Giving To The Lord

by THOMSON, A. J. S. | Category: General | Mar 1975

The Scriptures deal comprehensively with the subject of giving to the Lord; none need be ignorant of God's demands. It is remarkable that God is pleased to accept anything at all from us, for He is not enriched in any way by our giving. He says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fulness thereof" (Psa. 50:12). The subject falls largely into three parts: (1) Giving of our substance, (2) Giving ourselves, (3) Giving praise and thanksgiving.

Giving of our substance

In the Old Testament definite legislation was laid down for the people of God. The tithe or tenth became a standard expression in giving. This originated through Abram (Gen. 14:20) and is further emphasized in Gen. 28:22. It is interesting to note that this first reference is in connexion with priestly service and the second with the house of God. This aspect is further elaborated in Lev. 27:30-33, showing how comprehensive it was: "All the tithe of the land.. the seed... the fruit of the tree... the herd... the flock... the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD". In addition to this the people were required to give the first of their dough (Num. 15:21). At the end of every three years a tenth of all their increase was required (Deut. 14:28). They were responsible also to provide for the Levites who served in the house of God and who had no portion in the land (Num. 18:24). This did not in any way absolve the Levites who had to give a tithe 6f the tithe they received (V.26).

Special givings

Besides these mandatory givings there were special gifts called for from time to time. For instance for the building of the tabernacle:

"Take ye from among you... whosoever is of a willing heart... gold, and silver, and brass: and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair; and rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood; and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense; and onyx stones, and stones to be Set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate" (Ex. 35: 4-9).

It is interesting to note the generous response of the people. Moses had to restrain them from bringing more, "for the stuff they had was sufficient" for the work and too much (Ex. 36:5-7). Similarly for the temple of Solomon "did King David dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold" (2 Sam. 8:11). It demanded a high tone of spirituality to honour all the claims of God. It is little wonder that when that spiritual tone declined in Malachi's day, God had to call His people to repentance and ask them to "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse" (Mal. 3:10). They were robbing God by their indifferent attitude.

God recognised that individual givings would vary, Thus in Deut. 16:17 we read, "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which He hath given thee". This brings us to the New Testament parallel: "Let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper" (1 Cor. 16:2): "Freely ye received, freely give" (Matt 10:8); also, "He that giveth, let him do it with liberality" (Rom. 12:8). It is important that we do not advertise our giving, "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth" (Matt. 6:3).

Giving is a rewarding thing. "Give, and it shall be given to you; good, measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over" (Luke 6:38), and further, "Make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth" (Luke 1 2:33). Opportunities may occur to show the spirit of Christ to our neighbours or to any coming within our personal knowledge. The exhortation to the Hebrews is "to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb. 13:16).

Arrangement for collections

Collections should take place on the first day of the week, associated

with holy priesthood service. Reasonable, intelligent allocation of giving is necessary as indicated in 2 Cor. 9:7, "Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart". It is necessary to be acquainted with the expenses we incur through being in the assembly. The hall rent, light, heat, outreach work etc. The assembly treasurer will be able to give a break down of the assembly expenses for our guidance.

On the principle of owing no man anything (Rom. 1 3:8) we are required to meet our expenses first of all; after which there open up many avenues for giving to the Lord. We saw that the Israelites had to meet the need of the Levites. In like manner we have a responsibility to meet the needs of those who labour for our spiritual welfare. "So did the Lord ordain that they which proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). We need to remember the poor(Rom. 15:26; Gal. 2:10). Some widows may need our assistance (Acts 6:1). There is the constant need in connexion with outreach work in the furtherance of the gospel and spread of the truth both at home and overseas. There may be opportunities of helping sister assemblies in the purchasing or building of halls. Contributions are acceptable to supply literature for those who have time to distribute but cannot afford the means to purchase. It ought to be our prayerful concern that we allocate our weekly contribution as the Lord may lead.

Giving ourselves

Above all these things there is the offering on a higher plane of presenting our bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). The words following this exhortation tell us how this can be done. It will be by a transformed life, dedicated to the will of God. We will think less and less of self as we become engrossed in His service. There will be perfect harmony in working together as members one of another. Whatever we do will be wholehearted. Our giving will be with liberality, our ruling with diligence; we will show mercy with cheerfulness. Love will be fervent, not hypocritical. We will be patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, communicating to the necessities of the saints, given to hospitality, overcoming evil with good (Rom. 12:2-21). All this because we are not our own (1 Cor. 6:19, 20).

What a high commendation is given the Macedonian saints: "They gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God" (2 Cor. 8:5)1 This involves giving our time and talents, sacrificing our own pleasures for His, and being wholly committed. For the devotion of women to the Lord's work see Luke 8:1-3; for the good deeds of Dorcas, Acts 9:36; and for Lydia's hospitality, Acts 16:15. For those who laboured with Paul in the gospel see Phil. 4:3.

Giving praise and thanksgiving

"Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices:

wherefore it is necessary that this High Priest also have some what to offer" (Heb. 8:3). God's people have a distinctive privilege in filling the hands of their High Priest with spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. "Give unto the LORD, 0 ye sons of the mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength" (Psa. 29:1). The Psalms are called in Hebrew "The Book of the Praises" and provide a rich field of thought for the worshipper. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD" (Psa. 92:1); "Praise is comely for the upright" (Psa. 33:1); "Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth Me" (Psa. 50:23). The spiritual exercises of the Lord's day are a particular joy, "Praise

waiteth for Thee, 0 God, in Zion" (Psa. 65:1). God has ordained that

"from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is. to be praised" (Psa. 113:3); "His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psa. 34.1). Part 1 of "Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs" hymnbook furnishes us with a unique collection of appropriate hymns which will enrich our service of song in holy priesthood service.

Christian service is costly; it is absolute. The Lord gave everything for us and His demands upon us are no less. One has said the entrance fee to Christian life is nothing, but the annual premium is everything.

In full and glad surrender

I give myself to Thee,

Thine utterly and only

And evermore to be.

THOMSON, A. J. S. | Mar 1975
General