New Testament: Giving- The book of 2 Corinthians:

The most detailed passage on giving in the NT is found in Second Corinthians ( Read
chs. 8; 9)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your
sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. The primary
reason that Paul addressed this topic here was that false teachers in Corinth were
questioning Paul's motives for ministry. Evidently they were suggesting that Paul was
pocketing contributions earmarked for the poor believers in Jerusalem. Consequently
the Corinthians, despite their announced willingness to help, had not donated to the
cause.

Taking pen in hand, Paul defended his integrity (2 Cor 1:12 - For our boasting is this: the
testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and
godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly
toward you.) Using the churches in Macedonia as his example, Paul gave the
Corinthians a wonderful summary of why and how believers ought to give. Here are the
highlights of Paul's sermon:

First, who should give? All believers can and should contribute to the cause of Christ.
The church at Macedonia was notoriously poor, yet they asked for the privilege of being
allowed to give
( 2 Cor 8:4 - imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the
fellowship of the ministering to the saints.) out of "their deep poverty"
( 2 Cor 8:2 - that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep
poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.)

In what spirit should we give? We ought to give willingly ( 2 Cor 8:12 - For if there is first
a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he
does not have.; 2 Cor 9:2 - for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the
Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the
majority.) and cheerfully , "not grudgingly or of necessity" (2 Cor. 9:7 - So let each one
give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful
giver.). It is a privilege to share in the work of God. Moreover, it is the appropriate
response to God's "indescribable gift," His own Son (2 Cor 9:15 - Thanks be to God for
His indescribable gift!).
How much should we give? Nowhere does the NT give us a specified percentage or
amount. In this passage, Paul simply exhorts each of the members of the Corinthian
church to give "as he purposes in his heart" (2 Cor 9:7 - So let each one give as he
purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver).
Ideally, our gifts would be "generous" (2 Cor 9:5 - Therefore I thought it necessary to
exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift
beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of
generosity and not as a [b]grudging obligation.) and given with "liberality" (2 Cor
9:11-while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving
through us to God.). The overall tenor of this passage suggests sacrificial giving. Again,
by way of example, the Macedonians, like the poor widow praised by Christ in Luke
21:1-4(And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He
saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that
this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in
offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”), gave
not merely their "leftovers," but more than they could afford (2 Cor 8:3 - For I bear
witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely
willing,).

How should monetary gifts be handled? Paul took special care to explain that the
Corinthians' contributions would be handled with integrity by Titus (2 Cor 8:16-20, 23 -
But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For
he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own
accord. And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout
all the churches, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel
with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to
show your ready mind, avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift
which is administered by us—,If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow
worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the
churches, the glory of Christ.) and another unnamed brother (2 Cor 8:22 - And we have
sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now
much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.). These were
men of the highest character. They were trustworthy and above reproach in the handling
of money. We should entrust our church finances to men of this caliber.

Why is giving so important? In Paul's words, it tests the sincerity of our love for God and
others (2 Cor 8:7, 8 - But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,
in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. I speak
not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of
others.). To paraphrase the words of Christ (Matt. 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and
where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also.), how we handle material wealth is a barometer of our spiritual health.
What will be the results of our giving? We should not give primarily to get, but Paul
makes it clear that giving does lead to abundance. Cheerful givers experience God's love
in a special way (2 Cor 9:7 - So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver). They enjoy the spiritual
blessing of participating in a rich harvest of righteousness (2 Cor 9:10 - Now may He
who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you
have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,).