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New Testament Giving: How to Understand The Principles

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New Testament Giving Principles, Continued (2/4)

© 2026  C. O. Bishop (New Testament Giving)

2nd Corinthians 8:5-15

5 And this they (the Macedonian Churches) did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Introduction:

In the passage immediately before this, Paul had expressed how the Macedonian churches had responded to the need in Jerusalem. They were very poor people, compared to Corinth, which was a wealthy community. But they had given far more than they could really afford. And they begged Paul to accept it on their behalf! They wanted to be included in the partnership of meeting the need at Jerusalem. They were an ideal example of New Testament Giving.

And Paul says that was a Good Example for us to Emulate. He said those poverty-stricken churches had given themselves to God first. As a result, they had earnestly desired to be a part of the New Testament giving. They wanted to support the church in Jerusalem, that was struggling, because of a famine. Paul was impressed by the pattern and he sent Titus to stir the church at Corinth to do something similar.

Paul knew that both physically and spiritually, the church at Corinth was wealthy. They had abounded in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and love. He asks that they demonstrate the reality of all those strengths by excelling in this one as well. Giving should be the result of those spiritual realities. (Is it always the result of spiritual reality? No! There are many wrong reasons for giving.)

Wrong Motives For Giving, in the New Testament

Some people in the Bible were guilty of giving to gain social prestige. (Remember Ananias & Sapphira, in Acts chapter five!) Others gave because they assumed it would improve their standing with God, or give them some sort of “leverage” in prayer. There are people today who have the same motives. But God does not become anyone’s debtor. He owns the entire Universe, every atom, every spirit, and every soul. Nothing we can give can reach outside of what He already owns: He created it all!

Some people hope to gain better standing with God because (out of their wealth) they give. They should remember the account of the elderly widow. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus said that from her deep poverty, she gave all she had, as a freewill gift. Jesus pointed her out as having given more than all the rest together.

Right Motives: Jesus is Our Example for Giving, in The New Testament

Paul reminded the Corinthian believers that Jesus became poor, deliberately. He abandoned His unimaginable wealth as the Heir of the Father, and Owner of all the Universe. Jesus left it all, to become very poor, even by human standards, for the sake of the Human race. He was born as a baby, in a poor family in a poor village, in a poor province of Israel, which was already a slave-state to Rome. He provided the “New Covenant”…the New Testament, by His giving Himself to God and to Us.

We read about this “self-emptying” of the Messiah in Philippians 2:5-8. It is often referred to as the “kenosis passage.” “Kenosis” is a theological term taken from the Greek word “ekenosin”, translated in Philippians 2:7 as the English phrase, “…made himself of no reputation.” It literally means, “He emptied himself.” He set aside all of His wealth and power as Almighty God, to put Himself in perfect position to be our kinsman-redeemer. He deliberately lived in poverty, to reach us where we were. And the result is that, through the death, and burial and resurrection of Jesus, we inherit the full righteousness of God, in Christ. That’s Real Wealth!

Jesus is Our Example As Kinsman Redeemer:

  • Jesus had to become our near relative. (He had to be born a human…not an angel.)
  • Jesus had to remain free from Sin, so as not to be a slave to sin, Himself. (He did!)
  • Jesus had to provide a full, pure, acceptable sacrifice before God for the Sins of the entire World. He verbalized this goal, and He completed it. (“It is Finished!”)
  • He had to do all of this willingly.

God calls us to look at His example and to imitate His attitude and actions in our lives. He wants it to become a practical, experiential, working reality, not just “Good Theory.” And, as an example of a working reality, we have already recalled the poor widow. In verse eleven, he points out that the underlying principle is that New Testament Giving (in fact, all acceptable giving” is based upon the giver having first given themselves to God, and even then, their giving is accepted by God based on what they have, not what they don’t have. (He never suggests that we borrow money in order to give. On the contrary, He says for us to avoid debt entirely, if possible.

Giving As A New Testament Church

But, as a cautionary note, Paul assured the Corinthian believers that he had no intention of driving them to poverty so as to make others wealthy. Instead, the believers in one church (who had plenty) shared with the believers in another church (who had nothing.) Paul pointed out that the time may come when the people in Corinth might need help, and the Judean believers may be able to supply that need.

In our case, we have met the needs of some churches elsewhere, with zero expectation that we may someday “receive something” from them. They have nothing! That is New Testament Giving! But! Those believers have relatively robust congregations (Lots of fervent believers.) And they are united in prayer for our little church in The United states. (That seems a fair exchange, to me: We need those prayers.) And that, too, is part of New Testament Giving.

Paul also reminded the Corinthian believers of the facts regarding the manna God had provided: They knew about it, but needed to make the connection. He pointed out that when the people collected the manna from the ground each morning, those who over-harvested, could not carry it forward to the next day, and those who had not collected enough, found that it ultimately turned out to be sufficient, after all!

Some Things to Notice About New Testament Giving:

As we pointed out last week, all of this giving was strictly free-will giving. This was not a “tithe,” that the church demanded from its members. There is no New Testament tithe, though some churches try to use the Old Testament tithe as a means by which to extract wealth (or simply the money for maintenance) from those who fellowship there.

Giving is part of the Life of a New Testament Believer, but it is not a matter of taxation. It is truly a personal relationship issue. If you want a relatively modern-day example, see if you can look online and find a copy of the book “Mover of Men and Mountains,” by R. G. LeTourneau. It is autobiographical, and details the life of a man who started out very poor, but chose to give to God, as an act of thanksgiving and worship. God used his work, and his testimony, and he eventually became quite wealthy. By that time (as I recall) he was giving 90% of his personal income back to God, and living on the 10% remaining.

Can we all do that? Obviously, the answer is no! But we can choose to give, and let God deal with the results.

The Underlying Principle:

The principle is that, if we have the wherewithal to give, then we should emulate God in His giving. God allowed us to see some good examples in scripture. But it becomes a personal matter between each believer and God. It is an act of worship, not “payment for services rendered.” (God is not a “Celestial contractor,” offering you “Divine Blessing, at Special Introductory Prices!” Honestly, that sounds blasphemous to me, but it is pretty close to what some charlatans teach.) The answer is No! He is God! He has no needs! But He directs us to give, and He tells us how to go about it!  

We don’t even like to talk about this topic, as the World has labeled all Christians as “money-grubbing hypocrites.” But this little church has a history of cheerful giving, especially in response to a known need. Because of that, I am not afraid to teach what God says, and allow the World to think what it wants.

We will address the particulars next week.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the reality of Your gift to us, and allow us to see the world around us through Your eyes. Help us to meet the central need of the Gospel, and also not to ignore the physical and emotional needs which may open the heart’s door to the Gospel.

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Christian Living And Relationships, Part Two

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Christian Living and Relationships (Part Two)

© C. O. Bishop, 5/20/16 THCF 5/22/16

Romans 12:3-11

Introduction:

We began looking at the practical outworking of our new relationship with Christ, two weeks ago, reading and considering Romans 12:1-3. We saw that we were to submit ourselves to God, as living sacrifices; daily making the choice to live for Him: to serve God, not self. It isn’t easy; which is why it is called a “Living” sacrifice: it can never just be a “done deal”—we always have to either renew that choice, or fail to do so.

Those verses, telling us how we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and how we can avoid being pressed into the mold of the world, are based upon our individual relationships with Christ. A proper relationship with Him in a growing, ongoing bond of love, will result in a changed life. It also results in changed relationships with other people, as we saw in Ephesians 4:1-6; another passage where Paul begs us to walk worthy of the vocation to which we have been called. We are to maintain unity with one another, and forbear (tolerate) one another, learning to love and appreciate one another, just for who each of us is in Christ.

Here in Romans we are reminded of some of the gifts of service that believers are given by which to be a blessing to one another, and we are told in what spirit to use each of them.

What does “Christian Service” look like?

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

One of the more obvious dangers in Christian service is the temptation to serve in the same spirit as do those of the world. We desire human recognition, and like to feel appreciated. Many times churches create titles and “jobs” within the church organization, so that a person feels proud to do the job they have been assigned. But this practice establishes boundaries, and territories, and effectively divides the body. Everyone is thus encouraged toward “self” expression, and “self” fulfillment, “owning” the ministry, and can easily forget who the head of the body actually is. Paul caution us to “not think more highly of” ourselves, but, rather, to think soberly.

I have known of communities where deacons, for instance, attach that title to their name, and actually introduce themselves as “Deacon So-and-so.” Many pastors do the same thing, and in many circles they are expected to do so. Then we invent honorifics to go with the title, or even supplant it—the “Right Reverend so-and-so… your excellency…your Grace”… do you see how that feeds pride?

The fact is, I don’t need a title, or a “territory”. I can sit and listen to someone else teach, and take careful notes, so as to actually learn from their teaching; and I will be perfectly happy. I have no need for the limelight. I would be happy to serve from the back pew, and have frequently done so. I have taught because I was asked to teach, and, since I keep getting asked to continue teaching, I conclude that this is what I am supposed to be doing. I also do it, even in private, because that is my gift—it is simply what I do.

The result seems to be that folks get fed, and understanding increases. I don’t need an “office” or title, to do any of that. If it is the job—the gift—Jesus gave me to do, then I will either do it, or fail to do it. I am given to believe that my gifts are in this area, and when I pray, “Lord, I just don’t know what to do!” the immediate answer is “Feed my flock!” So, by faith, I press on. If He gives me a different job, or assignment, He will let me know it.

All the gifts have this in common: they don’t need “titles”, or honorifics; they just need a willing heart. But we each have different gifts, though all the believers are part of that one Body of Christ. That is the source of Unity—our position in Christ. But each of us has something to offer. Each of us can choose to be a blessing to those around us, but it will be done in different ways. Many years ago, a teacher told me, “If I go to church to be a blessing, I will almost always come home blessed. But if I go there to get a blessing, I can frequently come home empty and sour.” The Agapé love always seeks to bless those around it…not to receive a blessing. But the result is that it is always blessed.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Notice it says that we are members one of another. We are not just “employees of the same company—co-workers”; we belong to one another. We are truly part of a select brotherhood, because we are born from above, of the same Father. We are one body, and, though we may feel somewhat alienated from one another at times, due to sin, we really are one.

All of us know what it means to “hurt all over”, because of an injury or illness. I have actually heard of people who endured a fairly small injury (a mashed finger or the like) but who then went into shock and died…the whole body responded to the injury of one member so drastically that the body shut down completely. In contrast to the physical body, that mutual care will not shut us down; it will empower us, but we are to have that sort of deep compassion and care for one another, so that if one member is hurting, it is a concern for all. And, if one is blessed, it is a joy to all, as all are invigorated by the goodness of God, seen reflected in another person’s life.

What is a Prophet?

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

When we consider the New Testament gift of prophecy, we must remember that even the Old Testament word does not mean a “teller of the future”, but a spokesman for God; a mouthpiece for God. In Exodus 4:12, God told Moses, “…go, and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say!” That is pretty much the definition of a prophet, through all the ages. In the early days, it frequently (but not always) involved “fore-telling”. In fact, when we use the word “prophecy”, or “prophetic,” we usually mean “the telling of the future”. But all the word really means is being “a mouthpiece for God”.

As far as I can tell, a person who simply gives the clear meaning of scripture and can tie it all together, so that the listeners can see it all as God’s Word, not just a collection of disconnected pamphlets by forgotten writers, is a good teacher. That would be one who is gifted to teach. But if they are also used of God to bring a corrective message, or a message of encouragement, or a message from scripture that builds up the believers for the work of service, then they are functioning as a New Testament prophet.

1st Corinthians 14:3 states that “he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” That is the definition of a prophet’s job, in this age. The Old Testament gift of foretelling the future seems to have pretty much disappeared by the end of the book of Acts. We are told nothing further about it in the epistles, at least. Even false prophets are not warned against in the epistles, so much as false teachers.

A prophet, then, must have the faith to pursue God, personally, and absorb the Word of God, and learn the will of God, as revealed in Scripture. The prophet has to have the faith to see God’s will in black and white, and be able to declare it firmly, though humbly, knowing it to be true, because Jesus says so. “Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.” This is Paul’s message to the prophets in the New Testament Church.

What is “Ministry?”

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Ministry means service. The Greek word, here, for service, is “diakonia”. The companion word, “diakonous” is where we get the word “deacon”, in English. It simply means servant. We disdain the word servant, as if it is a “low-caste” calling, to which no one should be relegated. But God calls it a gift, and a high, holy calling. It is interesting to learn that the root of the word “menial” which we really don’t like, is exactly the same as that of the word “ministry” which we claim to love. Jesus taught this lesson in John 13, doing a menial task (foot-washing) that was ordinarily relegated to the lowest servants, in order to demonstrate the principle of ministry to his disciples.

Every believer is called to this life of service, but some are gifted beyond others, and can throw themselves into any task without reserve, as it is their joy to serve. There are no restrictions as to who can serve God: anyone can serve, but not all at the same tasks. He chooses our tasks. There may be human restrictions of a practical nature: a life-guard, for example, is in a position that absolutely demands that he or she be a very strong swimmer, and specifically trained to work in deep water to bring a struggling or injured person to safety. A church pianist must be someone who has endured the discipline of learning to play the piano well enough to accompany singers, in any key needed. There are many other human limitations, and we recognize them; but anyone can serve, and there are innumerable ways in which to do so. If you have a heart for service, God will give you an avenue in which to serve faithfully. And faithfulness itself is worthy of reward. God says, “Well done, thou good and faithful Servant!”

What about Teaching?

Teaching, as we mentioned earlier, is the gift of being able to read, study and understand scripture, and to teach what it means, accurately, in keeping with the rest of the Word of God, so that the hearers are not just hearing, but understanding the scriptures, themselves. It was mentioned in the Old Testament as well as the New, and is a valuable gift, as well. A teacher does not necessarily have to be a leader, but an elder (overseer, pastor, bishop) has to be a teacher, as far as I can see. 1st Timothy 3:1-8 states some of the qualifications of being an elder, and one of them is “apt to teach”—able to teach. I do not think that this is just the ability to teach carpentry, or cooking, or mathematics, as, in the first place, those are not related to the work of God. It is also not just the rudimentary abilty that ALL people have, to transmit information. It is specifically referring to the spiritual gift of teaching that is vital to the health of a church. This, along with the gift of prophecy, is how the Flock is to be fed…and they are to be fed on the Word of God, not philosophy, or other bits of human wisdom. God’s Word is clean “sheep food.” That is all we have to offer. But how can we tell if we are gifted?

Teaching has not been accomplished until learning occurs. I teach several classes at work; each has numerous tests associated with it. Some of the tests are quite difficult. None of the tests could be passed by someone who has not received the teaching. So, my “report card” is “what percentage of my students can now understand and use what I taught…and are they doing so?”

A Bible teacher should grade himself or herself by the same standard: “Do my students better understand the scriptures?”, and “Are they better able to apply them than before?” It is much harder to tell, for sure, as there is no “sit down and take the exam” kind of test to apply. But I knew a woman (now home with the Lord) who taught “Good News Club” Bible classes in her home for many years, training little children to understand the Word of God. Her report card? Most of the deacons in her church, before she died, were men whom she had taught as little children, in her home. She had led many of them to Christ. That is a great “Report Card!”

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Exhortation–Encouragement

Encouragement is a pretty vital gift, too—the ability to see a need in someone’s life, and strengthen them by drawing alongside and being a friend, or a helper, or to encourage them to make good decisions. Some people are a constant encourager to those around them. Some are not. We are all told to encourage one another, and those of us who do not come by it naturally have no excuse—we are still told to do it. But there are those who are gifted by God to be an encourager to other believers. Encouragement flows out of them wherever they go. They are a tremendous blessing to the Church. We so badly need encouragers.

Giving with Simplicity

Giving, obviously, requires having something to give. But I remember hearing about a woman who picked blackberries all summer, with the express intent of having enough to buy her daughter a student violin. How precious that violin was to her grown daughter many years later.

Giving can be done in a showy manner, making a spectacle of the gift—and that practice is condemned by Jesus. Or it can be done simply, privately, with no fanfare, no attention to the gift or the giver…just meeting a need. That is a blessing in itself. Seeing to the need of another person without regard to one’s own benefit is the simplest definition of Agapé Love. When we consider what Jesus did at the Cross, we see that he completely personified that love.

Ruling with Diligence

Not all administrators are diligent…and not all are gifted to rule. But it takes diligent work to do a good job of overseeing any sort of job, or group of people. Some people are gifted to do the job of administration, and can do an efficient job without damaging the people with whom they serve. Others simply want power, and cause offense, as they bully the others in their group.

This desire for preeminence is rooted in self-will, and has nothing to do with the gift of administration. The Love of God has to be the motivating power in every area of the church, but especially in those who rule.

Showing Mercy, with Cheerfulness

Mercy is a gift that goes along with service and encouragement. It is tremendously valuable, because it mends hearts, comforts the feeble and quiets the fearful. It is the Compassion of God in human form. The “Report Card” on this one is how it is received. If little children and the elderly are blessed when they are near you, and people are comforted by your presence, then perhaps you are gifted in this area. It is difficult to tell about and describe, but it is easy to see in others. God said that Mercy was more valuable, and acceptable to Him than sacrifice.

Love is the Conclusion

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Love– the Agapé love as well as its companion word phileo—brotherly love—is the key to all relationships in the body of Christ. Those two loves never lead to evil; only to what is best. So a person who is claiming to express agapé love, but is doing wrong, is faking the love for the sake of cloaking the evil. Paul says, love is to be without dissimulation—without fakery—no pretension.

We are to completely avoid evil, and see it as abominable, wherever it appears…but especially in ourselves; in our motives, and our thoughts, since that is where God is looking: God says he “is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). We are to cling to what is good, without exception. Our love for one another must be pure, drawing us closer to one another and to Christ.
We should be most comfortable in the company of other believers, and give each other full respect and honor as children of God. In business and productivity, that Love should produce an excellent work ethic, as we recognize that we are serving God as well as our employer. If our spirit is right with God, it should produce a fervent love and worship for God, and a fervent desire to do His will and draw others to Him as well. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:31)

These are the principles by which we are to guide our walk with God, our relationships with other believers and our relationship with the World around us. I trust that, as we meditate on this passage we can see it come to life in us, and transform us into the hands and feet and heart of Jesus, doing His work in this World.

Lord Jesus, change us into your likeness. Teach us to discern your will and search for ways to serve one another in Love. Make us the men and women of God that you have called us to be.

 

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