only did the Macedonians give freely of their possessions, but they also surrendered themselves fully to God. This was not exactly what Paul had expected, but it was just what he wanted, for they submitted to God and His will and out of that gave their gift.

Giving is rewarded by God (2 Cor. 8:10; 9:10-11; Phil. 4:17; Lk. 6:38; Acts 20:35). This is the consistent teaching of Scripture. We cannot outgive God, for He will always take care to meet all our needs. He has supplied all that we have including the gift of salvation. But even more than that, He is able to make it so that “You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity.” This point does not need to be belabored for God has promised abundant provision for those who follow his example and give as He gave.

Giving is measured by ability (2 Cor. 8:3, 12; I Cor. 16:2; Acts 11:29; Lk. 21:1-4; Mk. 14:8). Interestingly enough, when one gives according to what he is able rather than a pre-set figure, it will almost inevitably come out to a higher quantity what tithe would. The widow with the two mites gave everything; the Macedonians gave beyond what they were able, and Mary gave almost an entire years wages simply pouring it out on the Master. This is in keeping with the fact that God requires faithfulness from the believer, not results; God brings the increase.

Giving is to be done joyfully (2 Cor. 9:7; Acts 2:45-6). Paul here goes to great lengths to show that we are not to give reluctantly or because we feel obligated to because God loves joyful giving. If we are giving because we will feel guilty if we don’t, have we given Biblically? I don’t think so, according to what this passage says. We must give joyfully.

Giving should meet a real need (Jam. 1:27; 2:15-6; 2 Cor. 8; Acts 2:44-5; 4:37; 9:36; 24:17; Rom. 12:13). This seems to be exceedingly self-evident, but since it came up so much in the study that I was doing, I figured it would be worth mentioning. There are many genuine needs in today’s world. Places to which the Bible speaks of giving include the poor who are not in the church (Lk. 12:33; 19:8; Jn. 13:29; Mt. 6:2-3), the widows and fatherless (Jam. 1:27), a needy believer (Jam. 2:15-16; 2 Cor. 8-9), or servants of Christ (Phil. 4:10-20; I Cor. 9:6-15; I Tim. 5:17-18)

In conclusion, I have come to believe that giving in this Church Age is based upon one’s ability to give. Giving is to be sacrificial and based on the sacrifice of our Lord. If giving is done with guilt or reluctance, it cannot truly be called Christian giving. Further, as we grow in our walk with the Lord, we will give more, for giving is a grace in which we must grow.
One final question for you to think on is this: Why did Paul motivate the Corinthians to give based on the giving of the believers in Macedonia rather than the need of the saints in Jerusalem? Is this not a matter of comparison; why does he not use the emotional appeal of the impoverished saints?

The Best Translation?!

There were four clergymen who were discussing the merits of the various translations of the Bible. One liked the King James Version because of its poetically beautiful English.
Another liked the American Revised Version best because it is more literal and came nearer to the original Hebrew and Greek.
Still another liked New International Version because of its up-to-date vocabulary.
The fourth minister was silent. when asked to express his opinion, he finally replied, "I like my mother's translation best."
The other three expressed surprise. They did not know that his mother had translated the Bible.
But he assured them, "She translated it into life, every day of her life, and it was the most convincing translation I ever saw."

Are we too busy? Thoughts from another...

A friend sent this to me; I thought it was worth posting so that we could all think about it.

Don't neglect the one necessary thing.

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address
he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep
them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even
keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once
they gain that connection with God, our power over them is broken. So
let them go to their churches, let them have their covered dish dinners,
but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a real
relationship with God."

"This is what I want you to do", said the Devil. "Distract them from
gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection
throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable
schemes to occupy their minds.

Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.

Trick them into believing that designer labels and trendy clothes,
upscale houses and luxury vehicles make the person valuable, and
important in all the "right" circles.

Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work
6-7 days each week, 10-12 hrs a day, so they can afford their empty
lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their
families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the
pressures of work.

Over stimulate their minds so that they can't hear that still, small
voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they
drive...to keep the TV, VCR, CD's and their PC's going constantly in
their home, and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world
plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and
break that union with God.

Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds
with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with
billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,
sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional, offering free
products, services and false hopes.

Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands
will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become
dissatisfied with their wives. Keep the wives too tired to love their
husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their
husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That
will fragment their families quickly!!

Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the
real meaning of Christmas.

Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and
power over sin and death.

Even in their recreation, let them be excessive...have them return from
their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and
reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting
events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.

Keep them busy...busy....busy!!! And when they meet for spiritual
fellowship, they will leave with troubled consciences.

Crowd their lives with so many good causes that they have no time to
seek power from God. Soon they will be working in their own strength,
sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!! It will work!!"

It was quite a plan. The demons went eagerly to their assignments
causing people everywhere to have little time for God or their families,
and to have little or no time to tell others about the power of God to
change lives. I guess the question is, has the Devil been successful
at his scheme? You be the judge!!!

The Ministry of Reconciliation

   In his sermon, "The Ministry of Reconciliation", Charles Spurgeon did a wonderful job of expositing the text of 2 Corinthians 5:18. Throughout the sermon, he calls the unconverted to Christ and calls the believers to a ministry of reconciling those who have not yet received the Savior. Without stretching the text, he makes most appropriate application to all concerned. I particularly appreciated this paragraph in which he deals with the objections of those who are lingering:

"Oh, but!" says another, "this is my difficulty. I am afraid God would not receive me, even if I were to come to him." Just give me your hand, brother; let me have a grip of it. Now, if I were to assure you that I would receive you into my house, would you believe me? I believe you would. Well, you may doubt me if you like, but you must not doubt my God, or doubt the bleeding Lamb; and he has said, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." He could not put it stronger than that. For no reason, and in no way, will he cast out any soul that comes to him, so he will not cast you out. But I hear another say, "I have tried and failed." What have you tried? Have you accepted Christ as the propitiation for your sin Have you trusted yourself with Christ? Do you say, "Yes"? Then, you are a saved man; God declares that you are. "But I have prayed," say you. Yes, but that is not the way of salvation. God forbid that I should say a word against prayer! I would say a thousand words for it; it is a blessed exercise; but the dead cannot pray, nor can you till you are made alive. The first thing that you have to do is to trust Jesus Christ; and that is the only thing which the gospel demands of you as the grand condition of reconciliation with God. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Jesus Christ whom he hath sent."

   This emphasis on the FAITH which saves is a vital emphasis for us to always keep in mind; the person who prayed was making a verbal confession of what was already true in his heart. If there was no faith in his heart, then it would not make one bit of difference what he prayed. May we never confuse the Gospel with our understanding of it!

Let's see

This is an attempt to create my own site. We shall see whether it works or not. I shall have to think of many deep things to say on it. And you, my dear reader and co-authors, must think of other deep ponderin's to say.