Giving to Caesar What is Caesars....

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES ON CHRISTIAN GIVING - LESSONS FROM THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

There is so much confusion today regarding Christian giving so that our reasoning in this context largely depends on the teaching in our church traditions as to what constitutes sound biblical giving.

This article will not exhaustively address this issue but I wish to narrow down to a particular area of teaching by Jesus which hopefully gives us a glimpse into what should inform our giving.

Jesus taught in Matthew 22:21 that we should give to Caesar what is Caesars (statutory taxes and levies) and to God what is God's (tithes and offerings).

This teaching is also found in Mark 12:17 and Luke 20:25.

Jesus revealed in this passage that civic obligations are distinct from our religious duties. He also acknowledged that the Roman rulers were divinely permitted by God to collect taxes notwithstanding the humiliation that the Jews felt about their occupation of Palestine.

The truth is that no matter how much we may dislike those in authority, we have a standing obligation from God to discharge our civic mandates as citizens of the country and pay taxes.

It is imperative therefore that what is left from our income after satisfying these obligations should be at our disposal and is blessed by God for our use.

Any theology on Christian giving that departs from established biblical principles is, in my view, misleading and should be rejected by God's people.

I am persuaded that believers should tithe from their income and give offerings on a free will basis in accordance with their convictions.

No one is however compelled to tithe or give an offering to God. However, any believer who chooses to withhold from God has probably not discerned his relationship with Him!

There are blessings attached to our giving and there are several passages of Scripture which convey that truth.

I will not delve into details because I have severally posted teachings on this forum on tithes and offerings and even on the significance of first fruits.

The purpose of writing this article was partly to respond to an article shared on the forum.

The story related to the Nigerian incident in which a Catholic faithful gave her entire first salary to the priest as firstfruits after Mass.

The priest reportedly returned the envelope to her after realizing that she had given everything she had and had not even attended to her basic needs.

There is nothing biblically wrong with voluntarily sacrificing the most that one can in order to serve the Lord. However, there is everything wrong with operating under a point of ignorance or unbiblical teachings.

This should not only concern our Christian giving but should inform our worldview on general Christian living. Anything short of balanced biblical prudence is a recipe for confusion!

I therefore find no biblical basis for giving one's entire salary or harvest as first fruits or love offering.

I know that someone may quickly turn to Mark 12:42-44 and argue that Jesus approved of the entire giving of one's livelihood as biblical sacrifice (cf. Luke 21:2-3).

Is this really what Jesus was teaching here?

It would be a total misrepresentation of biblical truth if we attempt to interpret Scripture outside it's passage context in order to justify certain unbiblical practices! This is called proof texting in theological circles.

The poor widow who gave all she had was commended by Jesus for her sacrificial giving in that she gave PROPORTIONATELY much more than the rich who gave a little out of their abundance!

Nowhere in Scripture is it taught or implied that believers should sell all they have and give to the church or that they should give their entire harvest or resources to the church!

How will the believer cater for his personal and family needs?

Do you recall the warning in Mark 7:10-13?

Please reflect on it carefully because it is instrumental in reinforcing our moral obligations.

The challenge that Jesus threw to the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21-22 and Mark 10:21 was simply an illustration of how many will miss out on God because of their love for the things of this passing world.

We cannot develop a doctrine on giving exclusively from this passage. We need to balance the Scriptures methodically so that we can discern the full counsel of God on a given issue.

Similarly, the incident in Acts 2:43-44 does not suggest that believers are compelled to dispose ALL their assets and give to the church or to the poor. This was merely a demonstration of how deeply woven this Jerusalem church in brotherly bond.

Notice that Peter was careful to clarify that the giving was voluntary (Acts 5:4).

Now back to the principles...

Biblical giving is about equal sacrifice and not equal giving!

The fact that one believer gives say Kshs10,000/- and another Kshs 1000/- does not necessarily suggest that the Kshs 10,000/- guy gave more in God's eyes than the Kshs1000/- guy.

It is possible that the 1000/- giver stretched much harder given his financial or income status.

This was the point that Jesus sought to underscore here! 

Of course some may not agree with my view and that's normal in any discussion forum.

I would welcome any alternative teaching or arguments on this issue provided that they are backed by the relevant Scripture passages.



© Ezekiel Kimosop Teaching Series 2018