Christian Giving - Stop Being Manipulated!

 

About giving

Giving is a good practice for a Christian to engage in. I heard a preacher telling his large congregation to give generously because if they sowed sparingly they would reap sparingly. He quoted 2Corinthians 9:6. If you hear this you'll automatically feel that what God gives you is based on what you give Him.

Actually if you think about it it is like a pyramid scheme. You give and you get back. The more money you give, the more that you will get back. That is certainly the impression created by the preacher when he made this statement to his congregants.

What was actually going on in 2Corinthians 9? Consider verse 1-8

2Cor 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 

Paul urges the believers to be generous in their giving of alms for the suffering church. verse 12 tells us what the collection of this money is toward.

2Co 9:12  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 

Note that the believers are urged to give generously towards the need of the church in Jerusalem - not towards the preachers greed or covetousness!

The Corinthians were being urged to give toward the needs of the saints. Verse 7 though is the guiding principle.

2Cor 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 

"not grudgingly" or out of "necessity"

-The word grudgingly is translated from a word meaning sadness ( May be the sadness misers feel at the thought of parting with a coin).

-The word necessity means constraint or distress. This means that if you are in needy circumstances yourself you need not extend yourself. If what you have in your pocket is only enough to feed your family, you are under no obligation to give. Remember that the collection was to meet the needs of the saints in Jerusalem. Their need does not hold more merit than yours does!

Then we are reminded that God loves a cheerful giver. This happens when you are willing to part with your excess to meet someone's needs and you're not constrained when giving.

We are urged each one to give according to what we have purposed in our hearts - not according to what the preacher decides! The decision is solely ours.

Remember that we have a responsibility to guard ourselves against deception. Jesus said this in Matt 24 when He spoke to the disciples concerning the last days.

Matt 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 

False teachers have been about teaching tithing to believers and coming up with many schemes of getting believers to give to them.

Paul's example

Acts 18:3  And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

The old English word 'wrought' above is translated from a word meaning to toil, i.e. to work. In short, Paul took the time to work for his own living rather than depend on the saints. It seems that he was about this business during the other days of the week as he preached on the Sabbath.

Acts 18:4  And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 

Galatians 6 instructions

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

burdens-  a heavy weight. Some things are too heavy for a saint to carry alone and need the help of other believers.

Gal 6:5  For every man shall bear his own burden. 

burden - invoice, task -

Gal 6:6  Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 

Believers are to take care of their pastor. This doesn’t mean buying him a luxury car, 5-bedroomed mansion and a jet! However your pastor shouldn't be destitute.

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

When we do good to believers it results in thanksgiving to God.

2Co 9:12  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 

-want here means deficit or poverty - we are giving towards the needs of the saints

So as a believer, give what you have purposed in your heart to give and consider the purpose for your giving. Have in mind the need of those you are giving to. This tells you that unless the church is in a concerted effort to meet the needs of a certain group of needy people, you can choose to give to a needy person or family that you have identified. It is better to do this as this results in thanksgiving to God rather than giving to feed your pastor’s greed.