It’s just too important a subject for the church to be silent about.

God knows how important money is to us and has a lot to say about it in His Word. Jesus certainly did not avoid the topic but rather understood that money is one of the prime contenders for our allegiance. The Apostle Paul gave practical advice about money and giving to the Christians of the Early Church in his letters.

As you study the Bible, you learn that money is primarily a spiritual issue and, therefore, a subject about which the church not only has the right, but has the responsibility to talk about. So, turn to the person next to you and smile and say, "The preacher is going to talk about money today."

Last week I told you that this subject of money is a two-sided coin.

One side is managing the resources with which God blesses us by how we spend our money. We talked about that last week, focusing primarily on the dangers of debt and how it robs us of opportunities to respond to needs of compassion, missionaries, etc.

The other side is managing the resources with which God blesses us by how we give our money. That is what we’re going to talk about today.

Last week I shared with you how God has dealt with me in the area of my finances. This past week I believe He rewarded my repentance and obedience in this area by providing a way for us to make a lateral move financially and get a different vehicle, which will serve both our needs and wishes so much better. I praise the Lord for His goodness.

Enough personal business, let’s look at the other side of the money management coin and see what the Bible has to say about how Christians should give their money.

Many places throughout Scripture God calls on His people to make regular and generous monetary investments in the work of His Kingdom. Doing this demonstrates our willingness to be obedient to Him, and provides a practical, tangible way for us to help expand the influence of Christ in our community and the world.

This morning let’s look at one of those places in Scripture.

2 Cor. 9:6-15 (NKJV)
⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. ⁹As it is written: 

        "He has dispersed abroad, 
        He has given to the poor;
        His righteousness endures forever." (Psalm 112:9)

¹⁰Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, ¹¹while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. ¹²For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, ¹⁴and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
(AMP) | (NIV) | (NLT) | (KJV) | (NASB)

By being generous in our giving we tangibly show that we understand that we are stewards of the resources with which God blesses us. We demonstrate that we understand that the things of this world are fleeting at best. By giving in obedience to God’s Word we are choosing to make eternal investments our priority.

It ensures that we are holding all that He has entrusted to us with an open hand. Giving ultimately disarms the power of money.

We give to meet the needs of others.
Exodus 16:18 and 2 Corinthians 8:15 tell us that one reason one is given a surplus is to supply the needs of others.

Exodus 16:18 (NKJV): "So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need."

2 Corinthians 8:15 (NKJV): "As it is written, 'He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.' (Exodus 16:18)"

The Bible tells us that our first responsibility is to meet the needs of those who are part of the Christian community. One way that we express our love to each other is by giving to meet material needs.

Jesus said that when the world sees our love for each other that they will be attracted to Him. How can the world see our love? Probably not by emotion but by the tangible expressions of love that usually involve money.

One of the most powerful witnesses that the Church has in the community is when it responds to meet felt needs. And again, most of the time, this involves money.

While meeting such needs, when asked why, we get the opportunity to say, "Because the love of Jesus compels us." For many, both those who are recipients and those who observe, this becomes the door through which they begin to investigate the claims of Christ.

We give because of the benefit that it brings us.
In Philippians 4:17 (NKJV), Paul shares that he does not seek a gift from the Philippians for the gift itself, but rather for the profit that increases in the account of the giver: 

"Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account."

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

HOW MUCH SHOULD WE GIVE?
A Tithe
The Old Testament clearly teaches that the tithe is the Lord's.
Tithe is 10%.
It was to be “first fruits” - not leftovers.

The only New Testament reference to the tithe is a backhanded endorsement by Jesus in Matthew 23:23 (NKJV):

I believe that our first goal is giving as Christians is to meet this Old Testament standard.
The first item on our personal or family operating budget should be our giving to God.

If you’re truly not able to give 10% because of past disobedience and unwise choices, start where you can and give consistently.
Tell God that you will increase your giving as you are able until you get to this goal.
He knows your heart.

There is a pitfall with thinking that tithing is the whole answer to giving for Christians. The temptation is to think that when we give the tithe that we have accomplished our task. With that mentality we soon come to believe that only that percentage given is God’s and the rest is ours to do with as we please.

Once able to tithe, most Christians never seek God’s direction regarding their giving.

Part of our training process in obedience is communicating with Him is this area of giving.
For most Christians, tithing requires trusting God and some personal sacrifice.
For some wealthy Christians, however, the tithe is almost like crumbs from their table.

When paying the tithe is easy, requiring little trust in God and no personal sacrifice, then Christians must still maintain the mind of a steward and seek God’s guidance in their giving rather than just automatically giving the 10%. As God blesses you financially, it may be that He will lead you to give a greater percentage, instead of automatically elevating your lifestyle.

Illustration: R.G. LeTourneau
Started out giving 10%
Sought God’s guidance and gradually gave more until he was giving 90% and living on 10%.

Grace Giving
The guideline for giving under grace is found in vs. 6-7 of our text (read).

We also see in 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NKJV) that we are to give in accordance to how we have been prospered: 

"For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have."

WHERE SHOULD WE GIVE?
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV) says:

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, 
        That there may be food in My house, 
        And try Me now in this," 
        Says the LORD of hosts, 
        "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven 
        And pour out for you such blessing 
        That there will not be room enough to receive it."

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come."

Questions to help determine where you should give:
Where do I receive my primary spiritual feeding?
Where do my children receive nurturing and teaching?
Where would I turn for help in a crisis?
The answer is the local church.

The Bible also teaches that you should give your tithes "regularly." This is very practical and necessary for the ongoing ministry of the local church. Don’t be like the man who did not tithe during the year and then “saved” the church at the end of the year by giving a large sum of money. What this did was bring praise to the man and not to God!

Notice that Malachi says to bring the “whole tithe” into the storehouse.
Tithes are to be given to support the ministry of the local church.
Other ministries, such as radio ministries. Other projects, e.g. the Building Fund, should be supported by Offerings.

Let me add a couple more examples to further clarify this Biblical teaching.

• Don’t designate your tithes. That ties the hands of the church.
• Don’t withhold your tithe or use your tithe to pay for things that you think the church needs.

I know of a church where some ladies ask the Board to buy some choir robes and hymnals. The Board did not feel they could do it at that time so these ladies withheld their tithe and bought the items anyway. These ladies were praised by others for their generosity, not knowing that they had used their tithe money.

"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."

Husbands and wives must communicate with each other about their giving. You should not give if it drives a wedge in your marriage relationship. What good does it do if you build the entire educational wing on your church and lose your spouse?

Remember, God does not need your money.
Giving is for your benefit.

Without Complaint: “not grudgingly”
All of us have dealt with this one at one time or another. There is no joy in such giving!

Without Compulsion: “not…of necessity”
You shouldn’t give because the church needs money.
You shouldn’t give because the church needs more space.
You should give in obedience to God and, in so doing, these needs will be met.

The Greek words here also carry the idea of giving to impress other people and get man’s approval. Such motives rob Christian giving of its loveliness and joy.

With Cheerfulness: “God loves a cheerful giver!”
The word used for “cheerful” literally means “hilarious” and suggests sheer enjoyment!

What if every Christian began to honor God with their finances? What if they:
Determined to be debt free re: all items that depreciate in value?
Controlled their living expenses?
Began giving God the first 10% of their earnings?
Sought God’s guidance regarding their giving as the Lord prospered them?
Were generous, hilarious givers with an open hand to God regarding their finances?

I’m sure that I cannot even imagine what would happen but here are a few guesses:
Church facilities would be built; ministries would be added 
- more people coming to the Lord.
Needy people would be helped 
- more people would come to the Lord.
Missionaries would be supported and more missionaries would go 
- more people coming to the Lord.
Individual givers would be blessed enabling them to give more 
- more people coming to the Lord.
Great rejoicing in heaven as more and more people come to the Lord!
As God’s people are blessed; as more people come to the Lord - God is glorified!

Listen to the words of Jesus from Luke 6:38 (NKJV): 

"Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."