Category
108 Offering and Tithes
Think about this: Christ loved us so much that he gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering to God.1 He made the ultimate sacrifice for you on the cross, loving you to death and beyond. Even as time marches on, His love stays constant.
It's so important for you to grasp that the biggest sacrifice has already been made. But now, you get to be a pleasing offering to God, too. Let your service, your honor, and your giving be a delight to your Heavenly Father. Know that Jesus has given you everything, and anything you offer pales in comparison to His love.
Giving to God, supporting His work, it's an expression of love. Don't see it as a burden or an obligation, but as a response to God's love and Jesus' sacrifice. It's a way of saying "thank you" for everything Heaven has poured into your life.
1Ephesians 5:2
“And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].” [Jer 31:33, 34]Now where there is [absolute] forgiveness and complete cancellation of the penalty of these things, there is no longer any offering [to be made to atone] for sin.
Honor the Lord with your wealth And with the first fruits of all your crops (income); [Deut 26:2; Mal 3:10; Luke 14:13, 14]
Jesus said these things in the treasury, as He taught in the temple [courtyard]; and no one seized Him, because His time had not yet come.
Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. [Mal 2:2]
And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one [about this];but go, show yourself to the priest [for inspection]and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony (evidence) to them [of your healing].” [Lev 14:2]
and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. [Ezek 20:41]
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’“The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed.
Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. [Prov 22:9]
And He sat down opposite the [temple] treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury. And many rich people were putting in large sums. [Luke 21:1-4]A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a mite.Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this poor widow put in [proportionally]more than all the contributors to the treasury.For they all contributed from their surplus, but she, from her poverty, put in all she had, all she had to live on.”
‘And all the tithe (tenth part) of the land, whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. [1 Cor 9:11; Gal 6:6]
“But [as for me], I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I shall pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is from the Lord!”
who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good. [Deut 14:2; Ps 130:8; Ezek 37:23]
He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Every man shall give as he is able, in accordance with the blessing which the Lord your God has given you.
for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”
For if the eagerness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever has a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze,
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.
Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God.
“Every year you shall certainly tithe [a tenth] of all the yield of your seed which is produced by your field.You shall eat the tithe (tenth) of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock before the Lord your God in the place where He chooses to establish His Name (Presence), so that you may learn to fear [and worship] the Lord your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect] always.
On the first day of every week each one of you is to put something aside, in proportion to his prosperity, and save it so that no collections [will need to] be made when I come.
And Melchizedek blessed Abram and said, “Blessed (joyful, favored) be Abram by God Most High, Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth;they [invaded the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea, and] made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your enemies into your hand.” And Abram gave him a tenth of all [the treasure he had taken in battle]. [Heb 7:1-10]
It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He conducts his affairs with justice. [Ps 37:26; Luke 6:35; Col 4:5]
There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more; And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched, And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown]. [2 Cor 9:6-10]
“Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others.
Looking up, He saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury. [Mark 12:41-44]Then Jesus told them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. [2 Chr 15:6; Is 19:2]There will be violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and [deadly and devastating] pestilences (plagues, epidemics); and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. [Matt 10:19-22; Mark 13:11-13]This will be a time and an opportunity for you to testify [about Me].So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;for I will give you [skillful] words and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.But you will be betrayed and handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,and you will be continually hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name.But not a hair of your head will perish. [1 Sam 14:45]By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls.And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins.“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her complete destruction is near.At that time, those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city (Jerusalem) must get out, and those who are [out] in the country must not enter the city;for these are days of vengeance [of rendering full justice or satisfaction], so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.Woe to those women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For great trouble and anguish will be on the land, and wrath and retribution on this people [Israel].And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (completed). [Is 63:18; Dan 8:13]“There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves, [Is 13:10; Joel 2:10; Zeph 1:15]people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful]things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory. [Dan 7:13, 14]Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; [Matt 24:32, 33; Mark 13:28, 29]He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in [proportionally]more than all of them;as soon as they put out leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is near.So you too, when you see these things happening, know [without any doubt] that the kingdom of God is near.I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [those living at that definite period of time preceding the second coming] will not pass away until everything takes place.Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.“But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap;for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].”Now in the daytime Jesus was teaching in [the porches and courts of] the temple, but at night He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.And early in the morning all the people would come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.for they all put in gifts from their abundance; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
They faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the sacred (dedicated) things. Conaniah the Levite was in charge of them, and Shimei his brother was second [in authority].
He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. [2 Cor 9:6-10]
In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’ ”
But I have received everything in full and more; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. They are the fragrant aroma of an offering, an acceptable sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.
And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”
“[Rather] is this not the fast which I choose, To undo the bonds of wickedness, To tear to pieces the ropes of the yoke, To let the oppressed go free And break apart every [enslaving] yoke? [Acts 8:23]“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not to hide yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?
¶Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due [its rightful recipients], When it is in your power to do it. [Rom 13:7; Gal 6:10]Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. [Lev 19:13; Deut 24:15]
The one who is taught the word [of God] is to share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his spiritual and material support].
¶What will I give to the Lord [in return] For all His benefits toward me? [How can I repay Him for His precious blessings?]
As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share [with others].In this way storing up for themselves the enduring riches of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
“Tell the children of Israel to take an offering for Me. From every man whose heart moves him [to give willingly] you shall take My offering.
“Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and live in it,And now, look, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O Lord, have given me.’ And you shall place it before the Lord your God, and shall worship before the Lord your God;and you and the Levite and the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) among you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household.“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce the third year, [which is] the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat within the gates of your cities and be satisfied.You shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion (the tithe) from my house and also have given it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, in accordance with all that You have commanded me. I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments.I have not eaten from the tithe while mourning, nor have I removed any of it when I was [ceremonially] unclean [making the tithe ceremonially unclean], nor offered any of it to the dead. I have listened to the voice of the Lord my God; I have done everything in accordance with all that You have commanded me.Look down from Your holy dwelling above, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the land which You have given us, as You have sworn to our fathers, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey.’ “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and judgments (precepts). Therefore, you shall be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul (your entire being).Today you have [openly] declared the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk [that is, live each and every day] in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments (precepts), and listen to His voice.Today the Lord has declared that you are His people, His treasured possession, just as He promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments;and that He will set you high above all the nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor: and that you shall be a holy people [set apart and consecrated] to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.”that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His Name (Presence).
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,for Levi was still in the loins (unborn) of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him (Abraham).Now if perfection [a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper] had been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people were given the Law) what further need was there for another and different kind of priest to arise, one in the manner of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed to the order of Aaron?For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity a change of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well.For the One of whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line of Levi but] to another tribe, from which no one has officiated or served at the altar.For it is evident that our Lord descended from [the tribe of] Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.And this becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, [Ps 110:4]who has become a priest, not on the basis of a physical and legal requirement in the Law [concerning his ancestry as a descendant of Levi], but on the basis of the power of an indestructible and endless life.For it is attested [by God] of Him, “You (Christ) are a Priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” [Ps 110:4]For, on the one hand, a former commandment is cancelled because of its weakness and uselessness [because of its inability to justify the sinner before God](for the Law never made anything perfect); while on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we now continually draw near to God.and Abraham gave him a tenth of all [the spoil]. He is, first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.
He craves all the day long [and does no work], But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has]. [2 Cor 9:6-10]
Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all deeps—Who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightning for the rain, Who brings the wind from His storehouses;
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.
And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.
But you shall remember [with profound respect] the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore (solemnly promised) to your fathers, as it is this day.
I know also, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness and integrity. In the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. So now with joy I have seen Your people who are present here, make their offerings willingly and freely to You.
The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives.
“Sell your possessions (show compassion) and give [donations] to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already]have their reward in full.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.“The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts].But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very]light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].“Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? [Luke 12:22-31]Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed]nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops]into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of]his life? [Ps 39:5-7]And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing],yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. [1 Kin 10:4-7]But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy],But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them.But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
Treasures of wickedness and ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness and moral integrity in daily life rescues from death.
This stone which I have set up as a pillar (monument, memorial) will be God’s house [a sacred place to me], and of everything that You give me I will give the tenth to You [as an offering to signify my gratitude and dependence on You].” [Deut 12:8-11; 14:22-26; 26:1-11]
For [Gentile believers in] Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints (Jewish believers) in Jerusalem.
So Moses issued a command, and it was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the sanctuary offering.” So the people were restrained from bringing anything more;for the material they had was sufficient and more than enough to do all the work.
¶With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks and praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
But the noble man conceives noble and magnificent things; And he stands by what is noble and magnificent.
Do you not know that those who officiate in the sacred services of the temple eat from the temple [offerings of meat and bread] and those who regularly attend the altar have their share from the [offerings brought to the] altar? [Deut 18:1]So also [on the same principle] the Lord directed those who preach the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”
And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground.But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the Lord had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering; [Heb 11:4]but for Cain and his offering He had no respect. So Cain became extremely angry (indignant), and he looked annoyed and hostile.
¶Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; Bring an offering and come into His courts.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty and majesty of His holiness [as the creator and source of holiness].
He who goes back and forth weeping, carrying his bag of seed [for planting], Will indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
He who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house, But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live. [Is 5:8; Jer 17:11]
Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. [Lev 7:12; Is 57:19; Hos 14:2]
“You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of the Lord your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in his mother’s milk [as some pagans do].”
The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching [the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ].For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain [to keep it from eating],” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages [he deserves fair compensation].” [Deut 25:4; Luke 10:7]
Keep deception and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I will not be poor and steal, And so profane the name of my God. [Deut 8:12, 14, 17; Neh 9:25, 26; Job 31:24; Hos 13:6]
The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’ [Prov 19:17]
And you Philippians know that in the early days of preaching the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone;for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], [Ezek 34:11-31] I shall not want.He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. [Rev 7:17]
He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes [from their need] will have many curses. [Deut 15:7; Prov 19:17; 22:9]
Moreover, because I delight in the house of my God, the [personal] treasure that I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, in addition to all that I have already provided for the holy house:
And if you offer yourself to [assist] the hungry And satisfy the need of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday.
Blessed [by God’s grace and compassion] is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will save him in the day of trouble.¶But You, O Lord, be gracious to me and restore me [to health], So that I may repay them.By this I know that You favor and delight in me, Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And You set me in Your presence forever.¶Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting [from this age to the next, and forever]. Amen and Amen (so be it).The Lord will protect him and keep him alive; And he will be called blessed in the land; You do not hand him over to the desire of his enemies.
“Do not store up for yourselves [material]treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.“So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already]have their reward in full.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.
You shall freely and generously give to him, and your heart shall not be resentful when you give to him, because for this [generous] thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.
The blessing of the Lord brings [true] riches, And He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God].
He has given freely to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted in honor. [2 Cor 9:9]
Now, brothers and sisters, we want to tell you about the grace of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [awakening in them a longing to contribute];I give you my opinion in this matter: this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to take action [to help the believers in Jerusalem], but also [the first] to desire to do it.So now finish this, so that your eagerness in desiring it may be equaled by your completion of it, according to your ability.For if the eagerness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.For it is not [intended] that others be relieved [of their responsibility] and that you be burdened [unfairly], but that there be equality [in sharing the burden]—at this present time your surplus [over necessities] is going to supply their need, so that [at some other time] their surplus may be given to supply your need, that there may be equality;as it is written [in Scripture], “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not lack.” [Ex 16:18]But thanks be to God who puts the same genuine concern for you in the heart of Titus.For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but was so very interested in you that he has gone to visit you of his own accord.And we have sent along with him the brother who is praised in the gospel [ministry] throughout all the churches;and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in regard to this gracious offering which we are administering for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our eagerness [as believers to help one another].for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity.We are taking precaution so that no one will [find anything with which to] discredit us in our administration of this generous gift.For we have regard for what is honorable [and above suspicion], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found to be diligent in many things, but who is now even more diligent [than ever] because of his great confidence in you.As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and as for the [other two] brothers, they are [special] messengers of the churches, a glory and credit to Christ.Therefore, show these men, in the sight of the churches, the proof of your love and our reason for being proud of you.For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily,begging us insistently for the privilege of participating in the service for [the support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could].
And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your enemies into your hand.” And Abram gave him a tenth of all [the treasure he had taken in battle]. [Heb 7:1-10]
Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole and blameless heart they had offered freely to the Lord. King David also rejoiced greatly.
Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.
or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. [Deut 15:8; Prov 24:29]
Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets free the prisoners.
They asked only [one thing], that we remember the poor, the very thing I was also eager to do.
When I arrive, I will send whomever you approve with letters [of authorization] to take your gift [of charity and love] to Jerusalem;and if it is fitting for me to go too, they will accompany me.
[thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now.
He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the Lord, And the Lord will repay him for his good deed. [Prov 28:27; Eccl 11:1; Matt 10:42; 25:40; 2 Cor 9:6-8; Heb 6:10]
You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous, and this [generosity, administered] through us is producing thanksgiving to God [from those who benefit].
You give it to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are filled and satisfied with good [things].
And the effect of righteousness will be peace, And the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.
If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.
Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor;
¶Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). [1 Pet 5:7]
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share [with others].
He raises the poor out of the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap,That He may seat them with princes, With the princes of His people.
Now pause and consider how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the spoils.