Money and the Believer

It is remarkable how people respond when the subject of money comes up in the church. Yet, when you read the New Testament it becomes clear that it is a subject they had to deal with a lot. Jesus spoke about money often. Paul wrote to Timothy and the church at Corinth about money and the believers in great detail.

Tithing was the way they financed ministry in the Old Testament. It was used to pay for the upkeep of the buildings, pay for the priest and workers, and it was used to meet needs of the poor in the local community of believers. It was a requirement of the Old Testament law and was not voluntary or a choice a person was allowed to make.

Tithing in the New Testament for the Christian believer should be viewed as part of Grace and not law. In the New Testament it is a personal commitment or discipline of a believers life. Jesus is the only one to even mention tithing in the New Testament. He chastised the Pharisees for their "disregard justice and the love of God" while putting so much emphasis on tithing. He told them the should not abandon tithing but they needed to show justice and love in their lives. (see Luke Luke 11.42) Tithing in the New Testament has the same basic purpose as it did in the New Testament. It is there to support the ministry of the local assemble (church) including paying salaries and taking care of the building. Tithing is a way to give back in recognition of God's blessing to us. The tithing goal of a believer is 10% giving to the local church.

Now there is a second type of giving covered in the New Testament. It is the giving of offerings beyond the tithe to support special projects inside and outside of the church. These are to be given "according to [your] ability." Acts 11.29  Offerings in the New Testament were often taken up to help other churches that were having financial problems or during times like famine. These were taken up as separate or special giving beyond the tithe and were designated for these special projects.

Paul wrote to Timothy  and warned him that "the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6.10 It is clear that money is not sinful it is a wrong attitude about money that is sinful. The believer must be careful not to misplace their LOVE and put it in money. Not to misplace their focus and look away from God to money, and not to abandon the faith and start relying on money.


Paul lays out an overview for the believer to understand money in 2 Corinthians 9. He gives 10 facts we all need to know about money and God.

1.  You reap what you sow vs. 6
2. "Each one should give as he has decided in his heart to give." vs 7
3. Your giving should NOT be done reluctantly or under compulsion. vs. 7
4. God loves a CHEERFUL giver. vs. 7
5. God PROVIDES all you need. vs. 8 God provides seed (work) and harvest (income) so that you are righteous. vs. 10
6. God wants His people to be GENEROUS vs. 11
7. You take care of God's people = you are to tithe. vs. 12
8. You share with others outside of the church = special offerings. vs. 13
9. You will be rewarded spiritually and physically. vs. 14
10. GOD HAD GIVEN US THE GREATEST GIFT. vs. 15

Luke chapter four finished telling of how giving and caring the Christians were to each other. Acts 4.32-37 You could look at the list from 2 Corinthians 9 and see it here. This is followed by the story of two people who have the wrong attitude about giving in the church. They wanted to give to bring attention to themselves, they wanted to appear generous but were actually stingy and lying. They wanted to be seen taking care of God's people but they only cared about themselves. They did not see God as their source. One minute they were lying to the leadership of the church and the next minute they were lying dead on the church floor.

Every believer should remember four basic principles about money.

1. There is a DIFFERENCE between tithes and offerings
2. We as believers should ALWAYS see God as our source.
3. One way we can GAUGE our spiritual relationship with God is our ATTITUDE about money and giving.
4. As believers we need to remember that giving is about Grace and not Law. That means a CHEERFUL GIVER, not reluctantly or under compulsion.

        "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

2 Corinthians 9.10-11

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