Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “God loves a cheerful giver.” -2Corinthians 9:7. Giving is an important principle of the Universal Church. The greatest display of this principle is encapsulated in John 3:16. The apostles followed this pattern set by our Lord.
The Early Church
“No one claimed that any of his possessions were his own, but they shared everything that they had.”- Acts 4:32. We read in the same passage that all the needs of the early Church were met. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, was such a shining example of giving that the apostles called him Barnabas (Son of Encouragement).
The exact opposite is seen in Acts 5. Ananias and Saphira kept a portion of the proceeds of their property sale. They paid a dear price for their folly. The young man who came to Jesus wanted to know how to attain eternal life. He had kept all the commandments. Jesus knowing what he lacked, asked him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The man went away sad as he had great wealth.
Paul’s Teachings on Giving
On his way to Jerusalem, Paul addressed the elders of the Ephesian Church. He sets his life as an example for them – Acts 20: 33-35. The last message he gives them is, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
2 Corinthians 9:6,7 is a short checklist on how giving must be. It must be cheerful, generous, from the heart, spontaneous, and not as a compulsion.
In Romans 15: 26 and 27, Paul mentions the generosity of the churches in Macedonia and Achaia. Twice he writes that they were pleased to do it. Were they rich? In 2 Corinthians 8: 1-13, Paul encourages them to excel in the grace of giving. A year before Paul wrote these words of encouragement, the Corinthians were willing givers. However, the Macedonians excelled in this as they had given during the most severe trials and extreme poverty. Welled up in rich generosity, they had given far beyond their ability with overflowing joy.
Giving as an Act of Worship
Principle of giving to God. Tithe was not just a law. It was an important part of the Jewish worship system. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.”- Malachi 3:10. Additionally, it was an act of honoring God. “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.”- Proverbs 3:9. For Jesus, the two small copper coins offered by the poor widow were more valuable than the large sums offered by the rich.
Principle of giving to others. Matthew 6:1-4 underlines the principle of giving to the needy. It should never be a show of self-righteousness. It must be a secret known only to our Heavenly Father.
Conclusion
Just like the poor widow, a Christian is supposed to rise above the concept of tithes. Christians are urged to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to the Lord. This is our spiritual act of worship. That is what the apostles did. That is expected of us.
