While most Aussies think generosity is great, few of us have been taught what Christian generosity has looked like over the past 2,000 years.
Many in our church practise ‘tithing’ (giving 10% of your income to the church). However, since Jesus didn’t personally command this, neither do we.
To start with a basic understanding of Christian principles of generosity we encourage each other to learn from the Bible how the first Christians put Jesus’ teaching on generosity into practice. We trust that as you come to find + follow Jesus yourself, his Holy Spirit will show you when, how much and to whom you should give.
The below passages are taken from two letters written by the Apostle Paul to one of the first Christian churches in the City of Corinth in roughly 53-54 and 55-56 AD respectively.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2
“Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-9
“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. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."”
I believe these verses illustrate six giving principles for those who want to learn how the first Christians put Jesus’ teaching into practice.
Christian giving is to be:
- Regular, not random.
- Voluntary not coerced.
- Proportional not identical.
- Sacrificial not comfortable.
- Cheerful not begrudging.
- Intentional not flippant.
May you find great joy in following God's lead into an increasingly generous life!
