New Testament Giving
Investing in God’s People!
(OE: to grace, give, confer, or to honor)
“…freely ye have received, freely give”
“Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not…” (Luke 12: 13-40; Matt.6:19-34; James 2:1-10, 14-20; Matt. 10:1-16; Luke 6:17-49; Phil. 1:3-19, 4:10-20; 3 John 1-13; I Cor. 16:1-18; I Tim.6:3-19; Rev. 3:14-22; James 4:1-12; I John 2:15-16; 2 Cor. 8:1-15; 9:1-15; Acts 2:41-47; 4:29-37; 6:1-7; Gal. 6:6-15; Matt. 25:14-46).
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now… It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me… for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance… I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me… it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need… they are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”. They who show hospitality participate in the ministries of those to whom hospitality is shown! Those who extend hospitality share in the deeds of those receiving it! This is genuinely a true partnership in the gospel that must be practiced between those ministries giving a spiritual service, with those receiving it. “Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support]” AMP. Those who give to missions, and to the itinerant work of traveling ministries, supporting the preaching of the gospel will have its own needs supplied. The word hospitality in the Old English means to be kind one to another expressing generous liberality. To partnership in the gospel suggests a joint-effort or co-participation. Relationships involving close cooperation having specified and joint rights and responsibilities.
“I beseech you, brethren, ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits <first converts> of Achaia, and that they have addicted <devoted> themselves to the ministry <service> of the saints; That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to everyone that helps with us, and labors” <I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it>. “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing… who has been robbed of the truth and who thinks that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain…people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction… some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, man of God flee all this… fight the good fight of faith… command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is uncertain, but to put their hope in God… command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” “As it is written: He who gathered much did not have to much, and he who gathered little did not have to little” “…because thou say, I am rich <blessed>, and increased with goods <prosperous>, and have need of nothing <I have acquired wealth or personal material abundance, and do not need a thing>; and know not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried <refined> in the fire that thou maybe rich <so you can truly become rich>… As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten <discipline>: be zealous <earnest> therefore, and repent <change your mind>”. True New Testament giving is an addiction or devotion to the ministry or service of the saints. The daily ministration or material distribution of the saints is neglected when the church develops an unhealthy devotion to material prosperity. The word ministration (in the Greek) suggests the giving of personal aid or material support one to another. To provide much needed relief to the saints! True New Testament giving is a ministry or spiritual service practiced within the household of faith which brings material relief to those brothers and sisters in Christ. The city of Laodicea became, in the time Paul, the wealthiest and most important commercial center in all the province of Phrygia, in Asia Minor. Like America today, affording the believers at Laodicea a wealthy and very prosperous living. But spiritual bankruptcy had become their true everyday spiritual condition despite all those material blessings! It is these same believers who end up turning the house of God into a marketplace or a house of merchandise! These are the same type of people, who in the book of the Prophecy of Malachi (3:14) complained that obedience to God’s law brought them no reward!
Upon a close examination of the sacred writings of the Apostle Paul, which pertains to New Testament Giving, coming out of the epistle or letter to the church at Corinth; we find a very lengthy discourse on the importance of giving and the particular principles and guide lines one should follow in this ministry to the saints (2 Corinthians chapters 8 thru 9). Our attitude in giving; under what specific circumstances or conditions are we to give; how giving is a corporate expression of His love; and so much more are mentioned in these two chapters. It is clear, from Paul’s discourse, that giving is first and foremost a service or ministry to someone else, and the benefit of this service to the saints is an increase of Christ within the life of the believer (…will increase the fruits of our righteousness), and as well make all grace abound toward the giver, that they may have all sufficiency in all things, that they may abound to every good work; or in other words be equipped with all the necessary tools to accomplish his/her assigned task in the earth. The multiplication of this service to the saints “and multiply your seed sown” (supplying the wants of the saints) will bring about an increase of a greater presence of Christ in the midst of the body of God’s people, and as well release a greater awareness of Him for Worship. This service of giving or ministry to the saints will release a GREATER PRESENCE of Christ, and a Spirit of Worship: enabling a greater work of God to take place: miracles, signs and wonders, and the salvation of sinners! This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else”. The church has had a wrong idea about given for a very, very long time now! The same rules for sowing and reaping apply! The application of kingdom principles for seedtime and harvest must still be put into operation; but our motivation behind all our giving must be transformed! Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things (the material things you have need of) will be added to you! The Kingdom of God governs over every action of man upon the earth; but it is His righteousness which oversees every motivation behind every action of man upon the earth! Many sow only an outward form of godliness, when they concern themselves only with: what they do, and not as well with: why they do it. Our inner-condition behind our outward application is sown in seedtime and will harvest in the same. Many receive an outward material result, but no inward increase of His righteousness! God is looking for worshippers, who will worship Him in spirit and truth: this truth that God is after must first be found within the inward-parts of the believer. This is why Paul said, there must first be a willing mind; and let a man give as he has purposed in his heart to give, without which true giving and true worship to God is impossible! Willing (in the Greek) means voluntary or self-chosen or of one’s own accord; the word purpose means to choose for oneself, which indicates the need for personal action. True worship is all about personal responsibility! To seek first means to choose and pursue the principal thing or the most important things! What we do and why we do it, is imperative for all true New Testament beliefs and practice.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal”. This presentation of the Kingdom of God, prepared for those to whom the gospel was preached, reveals the importance in sharing one’s own material supply. Notice the connection between money or material things with the soon coming Kingdom of God! You will notice, just prior to this teaching on the Kingdom prepared for the righteous: that the parable of the talents, matters concerning money and financial investments was mentioned in connection with those who would inherit this kingdom! In Matthew 25, in the 14th and 31st verses, we find no break in thought; Christ intended that this parable of the talents would act as a back drop or background and starting point for his teaching on the Kingdom of God. Many today have mistakenly misinterpreted and misapplied this divine connection between money and the kingdom of God. Kingdom giving and receiving: to invest in the Body of Christ, the People of God, and as well is an out-pouring of His abundant supply for the preaching of the gospel message of the soon coming King! “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” Matt.24:14. Mission efforts all over the Globe have suffered as a result of false teaching on giving and false motivation behind those who are called to serve within the church. True kingdom giving is design to protect the work and support the worker. God will minister both seed to those who sow; and bread for your food.