How people view money is an effective barometer of their spirituality. Money is neither good nor bad in and of itself; corrupt people can put it to evil uses while good people can put it to righteous uses. Though money is morally neutral, what people do with their money reflects their internal morality. In the words of Jesus, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34).
My father used to say, “If a Jew was required to give one tenth under the law; for a Christian to give less under grace is a disgrace.” Giving, therefore, should be a necessary part of Christian living just as breathing is to every living creature on earth. The least we can do to acknowledge God’s salvation by grace is to support the work of the Kingdom through giving to our local church and missions. To do less is a disgrace.
1. Grace living means I acknowledge divine ownership of all things.
I strongly support tithing not because I have an abundance of money, don’t have any debts or fear I won’t go to heaven if I don’t give to my church. It is not out of a sense of duty but out of a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving to God for His grace, mercy and love for me. I believe along with the Psalmist that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein” (Ps. 24:1).
In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul discusses the issue of giving. He began by calling the attention of his beloved brethren at Corinth to “the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia” whom he would use as an example of giving. The province of Macedonia consisted of the churches of Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea. This area had been ravaged by wars and plundered by the Romans. But despite its deep poverty the churches were amazingly generous. One of the effects of salvation by grace is a longing to give generously and sacrificially to those in need, especially other believers.
We American Christians are distracted because God has blessed our country so much and we have given Him so little in return.
America makes up only 6 percent of the world’s population but has a great deal of its wealth. Yet we disgrace our heritage when the average church member gives less than 2 percent to church or charitable causes.
The Jewish law only asked 10 percent. Most restaurants today expect a 10–15 percent gratuity. The prophet Malachi is candid when he states the amount that belongs to God. “You have robbed Me of tithes and offerings due Me” (Mal. 3:8). The Bible says the tithes come first — then the offerings. Offerings are like icing on the cake. Some of us just want to give God the icing and not the cake. That’s like leaving a tip at a restaurant but not paying the bill.
2. Grace living means I acknowledge God’s method for financing His kingdom.
Paul says there is a method for financing God’s kingdom work on earth — God’s grace, overflowing joy and rich generosity. If we experience God’s grace in salvation, then there is an overwhelming joy that fills our hearts and lives. This joy must find an avenue of expression. God has provided the way — giving generously to support the Church God loves most of all.
Paul uses strong language to depict the Macedonian’s desperate situation when he writes, “that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.”
The Greek words used indicate they were at “rock bottom.” Some interpretations describe them as having absolutely nothing, having to beg to survive. But in spite of their circumstance they gave generously. The Macedonian believers must have known God would supply all their needs. This confidence freed them to give generously. We shouldn’t wait until we have an abundance; we should give despite our circumstances like the widow of Luke 21:1–4.
I recall visiting one of the senior citizens of our church around Lottie Moon Christmas Offering time and noticing the kitchen was the only room with heat. When I asked why she didn’t heat the whole house, she said she lived on her Social Security check and she was saving up her offering for Lottie Moon. Heat the house or give to missions? She chose missions.
3. Grace living means I want Christ first in all things.
A Christian is one who wants to be like Jesus Christ, the One who gave Himself unselfishly for us. To buy us out of the slave markets of sin Jesus left the riches of heaven and took upon Himself the poverty of earth so you and I could become heirs to the riches of eternal life. Jesus came from the halls of heaven to the nails of the cross, from heaven’s commendation to earth’s condemnation, from heaven’s honors to Calvary’s horrors. What a price for Jesus to pay. He didn’t have to do it but thank God He did. Amen.
The law of heaven is love because God is love. My giving to God through my local church is an expression of my love for Him. The law of earth is selfishness. All of us have a tendency toward selfishness. We are taught to get all we can but God measures us by what we give and the motivation of the heart.
The response of the Macedonian churches was more than Paul expected. He had hoped for an offering, which they did freely give, “but first they gave themselves to the Lord.” The Greek word Paul uses for “first” has the meaning here not of first in time but of first in priority. The Macedonians’ first priority was to give themselves wholeheartedly to the Lord and giving to the church followed. Their giving was consistent with Christ’s command to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
Garner V. Clark, pastor of Autaugaville Baptist Church, is a graduate of Auburn University; Troy University; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky; and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Betty Jo, have two children and two grandchildren.
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