Principles of giving
On his third journey, the apostle Paul collects donations made by the churches he visits, to help out the believers in Jerusalem. Various representatives of those churches travel with Paul. Think about a time without credit cards, checks, or even paper money. Money at this time means metal—silver and gold coins. It takes numerous people just to carry it, and a large group would deter thieves.
Why are these contributions needed in Jerusalem? Those who became followers of Christ were thrown out of the synagogue (John 9:22). This meant they were shunned, unemployable. The economic hardship began immediately. Initially the new Christians supported one another, but after the money ran out, they had to rely on the generosity of Christians farther away. (Acts 2:44-45 & 4:32-5:4 & 11:27-30, Galatians 2:9-10)
This collection figures in some of Paul’s letters, most prominently in 2 Corinthians, where chapters 8 and 9 are all about it. It’s here that Paul writes the famous phrase, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7)
There’s a lot of good teaching about giving in these chapters, and I urge you to sit down with them and really think about what Paul says. For now, I’ll just highlight a few verses from chapter 8, in which I believe Paul lays out four principles of charitable giving. These remain true across time and across cultures, and should guide us in our giving.
Verse 10: “This benefits you.” Obviously the recipient benefits, but Paul says that giving benefits the giver also.
Verse 11: “So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.” Follow through and do it when you’ve promised it.
Verses 12-13: “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened…” Do what you can. It’s not a competition. And no financial appeal should target those with little, nor enrich someone.
Verses 13-14: “…but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.” Abundance is given by God for the very reason of supplying others’ lack. It may not work out that those same people later have abundance to supply your lack. It’s the “pay it forward” principle: If you have something now, share it. Someone else in some other way may be there to help you when you have need.
Charitable giving is a very good thing. (Read the two chapters!) But in our giving we should honor these principles—not just give because of pressure, or because of a flashy presentation. Our giving should be mindful, generous appropriate to what we have, targeted at real need, committed. If we give in this way, Paul declares, we will benefit. Not only by feeling good about doing something to help others, although that’s real. We benefit by letting go of the material things of this life, and trusting in God to provide. It changes us—for the better—in ways that would not happen if there were no needs we are in a position to alleviate.
We’ve all heard, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Here's the full thought:
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Cor 9:6-8)
Love, Paul