NEW TESTAMENT GIVING PART 13

NEW TESTAMENT GIVING – Part 13

Paul sets forth his determined purpose to let nothing hinder his ministry, most especially not charges of freeloading or taking financial advantage of those to whom he is sent to minister. He carries this same thought right on into chapter ten where he says, “Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1Cor. 10:32-33) This attitude is at the very heart of the principle of New Testament giving. Let each esteem the other better than themselves. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Paul had learned this principle well.
In chapter eleven Paul admonishes the Corinthians for some very “ungiving” attitudes. Division and strife had become so rampant among them that it had even caused their love feasts to become opportunities to manifest their sectarian spirit. Rather than the strong deferring to the weak, they were lording their strength over the weak and each man was determined to seek his own benefit rather than that of his brethren.
This sort of spirit is that which is totally contrary to the concept of brotherly love. GOD has designed the church to be a gathering of brethren whose love to one another is the very hallmark of their discipleship. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) So Paul reminds these at Corinth that the church is woven together and each member is interdependent with the other. “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1Co 12:25-27)
Then he says something in chapter 13 which is stunning in the clarity with which it describes the very nature of New Testament giving. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (1Cor 13:3) The whole blessing of giving as the LORD has set it forth is in giving out of a cheerful heart or more plainly a heart that is motivated by nothing but love for the brethren and more especially a love for JESUS CHRIST. The legalist expects to be “rewarded” at some future time for all of his efforts and gifts. Yet this scripture says that to give all of ones goods to feed the poor and to do it without the proper mindset is to completely miss the blessing of it.
The blessing of giving is in the giving, itself, not in the prospect of reward. Such a concept offers no motivation at all for a religious man but for that man in whom the SPIRIT of CHRIST dwells it is a glorious truth. To be able to bestow our goods for the benefit of others for no other reason than our love to them through CHRIST is a great occasion for blessing for the sons of GOD. To give expecting nothing in return is the very acme of true charity.
The Greek word which is translated “charity” is “agape”; which, of course, is the purest kind of love. Is it not interesting that this word “charity” in our modern vernacular is most closely associated with “giving”? Such is true love.

(to be continued, DV) mam