Christian Living Articles
Giving - why? How much
John R. Cionca
This article first appeared in Decision, January 1996
As a professor, I routinely push my students to go beyond the classroom
and the textbooks for their understanding of people and ministry. Typically I
require them to conduct cluster interviews to gain insight on what folks are
thinking and feeling.
The two areas of concern most often expressed deal with relationships and
finances. Money matters include job insecurity, low salaries, debt, tuition,
medical expenses and worries about retirement. The majority of the people
say that their expenses routinely stretch or outpace their income. So a
question arises: "Why would anyone voluntarily give away any of this
important commodity?"
Stewardship Presuppositions
As we mature, we realize that things do not last forever. Even wealthy
people go to the grave empty-handed. When we consider the complexities of
the microscopic world and the vastness of the universe, we are humbled by
our smallness. Personal meaning and daily decisions make sense only when
we see ourselves within a bigger picture.
Christians are stewards, not owners. The parable of talents reminds us
that the amounts of our material goods can vary greatly.1 Nevertheless, amid
our accruing, spending and investing, we need to remember that we are
managers, not owners: "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the
world, and all who live in it."2
God grants people the ability to produce wealth. Many people think that
they have the right to spend their money as they please because they "earned
it." But a correct view of humanity reminds us that our very makeup was
designed by God: "Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you
the ability to produce wealth."3
Giving is both a command and a privilege. These two words taken
together give us a balanced perspective on stewardship. Giving is not
optional. God made this clear when he rebuked his people by asking: "Will a
man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes
and offerings . . .. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse."4 But as is
always the case for children who obey their Father, obedience results in
blessing. The Lord went on to say, "See if I will not throw open the floodgates
of heaven and pour our so much blessing that you will not have room enough
for it."5
Generosity praises and pleases God. The author of the Epistle to the
Hebrews wrote, "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with
such sacrifices God is pleased."6 People who have experienced Gods' love and
forgiveness cannot help but give to God and others in return.
Generosity demonstrates love for others. The Apostle John asked, "If
anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity
on him, how can the love of God be in him?"7 Sometimes the needs of so many
people leave us almost numb. Yet while we may not be able to help everyone,
we can assist some. We are, in fact, our "brother's keeper."8
Generosity blesses the giver. While it is true that personal blessing is a byproduct
of obedience, God is not duped by manipulative, selfish ambition. But
for the person motivated by sincerity, the promise remains: "Whoever sows
generously will also reap generously."9
Stewardship Planning
The Bible reveals that believers hold several simultaneous obligations:
The Lord's work. The size and the nature of the task of proclaiming the
Gospel requires that some people be released full time for the work of the
ministry: "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of
double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching . . . 'The
worker deserves his wages.'"10
Government. Regardless of how we feel about the choices that our
governments make with our taxes, citizens of heaven are expected to uphold
their earthly responsibilities: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God
what is God's."11
Family. God expects believers to care for the needs of family members: "If
anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate
family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."12
Needy Christians. Some of the earliest collections received by the Early
Church were to help fellow believers in dire need. Likewise, we too are
expected to care for one another within "the household of faith."13
The poor. Believers are also responsible to help the disadvantaged,
regardless of their relationship to God. Generosity in the name of Jesus
Christ is generosity to Christ.14
Creditors. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Let no debt remain outstanding,
except the continuing debt to love."15 Later he reminded believers: "You were
bought at a price; do not become slaves of men."16 Because it is clear that "the
borrower is servant to the lender,"17 giving to retire debt is strategically wise.
A larger net spendable income will be the result, with even greater
possibilities for generosity.
Future needs. Saving part of our income is not only wise planning for
ourselves, but it also can help others even in our absence: "A good man leaves
an inheritance for his children's children."18 And Christian organizations can
benefit at our death through deferred giving.
Stewardship Practices
How much should a believer give to ministry? Some would answer this
question quickly by affirming the Old Testament practice of tithing. Israel,
however, practiced both required giving and freewill giving. And within the
required giving, three tithes are specified: the Lord's tithe; the festival tithe;
and the poor tithe, which was collected every third year for the needy. Israel's
practice of tithing (not even counting freewill offerings) totaled between 20
and 25 percent per year.
The New Testament challenges us to a higher, more personal practice of
stewardship. So while many Christians still use as their basic strategy the
concept of 10 percent, others look to guidelines in the New Testament to
determine, "How should I give my money?"
Give quietly. Jesus denounced arrogant giving, gifts that draw attention to
the giver. Instead, he said, "When you give to the needy, do not let you left
hand know what you right hand is doing, so that you giving may be in
secret."19
Give habitually. Paul's correspondence to the Corinthians reveals some
practices that encourage healthy giving. He wrote "On the first day of every
week each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his
income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be
made."20
Some people receive weekly paychecks, while some are paid monthly.
Others wait for the commission on a sale, the settlement of a legal case, the
completion of a business transaction, or the reaping of their annual harvest.
The wisdom behind "every week" is its consistency and regularity. As often as
we receive, we can also give.
Give proportionately. In the same context Paul wrote that our giving
should be "in keeping with our income."21 Paul recognized that people have
different stewardship capabilities. By suggesting that their contributions be
proportionate to their salary, Paul encouraged even the poorest to give, and
the wealthiest to go beyond tokenism.
Give realistically. I am angered by appeals for money that manipulate
people through guilt, play on their emotions or ask people to do unbiblical
things.
Even Paul, who emphasized generosity, still held realistic expectations: "If
the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not
according to what he does not have."22
Give intentionally. Again the Apostle wrote, "Each [one] should give what
he has decided in his heart."23 Sound stewardship means that a prayerfully
weighed decision must precede the writing of any check.
Give willingly. Paul mentioned that we should not give "reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."23 Whatever the size of our
gift, or the proportion of our giving, it must be energized and accompanied by
and eager, cheerful, joyful enthusiasm.
Give sacrificially. Needs always seem to outpace resources. While not
placing a guilt trip on the Church, Paul still pressed for generosity. No doubt
he was aware of our Lord Jesus' commendation of the widow's sacrificial
gift.24 In like manner Paul affirmed the Macedonian churches who "gave as
much as they were able, and even beyond their ability."25 He challenged
God's people to stretch themselves in charity.
Stewardship and Treasures
A pastor once asked a missionary: "Bill, what can we do for you as you go
back to the field?"
The pastor was startled when he heard the response: "First, give me your
money. I'll take change; I'll take bills; I'll take checks. I'll meet you after the
service to receive you gifts. Second, send me you children to work on shortterm
assignments. Third, keep me in you prayers—no, actually I don't' need
to ask for you prayers. For Jesus said, 'Where you treasure is, there you heart
will be also.'26 So if I have your money and your children, I know that I will
have your prayers." Wise missionary!
Even asking the question, "How much money should I give?" misses the point. As Christians, we have been forgiven such a great debt. We serve God who is the true owner of everything. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. We are recipients of "every good and perfect gift."27 We have been adopted as God's beloved children. With hearts full of gratitude, let us work at becoming the most astute financial planners, so that we may abound in generosity.
1 Matthew 25:14-30.
2 Psalm 24:1, NIV.
3 Deuteronomy 8:18, NIV.
4 Malachi 3:8,10, NIV.
5 Malachi 3:10, NIV.
6 Hebrews 13:16, NIV.
7 1 John 3:17, NIV.
8 Genesis 4:9, NIV.
9 2 Corinthians 9:6, NIV.
10 1 Timothy 5:17-18, NIV.
11 Mark 12:17, NIV.
12 1 Timothy 5:8, NIV.
13 Galatians 6:10, KJV.
14 Matthew 25:31-46.
15 Romans 13:8, NIV.
16 1 Corinthians 7:23, NIV.
17 Proverbs 22:7, NIV.
18 Proverbs 13:22, NIV.
19 Matthew 6:3-4, NIV.
20 1 Corinthians 16:2, NIV.
21 Cf. 2 Corinthians 8:12.
22 2 Corinthians 8:12, NIV.
23 2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV.
24 Mark 12:41-44.
25 2 Corinthians 8:3, NIV.
26 Luke 12:34, NIV.
27 James 1:17, NIV.
Bible verses marked NIV are taken by permission from The Holy Bible, New International Version,
copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"This article was taken from DECISION magazine, September, 1996; © 1996 Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association, used by permission, all rights reserved."