Christian Giving: Offerings and Tithes
Read verses 1-4... Paul references “the collection” [the gathering of offerings] from God’s people, for God’s people, for he has already instructed on this subject.
In fact, Paul says this is to be done in the same way that he instructed the Galatians, i.e., on the first day of the week [Sunday], each person is to present a portion of their income by setting it aside, so that when it is needed it is accessible and can be used.
The point is, each person is to give a portion of their income to the church, and those offerings are received when the church comes together, on Sundays. The offerings are then put away in safe keeping, where they can be accessed when needed.
In this case, Paul says, they will be used to help the believers in Jerusalem; in fact, Paul may go along with those who are designated to present this monetary gift to the church in Jerusalem.
Notice several things from this passage:
1. Paul calls this gathering of offerings “the collection for God’s people.” The reason being, these financial gifts will be used to help the believers in the Jerusalem church who are in need. (Macedonia, Achaia and Galatia had already taken a collection)
2. This collection is to take place on the first day of the week, Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
3. All believers are to give a portion of their income, giving back to God from what He has already given us (James 1:17), “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.”
4. The collection of our offerings is to be kept ready and accessible, so they can be used when they are needed.
Where did the Tithe originate? Genesis 14:18-20 records that Abraham gave a tithe [a tenth] of his possessions to Melchizedek, a priest of “God Most High.” Genesis 28:20-22 records that Jacob made a vow, that if God would watch over him on his journey, he would forever give back to God a tenth of all that God gives him.
Abraham and Jacob lived 500-600 years before Moses was even born, and so, the principle of the tithe predates even the Law of Moses. The OT pattern of the tithe (one tenth), was an integral part of the social and religious system of Israel, it provided finances for the upkeep of the place of worship, for the support of those who carried out the religious ceremonies and services, and it also provided for the needs of the poor and the oppressed among the Israelites.
Israel was a theocracy [a system of government by God’s Law, overseen by those men selected by God to serve Him, i.e., through the Levitical Priesthood].
God imposed several yearly tithes and taxes, which amounted to about 25% of the income and produce of the Israelites; this was used to operate the nation of Israel (Exodus 23:10-11; Numbers 18:21; Leviticus 19:9-10; 27:30-33; Deuteronomy 14:22-29; 26:12-15).
Apart from that which was used to fund and operate the nation, all other giving in the OT was voluntary, with no required percentage or amount demanded by God (Exodus 25:2; 1Chronicles 29:9), but instead, each person was to give what was in their heart to give.
NT believers (that would be us) are not commanded in Scripture to tithe to the church; but we are required by God to pay taxes to our government (which about equal, in percentage, what the Israelites were required to pay to the theocratic government that ruled over them (Matthew 22:15-22; Romans 13:1-7).
The NT church’s social & religious system, & structure, is quite different from that of Israel. Our relationship to God is based on our personal belief in Him, not our blood line, ancestral heritage, or religious practice.
Titus 2:13-14, “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, [who] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own,eager to do what is good.”
Galatians 3:25-29, “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
We are not under the Law or rituals or covenants or ordinances, for none of these bring us into or maintain our relationship with God.
Colossians 2:16-17, Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”`
Paul says (1Corinthians 16:2), “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
When the church was first birthed there were no church buildings to maintain, believers met in homes, and although there was no set amount or percentage required, Christians were instructed to set aside a portion of their income, in a pattern of systematic giving.
Offerings were received and used for several purposes: 1. To support those in full-time local church ministry
(see 1Corinthians 9:13-14; 1Timothy 5:17-18).
2. To care for believers who cannot meet their own basic needs: adults, children, widows, orphans. (James 1:27), “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” (1Corinthians 16:3-4), these special offerings are going to poor Jewish believers in Jerusalem from the Greek believers in Corinth. (Galatians 6:
Share with God's people who
are in need.”
3. To aid fellow missionaries in other places who are serving to reach those who belong to the family of God
(See 1Corinthians 9:4-12a).
Our giving to God, to the work of God’s church, and to God’s people in need, is
to be done out of an overflowing thankfulness to God (see 2Corinthians 9:6-15).
As Christians, we are not required or bound to give a tenth of our income, we are not commanded to tithe. What we are to do is to give generously, because God has so mercifully, graciously and abundantly given to us; in fact, 2Peter 1:3 says God has, “given us everything we need for life (bio, biological life) and godliness (zoë, spiritual life) through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness,” and Philippians 4:19 promises us that, “God will meet all [our] needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
No wonder Paul proclaims (2Corinthians 9:15), “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Let us therefore, give generously back to God!