Sharing with the saints

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)

Providing for our natural families

Doing good to all people (the subject of our previous study) includes providing for our families when they are in need, and especially for our immediate dependants. Paul says that a Christian who doesn't do that has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8). If Jesus taught that total strangers deserve our support (Luke 10:25–37), then how much more those who are of our own flesh and blood.

Jesus criticized the Jewish leaders for encouraging the people to give to God when their parents were in need. Paul tells us that the fifth commandment has a promise attached to it:

'Honour your father and your mother… that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.' (Ephesians 6:2–3)

Do you want things to go well for you? Do you want to enjoy long life on the earth? Then obey the commandment. Honouring our parents, according to Jesus, includes helping them financially (Mark 7:9–13). If we give to God when our parents or dependants are in need, then we are acting contrary to his will and are worse than unbelievers.

Providing for the family of God

Having made sure that our natural families are provided for, we should then look to the needs of our spiritual family. Our opening text tells us that as we have the opportunity we should do good to all people, but especially to those who are of the faith. It's human blood that makes us a member of our natural family, but it's the blood of Jesus Christ—God's Son—that makes us a member of our spiritual family. If we really love God, then we will also love his children as well (1 John 5:1–2).

Providing for the needs of the saints forms the bulk of the teaching on giving in the New Testament. In his letters to the church at Corinth Paul devotes almost as much time to the subject as he does to spiritual gifts, indicating its importance to Christians. Realizing that, we should make a careful study of his teaching.

Collection for God's people

Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. (1 Corinthians 16:1)

The first thing we are told is that this was to be a collection for God's people—the people of God—the people who were close to God's heart.

In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats Jesus said: 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40).' That verse of Scripture is often misunderstood. The Greek word translated 'brothers' in that verse is adelphos. It can mean either a member of one's own family (the word means literally 'from the same womb') or a fellow countrymen (it's used in Romans 9:3 where it refers to the people of Israel). But in Matthew 12:46–50 Jesus made it clear whom he regarded as his brothers—it was his disciples, those who did the will of God. So, when we supply the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are giving and ministering to God.

While Paul was staying in Antioch, a prophet named Agabus came from Jerusalem and predicted, through the Spirit, that a severe famine would spread throughout the entire Roman world. On hearing this the disciples decided to provide financial aid for their brothers who were living in Judea. They did that by sending their gift to the elders through Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:27–30).

Antioch was in Galatia and it was Paul who had instructed the Galatian churches what to do in this matter. He was now passing the word on to Corinth. Furthermore the Holy Spirit has seen fit to put these instructions into the New Testament which means that they are relevant to every Christian in every age (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Even though they refer specifically to a collection for the saints, they contain principles that govern all New Testament giving.

Give God the first fruits

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (1 Corinthians 16:2)

As far as we know, the early Church met together on the first day of the week, which was the day after the Jewish Sabbath—the day on which our Lord rose from the dead (our Sunday). Paul said that on that first day they were to set aside a sum of money for the saints who were in need.

One of the requirements God made of his people in the Old Testament was that they were to bring to him the first fruits of their crops (Exodus 23:19). As God provided for them, they were to give the first part of what they received to him. That principle is carried over into the New Testament. Having made sure that our families are provided for, giving to God (which in this case meant giving to his people) should be the next priority in our lives. Seeing what we've got left at the end of the week is not the way to give to God. If God is truly first in our lives then we should put him first.

Paul said that on the first day of every week they were to set aside a sum of money. God wants us to give to him on a regular basis; it's an integral part of our worship and service to God. But that doesn't mean that we have to give every single week. Some Christians give to the Lord at the end of the month when they receive their salary. That's fine, as long as it's planned and as long as it's regular.

Each one of you

Paul instructed each one of them to give a sum of money. God expects each of his children, who has an income, to give to him on a regular basis. That was true in the Old Testament, and it's also true in the New Testament.

The sum they were to give was to be in keeping with their income. God doesn't expect us to give beyond our means. Paul said that providing we are willing to give, our gift is acceptable according to what we have, not according to what we do not have (2 Corinthians 8:12). God doesn't measure our giving in absolute terms, but in relative terms.

In Mark 12:41–44 we are told that Jesus was watching what was put into the temple treasury—and he still does. He is the one whose eyes are like blazing fire (Revelation 2:18). He sees everything that goes on in his Church and he knows how much we give. He saw a widow put in two very small copper coins and told his disciples that she had put in more than all the rest. They had given out of their wealth but she, out of her poverty, had given all she had to live on.

Jesus wasn't teaching that his disciples should do the same, but that God views our giving in terms of what it costs us to give, rather than the amount that we give. It would be more costly for a poor man to give £10 than for a rich man to give £1,000.

As the heart leads

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Paul taught that our willingness to give is more important than the amount that we give. God wants us to give willingly, from our hearts, because of our love for him and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. God loves those who give in that way. Giving reluctantly does not bless God because it doesn't come from the heart.

Notice that no percentages or figures are given. God wanted his people to give as their hearts led them to give. That is the basis of all New Testament giving.

Knowing that God wants us to give, if we pray about what we should give and our hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit, then I believe the conclusion we come to will be in accordance with the will of God. I'm sure these people prayed about what they should give and then gave what the Lord laid on their hearts to give.

Giving is godly

Giving is a godly thing. The Word says:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… (John 3:16)

If we truly love—as God loves—we will be a giving people because God is a giving God. A godly person will be a giving person because giving is part of God's character.

John wrote that if anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him (i.e. he doesn't share his possessions with him), how can the love of God be in him (1 John 3:17)? The answer is that the love of God cannot be in him because God, who is a loving God, gave. If we love—as God loves—we will also give.

For God to have given material things to the world would have been easy for him because he owns the whole universe, so he gave the most precious thing he had—his only Son. Image what it must have cost the Father to see his Son hanging on a cross, suffering for the sins of the world. God measures our giving according to what it costs us to give, and he knows how to give sacrificially.

That there might be equality

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: 'He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.' (2 Corinthians 8:13–15)

It seems from 1 Corinthians 16:1–2 that this gift was collected and administered by the church. Each one brought their offering, week by week, in instalments, until the full amount was gathered in. But what was the purpose of the gift? The purpose was to bring about equality within the Body of Christ.

Many New Testament principles have their roots in the Old Testament. One such principle is that of equality of provision which is taught by Israel's experience with the manna in the desert. On their journey from Egypt to Canaan, God miraculously provided for his people by giving them manna from heaven. Manna was the 'bread' that appeared on the desert floor each morning (Exodus 16:13–16).

The head of each family went out and gathered as much as he needed. But the curious thing was that, no matter how much they gathered, 'he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little (Exodus 16:17–18).' That was a miracle, but why did it happen? It happened to show us that God wants none of his children to be in need. God has provided adequately for his Body worldwide, it's up to us to share it out.

Does God's desire for equality mean that each of his children should have the same amount of money, drive the same type of car, and have the same standard of housing? No. That would be difficult to achieve and I don't believe it's God's will. God wants equality in the Body of Christ in the sense that each member should be adequately provided for.

I believe that Christians in the West are currently in a 'Corinthian' position of plenty and it's our duty, in Christ, to supply the needs of our poorer brethren in other countries—distributing some of the wealth that God has so richly blessed us with. How can we do that? In the same way the church at Corinth did. In those days God organized a channel to enable the money that was collected in Corinth to be delivered to Judea, and today there are channels—Christian organizations—that distribute aid to brethren throughout the world. Open Doors is a particular favourite of mine.

No needy people

We read in the Book of Acts that there were no needy people in the early Church for, from time to time, those who owned (surplus) lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet. It was then distributed to those who were in need (Acts 4:34–35). That is how the believers lived—led by the Spirit of God; following the principle of the manna in the desert—with each one having as much as he needed.

But should Christians who have plenty be giving to poorer brethren every week? It's not commanded in Scripture, but we can if we wish. The collection Paul described was a one-off gift—something that God wanted them to do at that particular point in time. The gift was organized by the church, but we can share with those who are in need directly ourselves.

A number of years ago my wife and I felt led to set aside a sum of money each week for the saints. We gave the same amount to our church that we normally did, but we put some extra aside for the brethren. We saved it up and prayed about it and then, from time to time, the Lord showed us which needy person in the church to give it to. It was particularly satisfying to give in that way, knowing that we were doing God's will.

We are told that the greatest need in the Church at the moment is for Bibles and Christian literature (something Open Doors specializes in providing). New converts in many countries are crying out for the Word of God so they can feed themselves spiritually. They have physical food but they're in need of spiritual food. The apostle Peter wrote:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2–3)

As a young Christian I was once the recipient of such a gift. I was on a low income with a family to feed and things were difficult. I'd read my Bible through so many times it was beginning to fall apart. One couple in the church noticed that and handed me a box. In it was a brand new Bible; an expensive one with a strong binding. I've still got it; it's one of my treasured possessions. In the flyleaf they'd written: 'To Michael, our brother in Christ. With much love.'

In John's gospel Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another (John 13:34) and in his first letter John explains what that means in practice.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

Those two saints obeyed that command. They were not just hearers of God's Word, but they were doers of it (James 1:22).

Importance of sharing

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practise hospitality. (Romans 12:12–13)

Why does the Bible put so much emphasis on Christians sharing with their brothers and sisters who are in need? The answer is because it's necessary for salvation. Jesus said that loving God is the most important commandment of all (Mark 12:28–30). Hebrews 6:10–11 says that we show our love for God by the way we love our brethren.

The apostle John wrote:

For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And he has given us this comand: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:20–21)

If we don't love our brethren—and that means helping them when they're in need (1 John 3:17–18; James 2:14–17)—then, according to God's Word, we don't love God. We may think that we do; we may tell him that we do; but God says that we don't. And if we don't love God then we cannot be saved. James 1:12 says that God has promised the crown of life to those who love him—not to those who don't love him. It's God who defines love in the Bible and we can't love God if we don't love our brethren.

In Matthew 25 Jesus told his disciples three parables to warn them of things that would exclude them from the kingdom of heaven: the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents, and the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. They all speak of sins of omission rather than sins of commission.

In the first one the virgins weren't ready when Jesus returned and were shut out of the kingdom. In the second one a servant didn't use the talents his master gave him. He, too, was shut out of the kingdom. And in the third one some failed to minister to Christ's brethren who were in need. They, also, were shut out of the kingdom. By failing to do the things God commands us to do, we sin as much as by doing the things he commands us not to do (James 4:17).

Some claim that the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats doesn't refer to Christians helping their brothers and sisters, it refers to people in the world who help the Jews. If that is so, then Jesus was teaching a salvation by works—that an unbeliever can be saved simply by giving a Jew a drink.

I cannot accept that. Nowhere in the Bible does it teach that man can be saved by works. If that is true then Christ died for nothing. Man is saved by faith in Christ—first and foremost (Ephesians 2:8–9)—plus the works that make his faith complete (James 2:14–24). Ephesians 2:10 says that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. Sharing with our brethren who are in need is just one of those works.

John the Baptist told the Jews to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 'What should we do to produce this fruit?' they asked. He replied: 'The man who has two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same (Luke 3:7–11).'

Generosity encouraged

Paul expected each Christian to contribute towards the collection for the saints, except for one category in the church—those who were hard pressed (2 Corinthians 8:13). But what does it mean to be 'hard pressed'? The Greek word means to suffer trouble, distress, oppression or tribulation. In this context I would interpret it to mean those who were having difficulty providing for themselves. John the Baptist didn't command the person with one tunic to give to him who had none: that would mean he would have had to have gone without himself. John commanded the person with two tunics—the one who had more than enough—to share with him who had none.

The question is are we hard pressed or not? That's up to us to decide before the Lord. In my opinion, a person is hard pressed only if they can't afford necessities for themselves and their dependants. People who can afford luxuries and pleasures (in any measure) are not hard pressed. If we can afford those things for ourselves, then we can afford to give to God—even if it's only a little. We can afford to give from what God has given us over and above our basic needs.

Because giving in the New Testament is left to how we feel in our hearts, we have to make sure that our hearts are right before God. Someone might say: 'I can't afford to give to God at the moment because I'm hard pressed,' when what he really means is: 'I don't want to give to God because I'm struggling to maintain my current standard of living.'

We have to realize that the standard of living of most people in the West is way beyond what God says we should be satisfied with i.e. food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:6–8). We think that we're hard pressed because we live in such a materially rich society. We may be hard pressed in comparison to those around us, but not according to what the Word says.

Paul told the church at Corinth about what had happened in Macedonia:

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. (2 Corinthians 8:2–4)

Even though Paul taught that God didn't expect them to give to others while they were hard pressed, the believers in Macedonia had given generously to their brothers despite their poverty. Why was that? The answer is simple: people who love giving will go without themselves in order to give. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). These Christians were so blessed by giving that they were prepared to deprive themselves in order to serve the saints. God doesn't command us to do that, but he doesn't mind if we do. He willingly sacrificed his own Son for our sins—something that he didn't have to do.

To the church at Corinth Paul wrote:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

What was he saying? He was saying: If you're generous to God, he'll be generous to you. But if you're not generous to God, he will not be generous to you: a man reaps what he sows. God wants us to remember that.

In the same way Jesus said:

'Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.' (Luke 6:38)

That means that God will give to us in the way we give to him. If we give to God in large measure, he'll give to us in large measure. But if we give to God in small measure, he'll give to us in small measure. He'll take the measure that we use to measure it back to us. Jesus wants us to understand that.

The same truth is stated in the Old Testament:

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24–25)

We all have God's Spirit and we all have God's Word. God gives us advice and wisdom in this area, but how much we give is up to us.

Michael Graham
March 2007

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