October 2004
This issue of Abundant Life is also available in Adobe's PDF format.Giving in the New Testament
by Mark Roberts
This month’s edition of Abundant Life brings you five articles on a topic that is much needed, but not much wanted: giving. Past issues of Abundant Life on divorce and remarriage have proven very popular. Issues on liberalism in the church or Max Lucado have had to be reprinted due to high demand. However, we expect none of that kind of heated interest for this month’s issue. The truth is that of everything we could write on, preach on, teach on or talk about our contribution habits are the one subject that is virtually guaranteed to receive a cool, if not downright frosty, reception.
Giving in the Old Testament
by Shane Carrington
“Please list the five actions of worship.” That was the class assignment. “Singing!” “Prayer!” “The Lord’s supper!” “Studying scripture!” Then a long pause.... This high school class did not think about contribution. In the next class session the teacher again asked, “What are the five actions of worship?” The order stayed about the same. This time they remembered contribution, but last again. This was no scientific study, but it seems contribution gets last consideration among brethren. Some relegate it to, “Contribution today is merely about paying the bills. Why don’t we just put a box in the foyer?”
Lessons from Tithing
by George Slover
Giving to God is as old as worship (Genesis 4:1ff). Thus, much can be learned from the giving done in the Old Testament. We will find that a proper understanding of giving in the Old Testament not only instructs us in our giving, it also prevents us from wrongfully applying tithing to today. Let’s study Old Testament giving.
Giving Today
by Harold Hancock
Giving to the Lord today is beneficial for us and important to the cause of Christ. We are commanded to give, but giving is also a privilege and a blessing. By our giving, we declare our obedience, our faith, our commitment, and our love and respect for God. Furthermore, God blesses those who give as they should, if not in this world, then certainly in the world to come.
Wrong Giving
by Tim Jennings
“God so loved the world that He gave His Son…” (John 3:16). “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life…” (Mark 10:45). Gracious, generous, sacrificial giving radiates from the very heart of God’s nature. Perhaps this is why Satan passionately seeks to corrupt the giving impulse within us. And it starts early. When our babies are born one of the first words they learn to say is, “mine.” We learn young that life is not about giving, but it’s about receiving. Yet, when we are “born again” one of the first words we are to forget is, “mine.” We learn from our Lord that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). However, Satan continues to warp our thinking about giving in very subtle ways.