What the Bible says about money and giving
Five short bible studies by Dr Paul Adams.
Used by permission of 
Phil. 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
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'Can-do' confidence
Paul's missionary life was full of impossible challenges, but met by supernatural strength and wisdom. The preceding verses (Philippians 4:4-12) show how Paul was always praising the Lord, always praying and always receiving God's peace. Even in hardship he was content, and in prosperity he was not proud. He knew his limitations, but was confident of God's power. He did not set a personal 'energy budget' telling God what he could and could not do; he was certain that he could do whatever God asked of him. His confidence was not in his own ability or power; but in his weakness he knew that God would give strength to him.
Don't forget that Paul was in prison awaiting trial. Prior to receiving the gifts from Philippi he was sustained by the Lord. Now he had more than enough to meet his needs (see Philippians 4:18). But he wanted the Macedonian church to know that although he was very glad that they had sent provisions and a helper, his strength still came from God. That kind of inner vitality is the work of God's indwelling Holy Spirit, and is available to everybody who trusts in Jesus. It is not proportional to how we feel, or our resources nor even the encouragement from fellow-believers: it is God's gift to people who recognise their weakness (see 2 Cor 12:9-10), and yet are determined to obey His next command.
This verse applies to obeying God in everyday things, as well as special acts of ministry, and for dealing with every circumstance which God allows. It does not apply to the fantasy 'wish-list' in which a few immature believers think that God is obliged to pass their exams for them or get them promotion at work. The power of Christ is for the work of Christ so that the glory will go to Christ. His gifts and provisions are not toys for us to play with, so that we can feel empowered; but tools which we use at His command so that He will be glorified. That means there is no Divine command which we cannot obey and no gospel mission which we cannot accomplish; also there is no temptation which we cannot overcome. So living for Christ is not as impossible as some might think - as long as we really are living for Christ, and not for ourselves. And His power is not just available in church, but wherever He leads us, including our places of work.
Prayer: Lord of power and might. Thank You for not leaving us alone to flounder in our weakness. Thank You for giving strength to all who wait upon You, who trust You and are willing to obey what You command. Please forgive me for trying to serve You in my own strength, or refusing to serve because I felt weak. Help me to believe what You say in this verse and start to live in the strength You have provided. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Phil. 4:14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
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More than sympathy
Paul trusted God, first and foremost; but he never despised genuine Christian fellowship. The Philippians had a great concern for their Apostle and would have prayed for him; but they also wanted to be part of the answer to their own prayers. They had collected money and provisions, appointed Epaphroditus to be the courier, and sent him off on a dangerous land and sea journey - only to have the worry of hearing that he became ill and almost died (see Philippians 2:25-30). They chose to be involved, and Paul commended them for what they did ... 'it was good', and he was very glad to receive their sacrificial love gifts.
The word translated 'to share' in this verse comes from the same Greek word which also means 'to communicate', 'become a partner', 'to give', 'to distribute', 'to come into fellowship' and 'to participate in communion'. It is one of the great words of the New Testament which takes believers from being spectators to being players; from splendid ideas to sacrificial involvement. This sense of obligation to be practically involved in fellowship is not merely a sociological phenomenon, because it crosses normal community boundaries (in the same way that Paul's missionary journeys crossed religious, racial, cultural and linguistic divides). It is informed by the imperatives of the gospel and fired by the Holy Spirit. Their motivation to help Paul was not that he was 'one of their own' (he was a Jew from S E Turkey and they were Greeks from Macedonia), but that they wanted to partner in his gospel mission (see Philippians 1:4-6).
This same conviction to mission partnership has fuelled a huge outpouring of missionary giving: sending people and money all over the world. It is God the Holy Spirit who convinces people to give and sacrifice their own interests for the sake of the gospel. Today God is mobilising many thousands of people to take the gospel cross-culturally; and they are being partnered by many more who are giving money and resources to see it happen. Of course, all gospel communication is cross-cultural (from the kingdom of light into the kingdom of darkness (see 1 Pet 2:9), and can happen in your shop, factory, farm or station. Paul saw his supporters as also being gospel practitioners: both, not one or the other. Alas some believers today think that they can be observers, and occasional patrons; when God is looking for wholehearted participants in the work of the gospel, whatever it takes. Will you be one of them?
Prayer: Sovereign Master. Please forgive me for assuming that gospel needs which are 'out of sight' can remain 'out of mind'. Please stir my heart by Your Holy Spirit to urge me to take an active and sacrificial share in the extension of gospel work, both where I live and work, and in supporting others who take Your gospel to people who have never heard of the love of Christ, and His command to repent and be saved. In His Name. Amen.
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Phil. 4:15-16 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.
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Partnership demands consistency
Paul had experienced true partnership in the gospel. But these verses highlight some alarming contrasts with the ways many followers of Jesus think about mission partnership today. Paul built mission training into the earliest stages of discipleship training for the new believers in Philippi. It was not an afterthought or a 'bolt-on extra'. Spreading the word about Jesus was an integral part of being a Christian. When Paul moved south to the rest of Greece, the church in Philippi wanted to become a 'sending church'. They assumed responsibility for supplying Paul's physical needs. When he arrived in Thessalonica, it was Philippian support which enabled the brief and persecuted mission to the city.
Paul says that their excellent example was not followed elsewhere; and so other churches missed out on the privilege of giving, and also the joy of receiving news and encouragement for further giving and prayer. True mission partnership must be two-way; and that is one of the reasons why Paul held this church in such high esteem. He received from them and they received from him (including this letter which is one of the gems of the New Testament). They also had the great characteristic of true partnership: consistency. This is vitally important in business, marriage and parenting: it is also critical in enabling gospel work to continue unhindered. The Philippian church kept on giving, 'again and again'. They were not project supporters, or committed for a short time: they were true partners, in it for the long haul.
How much we need to revisit this apostolically validated approach to gospel mission partnership! It is certainly not universal today. Partnership without persistence is the kind of patronage which does not build two-way relationships, and is unlikely to sustain a ministry. Partnership, in which supporters do not intend to be gospel practitioners themselves (albeit in their local communities), will always lose momentum; as interest is diverted onto the next exciting project elsewhere, or onto more self-satisfying pursuits. Partnership which only involves giving to ones own family, tribe, nation, has lost the point of cross-cultural mission. So, do you think that this might be the wake-up call you need so that you can be a real mission partner, and therefore a wholehearted follower of Jesus?
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for calling me to follow Jesus as I understood the gospel message which somebody else shared with me. Please stir my heart to be a consistent partner in cross-cultural mission, starting where I live and work, but with a heart to see many others won for Christ. Please show me how I can play my proper part in Your world-wide mission of love and hope. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Phil. 4:17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.
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Accounting Integrity
Giving should be a normal part of Christian fellowship. However it can expose a minefield of motives, both for the giver and for the recipient. Paul wanted the church to be clear that in thanking them for their kindness, he was not making a subtle demand for more. He was grateful; but his dependency was on the Lord, not them (see Philippians 4:10-13). However, he was also concerned for them: he wanted their giving to be a progress-marker in their Christian lives. He wanted them to grow up as good followers of Jesus, for their characters to become like His and for Jesus to be glorified through their lives. Giving is a very important part of spiritual training, enabling the values of Jesus to be built into the character. And God uses it to care for others and to resource gospel ministry.
Giving reflects God's nature, and the gospel. God loved ... so He gave. He gave Jesus to be our Saviour because He knew that we have no future without Him (see Rom 5:8). Jesus' pattern of giving was self-denying and sacrificial. He commended the poor widow for giving all that she had (see Luke 21:1-4), but shamed the wealthy who refused to be poor so that others might have enough (see Matt 19:16-30). That was exactly the opposite of Jesus' motivation and mission (see 2 Cor 8:9). So in commending Philippian giving, Paul was giving credit to their growth as disciples.
Alas, mixed and greedy motives often spoil both givers and receivers, and are no credit to either. Those who give in order to get back: those who only give what they don't want: those who ask for prayer but are really demanding money: those who receive without giving thanks and fail to give God the glory ... all these have no credit. Yes, the food shortage may be averted, mission travel and resources may be paid for, but if godliness of character remains static, there is no demonstration of God's grace or any blessing. However, when we give because we love Jesus and want to be true partners in the gospel, we grow in faith, and the reputation of Jesus grows among people who are yet to find Him. And if you need resources, don't forget that the Lord is your 'primary supplier'. We have no right to demand from others, and if sharing our needs becomes begging or even threatening, we have missed the point of grace. So today is a good time to examine your motives about money. Let the Lord shape your heart so that you will want to give, and receive, to His praise and glory.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for providing all that I need. Help me to be an active partner in Your gospel mission, with true motives for giving and receiving. May I grow up in Your grace and may others receive Your love. May I glorify You in my decisions about money and serving today. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
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Phil. 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
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Received with Thanks
It is God's nature to provide abundantly. Paul never felt neglected when he had little, but neither is he ungrateful now that his needs are met. We do not know what Epaphroditus brought from Philippi, but Paul wants to make the point that the gift provided even more than he needed, and he is truly thankful. He does not assume that the gifts are a right, the duty of a church towards their apostle; nor does he presume that they will send more: his gratitude overflows.
But Paul is also their pastor. He wanted to teach the church that their present was more special than they may have thought, because their physical gifts to him were also a sacrifice to God. Doubtless, the presents were costly and therefore a sacrifice for the believers; but giving them to the apostle was to give to God Himself. In Matt 10:40-44 Jesus says "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
God sees beyond even our best intention, to His own purpose in stimulating us to give. He wants us to participate in His reward when we see Him one day. He wants our lives to count now, in blessing others, but to do it for His sake. The nature of that reward is not defined (see Mark 10:29-30), but includes a more-than-adequate provision now and all the blessings of eternal life to come. God sees our sacrifice as a costly offering (the same word is used of the sufferings of Jesus in Eph 5:2) which comes from an obedient heart and is greatly pleasing to the Lord. The Macedonian church was not wealthy, so even more important than Paul's gratitude for the gifts, the Lord accepted them as an offering to Himself. And Hebrews 6:10 says, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." So it is time to ask the Lord to prompt your heart to give!
Prayer: Dear Lord, who has given Yourself for me, please prompt my heart to give out of gratitude to You. May my giving be the means of blessing through Your love, and may others have opportunity to glorify You because I have been obedient to Your call. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Matthew 6 v 15 – 24: True Treasure and Mammon
16. "And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
17. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face
18. so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
19. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21. for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22. "The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
23. "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24. "No one can ser two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
2 Samuel 24 v 21 -24: The cost of giving
21. "Then Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" And David said, "To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be held back from the people."
22. And Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood.
23. "Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the Lord your God accept you."
24. However, the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
Resources to use in church/home group
Click here to hear Ray Mayhew on "Adventures in tithing"
Books and reference works
This part of the site is still under construction.
Historical interpretations and practice
"Christian devotedness" by Anthony Norris Groves. Download DOC file
Anthony Norris Groves was brother-in-law to George Muller, who had married Groves’ sister Mary. He was part of the early Brethren movement and launched the first Protestant mission to Arabic-speaking Muslims. This booklet on “stewardship” had a major impact on George Muller and led to Groves being regarded as the "father of faith missions".
"Hudson Taylor and Non-Solicitation" by Chris Wigram. Download DOC file
This article looks at the origins of the financial policy of the CIM, giving special attention to the issue of the non-solicitation of funds. Some predecessors of Taylor used the term 'faith principle' and interpreted it to include the non-solicitation of funds. This was different from the accepted norms for the financing of mission societies, most of which were denominational and linked to wider church finances.
What Jesus said about sickness and suffering
By Roger Forster, Leader and Founder of Ichthus Christian Fellowship.
There is a spiritual battle going on and Jesus exhorts us to pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". In this significant talk dealing with a very difficult subject Roger looks into the Gospels to draw out Jesus teaching and apply it to today!
Download mp3 (47mb)
Greg Boyd "Old Peter / New Peter"
The Apostle Peter had to learn the hard way how
to follow Jesus. His three denials of Christand
then three affirmations of lovemarked the major
turning point away from fear and toward imitating Christ.
Listen here as Greg explores Luke 22: 54-62
