Title Page. Lesson One Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the L ORD thy God which he hath given thee

Title Page

Lesson One

Deuteronomy 16:17

Deuteronomy 16:17Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

Matthew 5:42

Matthew 5:42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Mark 12:41-43

Mark 12:41-4341 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Mark 12:44

Mark 12:4444 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Focus Verse

Luke 6:38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good

measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your

bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Focus Thought

Sacrificial giving is not measured by the amount of the gift but by what one has left. The balance provides a means of

measuring the sacrifice.

IntroductionIntroduction

Money was a precious item in Israel. Trade among the common people of that day was mostly a simple exchange of goods and services. Money—paper or coin—served as a medium of exchange. To have a coin or two remaining at the end of the day was something special, which meant a person had “extra,” or had made a profit. An accumulation of money was primarily reserved for major purchases and not intended as a savings. The survival mentality of a hand-to-mouth existence offered rare opportunity to have currency in excess. That is why a vial of ointment or a box of perfume was an investment rather than a luxury.

IntroductionIn his book The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn wrote: “Throughout the entire Bible there are roughly 2,350 verses concerning money. This is roughly twice as many as faith and prayer combined. Fifteen percent of everything Jesus said related to money and possessions. He spoke about money and possessions more than heaven and hell combined. The only subject Jesus spoke of more often is the kingdom of God.”

IntroductionIn his book Generous People, Eugene Grimm wrote: “Money was just as important in Jesus’ day. If we were to strike the comments of Jesus about money, we would reduce His teachings by more than one-third. Sixteen of Jesus’ approximately thirty-eight parables dealt with money. One of every seven verses in the first three Gospels in some way deals with money. In fact, Jesus spoke about money more than about any other single subject, except the kingdom of God itself. Perhaps this was because Jesus understood how money itself can become a god.”

I. The Command to Give (A-C)

The Command to Give

A. MosesThe law of Moses required every man in Israel to journey to the Temple to appear before the Lord. Those who lived far away had the hassle of planning an absence, arranging transportation (primarily walking), finding a place to stay, and having to wonder about meals. If a person lived near the Temple, the unwritten code was for him to extend hospitality to the inconvenienced traveling worshiper.


The spiritual equity of living near to or far from the Temple and the added costs to fulfill the law of the Lord through sacrificial giving was approached with a degree of excited anticipation. The added costs of worship were expected and shared with mutual generosity and resulted in greater brotherhood, unity, and rejoicing. These were usually times of feasting, and most people considered it good, especially for the Jewish community.


Not only was their travel expensive, but the law also required them to bring a gift with them to the Temple. The Old Testament declared, “They shall not appear before the LORD empty” (Deuteronomy 16:16). (See also Exodus 34:20.) Those who were able often exchanged their sacrifice for money before the trip and converted the money back to animals for sacrifice near the Temple after completing their journey.


This ensured that the journey did not injure or diminish their sacrifice, but it also provided an amazing temptation to those selling sacrifices to make a handsome profit. The only record of Jesus’ expressing anger was a result of this particular practice within the courts of the Temple. (See Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46; John 2:13-17.) Certainly, one person should not profit from another person’s attempt to fulfill God’s law or worship to the best of his ability.


B. JesusGod forbade taking usury from fellow believers—profiting from another person’s misfortune. He did, however, allow one to collect usury from strangers (those not of the household of faith). (See Deuteronomy 23:19-20.) However, the spirit of the law, which Jesus reflected in His teachings, involved not taking advantage of others in need, regardless of whether or not they were fellow believers. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:42 imply a “sense of unreasonable asking” (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown).


Without equivocating or justifying, believers should be ready to share with others in need in whatever way they are able. When helping others through a temporary loan, the borrowing is not to involve interest but should be a free loan. There is biblical precedent and provision for a person lending to someone in need. (See Psalm 112:5.)


Jesus did not carry the bag that held the disciples’ meager resources, nor did He do the contracting for needed rooms or provisions. However, He did receive what was available and fed crowds of four and five thousand, and He even encouraged Peter to go fishing so they could pay their taxes. He also sat by the treasury and watched what others gave. At Simon’s house, He thoroughly understood the costly devotion of the alabaster box that Mary lavished on Him.


Furthermore, He requested the rich young ruler to sell all that he had and give it to the poor. Certainly, Jesus’ teaching on money appears to convey that He intends for us not to worry about the provision of our future needs: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” (Matthew 6:34).


C. Paul

Paul commended the Philippian church for considering his “afflictions,” or “pressures” (Strong’s Concordance). (See Philippians 4:14.) Whether financial, political, or medical pressures, Paul’s needs evidently required money, which the Philippian church sent to him through Epaphroditus.


He recognized their giving as the fruit of a spiritual people who responded to his needs (“necessity,” Philippians 4:16). He called the offerings a “sweet smelling” sacrifice, which was acceptable to God. (See Philippians 4:18.) Giving should be a natural product of a godly people who share, donate, and contribute any way possible for the glory of God. This places a special responsibility on church leaders to administer sacrifices and offerings thoughtfully and carefully as the property of God.

II. The Spirit of Giving (A)The Spirit of Giving

A. Consistently

Just as we expect the Spirit of God to grace every gathering and bless our worship, the Scriptures indicate that giving also should be a part of our worship and that God will bless our giving. The early church record exemplified such a spirit with a communal approach to all their worldly possessions. They sold everything and brought the proceeds to the apostles, having “all things in common” (Acts 4:32).

II. The Spirit of Giving (A)Historically, this proved to be an unwise action, and although it was misguided, it revealed a spiritual attitude and the mentality of a dedicated people—those who were more interested in belonging to the church than they were in having meaningless possessions. Theirs was a consistent surrender to the welfare of others, the needs of the church body, and the evangelism of their world. Their selfless attitude was nearly a mirror of the operations that Jesus displayed with His disciples. Moreover, their spirit of selflessness, complete surrender, and faithfulness resulted in dynamic spiritual power within the early church.

II. The Spirit of Giving (A)The Old Testament also taught and demonstrated consistent and selfless giving. With the need to build the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, the requests for precious metals and jewels went out to people living in tents and subsisting on bread from heaven. Just as consistent as God was with giving them daily manna, the people consistently gave of their substance.

Exodus 36:3“And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel

had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning”

(Exodus 36:3).

II. The Spirit of Giving (B)B. Willingly

Along with consistent giving, both testaments of Scripture also clearly exhibit the quality of willingness on the part of those who give.

Exodus 35:29“The children of Israel brought a

willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner

of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand

of Moses” (Exodus 35:29).

II. The Spirit of Giving (B)Giving with a willing heart is a biblical precept that transcends the testaments and prepares a person’s heart for repentance. This willing consistency was so overwhelming that Moses had to stop people from bringing offerings! (See Exodus 36:6-7.) Contrary to existing ideas of economics that state there is no such thing as “enough,” the Tabernacle project forced Moses to declare that there was too much. This selfless giving was not a result of cajolery or shaming or begging. It was spontaneous, joyful, and willing.

II. The Spirit of Giving (B)God’s laws of economics tell us that there always is enough. In fact, there is more than we can perceive, believe, or receive. God has riches, treasures, and blessings untold that we have never tapped or appropriated. The fullness of the earth is His! The secular world sometimes cries out with fear of a scarcity of resources, whether it is water, air, or gold. In the spiritual realm, however, God always provides, prospers, and prevails over every needful situation.

II. The Spirit of Giving (B)Our giving should come from the heart and should be offered willingly to God and not to gain the approval of others. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira experienced dire consequences when they sold a possession and gave only a portion of the amount, but pretended to give it all. The extreme consequences did not come as a result of quantities or amounts of the giving, but as a result of their intent to deceive.

II. The Spirit of Giving (B)God’s favor and promises are not gained by the amount we give. It did not work for Simon the sorcerer, whom the apostle Peter strongly rebuked: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” (Acts 8:20). When we seek to buy influence with our money or seek security by withholding our money, we make an egregious error.

II. The Spirit of Giving (C)C. Sacrificially

Sacrificial giving is altruistic. It supersedes the amount given, the regularity of giving, and the joy of the giving. Sacrificial giving may not always necessitate a person’s giving everything he has, but it always stretches him to the point of deprivation. Total commitment and ultimate surrender devoid of any reserve resources is the zenith of sacrifice. It is similar to a person crawling upon the altar and dying, with the fire of the altar reducing him to ashes and smoke. Such giving is the height of sacrifice, commitment, and surrender.

II. The Spirit of Giving (C)

The best human example of sacrificial giving was Jesus Christ on the cross. He gave everything! His observation of the widow and her two mites provided the best example of monetary sacrifice. Jesus said she gave “all her living” (Mark 12:44). She gave not out of her abundance, or even out of her living, but she gave “all her living.” The two mites that she gave represented her next meal, the next bill payment, the means for providing for her next need. Jesus made it appear that she had virtually nothing left but the clothes on her back. She provided a supreme illustration of sacrificial giving, ultimate trust in God’s promises, and complete commitment to His provisions.

II. The Spirit of Giving (C)When the people of Israel finally learned that God could give them water in the desert, quail in the wilderness, and manna in the morning, they could begin to relax and believe that God would let them have a land of their own. The uptight, overly tense nature of fund-raising projects, building programs, and world missions needs could turn a person into a nervous individual with little faith in God unless he continually remembers that he serves God, and God’s resources are plentiful.

II. The Spirit of Giving (C)By faith we can view our spiritual giants like grasshoppers instead of viewing ourselves like grasshoppers facing giants. (See Numbers 13:33.) The Scriptures reveal that God desires to open the very “windows of heaven” to pour out a blessing upon His people beyond their capacity to receive. Moreover, He may open heaven’s windows in spite of our doubts, but it always will require our willingness and readiness to give. (See II Kings 7:2, 19; Malachi 3:10.)

III. The Effects of Giving (A-C)

The Effects of Giving

A. Provides for the PoorThe story of the rich young ruler epitomizes the problems that some individuals experience with material possessions. He seemed to have a perfect life, a perfect record, and perfect financial security. He had many of the things for which people of the world strive, and he also had an unspotted, unblemished, and unsoiled record of obedience to the law with an exemplary measure of righteousness.


What he did not have, however, was compassion and charity. He lacked generosity and the willingness to bless others. When Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, He was underscoring the importance of having a “giving” spirit and attitude. This rich young ruler was consistent in his management, but he lacked willingness and a sacrificial spirit. He had never learned the power of loving others with all his heart and sharing his resources in order to evangelize the world. It would be safe to say that his possessions owned him, and he refused to extricate himself from their clutches. He was content with the sadness of having without ever knowing the joy of giving.


It was devoid of meaningful human goodness and rich human contact that edifies the soul and fattens the spirit. With all his proclaimed scriptural studies, one wonders how he missed the insightful proverb that declares, “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse” (Proverbs 28:27). It is easy to understand why he went away sad.


In his distress, Job tried to understand the purpose of his dilemma by reviewing his righteous life and deeds. (See Job 31.) His compassion was true and his giving was plenteous, but the trial that Job had to endure showed that being rich did not hamper his charity. Job was able to come to that understanding in the end, but the immediate pain of his losses caused him to review the thoughts and intents of his heart.


Wealth and blessings did not motivate his service and devotion to God. He loved God and had his heart anchored in that fact alone (Job 13:15). Whether riches were present or absent, he was steadfast in his commitment to God.


B. Supports the MinistryThe administering of social services by bureaucrats or hirelings fails to produce joy in the recipients. The legalistic and bureaucratic procedures and policies that enfold needy souls in a heartless travesty of requirements and responsibilities tend to breed discontentment and hard feelings. On the other hand, God’s way to help the poor always included building and fostering a genuine relationship.


God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses and all the patriarchs underscore the marvelous and miraculous results that can occur when people are in direct contact and contract with God. The provision that God allowed in the Mosaic law for the supply of His house included systematic tithing.


The principle of tithing is that one-tenth of all material increase belongs to the Lord. Moreover, this was before and above the sacrifices and offerings of all the other feasts and worship activities that an Israelite exercised. By this system the house of God was maintained and the priesthood was sustained.


When people do not contract with God by paying their tithes, they tend to view themselves as social patrons dealing with governmental bureaucrats. Actually, the pastor is only administering God’s plan for the upkeep and furtherance of the church. Pastors are a gift from God for the blessing and benefit of the church. The church’s scriptural and sacrificial giving supports, maintains, and blesses the ministry, which also blesses the church in general.


The relationship between a believer and his pastor is manifested in the characteristics of the believer’s giving. Likewise, the productivity and fruitfulness of a church is manifested in the characteristics of the giving by the collective body of believers. When the giving is biblically correct and personally generous, the ministry of the church will be positive, the preaching will be uplifting, and the worship will be powerful. A church that can master the fine art of giving consistently, willingly, and sacrificially will excel and prosper.


C. Spreads the GospelJesus and His disciples turned the world upside down without a marketing strategy, an advertising campaign, or multimedia experience. The good news of Jesus Christ spread dramatically primarily by word of mouth. The gospel marched continually forward in the face of the needs of the masses and the political agendas of brutal oppressors.


However, in addition to spreading the gospel by word of mouth, the early church also felt the need to collect offerings for struggling churches and for missionaries in order to enhance the spread of the gospel. For example, the Philippians relieved the financial pressures of Paul’s missionary journeys and thereby helped him to reach the world with the gospel.


Tithes and offerings fund the work of the local church and foreign and home missionaries. Furthermore, they provide assistance for the needs of national works and native workers, and they sustain foreign evangelism projects such as new buildings or new printing equipment. Every dollar given to the cause of supporting missionary endeavors assists in many great, collective efforts of the church and sends the gospel to many more souls. We cannot put a price on a soul, for what have we profited if we gain the whole world and lose our own soul (Matthew 16:26)?


If we have a heart for the work of God, we will give generously to further the cause of the church globally. Jesus exhorted His disciples about the intimate, personal connection between the heart and their treasures, which surely would have included their giving: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

IV. The Rewards of Giving (A-C)

The Rewards of Giving

A. The Church Is BlessedWhen harvest comes and souls are added to the church, two things are occurring:

(1)people are praying and

(2)people are giving.

IV. The Rewards of Giving (A-C)As the church grows and income increases, the

church intensifies its outreach and its sphere of blessings. In his book The Lord’s Portion, Roy L. Moss wrote: “It is not always possible to see a direct connection between cause and effect. Often laws are at work which the human eye cannot detect in their actual operation.” He then described a formula from the laws of aerodynamics that defines the lift on the wings of an airplane.

IV. The Rewards of Giving (A-C)The airplane rises and the land falls beneath it, but

the actual letters and figures of the formula do not go streaming over the wings of the airplane for our edification. The power of the church and its area of influence grow exponentially when people follow God’s laws of giving. Although we may never see the formula for such a phenomenon, we have witnessed the glorious growth and beautiful unity that such generous and sacrificial giving yields.


B. The Giver Is BlessedIt is true that when people give, they also receive. We cannot outgive God, nor can we understand His marvelous compounding principles or the dynamic returns that He bestows upon us for our giving. However, that is not why we give; we know that when our giving is from a heart of love and rejoicing, God somehow is able to give it back, heaped up and running over. (See Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38.)


Our material blessings far exceed our fiscal giving to the church. God can make more out of 90 percent of an income than we could ever dream to achieve with 100 percent of that income. The relationship of trust in God grows with each joyful offering, enabling us to prosper, to live better, and to achieve and succeed more than we ever had thought possible. Luke recorded Jesus’ statement of an indisputable law that allows a comparison between giving and receiving, where the returns are multiplied quantities of the giving. (See Luke 6:38.)


Jesus echoed this principle in the Lord’s Prayer: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). A negative ramification of the principle communicated in Matthew 6:12 appears in one of Jesus’ parables. The servant who was forgiven a debt of ten thousand talents but would not forgive his fellow servant’s debt of one hundred pence found himself delivered to “the tormentors.” (See Matthew 18:23-35.) It is eternally wiser to forgive than it is to begrudge a debt.


The writer of the Book of Hebrews conveyed a simple and straightforward principle: “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better” (Hebrews 7:7). The dynamics in Hebrews 7 reveal that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek and then Melchizedek blessed Abraham. The one paying the tithes was not the one who was blessing, for he was simply being obedient. The one receiving the tithes was able to bless the obedient giver, Abraham.


C. The Receiver Is Blessed

Just as they that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled (Matthew 5:6), so shall those who give righteously with love be blessed beyond measure. In his book Money and the Church, Luther P. Powell wrote: “If giving is to avoid both the legalism of calculated percentages and the contractual concept of the steward and his employer, it must be lifted to its rightful place in the total evangelistic task of the church.


All disciplines that deal with percentages will fail to provide joy and satisfaction in giving, unless the giver sees his role in carrying out the commission of our Lord. This commission is very clear, whether it be read from Matthew, Mark, or Luke or whether it be expressed by Paul. It is ‘Go . . . preach . . . baptize . . . teach.’”


Giving becomes evangelism when the church, the pastor, and each believer are reaching out. Evangelism is the heartbeat and the mission of the church; and if outreach is evident, giving becomes easy. Motives are always subject to speculation when they come from someone else, but the individual knows what motivates him.


Giving for self-profit and self-benefit is both suspect and dangerous. Giving for the cause of a soul, the needs of others, and the glory of God takes away that kind of personal incentive. Paraphrasing the words of Job 13:15, one could say, “Though He breaks my bank account, yet will I give to Him.” That would be an ultimate test of trust.

ReflectionsWe know well that the cause of most church trouble, family conflicts, and marital strife is over the issue of finances. This sad commentary on today’s society only underscores its preoccupation with getting and having. On the other hand, God is looking for givers. The difference between givers and takers is in trust.

ReflectionsTakers do not trust anyone to love them, and givers love everyone. This disheartening lack of trust among people who should love each other—church, family, or marriage partner—undermines relationships and produces a greedy selfishness that corrupts the soul. Love cannot live where distrust abides.

ReflectionsAs we give with a joyful heart, our relationship of trusting God is strengthened, and we will be blessed beyond measure. Giving to further the cause of evangelism, to meet the needs of others, and to support the ministry is not only our biblical responsibility but our privilege. Contentment, joy, and success will abound when the sound principles of biblical giving guide our lives.

Documents

Title Page. Lesson One Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the L ORD thy God which he hath given thee