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October 1, 2006, Vol.5, No.19.
Proper Attitudes for Proper Giving Keith Sharp On the apostle Paul’s third journey of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, he, along with his travel companions, urged Gentile congregations to send a contribution to the poor Christians in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:10; Romans 15:25-28; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians chapters 8 - 9; Acts 24:17). In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, the inspired apostle issued a command directing how the money was to be raised, by a first day of the week collection by each local church from its own members. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 are far different in tone and specific subject. Rather than issuing a command, Paul appealed to their love (2 Corinthians 8:8). These two chapters reveal the attitudes we should have in contributing to the Lord’s work. What attitudes should guide our contribution to the church? Improper Attitudes The inspired writer warns against three attitudes that lead to giving "sparingly" (2 Corinthians 9:5-7). Paul did not want the Corinthian brethren to give "as a grudging obligation" (2 Corinthians 9:5). The phrase "grudging obligation" translates one Greek word usually rendered "covetousness." "Covetousness" is "the greedy desire to have more" (Thayer. 516). A greedy man is loathe to part with money. If he is persuaded to give, he will do so grudgingly. I mentioned in a previous article the treasurer of the little church where I preached years ago. Though he was one of the wealthiest men in the congregation, he gave a dollar a week and expected the church to budget accordingly. Being covetous, he gave "as a grudging obligation." We should not give "grudgingly" (2 Corinthians 9:7). The term "grudgingly" is from a Greek phrase meaning literally "out of sorrow" (Vine. 2:182). It applies to one who contributes "with a sour, reluctant mind" (Thayer. 383). Wives, would you be impressed if your husband reluctantly bought you an anniversary present and only because he didn’t want you to be angry? Do you think the Lord is favorably impressed if we give to Him in this way? Our contribution to the Lord’s work should not be "of necessity," i.e., "compelled" (Thayer. 36). I send a check to the IRS at the proper time because I am compelled to do so. I have no desire to send it. I’m afraid of the consequences, temporal and eternal, if I don’t. I send as little as legally allowed. We shouldn’t give just as a matter of obligation in order to avoid hell. Proper Attitudes On the other hand, proper attitudes will cause us to give "bountifully" (2 Corinthians 9:6). "Bountifully" is the translation of a phrase meaning literally "on blessings" (Berry. 482). The idea is generous giving in order to receive generous blessings. Earlier, the apostle commended the Macedonian brethren that their giving "abounded in the riches of their liberality" (2 Corinthians 8:1-2). The term rendered "liberality" literally means "singleness" (Thayer. 57) and is translated "sincerity" in the New King James Version in Ephesians 6:5 and Colossians 3:22, "simplicity" in 2 Corinthians 1:12 and 11:3, "liberality" in Romans 12:8, "bountifully" in 2 Corinthians 9:11, and "liberal" in 2 Corinthians 9:13. As Paul uses it here, it means "openness of heart manifesting itself by benefactions, liberality" (Ibid). If our hearts are right, our giving will richly abound in sincere generosity. Seven attitudes cause such giving. The brethren in Macedonia were "in a great trial of affliction" and "deep poverty," yet "abounded in the riches of their liberality" (2 Corinthians 8:2). What led poor, persecuted disciples to contribute so abundantly? "The abundance of their joy" (Ibid). They realized that the very opportunity to donate to the Lord’s work was a manifestation of divine grace (2 Corinthians 8:1; cf. 8:6,7,9; 9:8,14). The material wealth we have, much or little, is a gift from God (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; 5:19). The Lord gives us these possessions for us to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17), but the greater joy comes from being able to share them with others (Acts 20:35). My grandchildren enjoy presents we give them, but my knowledge of their pleasure gives me greater joy than theirs. A young couple, new Christians, living below the poverty level with two small children, were greatly pleased when they learned they could help support a preacher of the gospel in Africa. Later they began sending on their own to a Filipino preacher. The apostle did not have to beg or threaten the Macedonian brethren to give. They begged him to take the money! For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints (2 Corinthians 8:3-4). They gave from a "freely willing" mind. This was truly a "free will"offering. No one sent them a bill. No one told them how much they had to give. They gave because they wanted to give. To obtain material for the tabernacle, Moses called upon Israel, "Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord" (Exodus 35:4-9). They gave so willingly, Moses had to halt the collection. "And the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done - indeed too much" (Exodus 36:4-7). I appreciate a member of the congregation who, when a legitimate need is brought to our attention, simply asks, "How much can we send?" Their giving was prompted by a prior gift. "They first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God." (2 Corinthians 8:5). If we first give ourselves to the Lord, all gifts of money, time, and ability will follow. And, for any contribution to the Lord to avail, we must first give Him ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2). Daddy Sprott, my grandfather, was a desperately poor, Southwest Texas rancher raising eight children during the depression. One Sunday he was very downcast because he had no money to contribute to pay the preacher for driving out 90 miles from San Antonio to preach. On the way to worship he found a five dollar bill, a large sum of money to him. With joy he put the bill in the collection plate, convinced God had providentially made it possible for him to help pay the preacher’s expenses. Daddy Sprott had already given himself to the Lord. Our giving is a proof of our love (2 Corinthians 8:8,24). Mama Sharp, my grandmother, would save all year long to be able to buy each grandchild a little Christmas present. Though all I might get from her was a pair of socks, that present was precious to me, because I knew the love behind it. We should give to the Lord "as a matter of generosity" (2 Corinthians 9:5). The word translated "generosity" literally means "a blessing" (Vine. 1:143) and here carries the idea "that blessings may accrue, bountifully" (Thayer. 260). The Lord promised Israel material blessings if they gave to Him as they should (Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:8-12). The same Lord who provides seed for the farmer to plant and bread for the hungry to eat promises in His grace to bless us if we give liberally (2 Corinthians 9:8-11). He specifically promises He will "supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness" (verse 10). Contextually, the "seed sown" is the money given in the Lord’s work. If we give with generosity, God, who cannot lie, promises to supply us what we need to further sow and to increase the good accomplished by our liberality. We simply need to believe Him. Each of us should "give as he purposes in his heart" (2 Corinthians 9:7). Our contribution should not be haphazard or just what we happen to have in our pockets. We should plan what we think we are able to give and give accordingly. In this way the church can plan its work, as the members are dependable in our giving. We should cheerfully give, "for God loves a cheerful giver" (Ibid). A sign in a small town restaurant read, "God loves a cheerful giver, but He’ll take money from an old grouch." No, He won’t. The church will. We can’t know the hearts of others. But God knows. Grudging service is wasted service. Conclusion It is not the amount of the gift that matters but the willingness of the mind (2 Corinthians 8:12; cf. 9:1-2). The widow who threw "two mites," the smallest coins in circulation in Palestine, into the treasury, gave more than the rich who contributed much, "for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood" (Mark 12:41-44). But if we give with the right attitudes, we will give liberally (2 Corinthians 8:1-2). The key? First give yourself to the Lord.
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