God made some rules for the Israelites in the Old Testament regarding giving - the tithe, temple taxes and other provisions for the priests and the poor. There are no similar mandates in the New Testament to the early church. What does carry over is the idea that it is all God’s and it matters what we do with what He has given us. Some examples of generosity include the poor widow giving her last mite, Zacchaeus giving half his wealth and myriads of early believers, including the Macedonians, who gave abundantly to support their brothers and sisters in other churches.
While God doesn’t require any specific formula for what we give back, He does give explicit instructions on how we are to give.
Give Cheerfully. Everything belongs to God. He doesn’t need our “stuff” because it’s all His anyway. But He does care about our heart. He wants us to want to give, to look for opportunities and to gladly join in where we see Him at work. Generosity is a mark of gratitude and so becomes a reflection of our relationship with Him.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
Give Freely. When we give, it should be without strings attached. The only expectation being that we were given to freely and so we give freely as a result. Our giving should also be without strings for God. It is dangerous to slip into unspoken expectations of what God should do for us as a result of our giving. He is not a vending machine.
Give Generously. It’s all His. We are merely His conduits - and we can’t outgive Him.
Give Sacrificially. God gave us life at a great cost to Him. It is easy to give out of our abundance, but there is real joy in giving something up so someone else can receive. The OT principle of first fruits is that you give the first part of a harvest – requiring trust that the rest will follow. Giving before it is in hand. Sacrificing for one another is an act of love.
It’s easy to get caught up in what I “should” give. Is it the right amount? To the right person or organization? But maybe God is less concerned about figures and formulas than the attitude of my heart. If I get the how right, or at least head in that direction, the what will easily take care of itself and I will find that God has led me to generous in ways I hadn't imagined.
