Passage: 1 Corinthians 16
The Big Idea
Christians aren’t under the Old Covenant law of the tithe. But that doesn’t mean we give less. Grace transforms our hearts to be like God’s: generous and self-giving. New Covenant giving isn’t measured by a percentage but by the heart: freely, cheerfully, prayerfully, without pressure or guilt, and never to get something back. Paul closes his letter with a call to stand firm in faith and do everything in love.
A Desert Island
Two men crash a plane on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. They both survive. One of them explores the whole island and comes back with bad news. “There’s no food and no fresh water anywhere. We’re going to die!”
The other man leans back against the wreckage and says, “Don’t worry. I make a hundred thousand dollars a week. We’ll be fine.”
“Didn’t you hear me? There’s nothing to eat! Without water we’re doomed!”
“Like I said, I make a hundred grand a week. We’ll be home in a day or two.”
“Why do you keep saying that? How is your money going to help us out here?”
He smiles. “Every Sunday I put ten percent in the offering plate. Trust me. My pastor will find me.”
The Collection (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
Now about the collection for God’s people: Paul tells them to do what he told the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of them should set aside something, in keeping with how they’ve prospered, so no collections would need to be taken when he arrived.
We need to talk about giving. Not because I want to, but because we’ve reached this part of the Bible.
This won’t be like the traditional teaching you may have heard.
- How many of you were taught that you should give ten percent of everything you make to the Lord? Me too.
- That was part of the Law for the nation of Israel. And while Jesus was living on earth, that law was still in effect.
- But when Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, He set us free from the whole Law as a covenant.
- So New Covenant giving isn’t measured by ten percent, or by numbers at all, but by the heart. The Spirit floods you with blessing and joy, and you release some of that every time you cheerfully give to worthy purposes.
Free from the Law
The New Testament makes it clear that believers are free from the Old Testament law, including the requirement to tithe.
- Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14). Believers aren’t bound by the Law; we live under God’s grace. And grace changes our hearts to be like God’s: selfless and generous.
- If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law (Galatians 5:18). Being led by the Spirit means we aren’t subject to the Law’s requirements.
- The former commandment was set aside because it was weak and useless, since the Law made nothing perfect, and a better hope was introduced, through which we draw near to God (Hebrews 7:18-19). The old law has been set aside in favor of the new hope found in Christ.
- God canceled the record of debt that stood against us, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Jesus removed the Law’s legal demands through His sacrifice.
Together these passages show that Christians aren’t under the Old Testament law, including tithing. Instead, we’re invited to live by the Spirit, giving freely and joyfully from the heart as an expression of God’s grace in our lives.
“But won’t God owe me, and bless me more, if I give ten percent?”
- No.
- You’re not more saved if you give a certain amount.
- You’re not more or less loved because of your performance on a standard from a law that’s been set aside.
- We can never earn grace. It’s always a free gift.
- Your place with God is a free gift of grace.
“So it doesn’t matter what I do?”
- No, it matters more!
- Because everything you do is a reflection of the identity God has given you by His grace.
Sowing and Reaping
Paul says whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously. Each person should give what they’ve decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under pressure, because God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that in everything, at all times, having all you need, you’ll overflow in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
Does this mean God will always pay us back financially every time we give? Not at all. But giving to worthy causes is a way of storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). Any rewards God gives in this life are temporary. It’s comforting to know that while He may bless us here, He’s also storing up greater, everlasting rewards for us in heaven.
What About the Tithe?
To “tithe” is to give a tenth. Christians often speak of “tithes and offerings,” but tithing isn’t actually a New Covenant requirement. So where does it come from?
Tithing was a serious requirement under the Old Covenant. In Malachi, God accused Israel of robbing Him by withholding tithes and offerings, and He challenged them to bring the full tithe into the storehouse and test Him, to see whether He wouldn’t open the windows of heaven and pour out blessing (Malachi 3:8-10).
That passage is often used to teach that believers must tithe. But Malachi was speaking to people under the Old Covenant, and his words must be kept in context.
The tithe came straight from the Law: a tenth of the land’s produce belonged to the Lord and was holy to Him (Leviticus 27:30).
And Jesus affirmed tithing for those still under the Old Covenant. He rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for tithing even their tiny garden herbs while neglecting the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy and faithfulness. They should have practiced those, Jesus said, without neglecting the tithe (Matthew 23:23).
Notice Jesus didn’t scold them for tithing. The Old Covenant was still in force, and Israel was expected to give ten percent.
But the requirement to tithe is never given to believers in the New Testament. We aren’t under the Old Covenant Law, but under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), and the tithe isn’t repeated.
So if the tithe isn’t required, are Christians not expected to give? Not at all.
Where to Give
- Give to people in need. Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 where those who never cared for the hungry, the stranger, the sick and the imprisoned are told, in effect, that they never really knew Him (Matthew 25:31-46). If you know Jesus, you’ll have a heart for the poor. So walk in the Spirit and follow what He puts in your heart.
- Support your local church. It’s a gift to have a church and pastor committed to worshiping God in truth, teaching His Word, and sending out trained leaders to build God’s kingdom around the world. When you find one, support it as much as your heart rejoices to.
- Support missionaries and ministries. They’re living by faith. You share in the reward for all they accomplish when you support them with prayer and giving (Philippians 4:15-17).
Four Spiritual Principles for Giving
Not religious rules, like a percentage, but spiritual principles.
- Freedom and cheerfulness. Give what you’ve decided in your heart, not reluctantly or under pressure, because God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Giving should be a joyful expression of faith, not a burdensome obligation. Your giving doesn’t matter at all if it isn’t a loving response to His grace. Never give to get!
- Grace and generosity. Everything you have is a gift from God. As you experience His grace, you’re empowered to give generously, knowing God can bless you abundantly so you can overflow in every good work.
- Purpose and love. Let your giving be motivated by love and a desire to support the gospel and help people in need. It’s participating in God’s mission and expressing His love.
- No pressure or guilt. There’s no required percentage. You’re free to give as you’re led, whether more or less than a traditional tithe. The focus is the heart, and a willingness to give as God inspires.
And one more: don’t give at the expense of your own family. If you don’t have money for food or clothing, don’t give. You’re called to care for your family and provide what they need (1 Timothy 5:8).
Prepared at Home
“Each one of you.” Who was supposed to give? Every one of them. Every Christian should be a giver, because God is a giver, and we share His identity. It’s love pouring out of our hearts.
“Set something aside.” This pictures coming to the gathering with your gift already prepared. You seek God about your gift at home and prepare it there. That makes you seek the Lord more in your giving, and helps you resist any manipulation.
“So that no collections need be made when I come.” Paul didn’t want to manipulate anyone. He wanted giving from the heart, as each heart heard from God, not in response to a high-pressure fundraising campaign.
The lesson: giving is an amazing opportunity to seek your Father’s heart. When you seek Him with all your heart, you’ll find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). And it’s the most exciting thing in the world to hear your heavenly Father’s heart beating in your soul.
Get alone with God and seek His heart. You’ll find He’s better than you think, more able to change your mind than you think, more powerful and loving than you think. But He often waits until we get alone with Him to reveal Himself.
Don’t give until you do that. Don’t just give a number. Give from the heart.
“Then how does anything get done in the church?”
God promised that His Spirit and His words would never depart from His people or their descendants, forever (Isaiah 59:21).
- The Word.
- The Spirit.
God told Zerubbabel it would be done not by might or by power, but by His Spirit. The great mountain in front of him would become flat ground, and the capstone would be brought out with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” (Zechariah 4:6-7).
Grace works by the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit in our lives. It’s a relationship, not a religion. We can’t just give money religiously and skip the love relationship with our Father. Religious works aren’t the “might or power.” The Spirit is.
Finishing the Letter (1 Corinthians 16:3-24)
Paul closes with his travel plans and personal notes:
- When he comes, he’ll send whomever they approve, with letters, to carry their gift to Jerusalem. If it seems right, they’ll travel with him.
- He plans to come through Macedonia and may stay with them, even spend the winter, so they can help him on his journey.
- He’ll stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great and effective door has opened for him, even though there are many opponents.
- If Timothy comes, they should make sure he has nothing to fear, because he’s doing the Lord’s work just as Paul is. No one should look down on him.
- Paul urged Apollos to visit, but Apollos wasn’t willing to come yet; he’ll come when he has the opportunity.
Then Paul gives this charge: be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Let everything you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
Wearing grace glasses has a real effect on your life. You’ll watch, stand firm, be brave and be strong, and do everything in love, because that’s your new identity in God’s grace.
Paul urges them to recognize the household of Stephanas, the first converts in Achaia, who devoted themselves to serving the saints. They should submit to such people and to everyone who works hard alongside them. Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus refreshed Paul’s spirit and theirs. Give recognition to people like that.
- Publicly support leaders who love the church well.
- Thank God for leaders who genuinely care for His people.
The churches in Asia send greetings. Aquila and Priscilla, and the church that meets in their house, greet them warmly. All the believers send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. Paul writes the greeting in his own hand.
If anyone doesn’t love the Lord, let him be accursed. Maranatha: come, Lord! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. Paul’s love is with them all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
- Yes, loving Jesus is the whole point of life. Without Him, life loses its meaning.
- So believe the gospel and receive His grace today. It’s free. No tax.
Grace Takeaway
You’re not under the tithe; you’re under grace, and grace makes you generous. Seek your Father’s heart, then give freely and cheerfully, never to get, never under pressure, and always in love. Watch, stand firm, be strong, and let everything you do be done in love.