The Joy of Liberal Giving

In his first letter to the Corinthian believers, Paul gave instruction about supporting God’s work. He asked: 4TC 172.2

“Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? ... 4TC 172.3

“For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.’ Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.” 4TC 172.4

The apostle further asked, “Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake in the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:7-10, 13, 14.) 4TC 172.5

The priests who ministered in the temple were supported by the people to whom they ministered spiritual blessings. “Those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law” (Hebrews 7:5). The tribe of Levi was chosen by the Lord for the priesthood. (See Deuteronomy 18:5.) The Lord claimed one tenth of all the increase as His own, and He regarded withholding of the tithe as robbery. 4TC 173.1

Paul referred to this plan for supporting the ministry when he said, “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18). 4TC 173.2

Payment of the tithe was just one part of God’s plan for the support of His service. The people were taught to cultivate a spirit of liberality. The law of Moses specified many gifts and offerings. At the harvest and the vintage, the people dedicated the first fruits of the field to the Lord. Produce that the reapers missed and what grew in the corners of the field were reserved for the poor. The first fruits of the wool when the sheep were shorn, and of the grain when the wheat was threshed, were set apart for God. So were the firstborn of all animals, and families paid a redemption price for the firstborn son. 4TC 173.3

In this way the people were reminded that God was the owner of their fields, flocks, and herds. It was He who sent the sunshine and the rain that ripened the harvest. They were only managers of His goods. 4TC 173.4

Should Followers of Christ Give Less?

The liberality that God required of the Hebrews was mainly to benefit their own nation. Today Christ has given His followers the responsibility of taking the good news of salvation to the world. Our obligations are much greater than ancient Israel’s were. As God’s work spreads, calls for help will come more fre quently. Christians should obey the command, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house” (Malachi 3:10). If professing Christians would faithfully bring their tithes and offerings to God, there would be no need to resort to fairs, lotteries, or parties of pleasure to raise funds. 4TC 173.5

Many church members do not hesitate to spend extravagantly to gratify their appetite, adorn themselves, or embellish their homes. But when they are asked to give to the Lord’s treasury, they object and dole out an amount much less than they often spend for things they don’t need. They show no real love for Christ’s service, no deep interest in the salvation of others. The Christian life of such people is no more than a dwarfed, sickly existence! 4TC 174.1

Anyone whose heart glows with the love of Christ will find it a pleasure to help in advancing the highest, holiest work committed to mankind—presenting to the world the riches of truth. The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven. This spirit finds its highest expression in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The Father gave His only Son, and Christ gave Himself, so that we could be saved. The cross of Calvary should appeal to the generosity of every follower of the Savior. The principle illustrated there is to give, give. 4TC 174.2

The spirit of selfishness is the spirit of Satan. The principle illustrated in the lives of people without Christ is to get, get. But the fruit they harvest is misery and death. 4TC 174.3

Blessings in Gratitude Offerings

Not only should God’s children return to the Lord the portion that belongs to Him, they should also bring a gratitude offering, the first fruits of their rich blessings—their most excellent possessions, their best and holiest service. In this way they will gain rich blessings. God will make their hearts like a watered garden. And the harvest that they are enabled to bring to the Master will be the reward of their unselfish use of the talents He has lent them. 4TC 174.4

God’s chosen messengers should never have to serve at their own expense, without the help of hearty support from their fellow Christians. It is the responsibility of church members to deal liberally with those who leave secular employment to give themselves to the ministry. When God’s ministers are encouraged, His cause is greatly strengthened. 4TC 175.1

God is displeased with those who allow consecrated workers to suffer without the necessities of life. These selfish ones will have to give an account for their misuse of money and for the depression brought on His faithful servants. Those who heed the call of duty and give up everything to engage in God’s service should receive wages that are enough to support themselves and their families. 4TC 175.2

In secular labor, workers can earn good wages. Isn’t the work of leading people to Christ more important than any ordinary business? Aren’t those who faithfully engage in this work entitled to decent pay? 4TC 175.3

A solemn responsibility rests on ministers to keep their churches aware of the needs of God’s cause and to educate them to give liberally. When the churches fail to give, not only does the work of the Lord suffer, but God withholds the blessing that should come to believers. 4TC 175.4

Why the Gifts of the Poor Are Valuable

Even the very poor should bring their offerings to God. They are to share in the grace of Christ by helping those whose need is more urgent than their own. The poor person’s gift, the fruit of self-denial, comes up before God as fragrant incense. And every act of self-sacrifice allies the giver more closely to the One who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. 4TC 175.5

Christ called the disciples’ attention to the widow who dropped two tiny coins—“her whole livelihood” (Mark 12:44)—into the treasury. He judged her gift to be more valuable than the large offerings of those whose donations did not call for self-denial. The widow had deprived herself of even the necessities of life, trusting God to meet her needs. “This poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury” (verse 43). God measures the value of the gift not by the amount, but by the proportion that is given, and the motive that prompts the giver. 4TC 175.6

The apostle Paul said, “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7.) 4TC 176.1

Nearly all the Macedonian believers were poor in this world’s goods, but they gladly gave to support the gospel. Paul held up the liberality of the converts in Macedonia as an example to other churches: “In a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2). 4TC 176.2

Moved by the Spirit of God, they “first gave themselves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5). Then they were willing to give freely of their money to support the gospel work. It was not necessary to urge them. Instead, they were happy for the privilege of denying themselves even necessary things in order to meet the needs of others. 4TC 176.3

When Paul sent Titus to Corinth to strengthen the believers there, in a personal letter he added his own appeal: “Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost earnestness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.” “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. ... You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us.” (2 Corinthians 8:7; 9:8-11, NRSV.) 4TC 176.4

Unselfish liberality brought great joy to the early church. The believers knew that their efforts were helping to send the gospel to those in darkness. Their generosity showed that they had not received the grace of God in vain. In the eyes of believers and unbelievers this kind of liberality was a miracle of grace. 4TC 176.5

Spiritual prosperity goes hand-in-hand with Christian generosity. As the followers of Christ give to the Lord, they have the assurance that their treasure is going ahead of them to the heavenly courts. Would you like to make your property secure? Place it in the hands that bear the marks of the crucifixion. Do you want to enjoy your wealth? Use it to bless the needy. Do you want to increase your possessions? 4TC 177.1

“Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine” Proverbs 3:9, 10). 4TC 177.2

Try to keep your possessions for selfish purposes, and you will experience eternal loss. But treasure we give to God is securely marked with His name. 4TC 177.3

“Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want” (Proverbs 11:24, NRSV). The sower multiplies his seed by throwing it away. So those who are faithful in sharing God’s gifts increase their blessings. (See Luke 6:38.) 4TC 177.4