Giving By The Poor, And To The Poor

Not taking from them...

This is the fifth and final post in the series “Money and The Church”, which is Appendix 10 of the book Friends With God. In this series we have looked at how God expects us to financially support the preaching of the Gospel, without being ripped off by false teachers!

The previous posts can be found here: First Post, Second Post, Third Post, Fourth Post.

As discussed in the First Post, God seems to promise to bless those who give tithes and offerings to Him (Malachi 3:8-10), however, this verse is more than likely talking about priests, not individual members. This verse demonstrates why we need to be careful with our money, and also teaches about being careful in how we read the scriptures that pertain to money.

The Widows Mite (or might not)

Some churches use the story of the widow’s mite to ‘motivate’ people to give to their organisation. (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4)

This widow gave just two copper coins, but was praised for her gift, as it was all she owned. Yet, obviously, this does not mean that all widows should give everything they own.

The point that Jesus was making was that we should not judge others in what they give to God.

If we were to judge her offering at face value, then the two small copper coins were virtually worthless, particularly compared to the gold and silver that others were seen to give at the time. However, only God could see just how generous her offering really was. And only God can judge our heart and motivation. And our heart and motivation is what God is most interested in.

God knows the circumstances of the person who is doing the giving. It’s not up to the church leaders to say how much you should give, and certainly not up to the ministry to use this widow’s example as some kind of guilt-trip to motivate people to give money to “God”.

Don’t fall for deceitful, manipulative pressure tactics, such as we are made aware of in the few verses just before this story:

And he (Jesus) said unto them in his doctrine, ‘Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.’ (Mark 12:38-40)

Jesus is saying don’t allow yourself to be conned into giving to people who demand your last coin, even though the widow gave it willingly to God. And also, don’t be conned into giving to those who love to lord it over you, and who dress to impress (even today some wear long robes) and have smooth persuasive long prayers.

As discussed previously in this series, God asked for only one tenth from the increase of the children of Israel, and this was in a situation where the people owned their houses and land.

God simply doesn’t want you to give away the food out of your mouth, or the roof over your head, and then expect Him to provide for you!

Yet ministers often say something like “if you have ‘faith’ that God not only can, but will provide for you, then he must do so!”

Such nonsense is just the talk of conmen trying to get you to think you can force God to give to you, yet all the while you are simply giving these charlatans all your money! 

If you find you lack wisdom or discernment in these situations then ask God, for this is one thing that he has clearly promised to give to you, when you ask for it. (James 1:5)

We need to remember that God owns everything, and he really doesn’t need anything from you, except for you to love him. This love may be evident, as it was with the widow, by giving all that she had, but it’s not what he expects.

This act of the widow was an extraordinary thing to do, which is why Christ highlighted it.

We need to be responsible with the money God has given to us. God expects us to have wisdom, and if we don’t have it, to ask him for it.

Faith is not an irresponsible attitude of simply trusting God, without really spending some time in first understanding what God, in his word, actually says about something. To do so is blind faith, founded in laziness or fear- resulting in willing stupidity.

If you believe that the Bible is the written word of God, then you should spend some time respectfully reading it, and asking God for the wisdom to understand it. If you still don’t understand it, then wait till you do. God is not in any hurry to get money from you.

Don’t you think that he would prefer that you were certain of whom you were supporting, rather than supporting someone who is actually opposed to the truth of God?

Preaching Without A Church

Yet we don’t always need to use money in order to give to God, or to preach the Gospel either.

Jesus tells us why we are chosen by him, and it is not to give money to a church:

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Maty 5:13-16)

God has called us to make his spiritual food for mankind palatable, and for it to be easy to see what it means. By our doing good works, others will see what we do and will praise God, our Father, and will come to desire to know God and his way of life.

So, instead of giving money to a church, we could be perfectly justified in spending our offering or tithe in doing good works, and in this way preach the Gospel of love and mercy in practice and not just in words:

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:15-17)

Doing good works is a very effective way of telling people about God, and it is also how God judges if you love him or not. (Matt 25:31-46) Matthew here shows that our giving does not always have to involve money, but can be giving our time in helping others, and in praying for their situations. These are also valuable ways of giving, and glorifying God.

Good works for others also help us to grow in love for our neighbour. And, hopefully, for our neighbour to also grow in love for God and others, thus spreading the love of God abroad.

Glen Campbell had a great little song about letting your light shine in kindness, it’s lyrics are worth remembering. You can see it at this link:

Do Pensioners Get An Increase?

Would you consider a pension a form of “increase”? Pensioners cannot work to gain an increase. What they are given is for their living expenses. They therefore cannot tithe as they have no increase.

They can, however, provide an offering, and obviously God is well pleased with such offerings, as it appears that he was with the widow’s offering of the two copper coins. But a pension is a provision from the Government, or an insurance company, for basic living expenses. If you are on a pension, then you are either ill or old. You are not able to work, and therefore you are being given financial help, which you need to live on.

Also, bequeathing your money to a church, is seen as an easy way for those, who don’t have ready cash, to feel they are giving something to God. Yet, God tells us that such money is meant to be handed down to your children and grandchildren. (Prov 13:22, 19:14)

Greedy preachers who take the inheritance away from children, greatly bring the name of God into disrepute.
God doesn’t need your money; he tells you how to use it to give glory to him.
In the instance of inheritances, it’s clear that God expects you to give it to your children and their children.

Also, God tells us nothing about giving a tithe when you are a beneficiary of an inheritance; it must therefore be assumed that it is not considered an increase, for if it were then it would have been spelt out in scripture.

Imagine if a poor widow had an inheritance of a house and land, and in order to pay the inheritance ‘tithe’ she would need to sell the house and land! Such an example is never expressed in scripture, and there are plenty of examples of people being given inheritances, and never are they required to pay a tithe on them. (Num 27:1-11, Num 36:1-12)

Ministers who suggest that you should give a tithe on any inheritance you get, are not teaching from the word of God, but teaching their ideas out of greed and lust for your money.

Giving To The Poor

Whom therefore do we give our money to? When Jesus told the rich young man to give away all his possessions, he did not tell him to give it to the temple, but to the poor. (Luke 18:22)

Of course, we need to be careful in doing this also, as many charities make merchandise of the poor, using them as a tool to make money for themselves. 

If you have plenty of money, and would like to give some to God, but can’t find any ministry that is trustworthy, then give it to the poor: in doing so you will be giving to God:

He that has pity upon the poor lends unto the Lord; and that which he has given (to the poor) will he (God) pay him again. (Pro 19:17)

We can actually lend to God, and honour him, by giving to the poor. The opposite is also true: He that oppresses the poor (takes from them) reproaches (or blasphemes) his Maker: but he that honours him (honours God) has mercy on the poor. (Pro 14:31)

God not only expects you to give to the poor, but he greatly rewards those who do, and punishes those who don’t:

Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. (Prov 21:13)

He that by usury and unjust gain increases his wealth, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. (Prov 28:8)

He that gives to the poor shall not want: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse. (Prov 28:27)

We are to be generous and merciful to those who have less than us: He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor. (Prov 22:9)

If we are righteous, we will give to the poor, and consider their plight: The righteous considers the cause of the poor: but the wicked cares not to know it. (Prov 29:7)

The word “poor” not only means lacking in money, but also oppressed and afflicted. We are expected to not just give to such people, but also to speak up against oppression and affliction, and defend those who are badly treated:

Speak for those who cannot speak; seek justice for all those on the verge of destruction. Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. (Prov 31:8-9)

God really doesn’t need your money, but he does need to see what you will do with it. For this reason, he allows those who are poor and afflicted to always be in our society. (1John 3:17, Deut 15:11, Matt 26:11, Mark 14:7) They are poor not to punish them, but to test those who have plenty, and to see what they will do for the needy.

Summary

Giving to God is a great responsibility for both the members of the church and the ministry; it should not be treated lightly or abused by either.

We can rob God, but we can also be robbed by those purporting to be doing the work of God, but whose true motivation is their lust for control, power and money.

We need to determine if the fruits of a ministry are good or evil, and we should do so before we give to them, or we could easily be giving to those who actually oppose the real work of God. (John 16:2-3)

The Bible is written so you can read it: it’s how God communicates with you. He wants a real relationship, not one based on greed, or fear, or manipulation, but a relationship of love and friendship with him - as you would have with any friend.

The scriptures often warn us about human leaders who want to have relationships based on greed, or fear, or manipulation, in order to rip us off. (2Cor 11:19-20, 2Peter 2:1-3) Why is it that we rarely hear such scriptures from church leaders?

God knows that we have physical needs, and the church also has expenses that need to be met. In the Old Covenant, he used the requirement of tithes and offerings to provide for the Levites, whose job was to teach God’s truth, and because they had no inherited land that they could make a living from. These tithes also provided for the poor, widows, and strangers in Israel.

A church should never dictate how people are to calculate their tithes or offerings, or to whom they should give them. Indeed, it’s not even clear if tithes are required in the New Covenant. And how to calculate them is certainly unclear in the modern context of taxes and work expenses.

What we do know is that the work of God is generally done through some form of ministry, paid or not. How we support this ministry is something we need to make a thoughtful determination upon.

God is testing His ministry (servants) to see if they will use the money given to them wisely, and to also not coerce members to give more than they should.

God is also testing the members, to see if they will give what is required and ensure it goes to the right people.

He wants to see if members will think about what they are doing, and give their money to someone worthy of the name of a Christian minister.