Explain that giving is part of obedient service to God, not a man-made church custom.

Show that giving has always belonged to man’s relationship with God.

Identify who is required to give under the New Testament pattern.

Explain what Christians are to give, when they are to give, and why they are to give.

Defend the first-day-of-the-week contribution as part of the church’s authorized work.

Teach Christians to give cheerfully, purposefully, liberally, and faithfully.

Call careless or negligent Christians to repent and honor God in their giving.

God demands and expects obedience from His children.

Some people do not like the word “obedience” in religion.

They hear obedience and immediately cry, “Legalism.”

But man’s discomfort with the word does not erase God’s requirement.

A parent expects obedience from his children.

If a child misbehaves, consequences follow.

If a child does well, there may be reward and approval.

No sensible parent calls obedience legalism.

God speaks to His people as obedient children.

First Peter 1:14–15 teaches Christians not to be shaped by their former lusts.

Instead, because God is holy, His people must be holy in all their behavior.

That is not optional language.

Giving is part of that obedience.

God does not need our money.

God owns all things already.

Giving is not because God is poor.

Giving is because God tests, trains, and reveals the heart of His people.

Micah 6:6–8 forces the issue deeper than the amount.

The prophet pictures a man asking what he should bring before the Lord.

Burnt offerings?

Year-old calves?

Thousands of rams?

Rivers of oil?

Even the firstborn?

God’s answer is not that outward acts are meaningless.

God commanded sacrifices under the Law.

The problem was not obedience itself.

The problem was outward religion without justice, kindness, and humility.

Micah says the Lord has told man what is good.

Do justice.

Love kindness.

Walk humbly with your God.

When a Christian walks humbly with God, giving will not be an issue.

The selfish man fights giving.

The covetous man resents giving.

The humble child of God sees giving as part of service.

Giving has long been part of man’s relationship with God.

Cain and Abel brought offerings in Genesis 4.

Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek in Genesis 14.

Israel was commanded to give under the Law.

The New Testament also teaches Christians to give.

In this lesson, we will use a simple journalistic approach.

Who is required to give?

What are we to give?

When should Christians give?

Why should Christians give?

How should Christians give?

The New Testament places the responsibility of giving upon Christians.

Every New Testament passage dealing with congregational giving addresses disciples.

The command is not addressed to the world.

The command is not laid on unbelievers as worshipers of God.

The command is given to those who belong to Christ.

This does not mean a congregation could never receive money from a non-Christian.

Scripture does not authorize us to police every hand that places money in a basket.

Scripture does not say we must forbid a visitor from giving.

Scripture does say Christians are the ones accountable to God in this matter.

The same principle can be seen with the Lord’s Supper.

The Supper belongs to Christians.

Christians are taught to examine themselves.

The church teaches the truth, but each soul bears responsibility before God.

Cornelius gave alms before he became a Christian.

Acts 10 presents Cornelius as devout and generous.

His alms had come up as a memorial before God.

Yet Cornelius still needed to hear words by which he and his household would be saved.

Giving good things does not remove the need to obey the gospel.

A generous sinner is still a sinner.

A religious giver still needs Christ.

Benevolence is not a substitute for conversion.

The Roman Christians were taught to use their gifts in service to God.

Paul wrote to saints in Rome.

Romans 1 identifies the recipients as beloved of God and called as saints.

He is addressing Christians.

These Christians were to present their bodies as living sacrifices.

Romans 12 describes different kinds of service in the one body.

Some served.

Some taught.

Some exhorted.

Some led.

Some showed mercy.

Some gave.

The one who gives is told to give with liberality.

Giving is treated as real service.

Giving is not treated as a side issue.

Giving belongs among the spiritual responsibilities of the body.

This matters because some Christians minimize giving.

They act as if attendance matters but giving does not.

They act as if singing matters but giving does not.

They act as if preaching matters but supporting the work does not.

The Holy Spirit did not treat giving that way.

Giving is listed among faithful service.

Giving is connected with stewardship.

Giving is part of a life offered to God.

The Corinthian Christians were commanded to give.

Paul gave instructions concerning the collection for the saints.

First Corinthians 16:1–2 speaks to the church at Corinth.

The same instruction had been given to the churches of Galatia.

This was not merely a local Corinthian custom.

Each one was to put aside and save.

The instruction was individual in responsibility.

The action was connected to the first day of every week.

The amount was tied to prosperity.

Paul did not want last-minute collections when he arrived.

Planned giving was expected.

Orderly giving was expected.

Responsible giving was expected.

Second Corinthians 9 also addresses the brethren.

The gift was to be ready.

It was to be bountiful, not covetous.

Each one was to give as he had purposed in his heart.

God loves a cheerful giver.

Not the man who gives grudgingly.

Not the man who gives under resentment.

Not the man who gives because he is embarrassed.

The cheerful giver pleases God.

The disciples at Antioch gave relief.

Acts 11 records a prophecy of famine.

Agabus foretold by the Spirit that a great famine would come.

The famine occurred during the reign of Claudius.

The brethren responded before the need crushed the saints in Judea.

The disciples determined to send relief.

Each gave according to his ability.

The contribution was for brethren living in Judea.

The gift was sent by Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

Again, the givers were disciples.

The church did not tax the unbelieving world.

The church did not place responsibility on outsiders.

The disciples bore the responsibility.

Giving was not accidental.

They heard of a need.

They determined to act.

They sent relief through proper hands.

This shows that Christians are expected to care.

Love is not sentimental talk.

Brotherhood is not empty language.

Fellowship includes real sacrifice.

Therefore, Christians are the ones required to give.

Christians are commanded to give.

Romans 12 teaches giving as service.

First Corinthians 16 teaches giving on the first day of the week.

Second Corinthians 9 teaches cheerful and purposed giving.

Acts 11 shows disciples sending relief.

Christians are accountable for giving.

Not merely for how much they have.

Not merely for how much they spend.

But for how they steward what God has placed in their hands.

Christians must not dodge this responsibility.

A man cannot claim to love the work while refusing to support it.

A man cannot claim to love needy saints while refusing to help.

A man cannot claim to walk humbly with God while hoarding selfishly.

Under the Old Testament, God’s people gave from their means.

Israel gave from the firstfruits of the land.

Their crops were involved.

Their herds were involved.

Their increase was involved.

The Law gave specific commands for Israel.

Exodus contains commands about offerings.

Leviticus gives detailed sacrificial and priestly instructions.

Numbers and Deuteronomy regulate Israel’s giving and worship.

The Old Testament pattern shows that God has always had claims on man’s increase.

Man receives from God.

Man returns to God.

Man learns gratitude, dependence, and reverence.

Under the New Testament, Christians give as they have prospered.

First Corinthians 16:2 says each one is to put aside as he may prosper.

God does not require the same dollar amount from every person.

God does require each person to examine his prosperity.

Giving is proportionate.

A man who has prospered greatly should not give like a man who has almost nothing.

God sees the proportion.

God sees the sacrifice.

God sees whether the gift reflects gratitude or greed.

A poor Christian is not excluded from giving.

The widow gave two small coins.

Her gift was small in market value.

Her sacrifice was great before God.

A rich Christian is not excused by large numbers if the heart is small.

A large gift may still be stingy if prosperity is greater.

God is not fooled by outward display.

The Lord looks at the heart and the stewardship.

The New Testament examples point to money as the ordinary congregational contribution.

Paul was collecting aid for needy saints.

The contribution had to be transported.

He planned to carry the gift to Jerusalem.

A monetary gift would be the practical form of such relief.

Paul spoke of wages in connection with support.

Second Corinthians 11 says Paul received support from other churches while serving Corinth.

He describes that support in wage language.

Wages refer to material support, commonly money.

The saints in Jerusalem sold property and brought proceeds.

Acts 2 describes believers selling possessions and goods to meet needs.

Acts 4 describes proceeds being laid at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 5 shows Ananias and Sapphira selling land and bringing money while lying about the amount.

These examples show practical monetary giving.

The church had needs.

The church had workers.

The church had poor saints.

Money was used to meet those needs.

What if a man prospers in goods rather than cash?

The principle is still giving as one has prospered.

If a man prospers in crops, he can turn that increase into usable support.

If a man prospers in livestock, he can sell and give.

If a man prospers in business, he can give from that increase.

The church does not need a barn full of goats when it has bills to pay.

Practical stewardship matters.

The church’s work requires usable resources.

A man should not use impracticality as an excuse for disobedience.

If you prosper in goats, sell the goats and give.

Do not hide behind technicalities.

Do not pretend to be helpless.

Honor God from what He has given you.

God requires us to give from what He has placed in our hands.

We do not give what we do not have.

God does not demand imaginary prosperity.

God does not require a man to give what he cannot give.

God does require honest stewardship of what he has.

We must not give God leftovers after selfishness is satisfied.

Bills matter.

Family responsibilities matter.

But covetousness often disguises itself as responsibility.

Giving should be planned before waste consumes the increase.

Many people spend first and give God scraps.

That reveals the order of the heart.

God deserves better than what is left after indulgence.

First Corinthians 16:2 gives the day and frequency.

The instruction is tied to the first day of every week.

That is Sunday.

That is the day Christians assembled.

That is the day connected with the resurrection and the Lord’s Supper.

Paul says, “On the first day of every week.”

Not once a year.

Not whenever we feel emotional.

Not only when a crisis is announced.

Every first day.

Each one was to put aside and save.

This required forethought.

This required discipline.

This prevented disorder when Paul came.

If God had not specified the time, liberty would exist.

Where God has not specified, expediency has room.

If no day had been specified, any day might be used.

If no frequency had been given, judgment would guide the matter.

But God has spoken in the New Testament pattern.

Since the day is specified, we do not invent another pattern.

The first day of the week is the day named.

The weekly nature is given.

The church must respect the apostolic instruction.

This is not complicated.

Men complicate it because they do not like the implication.

The text says what it says.

Faith accepts the instruction.

Giving is not limited to moments of special need.

Some say the church should only collect when there is an announced emergency.

That is not what First Corinthians 16:2 teaches.

Paul commanded regular giving before his arrival.

The church was to be prepared.

Needs often exist before we see them.

Evangelism requires support.

Benevolence requires resources.

Meeting places, teaching materials, and necessary expenses require provision.

Regular giving prevents panic giving.

A wise church prepares.

A faithful church supports the work consistently.

A mature Christian does not need to be begged every time a need appears.

The contribution belongs with the worship assembly.

On the first day of the week, Christians assembled for worship.

Acts 20:7 shows disciples gathered on the first day to break bread.

Christians sang, prayed, taught, remembered the Lord, and gave.

First Corinthians 16 places giving on that same day.

Giving is not a secular interruption in worship.

It is an act of devotion.

It is an act of stewardship.

It is an act of fellowship in the work of the church.

Even if one argued it is not technically worship, the command remains.

Christians still must give on the first day.

Christians still must give as prospered.

Christians still must obey the apostolic instruction.

But the better conclusion is clear.

Giving is part of the ordered service of the saints.

It is done before God.

It is done in connection with the work of the church.

Christians should give every Lord’s Day as they have prospered.

This requires preparation before Sunday.

Decide before the basket comes by.

Purpose before emotion or embarrassment pressures you.

Give deliberately.

This requires honesty about prosperity.

Do not pretend God has not blessed you.

Do not compare yourself to others to excuse yourself.

Examine your own increase.

This requires reverence.

The contribution is not a tip jar.

The contribution is not dues for church membership.

The contribution is a spiritual act of stewardship before God.

We give because God commands us to give.

Romans 12:8 speaks of the one who gives with liberality.

Giving belongs among Christian duties.

Giving is service in the body.

Giving must be done with the right spirit.

First Corinthians 16:1–2 gives direct instruction.

The churches were instructed.

Each Christian was responsible.

The first day of every week was specified.

Second Corinthians 9 teaches the manner of giving.

Not sparingly.

Not grudgingly.

Not under compulsion.

Cheerfully and purposefully.

Acts 11 shows disciples responding to need.

They determined to send relief.

They gave according to ability.

They sent the gift to the elders.

A Christian should not need another reason beyond God’s command.

If God commands, faith obeys.

If God teaches, humility listens.

If God requires, His people submit.

We give to relieve needy saints.

Second Corinthians 9 concerns ministry to saints.

Paul was arranging relief.

The Corinthians had promised a gift.

That gift was to help brethren in need.

Romans 15 describes Gentile Christians helping poor saints in Jerusalem.

Macedonia and Achaia made a contribution.

The contribution was for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

Paul connects material sharing with spiritual fellowship.

Acts 11 shows Antioch sending relief to Judea.

The famine would create real suffering.

The disciples acted according to their ability.

The gift was sent responsibly.

Christians must not ignore needy brethren.

Sympathy without action is cheap.

Brotherhood without sacrifice is hollow.

Love must be more than words.

The church must be able to help.

Benevolence requires resources.

Resources come from giving.

Giving requires obedient hearts.

We give for the preaching of the gospel.

The Philippian church supported Paul.

They participated in the gospel from the first day.

They sent once and again for his needs.

Paul described their gift as pleasing to God.

Their support was not merely private sentiment.

It was fellowship in gospel work.

It was partnership in preaching.

It helped sustain the messenger while the message went forward.

Paul defended the right of gospel preachers to receive support.

First Corinthians 9 teaches that apostles had the right to eat and drink.

They had the right to refrain from secular work.

Those who proclaim the gospel have the right to live from the gospel.

Paul used several illustrations.

A soldier does not serve at his own expense.

A farmer eats from the vineyard he plants.

A shepherd benefits from the flock he tends.

The ox was not to be muzzled while threshing.

Priests ate from the offerings associated with temple service.

Paul then states the command plainly.

The Lord directed that those who proclaim the gospel get their living from the gospel.

That is not preacher greed.

That is divine authorization.

A church that wants preaching must support preaching.

Local preaching requires support.

Evangelistic work requires support.

Mission work requires support.

Teaching materials and opportunities require support.

The money comes from the saints’ giving.

Churches do not print money.

Churches do not operate by magic.

Faithful work requires faithful giving.

We give for the authorized expenses of the church.

The command to assemble creates practical needs.

A place to meet may be needed.

Lights, heat, materials, and maintenance may be needed.

Teaching tools may be needed.

Expediencies are authorized by the commands they help fulfill.

When God commands assembly, a place is expedient.

When God commands teaching, materials may be expedient.

When God commands the Lord’s Supper, the elements must be provided.

Jesus sent disciples to prepare the Passover.

A place was secured.

The meal was prepared.

Necessary arrangements were made.

The church must also act responsibly.

Debts must be paid.

Obligations must be honored.

The work must be supported.

Giving provides the means to do authorized work decently and in order.

It is not about luxury.

It is not about building an empire.

It is about faithfully carrying out the work God has given.

We give because giving reveals the heart.

A man’s giving says something about his priorities.

He may say he loves the Lord.

He may say he loves the church.

But his stewardship often tells the truth.

Jesus taught that where treasure is, the heart will be also.

Treasure follows devotion.

Devotion shapes sacrifice.

Sacrifice reveals love.

Giving exposes covetousness.

Some resent every dollar given to God’s work.

Some spend freely on pleasure and complain about supporting the church.

Some want the benefits of a congregation without bearing responsibility.

Giving also trains the heart.

It teaches gratitude.

It weakens greed.

It reminds us that everything belongs to God.

The Christian who walks humbly with God will not fight God over giving.

He may need to grow.

He may need to repent.

But he will not deny that God has a claim on his increase.

Christians should give cheerfully.

Second Corinthians 9 teaches that God loves a cheerful giver.

The issue is not only the amount.

The spirit matters.

God sees the attitude behind the gift.

A cheerful giver does not give with resentment.

Not angry.

Not bitter.

Not complaining.

A cheerful giver understands grace.

God has given first.

Christ gave Himself.

Every blessing we possess came from God.

Cheerful giving does not mean careless giving.

It is not emotional impulse only.

It is glad obedience.

It is joy rooted in faith.

A grudging gift may leave the hand but not honor God.

The heart still clings to the money.

The mouth may complain.

God is not pleased with selfish reluctance.

Christians should give liberally.

Romans 12 speaks of giving with liberality.

This means generosity.

This means sincerity.

This means a willingness to open the hand.

Second Corinthians 9 teaches sowing and reaping.

The one who sows sparingly reaps sparingly.

The one who sows bountifully reaps bountifully.

God uses agricultural language to teach spiritual stewardship.

A stingy Christian should not expect a generous harvest.

You cannot sow crumbs and expect fields.

You cannot hoard seed and complain of no crop.

You cannot rob God and expect spiritual strength.

Liberal giving is not reckless giving.

A man must care for his family.

A man must pay his obligations.

But selfishness must not hide behind prudence.

The question is not, “How little can I give and still be acceptable?”

That question already smells of covetousness.

Love asks how to honor God.

Faith asks how to help the work.

Christians should give as they have purposed in the heart.

Second Corinthians 9:7 teaches purposed giving.

Each one is to give as he has purposed.

This requires thought.

This requires decision.

Giving should not be accidental.

Not whatever loose bills happen to be in the pocket.

Not whatever is left after entertainment.

Not whatever we can spare without feeling it.

A Christian should decide before God what he will give.

Consider income.

Consider prosperity.

Consider obligations.

Consider the work of the church.

Consider the needs of brethren.

Once a Christian purposes, he should honor that purpose.

Do not make promises lightly.

Do not vow and then treat it as nothing.

God takes the heart seriously.

Ananias and Sapphira warn us.

Their sin was not that they kept part of the price.

The land was theirs before it was sold.

The money was theirs after it was sold.

Their sin involved deception before God.

Purposed giving must be honest giving.

No hypocrisy.

No performance.

No pretending to be more generous than we are.

Christians should not give grudgingly or under compulsion.

God does not want forced hands with rebel hearts.

A man may be pressured publicly.

A man may be shamed socially.

But that is not the spirit God wants.

The church must teach giving plainly.

Teaching is not compulsion.

Rebuke is not extortion.

Scripture must be preached.

But the giver must decide before God.

He must examine his heart.

He must examine his prosperity.

He must give by faith.

Grudging giving reveals a divided heart.

Part of the man knows he should give.

Part of the man resents God’s claim.

That man needs repentance, not excuses.

Giving under compulsion may keep up appearances.

But God sees beneath appearances.

God wants willing obedience.

God loves the cheerful giver.

Christians should give with trust in God’s provision.

Second Corinthians 9 teaches that God is able to make grace abound.

God can provide sufficiency.

God can supply seed to the sower.

God can increase the harvest of righteousness.

This does not teach a prosperity gospel.

God does not promise to make greedy people rich.

God does not turn giving into a casino.

God blesses His people so they can abound in good work.

The more we receive, the more responsibility we have.

More prosperity means more stewardship.

More ability means more opportunity.

More blessing means more accountability.

God supplies seed to be sown, not hoarded.

The farmer who eats all the seed will have no harvest.

The Christian who consumes every blessing on himself is not wise.

God blesses us so we may do good.

Psalm 41 and Isaiah 58 show God’s concern for mercy.

God blesses the one who considers the helpless.

God calls His people to relieve oppression and care for the afflicted.

God sees the heart that cares for those in need.

Christians should give with humility before God.

Micah 6:8 ties acceptable service to humility.

Do justice.

Love kindness.

Walk humbly with your God.

Giving without humility becomes performance.

Some give to be seen.

Some give to control.

Some give to gain influence.

Giving with humility asks, “Lord, what do You require?”

Not, “What can I get away with?”

Not, “What will impress people?”

Not, “What keeps others from criticizing me?”

Humble giving remembers ownership.

God owns the earth.

God gives life and strength.

God gives the ability to work.

God gives every good and perfect gift.

The humble giver does not think he is doing God a favor.

He is simply returning a portion of what God has entrusted to him.

He is joining the work God authorized.

He is obeying as a grateful child.

Every Christian must examine his giving honestly.

Am I giving?

Am I giving regularly?

Am I giving as I have prospered?

Am I giving cheerfully?

Am I giving purposefully?

The issue is not whether God needs your money.

He does not.

The cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him.

The issue is whether your heart belongs to Him.

A Christian who refuses to give is not walking humbly.

He may attend.

He may sing.

He may listen to sermons.

But he is withholding obedience in an area God has addressed.

A Christian who gives carelessly needs to grow.

Stop giving God leftovers.

Stop treating the contribution as optional change.

Purpose in your heart and honor that purpose.

A Christian who gives resentfully needs repentance.

God is not honored by a clenched heart.

The church is not helped spiritually by constant complaining.

Give because you love God and His work.

Parents should teach children to give.

Children should learn that worship includes giving.

Children should learn that money is not their god.

Children should learn sacrifice early.

The church must teach giving without apology.

Not to enrich men.

Not to manipulate brethren.

But because Scripture teaches it.

Brethren must understand what giving supports.

Preaching the gospel.

Helping needy saints.

Maintaining the work of the local congregation.

Teaching the lost.

Strengthening the saved.

A congregation that will not give will eventually weaken.

It will struggle to support preaching.

It will struggle to help brethren.

It will struggle to carry out authorized work.

It will become loud in claims but poor in sacrifice.

The Lord’s people should be better than that.

God has given us salvation in Christ.

God has given us the church.

God has given us hope.

God has given us opportunity.

Let us give like people who know we have received everything from Him.

Micah asked the right question.

What does the Lord require?

Not what does culture expect?

Not what do I personally prefer?

What does the Lord require?

The Lord requires justice, kindness, and humble walking with Him.

Giving does not replace those things.

Giving should grow out of those things.

A heart right with God will not fight faithful giving.

The New Testament teaches Christians to give.

Christians are the ones accountable.

Christians give as they have prospered.

Christians give on the first day of every week.

Christians give for needy saints, gospel preaching, and authorized church work.

Christians give cheerfully and purposefully.

God does not need your money.

But you need the discipline of giving.

The church needs faithful stewardship.

Needy saints need help.

The gospel work needs support.

Every child of God needs to heed this command.

Not grudgingly.

Not carelessly.

Not selfishly.

But as obedient children before a holy Father.

If you have not been giving as you should, repent.

Come to terms with God.

Purpose in your heart.

Do better.

Honor the Lord with what He has placed in your hands.

Hear the word.

Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Believe Christ.

John 8:24 warns that unless you believe that Jesus is He, you will die in your sins.

Repent.

Acts 17:30 says God commands all people everywhere to repent.

Confess Christ.

Romans 10:9–10 teaches confession with the mouth and belief in the heart.

Be baptized for the remission of sins.

Acts 2:38 commands repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Live faithfully.

Revelation 2:10 calls the Christian to be faithful until death.