The Generosity Principle
Are we told anything about generosity in the Bible?
A lot of people thing that tithing and generosity in the Bible are synonymous with one another. However, did you know the New Testament doesn’t require tithing?
The New Testament moves us beyond the law of tithing into a life of radical generosity. Consider these two passages:
2 Corinthians 8:1-4, “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
These passages call us to generosity! As Christians, we are to give generously, cheerfully, & without compulsion. Let me pose a difficult question, for the average income earner in the U.S, who is among the world’s riches people, can giving 10% of your income really be considered generous?
Pastor & Theologian Greg Boyd says this on renew.org: One could argue that the 10% pattern in the Old Testament could serve as a sort of minimal “benchmark” for disciples today. That is, if we find that we are spending more than 90% of our income on ourselves, it may be evidence that our priorities aren’t right. Studies show that the average American Evangelical gives 2 to 3% of their income to their church or to charities. Given that our standard of living is four times higher than the global average, it’s hard to argue that we’re being “generous” and “outrageous” and “following God’s leading” in the way we’re stewarding our resources.
Tithing is a good practice to move us toward reflecting the character of God to the world through generosity.
Instructions to the “Rich”
1 Timothy 6:17-19, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
This text gives instructions for the “rich” on how they should relate to their money.
Instruction 1: Don’t place your hope in wealth.
It’s easy to place our hope in our wealth! However, it can be hard to discern when we are placing our hope in our wealth and not in Christ. Hoping in our wealth means looking to our wealth for security, confidence and meaning. However, our hope should rest firmly in Christ, not in wealth because wealth is fleeting and will one day be lost. Our hope in Christ, on the other hand, is certain because of the resurrection. The resurrection guarantees that one day all things will be made new, tears will be dried up, diseases healed, injustice ended and violence ceased.
It is our hope in Christ that carries us through difficulty, not our hope in wealth.
If we have placed our hope in wealth, generosity is the only antidote. Generosity has all kinds of benefits: How do you keep yourself from entitlement? Give. How do you keep yourself from materialism? Give. How do you keep yourself from greed? Give. How do you keep yourself from misplaced hope? Give.
Instruction 2: Do good and be generous.
The second instruction logically follows the first; use your wealth for good in the world. Generosity in the Bible is using the resources that come to you to be a blessing to others. In doing this, we are investing in the age to come and finding life that is truly life. In other words, don’t try to find your life by upgrading your life.
Generosity is tipping the stewardship balance toward giving in order to bless others and glorify God.
For more about generosity in the Bible, download the resources below from Emmaus Road, a church in Fort Collins.
Listen to The Generosity Principle sermon
Download sermon discussion guide
Prayer for Generosity: O Lord, giver of life and source of freedom, I know that all I have received is from your hand. Gracious and loving God, You call us to be stewards of Your abundance, the caretakers of all you have entrusted to us. Help us to always use Your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. Send the Holy Spirit to work through us, bringing Your message to those we serve. May our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. We pray with grateful hearts, in Jesus’ name. Amen. (Source: http://www.archchicago.org/departments/stewardship_dev/pdf/theology_scripture/prayers.pdf)