Word of Salvation – Vol.34 No.32 – August 1989

 

Giving and Tithing

 

Sermon by Rev.N. Benfell on 1Corinthians 16:1-3

Scripture Reading: 1Corinthians 16

 

Have you ever thought as you read through a letter of Paul the Apostle, “I’m so glad he put those practical parts at the end of his letter for people like me”.  You wouldn’t be the first ‘to feel like that.  Even the Apostle Peter thought some of Paul’s letters were hard to understand.

Our text today in the last chapter of first Corinthians is a practical text.  It’s about what Paul calls the collection for God’s people – about how Christians use their money for the Lord’s work.  But because it’s practical doesn’t mean that this is just a simple matter, or that there are no principles behind what the Apostle says.

Wherever you read the Apostle Paul, or in fact the whole Bible, there is always a principle involved, either stated or implied.  So, also today our text has behind it the great principles of New Testament giving.  Paul wants to encourage the Corinthians in giving their money to help other Christians, and especially in this case, Jews in Jerusalem.  We are going to see how this teaching affects us.  And we’ll find that what Paul says here fits well into the context of the rest of the Bible’s teaching about the duty of giving.

Paul expects the Corinthians to help other Christians who are in trouble.  Their brothers in Jerusalem were perhaps the poorest Christians anywhere, as well as being in frequent persecutions.  On one visit to that city, Paul had been especially asked by the other apostles to remember the poor, and he tells us in Galatians 2:10 that he was eager to do just that.  The apostles were following the teaching of the Lord Jesus as they taught Christians to give generously for the real needs of others.  “Give to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven…  Give, and it will be given to you, shaken together and running over.”

With all our riches today, we western Christians need many reminders not to just squander God’s generosity on ourselves.  Jesus said, “Give to everyone who asks you …  in order that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven, for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good.”

So when Paul tells every Corinthian to set aside a sum of money on the first day of the week, he is doing so on the authority of Jesus Christ.  That’s why he says in a commanding way, “Do what I told the Galatians to do.”  He doesn’t say, “Do it if you feel like it” or “Do it if you’re in a generous mood” – he just says, “Do it”.  And when our elders and deacons in the church pass the plate around, and when they call for a collection for the poor, they do it on the authority of Jesus Christ.  And we are to respond.

The elders and the deacons and all of us know that it is natural to a Christian to want to give.  He is not under compulsion, except that is the compulsion of incalculable debt!  We respond because of love, because of true thankfulness, and because we are always and forever so in debt to our great Saviour that we cannot ignore His call to give to His people and His children.  This is one of the first principles of Christian giving.  We have freely received grace and more grace, so we freely give.

Now it seems the Corinthians had asked a question about the best way to organize their collections for the poor.  It’s not the principle of giving they seem to question, but rather the practice.

So the Apostle tells them that the best way is for each Christian to make provision for the Lord’s work week by week as they receive their income.  He advises against a special collection being taken up just because he may be there among them.  Rather they should give as a regular duty, week by week, storing up some money to give away when Paul arrives.  It seems to me that Paul did not want there to be some special appeal for funds just because he was there.  He was not a fundraiser for the Kingdom.  No – instead the Christians have responsibilities.  Let them learn to be faithful and diligent in this duty of giving as in all others which please the Lord.  He is teaching the church to think about others as a regular duty and as part of their worship, not only when someone from another country is on tour, arousing emotions.  We know there are needs.  The poor are always with us.

Now I want us to notice some important principles in our text.  Three aspects are mentioned by Paul.

            This giving to the poor is to be regular,
            it should be done on the first day of the week,
            and it should be proportional to the Christian’s income.

These are basic principles for all Christians in our contributing to the Lord’s people.  Regular giving is vital to the health of the church, and it is also our duty of love if we are to honour the spirit of Christ’s teaching.

The first day of the week was probably the day when the Christians in Corinth gathered for worship and fellowship.  This is the day the Lord Jesus rose.  Already it had special significance among these early Christians.  Here in our text is support for the New Testament teaching that the first day has succeeded the Sabbath.  It’s not proof by itself of that teaching, but it is supporting evidence.  Paul mentions this as the day when giving to the work of Christ should take place.

But probably the most important principle that Paul mentions here is that giving ought to be proportional to the income of the believer.  The rich man gives richly, and not just out of his surplus; and the poor man gives generously out of his poverty.  Both are to “store up according to the way they are prospered”.

Now our text has often been quoted as supporting the case for continuing old Testament tithing.  The Corinthian’s giving is to be regular, as the Old Testament tithing, and it’s to be proportional to income.

So, the question is asked – well then, what proportion?  Obviously it should be a tenth as the law says.  That is the argument.  So if this is the case, then in our exegesis of this text, the context is the whole Bible, and we are required to find here in 1Corinthians 16 the continuation of the laws of the tithe.  That is a popular form of exegesis of such texts as this one in front of us.  And because there is so much teaching and discussion on this topic today, we can’t ignore this question as we deal with our verse.

Is Paul teaching tithing here?  Well, he supports proportional giving – that much is clear.  But he does not mention tithing, as he surely easily could have.  Wouldn’t it be the quick and easy thing to say to the Corinthians, “Just set aside your tithe as believers have always done in Israel, and I’ll collect it when I come.”  But he doesn’t say that – not here, nor anywhere in the New Testament.

Now the argument claiming that tithing is for this age usually begins in the Old Testament with Melchizedek.  We find in Genesis 14:18-20 that Abraham paid tithes to this man after defeating the kings of Sodom in battle.

Melchizedek is important to the tithing argument because he comes before the law of Moses.  It is said that Abraham’s tithing proves he knew God’s everlasting law of the tithe.  Moses’ law, which came later, simply formalised the situation which already existed.  Because Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, then all Abraham’s spiritual children must pay tithes to Jesus Christ, for Melchizedek is a type of the Lord Jesus.

The next step in the argument is Moses’ law, where tithing is very plain.  For example: Deuteronomy 14:22-25 (please read).  This law is never cancelled anywhere in the New Testament, so Christians are bound to keep it.  The Lord Jesus Himself reasserts the law when He says in Matthew 23:23 (please read).  So this teaching goes: that is the case for tithing.

On the basis of these Bible passages an extensive system of tithing suited to New Testament Christians has been worked out.  Detailed efforts are made to apply the laws of the Old Testament economy to fit twentieth century concepts and complicated economic problems like inflation, capital growth, confiscatory taxation, income redistribution, and so on.  Balance sheets are drawn up showing how the old tithe supplied education, medicine etc., and how to take these into account in determining what to pay back to the Lord.  There is a debate among modern tithers as to whether all must be paid to the church, or some may go to para-church work, personal charities and the like.  But what seems to be agreed among tithers is that God will not bless the church unless everyone pays their tithes.  This is asserted on the basis of Malachi 3:8-10 (please read).  So if anyone does not tithe, they are breaking the covenant.  That is the argument.

Melchizedek brought out bread and wine for Abraham.  If Christians do not give a tenth to their Melchizedek, Christ, they should not get the bread and wine.  In other words, this matter of the tithe should be a question of discipline – that is the argument, ending in excommunication for those who refuse.  How would you determine if people were tithing?  Perhaps you’d have to have a tax inspection of all the members’ returns?  There’s a debate about that.

How attractive all this may seem to some!  How easy!  Ten percent of everything – problem solved!  There’ll be lots of money, the church will boom, the Gospel will spread!

I have to say that I believe this mentality to be foreign to the spirit of our text, and to its letter, and foreign to the whole New Testament.  In the first place let’s clear up Melchizedek.  Melchizedek gave bread and wine to Abraham first, before Abraham gave tithes.  In other words, Melchizedek took the initiative; Abraham responded.  Since Melchizedek took the initiative, the typology would have to enhance the initiative of grace.  This is quite the opposite to saying that you only get the bread and wine after you’ve tithed!  In fact, that could be an attack on the Gospel of grace itself.  You pay your dues, then you’ll get the signs of grace!  Discipline for non-tithing on the basis of Abraham’s example, would stand this incident on its head.  There is no indication at all that the Patriarch acted under compulsion.  It was a response of thanks on Abraham’s part.  To use this incident as a basis for compulsory tithing and resultant church discipline is an example of the loose and ill-founded exegesis thrown around today, to the troubling of many.

In the case of the Pharisees to whom Jesus spoke – yes they ought to tithe – that is the law, and they are under it.  Their hypocrisy is that they do it meticulously, but all the while neglecting the true love of God and great matters of justice.

Likewise those to whom Malachi spoke.  They are under the old covenant – tithing is their obligation…

But this is emphatically not the principle which the Apostle Paul lays upon his hearers at Corinth.  The principle is that the Christian is to give “as he may prosper”.  If the Corinthians had any questions as to what Paul meant, he made it abundantly clear in his second letter when he writes about support of the saints – 2Corinthians 8:7-12, and 9:6-8 (read both).  And in the following verse 9, the example of God Himself is held out to the Corinthians as their pattern for giving – (read) 2Cor.9:9.  The exhortation of Jesus was in the same tone, “Freely you have received, freely give”.

We must say that these teachings of Paul, founded on the spirit and teaching of Christ, cannot ever be reconciled with the demands of modern tithers, or the requirements of the Mosaic covenant.  If the law of the tithe was a ceremonial requirement, then the Westminster Confession says it has been fulfilled in Christ.  If that old law was a civil law, then the Confession says it has expired with the nation of Israel, and no longer binds the conscience of the free man in Christ.  The Confession says that only the ‘general equity’ of that law remains.  And in our text in 1Corinthians 16:2 it is precisely the general equity of that law which Paul states.  Let each one set aside and save for the support of the saints according to the way the Lord prospers him.

Some however do not wish to live as free, but would rather be back under the inadequacies of the old ways.  They would then criticise the meaning I have given for our verse as “grace giving” or “give as you please”.  Under that position, they say, no one knows when they have done enough to please God.  By contrast, under the tithe, the whole issue is clear.

Now perhaps in this criticism we come exactly to the point!  Do I want to be able to say “Now, Lord, the whole issue is clear; I’ve done my duty!  I’ve paid my tenth and the rest is deliciously mine!”  Surely it is my devotion and love and thankfulness to God in Christ which are the real issue here.

Do I want to say I have done what God looks for when I have discharged a tenth?  God forbid that I should become a modern Pharisee.  Rather, Christians, let us give life and soul and money to Christ, and then say to Him, “Lord, we are still unprofitable servants”.  Those who love Christ will keep His commandments, which are not grievous.  But we do not give way to those who want laws where Christ has not put them, or who cannot conceive of devotion without prescription.  ,

I will never forget a cartoon I saw of a Christian potato farmer sitting in front of an enormous mountain of his crop, sorting through them.  Beside him is a small heap, tiny in comparison, and he is holding up a spud and saying, “Only one mean potato in ten for the Lord”!  And I remember my own father saying, “It’s not a question of how much I should give, but how much I should keep for myself”.  “Lay up treasure in heaven – love not the world”.  These attitudes will determine whether you and I properly honour Christ in our giving.

Does all of this mean that the Lord is not interested in the actual amount you and I set aside for His work?  Of course not!  He is greatly interested, and uses this as one measure of our real devotion.  Does it cost us?  Or when it comes to that amount each week do we put ME first, self and other needs before Christ and His Church and those in need?  Will you and I who have received the grace of Heaven – we for whom the Lord Jesus shed His blood, who have tasted the powers of the age to come, in whose heart dwells the Spirit – will we give less than those Old Testament believers?  How much better off spiritually we are than they!  And how much better off materially we are, whereas they were poor.  But they were asked to find room for their tenth and more.

God loves a cheerful giver.

The Lord would a thousand times rather you learnt the blessing of giving, than that every week you felt the church has ripped you off for your tenth!  But Christian friends, we do have a lot to learn about giving.  It’s so easy to love ourselves first.  There are so many things we seem to need, so much to pay out!  But the Lord’s cause must come first.  “Seek first His kingdom – all other things will be added to you”.  The Lord does require that we give in proportion to our income – and we are rich.  Let no one neglect the duty of our text, every Lord’s Day, to put aside and save for the Lord’s work and the needy.  Make your giving part of your devotion to Jesus, as He devoted Himself body and soul to be your Saviour.

Do you want an example?  Abraham’s example with Melchizedek is a good one.  Do you want a law?  Moses’ law is a good one.  But better by far is Christ’s example to us, and His fulfilling the law, giving all: “He who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that through His poverty we might become rich.”

AMEN