PRINCIPLES OF GIVING 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 (NIV) 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. The above seven verses give us many giving principles. In verse 6 Paul uses an example of a farmer planting seed. The farmer who plants few seeds will reap a small harvest. The farmer who plants many seeds will reap a larger harvest. But Paul is really talking about Christian giving, not farming. What Paul is saying is that those who give a little will reap a little, and those who give much will reap much. If you plant seed to grow corn, you reap a harvest of corn. Using this analogy, when we give money, we should reap a return of money. However, God does not guarantee what our blessing will be. God knows what we need, and we should trust Him to give us what we need at the time He knows is best. In verse 7 we learn that God loves a cheerful giver, and that we should give according to our heart, not under compulsion. This is the exact opposite of tithing. Tithing was an exact amount and was required to be paid. As a Christian, we give according to our heart. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (NIV) 1 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 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. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
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