Trusting God Concerning Giving and Receiving Part 1
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Grace Giving
This is a topic I’ve studied and worked on for many years. Let’s explore how we can apply the biblical principles in our lives and culture today.
Philippians 4:15 KJV:
Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated [koinoneo] with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
The word “communicated” is translated from koinoneo, which is usually translated as “fellowship” or “sharing.” You could read it here as “shared.”
Philippians 4:16–18 KJV:
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Apparently, the Philippians were very faithful and concerned with sharing with Paul for many years, and he uses them as an example of giving.
Philippians 4:15 ESV:
And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
The Aramaic reverses it from “giving and receiving” to “receiving and giving.”
Philippians 4:15 APNT:
Now you know also, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel when I left Macedonia, not even one of the churches shared with me in the accounting of receiving and giving, but you only,
Receiving first, so that you have something to give, is the pattern.
John 3:16a KJV:
For God so loved the world, that he gave….
God is the giver who started the whole pattern. Receiving comes first.
The second part is open-handed giving. You don’t really give it until you let it go.
Philippians 4:17 KJV:
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
The pattern is that you receive something, then you give and let it go, then, somehow, there appears some profit in your account. It’s something that happens because of your giving.
This pattern that God set up is foreign to or in opposition to our own logic. Our logic says that if we give something away, we’re poorer.
Philippians 4:19 KJV:
But my God shall supply [fill up to the top] all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
First you receive, then you give, then there’s profit back to you, and your need is met. Then it becomes a flow as you give again. That’s why it’s called sharing or partnership.
If you give money, you’re not necessarily going to get money back, but you’ll get your need met.
Acts 2:42–45 KJV:
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear [awe] came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common [koinos, shared]; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
What is God’s view of prosperity?
1. God owns everything, and we own nothing.
Deuteronomy 10:14 ESV:
Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.
Haggai 2:8 ESV:
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
Psalm 24:1 ESV:
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
2. The ability to get wealth and riches also comes from Him—only from Him.
Deuteronomy 8:17–18 KJV:
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Isaiah 48:17 KJV:
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
Psalm 35:27 KJV:
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
If you have more abundance, you have more to give.
3. God’s blessings carry no sorrow with them.
Proverbs 10:22 KJV:
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
1 Timothy 6:10 KJV:
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:7–8 KJV:
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
We can be content when we trust God concerning the giving and receiving.
4. Real prosperity results from fear of the Lord and seeking Him with all of our hearts.
Proverbs 22:4 KJV:
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Psalm 84: 11–12 KJV:
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
What do you feel that you still need? Where would you like more abundance?
Psalm 112:1–3 KJV:
1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
It’s a promise that is contingent upon our fearing God first.
Matthew 6:34 KJV:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 19:16–22 KJV:
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
In that illustration, the possessions owned him. He should have understood that God owned everything and he was just the steward.
5. What is God’s view of prosperity? Prosper means to accomplish satisfactorily what is intended, or to have success.
3 John 2–3 KJV:
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
The contingent part about prospering is “even as thy soul prospereth.” Your soul, your life, will prosper when you walk in the truth. Fear God. Put Him first. Seek Him.
Psalm 1:1–3 KJV:
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
God’s intention is for us to have plenty so that we can give.
Proverbs 8:17–18 KJV:
17 I [wisdom] love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. 18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Proverbs 3:16 KJV:
Length of days is in her [wisdom’s] right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Chapter 6: What is true prosperity?
The root means to accomplish satisfactorily what is intended. Real prosperity results from the work of God in the life of one who seeks God with all his heart (II Chr 31:21; cf. Josh 1:8; Ps 1:3).
John E. Hartley, “1917 צָלֵַח,” in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 766.
Joseph was sold into slavery and ended up a slave in the house of Potiphar. Even then, when Joseph had nothing, God called him “prosperous.”
Genesis 29:2–3 KJV:
2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
The purpose of prosperity is to have something to give. Today, grace has everything to do with it.
2 Corinthians 8:1 AMPCE:
WE WANT to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [arousing in them the desire to give alms] [that included the Philippians];
The grace had aroused in them the desire to give.
2 Corinthians 8:2 AMPCE:
For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [together] have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part.
They are not being used as an example because they were poor and they gave. They received grace, and then they saw a need in the churches in Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 8:3– AMPCE:
3 For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily,
4 Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].
5 Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]—
Grace must be involved.
2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV:
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Don’t focus solely on the word “sufficiency.” There is abundance. Abound.
As you give, more grace is given to you, and then you have more to give. That flow is what I call “grace giving.” God is the giver.
Ephesians 5:1 ESV:
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 Corinthians 9:11 KJV:
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
God is everything. He is our source of supply for everything.
In the next session, we’ll see that it is not possible for us to tithe today the way they did in the Old Testament.
Review
- God owns everything, and we own nothing.
- The ability to get wealth and riches also comes from Him—only from Him.
- God’s blessings carry no sorrow with them.
- Real prosperity results from fear of the Lord and seeking Him with all of our hearts.
- Prosper means to accomplish satisfactorily what is intended, or to have success.
Scripture References
Scripture quotations marked (AMPCE) taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
See Also:
Cheerful Givers by George Müller
The audio files are also available from the Acts Now Fellowship website:
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