"Five Biblical Principles Of Christian Giving"
1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (NASB)

16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.

16:2 On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.

16:3 And when I arrive, whomever you may approve, I shall send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem;

16:4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

I. 1^st Principle: Giving Is A Ministry (v.1)
1. The primary purpose of giving in the New Testament is to minister to the saints.

A. In this passage several churches gave to help the Christians in Jerusalem who had been persecuted and were in need (1 Cor. 16:1).

1) Romans15:26, "For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem." (NASB)

2) 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, "Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God." (NASB)

B. We are to give to help other Christians in need.

- 1 John 3:16-18, "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (NASB)

C. We are to give to help support missions and pastors.

1) see 1 Corinthians 9:1-14.

2) 1 Tim.5:17-18, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,' and 'The laborer is worthy of his wages.'" (NASB)

D. We are also called to look after our widows and orphans.

1) James 1:27, "This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (NASB)

A) "visit" = episkeptomai {ep-ee-skep'-tom-ahee: v, inf, pres, mid/pass, dep}; to visit for the purpose of comfort and relief.

B) "distress" = thlipsis {thlip'-sis: n, dat, f, sg}; affliction, distressing circumstances, trial, anguish, trouble.

A. Galatians 6:10, "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." (NASB)

B. Giving is a Ministry of becoming a Blessing to Others

II. 2^nd Principle: Giving Is To Be Consistent (v.2a)
1. Paul tells them to give the first day of the week (Sunday).

A. This was the day that the early church met to worship.

1) "first" = eis {ice: adj, pron, card, acc, f, sg}; one, first

2) "week" = sabbaton {sab'-bat-on: n, gen, neut, sg}; of Hebrew origin meaning the Sabbath; used here for a week (v.2a).

B. Their coming together to worship was to include the regular giving of money.

III. 3^rd Principle: Giving Is Expected (v.2b)
1. Every believer is expected to give.

A. Paul expected each member who had an income to share in the offering.

1)  "let each one of you" = ekastos {hek'-as-tos: adj, pron, nom, m, sg}; each one, every one (v.2b).

2) It been said, "It's not what we would do if we had much money--it's what we are doing with what we have now!"

B. This would allow them to also participate in the blessings of giving.

IV. 4^th Principle: Giving Is Proportionate (v.2c)
1. Every believer was to give according to how God had blessed them.

A. None of the New Testament writers ever gave a set percentage that was to be given.

- "as he may prosper" = euodoo {yoo-od-o'-o: v, subj, pres, pass, 3 per, sg}; to prosper, be successful (v.2c).

B. In the Old Testament, the Jews were required to give around 23 %. (est. yearly avg.).

1) They were to give 10 % to support the priest.

A) Leviticus 27:30, "Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's; it is holy to the LORD." (NASB)

B) Numbers 18:21, "And to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting." (NASB)

2) They were to give another 10 % to support the national feasts and holidays.

- Deuteronomy 14:22-27, "You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. And you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the first-born of your herd and your flock, in order that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. And if the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you." (NASB).

3) They were to give another 10 % every third year to support the Levite, the alien, the orphan, and the widow.

- Deuteronomy 14:28-29, "At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do." (NASB).

4) There tithes were never freewill, but rather were required to support a theocratic government system.

C. Pre-law giving

1) Abraham gave 10 % to Melchizedek.

- Genesis 14:18-20, "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.'  And he gave him a tenth of all." (NASB)

2) Jacob promised to give 10 % of all that he had if God would protect him and make him prosper.

- Genesis 28:20-22, "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father's house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee." (NASB).

3) Both Abraham's and Jacob's tithes were voluntary and apparently singular, and there is no indication in the Bible that anyone before Moses regularly gave 10 %.

A. Christian giving should be based upon our ability to give.

- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;" (NASB)

B. Christian giving should be based upon our love for the Lord.

V. 5^th Principle: Your Gifts Should Be Handled Properly (vv.3-4)
1. Believers who give have the right to expect that their money be handled correctly.

2. Those appointed to handle the church's finances should be accountable and trustworthy.

- "approve" = dokimazo {dok-im-ad'-zo: v, subj, aor, act, 2 per, pl}; approve, consider qualified; i.e., one who has been scrutinized or tested and deemed worthy (v.3).

2. An open heart cannot maintain a closed hand

3. If we appreciate the grace of God extended to us, we will want to express that grace by sharing with others.

4. To put it another way: God gave His only begotten Son for you, How much is that worth to you?