Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God
is for Israel, that they may be saved.  Rom. 10:1

Scriptural Principles of Christian Giving

This study is not about tithing to our local church or fellowship, but rather a Scriptural look at the principles of Christian giving over and above our regular tithe.

Whilst there are many that teach that we can and should expect a financial return on our 'sown seed', the emphasis is usually on personal gain. This is contrary to the plain teaching of the New Testament. God will give the increase, not so that we can spend it on our pleasures, but rather so that we can have more seed to sow.

8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Tim. 6:8-10

The main purpose in giving, is not to make us rich financially but rich in respect to our relationship to God. Although we are to expect an increase on the seed that we sow, the fruit of our giving is mainly spiritual:

Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
2 Cor. 9:10

We shouldn't give in order to get, but rather we should give in order to be able to give even more.
The main thrust of the New Testament's teaching on giving is on giving to the poor and needy among the saints:

For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
Rom. 15:26
They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do.
Gal. 2:10
13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.
2 Cor. 8:13-14

The New Testament also teaches that we should give to those involved in the work of the gospel:

13 Don't you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
14 Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should live from the gospel.
1 Cor. 9:13-14
15 You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.
Phil. 4:15-16

Not only are we encouraged to give to the poor, those in need and to those promoting the gospel but the New Testament goes further by teaching that we have a duty to our needy Jewish brothers and sisters:

26 For the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have been eager to share their resources with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
27 Yes, they were eager to do this, and in fact they are obligated to help them, for if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to be of service to them in material things.
Rom. 15:26-27 (ISV)

It could even be argued that we ought to give 'to the Jew first'. In Romans chapter 1 and verse 16, Paul declares that the gospel "is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek." and in Romans chapter 2, verses 9 and 10, Paul states that "oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, on the Jew first, and also on the Greek. But glory and honor and peace to every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Paul took this principle seriously, so seriously in fact that whenever he went to a town or city, he first sought out the local synagogue to preach the gospel to the Jews before declaring it to the Greeks. This can be seen throughout the latter half of the book of Acts; for example:

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."
Acts 17:1-3

In light of the duty of Gentiles to give material blessings to the Jews, it should be obvious that giving to our Jewish brothers and sisters ought to be high on our list of priorities.

Christian Duty

Scripture teaches that as followers of Christ, we have obligations that are required of us: Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church (Eph. 5:25), wives are to submit to their husbands (Col. 3:18); Jesus Himself tells us that if we do not pick up our cross daily and follow Him, we are not worthy of Him. He also told us through parables, that we are to be good stewards of the materials blessings that He has given us (Mt. 25:15-30 and Lk.19:11-27).
Let us not "store up treasures on earth", but rather "treasures in heaven" by helping to build up and strengthen the Body of Christ and especially the Body of Christ in Israel.
Let us invest in the Kingdom of Heaven "where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal." by helping those who are poor and needy.

17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?
18 My little children, let's not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.
1 Jn. 3:17-18
15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
16 and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
James 2:15-17

Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Cor. 9:7

May the Lord increase the supply of your seed.