What Does The Bible Say About Worship?

GIving
Some people think religion is a leech on society— always wanting to suck money out of
people’s pockets.  The truth is that some churches are not much more than a front for
greedy leaders.  

Yet, at the same time, some of the same people who level this complaint against
religion are leeches themselves—on religion.  They want to suck out all the benefits that
they can get for themselves, without putting anything back into it!  

The purpose of giving is to honor and pay tribute to God.  He doesn’t need to get the
money as much as we need to give it!  Everything in the world already belongs to Him
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as
this?  For all things come from you, and of your own we have given you” (1 Chronicles
29:14)!  

Remember this important principle--that giving benefits the giver more than the recipient
“And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give
than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).  Giving ourselves first is what makes the monetary gift so
valuable “And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave themselves to the Lord,
and then to us by the will of God... 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” (2 Corinthians 8:
5,12).    

Likewise we should give back something of value when we receive something of value.  
Christians have always shared their physical things with those who shared their
spiritual things “For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain
contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.  It pleased them
indeed, and they are their debtors.  For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their
spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things (Romans 15:26-
27; cf. Galatians 6:6).  

Giving was done as a weekly observance in the New Testament church “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” (1 Corinthians 16:2).  

Two of the most important reasons for a consistent, weekly contribution are to support
gospel preaching “for even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my
necessities” (Philippians 4:14-19; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:3-14; 2 Corinthians 11:8-9)  and to
care for the needy saints “For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and
beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we
would receive the gift and fellowship of the ministering to the saints (2 Corinthians 8:3-4;
cf. Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35).  

The Scriptures outline certain principles to guide our giving.

We should give regularly “on the first day of the week let each one of you lay something
aside” (1 Corinthians 16:2).  That giving should be done proportionately to what we have
made, not to what someone else has given “storing up as he may prosper” (1
Corinthians 16:2).  From the widow with two mites (less than a penny) Jesus taught us
that the true value of a gift is not in the monetary equivalent, but in the degree of sacrifice
it is to the giver (cf. Mark 12:41-44).

We should give liberally “he who gives, with liberality” (Romans 12:8).  Liberality is not
determined by the number of zeros on the check, but rather by the actual cost to the giver
 “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the
churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and
their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2).

Likewise, we must give purposefully, voluntarily, and cheerfully “So let each one give as
he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2
Corinthians 9:7).  We should also give confidently, knowing that God will multiply our
blessings for our giving “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for
food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown...” (2 Corinthians 9:10).

When it comes to giving to God, we cannot be too generous, because when it came to
giving to us, God was too generous (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 8:9)!!

--Rob Harbison