ECONOMY 18 – GIVING IN THE BIBLE
GOD IS GIVING
… promised land
Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:7, 17:8, 24:7, 26:3, to Jacob 28:13, 35:12, 48:4, Exo 6:4, 8:6, 12:25, 13:5, 13:11, 32:13, 33:1, Lev 14:34, 20:24, 23:10, 25:2, 25:38, Num 13:2, 14:8, 15:2, 34:13, Deu 1:8, Deu 1:25, 1:35, 1:36, 1:39, Deu 2:5 (Esau), Deu 2:9 (Moab), 2:19 (Ammon), 2:31, 4:38, 5:31, 6:10, 6:23, 7:13, 10:11, 11:9, 11:21, 19:18, 20:16, 26:3, 28:11, 30:20, 31:7, 32:49, 34:4, Jos 1:2, 1:6, 5:6, 9:24, 21:2, 21:43, 1 Chr 16:18, Neh 9:8, Psa 105:11, Jer 11:5, 32:22, Eze 20:42, Ez 47:14, Ac 7:5… After exile: Ez 11:17
… countries, inheritance
Gen 26:3, 26:4, Psa 2:8, Psa 111:6, Jer 3:19, Eze 16:61 Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, 44:28, Eze 47:23 give sojourner inheritance, Acts 20:32
… victory, protection, help
Deu 23:14, Deu 31:5, Jos 8:18, Jdg 7:2, 1 Sam 17:47, Psa 86:16, 91:11-12, 108:12, Isa 62:8, Jer 30:16, Jer 44:30, Mth 26:53, Luk 10:19
… strength, power
1 Sam 2:10, 1 Chr 29:12, Psa 29:11, Psa 86:16, Rev 11:3
… leadership, authority, charge
Deu 31:14, also before one in Num, 1 Kin 11:11 Jeroboam, 1 Kin 11:31-36, Isa 10:6, Jer 3:15 shepherds which feed you knowledge & understanding, Mth 16:19 Jesus will give Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven (authority to bind, loose), Mth 20:23 not Jesus’ to give who to sit right and left, Mrk 10:40,
… dew, fatness of earth, rain in season, increase, fruitfulness
Gen 27:28, 28:13, Lev 26:4, Deu 11:14, Deu 28:12, 1 Kin 8:36, Psa 85:12, Isa 30:32, Zec 10:1
… provision
Exo 16:8, Num 11:18 (quails), Num 21:16 (water), Neh 9:15 bread & water, Psa 78:20 water, bread, flesh, Psa 78:20 water, bread, flesh, Psa 104:11 water to wild animals, Psa 104, 27 meat to animals, Isa 43:20, Is 55:10, Mth 6;11 … Luk 6:38 Give and it shall be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, shall be poured into your lap.
… wealth, treasures, riches
1 Sam 2:32, Isa 45:3
… honor, a name, a heritage
Isa 56:5
… a son
Gen 17:8, 17:16
… favor
Exo 3:21, 1 Kin 8:50
… law, commandment
Ex 24:14, Ex 25:22, Nu 27:9, Jn 13:34 (new)
… ability to speak, words to say
Eze 29:21, Luk 21:15
… answer, sign
Gen 41:16, Isa 7:14
… wisdom, understanding, knowledge, revelation
1 Chr 22:9, 22:12, 2 Chr 2:10, Psa 72:1, Psa 119:34, 119:73, 119:125, 119:144, 119:169, Prv 1:4, Ecc 2:3, Ecc 2:26, Jer 3:15, Dan 9:22, 2 Co 4:6, Eph 1:17, 2 Tim 2:7
… perfect heart to keep commandments, to know God, one heart
1 Chr 29:19, 2 Chr 30:12, Jer 14:7, Jer 32:39, Eze 11:19, Eze 36:26
… scroll to eat
Eze 2:8 to Ezekiel, 3:3
… judgment
Deu 28:65, Isa 3: 12? , Isa 19:4, Isa 30:20 Jer 4:12, Jer 8:10, Jer 9:15, Jer 15:13, Jer 16:7, Jer 17:3, Jer 17:10, Jer 19:7, 20:5, 22:25, 24:8, 25:31, 32:3, 32:19 (good & evil), 32:28, 34:2, 34:18, 34:20, 34:21, 44:30 Hophra, Eze 7:21, 15:6, 16:38-39, 23:31, 21:27, 23:46, 25:10, 33:27, 39:4, 39:11, Dan 8:13, Joel 2:17, Hos 9:14, Mic 5:3, 6:14, Rev 16:19, 18:7
… warning
Jer 6:10, Eze 3:17
… division
Luk 12:51
… salvation, forgiveness, light, repentance, mercy, kingdom
Luk 1:77, 1;79, 12:32, Acts 5:31, Eph 5:14, 2 Tim 1:16, 2 Tim 2:5
… good news, his Son, his life, with him all things
Isa 41:27, Isa 42:6, 49:6, Mth 20:28, Mrk 10:45, Jhn 6:51, Jhn 17:2, Rom 8:32
… living water, well, eternal life, assurance
Jhn 4:10, Jhn 10:28, Rev 21:6, Jhn 6:27
… rest / peace, respite, reviving, restoration, hope, future, beauty
Exe 33:14, Lev 26:6, Num 6:26, 1 Chr 22:9 Solomon, Psa 94:13, Isa 14:33, Isa 61:3, Jer 29:11, Jer 50:34, Eze 9:8-9, Hos 2:15, Hab 2:9, Zech 3:7, Mth 11:28, Jhn 14:27 Jesus giving peace, 2 The 3:16,
… grace and glory, good things
Psa 84:11, Psa 85:12
… desires of one's heart, joy
Psa 37:4, Ecc 2:3, 2:26
… reward, crown
Eat of tree of life, crown of life, white stone, new name, power over nations, morning star Mth 25:28, Mrk 9:41, Luk 19:24 (talent parable), 2 Tim 4:8, Rev 11:18, 22:12, Rev 2:7, 2:10, 2:17, 2:26, 2:28
… men for you, people for your life
Isa 42:4
… whatever we ask
Jhn 15:16, 16:23
… promises
Acts 13:34
… Holy Spirit, Comforter
Jhn 14:16
… authority, throne, all to Jesus
Luk 1:32, Jhn 17:2, Jhn 11:22
… God doesn't give his glory to another
Isa 42:8, 48:11
HUMANS ARE GIVING OR SHOULD BE GIVING
… thanks, glory, honor, praises to God
2 Sam 22:5, 1 Chr 16:8, 16:28-29, 16:34-35, 16:41, 25:3, 2 Chr 31:2, Neh 12:24, Psa 29:1, 29:2, 30:4, 30:12, 30:12, 35:18, 18:49, 57:7, 75:1, 79:13, 92:1, Psa 96:7-8, 97:12, Psa 105:1, 106:1, 106:47, 107:1, 108:1, Psa 115:1, 118:1, 118:29, 119:62, 122:4, 136:1-3, 136:26, 140:13, Isa 42:12, Jer 13:16, Mal 2:2, Luk 17:18, 1 Cor 10:30, Eph 1:16, Col 1:3, 1 The 1:2, 1 The 5:18, 2 The 2:13, Rev 4:9, 11:7, 14:7, 16:9, 19:7
… tithes, sacrifices, first fruits
Gen 28:20-22 Jacob vowing to give tenth for God’s protection, provision
Lev 23:38 gifts, vows, freewill offerings which you give to LORD
Exo 30:12-15 Each one give ransom for his soul half a shekel
Num 3:9 Give Levites to Aaron … they are wholly give to him
Num 15:2 , 18:28 Give a heave offering to the LORD from the first of you dough
Deu 16:10, 17 Give a freewill offering at feast of weeks according to blessing received
Deu 18:3 Sacrifices > shoulder, two cheeks, maw to priests
Deu 18:4 Give first fruit of corn, wine, oil, first fleece of sheep
1 Sam 2:28 Offerings to priests
2 Kin 4:42-43 people giving to prophet Elisha & Co.
2 Chr 30:24 Hezekiah sacrificing 1000 bulls
2 Chr 31:4, 31:19 Give their portions to Priests & Levites > encouraged in the law
Eze 43:19 give to priests and Levites offering
Eze 44:30 give to priests > first fruits, oblation, first of dough
Eze 45:13 give the sixth part of an ephah of a homer of barley
Eze 45:16 give oblation for prince in Israel.
Eze 46:5, 46:11 give as he shall be able to give.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice I the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Num 35:2 ,4-8, Num 35:13 Give cities to the Levites, including 6 cities of refuge
Luk 10:7 eating such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his hire.
… what is asked
Mth 5:42, Luk 6:30 Give to him that asks of you and from him that wants to borrow of you, do not turn away
Mth 7:6 Give not what is holy to dogs, don’t cast your pearls before swine
… giving to others
Mth 7:9-11, Luk 11:11-13 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Mth 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, freely you have received, freely give.
Mth 10:42 And whoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall I no wise lose his reward.
Mth 14:16, Mrk 6:37, Luk 9:13 But Jesus said unto them, They need no depart, you give them something to eat.
Acts 3:6 Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but but such as I have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk.
Rom 12:20 If your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him to drink for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.
… giving to poor & needy
Mth 19:21, Mrk 10:21 Jesus: If you want to be perfect, go sell all you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven and come and follow me.
Luk 12:33-34 Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, and unfailing treasure I heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luk 19:8 Zacchaeus … Half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore it fourfold.
Jhn 13:29 Judas … assumption: Jesus telling him to give something to the poor
1 Cor 13:3 And though I give all my possessions to feed the poor and give my body to be burned and have not love, it profits me nothing.
2 Cor 9:7 Every one should give according to what he purposed in his heart, not grudgingly, or by force, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with this hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that is in need.
Jam 2:16 ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled’, but do not give them in need
… giving in attitude
Deu 15:10 Give to God joyfully
Psa 51:6 You don’t desire sacrifice, else I’d give them, you don’t delight in
Prv 3:9-10 substance, first fruits to God
Mic 6:7 (don’t) give my first born for the transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul
Mth 16:26, Mrk 8:37 What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luk 11:41 But rather give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.
Luk 16:12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
Acts 20:35 Words of Jesus: It is more blessed to give than to receive.
G2842 – ‘koinonia’ – 20x – partnership, participation, social intercourse, benefaction, communication, communion, distribution, fellowship
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship (koinonia), to breaking bread & prayers.
Rom 15:26 Macedonia & Achaia have been pleased to share their resources (koinonia) with the … saints in Jerusalem
1 Cor 1:9 By him you were called into the fellowship of his son, Jesus Christ…
1 Cor 10:16 communion … sharing in the body of Christ
2 Cor 6:14 what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?
2 Cor 8:4 begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing (koinonia) in this ministry to the saints
2 Cor 9:13 you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel …and by the generosity of your sharing with them and will all others
2 Cor 13:14 the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you
Gal 2:9 James, and Cephas and John … gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles…
Eph 3:9 make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages
Php 1:5 I thank God because of your sharing / partnership in the gospel
Php 2:1 It then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit; any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind …
Php 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death
Phm 1:6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you
perceive all the good that we may do for Christ.
Heb 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
1 Jhn 1:3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 Jhn 1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true. 7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sinx
- “share resources”, “contribution”, “fellowship”, “partnership” are all translations of the one Greek word G2642 “koinonia”.
- fellowship with Christ, partnership in the gospel, God’s mystery purposes and helping poor brethren is all the same word!
- What is the NT application of the tithe laws? Churches, ywam tends to be legalistic on this law even if declaring all other law to be abolished. Why this? With what authority? What is the NT application?
- NT command is generosity, not tithe, and even less so first fruit … and how do we apply the sacrifices?? But then why should we do less than OT?
- Example Fiji: tithe and first fruits are very strictly followed and enforced, but attitude is wrong … one more thing God can claim but then the rest is really mine!
- What God really looks for is an attitude: thankfulness, awareness and acknowledgment of the Giver, awed at God’s bounty, honored by his trust, careful and inquiring and accountable steward over even more things, asking God to use things well, aware that 100% is a gift, 10% is only the preliminary tithe payoff, an ‘untouchable’ devoted thing.
- Tithe and first fruits and sacrifices are all to teach me the right attitude. How can I increase in wealth and not be spoiled by it? How can I escape growing independence from God and others, self-pleasing, self-secure, security in riches / the wrong thing, slowly weaned by affluence into a godless attitude of self-merit and pleasure seeking? > this is what the tithe and first fruit laws are trying to teach
- So: not ‘have to obey the letter of the law’, but seeing God’s wisdom and the need to live by the Spirit of the law.
- Jesus is the gift, the Giver, lives the ultimate giving. Christianity is a giving in itself. Giving oneself is foundational for everything