FollowUnderstand the Principle of New Testament Giving (Part one of Three)
© 2026 by C. O. Bishop (New Testament Giving)
(Compare Acts 11:27-30; 1st Corinthians 16:1-4; 2nd Corinthians 9:1-15)
2nd Corinthians 8:1-5
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
(This is a great pattern for New Testament Giving.)
Introduction:
God deeply supports the Principle of New Testament Giving throughout His Word.
In the first place, GOD is the Giver! He is not “only” the Creator: A human builder may “build a business.” But he may sell it to a group of investors, and walk away.
That sort of human “creator” creates a business with the intent of reaping a profit. Nothing wrong there, but he then abandons his original project to others. He is not particularly concerned with the long-term results. (Will his former employees have stable jobs? Not his problem! The new owners will have to deal with that! Will the investors continue to make a profit? Also not his problem: They are grown-ups! It was their responsibility to research the market and decide whether the business was truly viable.)
But God is the Giver! He Set the Standard for New Testament Giving!
Yes, the Person we talk about as “God” did create all things, material and immaterial: Energy, souls, spirits, and matter. (Including our bodies, souls and spirits and those of the Angelic hosts.) But He continues to give, throughout the ages, setting the example for us in New Testament Giving.
The Almighty God later identifies Himself as the Person we address as the Lord Jesus Christ. He associates with Jesus Christ so thoroughly that we can’t discern where one ends and the other begins. Add in the Person of the Holy Spirit, and any honest persons (including the Angelic hosts) have to confess that He is so far above us that we cannot begin to understand Him.
He Has Never Abandoned Us: We Have Abandoned Him!
But He did not just create a universe, set it spinning throughout space, and then sit back to watch it wobble around, like a child playing with a spinning top, or some similar toy. He completely involves Himself with His Creation, and provides for the welfare of all His creatures, although that provision has changed through history, as we, the human race, have wandered further and further away from the Creator. And it has affected every living thing on this planet.
Notice that in the beginning, God created light before He created the luminaries. He created the plants on day Three, thus providing food for all animal life. But plants absolutely must have light to survive. And He created that light on day One. But no Sun, moon, or stars. All living things require an atmosphere, with just the proper mixture of gases, so on day Two, He created the atmosphere, that we call “sky.” Most plants require solid, fairly dry land, in order to thrive or in most cases survive. So, on day Three, God created dry land, and, immediately thereafter, all the plant world.
God Continues to Give, Providing Himself As our Example
See how His wisdom provided for the living biosphere He was creating. And He gave all living things what they needed to survive, before placing them in that sphere.
The luminaries came next: He says that their primary purpose is a timepiece, by which to take note of the days, weeks, seasons, and years. He allows us to recognize and count the passing of time. (At the end of time, in the new Heaven and New Earth, there will be no more luminaries. Jesus Himself is the Light and the only source of Light. And time means nothing in Eternity.)
On the Fifth and Sixth days, God created all the animal life. And, in every case, He gave the provision for their upkeep before He created the creatures themselves.
God has given us all things needed for life and godliness, according to 2nd Peter 1:3, and He has invited us to walk where He walks, (1st John 1:7) and do as He does. (Ephesians 5:1) (New Testament Giving is part of that walk!)
In the Old testament, Micah 6:8 calls all believers to “…walk humbly with the Lord your God.” And He gave that invitation before Jesus gave the Ultimate Gift, completing His Redeeming Work at the Cross. He gave it before the Gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit!
In Ephesians 5:1, He calls us to “Be imitators (King James Version says “followers”) of God, as dear children.” It is normal for little children to desire to imitate their parents, and to join them in their work. We can see that in our children, and it gives us joy. Our approval gives them joy as they imitate us.
Good and Perfect Gifts
James 1:17, 18 “17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
But as we have seen God as the ultimate Giver, the literal source of all good gifts, then we find that He has called us to imitate that specific character trait, just as we desire to imitate His other attributes: His Holiness and His Love.
Giving is a product of His Love. Jesus gave us our primary command in John 13:34, 35
“A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another: As I have Loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My Disciples if ye have Love one to another.” And that Agapé love does involve giving, among other things.
New Testament Giving, as Opposed to Old Testament Giving
One of the misconceptions we have as “ignorant Gentiles” is that the “Old Testament Giving” was ten percent. (And sometimes it was!) The word “tithe” does mean 10%. But the tithes were their taxes, not their giving: and there were two and one third “tithes” per year.
- One tithe was to feed the Levites who were not given land, but were called to serve the tabernacle, and work as priests.
- Another was to be spent on a national feast: A party, every year, in which 10% of every family’s yearly income was spent in a blowout of a national feast day!
- The third, spread over three years, was designated to feed the poor. (3-1/3% per year.)
These were literally their federal taxes! Freewill giving had to be on top of that. And it did not have a specified amount. It was in addition to the taxes, and was a personal thing, reflecting the relationship between God and His worshipers.
New Testament Giving is All Freewill Giving
The concept of the “tithe” is not in the Epistles. the Gospels mention it a few times, simply because the Gospels were part of the Old Covenant…the Old Testament. Jesus said His shed blood was to be the blood of the New Covenant. So, the New Covenant literally could not begin before His death. And, from our perspective, at least, it could not begin until the Holy Spirit was given to indwell the New Testament believers!
So, since we all pay taxes to our government, and we have no “priesthood class,” but rather, we are ALL called priests in the body of Christ…all the giving must be freewill giving.
How Are the Gifts Used In New Testament Giving?
Our gifts are used for similar purposes, though: We support the leadership of the churches, if they cannot fully self-support. And that is a command, but still, no percentage, or set salary. They are simply to be counted worthy of double honor. In my mind, that means that, if they are serving faithfully in the Word and in teaching, we are commanded to support them in a manner at least matching the average income of the church. It does not mean that the leaders should be “making merchandise of the teaching…selling it to the believers.”
Ashamed to Broach the Subject of New Testament Giving
In many churches, I would be ashamed to even teach on this subject. Our culture has convinced everyone that “Preachers are only after your money!” Therefore, any teaching on money (or on New Testament giving) seems to confirm the evil reports about greedy, money-hungry charlatans…wolves in sheep’s clothing, seeking to “fleece the flock” for their money.
I am grateful to not have to fear that response in this church. The founding pastor, Pat James, was self-supporting, initially, but after he went on Social Security to more fully serve the church, the church supported him with a housing allowance until he died, and his wife, also, until she also died. That was a good response to God’s Word.
Continuing Legacy of New Testament Giving
Richard Banham and I both were fully self-supporting, until after Richard’s death. We sought to follow Paul’s example, who was also self-supporting. I attempted to maintain self-support for about another ten months after I lost my secular job, but the Church stepped in and told me that they would begin giving us a housing allowance. They also advised me to start my Social Security benefits. So, I did, and I discovered that between Social Security and the housing allowance stipend, our needs are being met. We are OK!
As a church, we also exercise New Testament Giving in order to provide funds to maintain the building we share. In addition, this Church has also increasingly given to support missionary work in places where the Gospel would not otherwise have gone. I am constantly amazed to see what this tiny church has been privileged to do, because we have striven to walk with the Lord, believing His Word.
The poverty-stricken believers in the little churches across Macedonia did the same thing: they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to those around them, (v. 5) with the result being that they gave beyond their comfort zone (v. 3), and begged the apostles to allow them to give in that way (v. 4). that is real New Testament Giving! I have been very pleased and blessed to see how this little band of believers has responded to the needs outside our fellowship and those within.
Lord Jesus, please continue to soften our hearts with Your Grace, by Your Word, and by your Holy Spirit. Continue to bless us as we seek to bless others.