Romans – A Treatise
Chapter Twelve
THE GRACE OF GIVING
Scripture Reading: verse 8
Paul’s exhortations in Romans 12 set forth what some call “the Christian graces.” We now consider one of the most important ones found in the middle of verse 8 – the grace of giving. “He that gives, let him give in simplicity,” or as it is otherwise translated, “with liberality.” There is actually not much difference between the two terms. He who is simple; one with no ulterior motive in his giving will inevitably show a spirit of liberality. It is important to realize that God has a claim on everything we have and are because He has done so much for us.
The question that often arises regarding giving is the principle of tithing. Some religious organizations insist on their members paying a tithe or a tenth of their income. Tithing is a principle that was set up by God in Old Testament days in order that His earthly people might be constantly reminded of their indebtedness to the One who had brought them out of Egypt; the One who had taken such meticulous care of them. It was what we might call a kind of “income tax” payable to the Lord. There was nothing particularly virtuous in paying tithes; it was the minimum God required and he who did not pay it came under His censure.
t’s true that in the light of the New Testament we are under grace and not law. Christians today enjoy a liberty of action totally unknown among the Lord’s earthly people of old. However, there is a great danger of allowing this liberty to produce in us a license to selfishness, greed and fleshly ambition. While we are not commanded in the New Testament to give a tenth back to God, does it not make spiritual sense that because God impressed on His people of old that a tenth was the minimum to which He was entitled, that today every Christian should in some way or another, give at least a tenth to the Lord? It was the minimum requirement under God’s old law. Surely those of us who are in the liberty of grace, spiritually professing to outmeasure the fulfillment of the law, shall not make our liberty an excuse for withholding from the Lord.
In fact, in the light of New Testament truth, the Lord is entitled not only to a tenth of what we have, but He has a claim on everything we have. The Scripture says, “Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Many of us are willing to admit that our spirits belong to the Lord, and we are willing to give Him our attention in spiritual matters. But too often we forget that our bodies also belong to Him. In other words, all we do with our hands or brain is rightfully His. Therefore, let us not think that when we pay tithe to the Lord, we have fulfilled every material and spiritual obligation to Him. He has a claim on all we are and all we have.
The materialistic attitudes of our present age often cause us to have a totally inadequate concept of the demands which the Christianity of the New Testament makes upon us. The Christian faith is not an adjunct to our lives; it is life itself. Christianity is not something by way of cultural or spiritual addition, which we have attached to ourselves as a more respectable and desirable way of life. To become a Christian means a revolution in living. We are speaking of what it is normally in the light of God’s truth. It means that our whole career is brought into relation to the Lord Jesus Christ, and that every obligation in life is responsible to Him. For instance, the Child of God who serves an earthly master is to look beyond the earthly master and strive to perform diligent and faithful service Why? Because a Child of God serves the Lord, Christ.
In other words, a Christian’s reason for being a faithful workman is not because he/she gets a better wage at the end of the week or because it is the right thing to do or because of a desire to have a good reputation, although all these things are important in their own way. The main reason is that a Christian wants to please the Lord, and therefore renders good service to an employer.
A Christian wife and mother in a home is doubly obligated to perform every service with greater faithfulness and greater skill, because it is rendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly, a husband and children reap the untold benefits of the faithful service rendered, and while that faithful service is certainly done in the hope and desire that it may be pleasing to those within the circle of the home, still, the Christian’s ultimate purpose is serving the Lord Christ.
A Christian employer is doubly obligated; first to turn out good merchandise and thus render good service; and secondly, to treat employees with every consideration, according to righteousness and justice. A Christian employer’s obligation to turn out good merchandise is not only to have righteous dealings with customers, but because as a child of God he is a servant of the Lord in his business, and the Lord’s eye is upon him. He therefore should desire to be well pleasing to Jesus Christ. A Christian employer’s obligation to treat employees properly is not just because it is the right thing to do as a respectable citizen, but because it is the Lord who has provided the authority over employees. The Christian employer must therefore represent the Lord Jesus in righteousness and truth. Yes, the claims of Christ on the Christian are far reaching.
Shall we determine that a tenth of what we have constitutes our obligation to the Lord? No, indeed; that should only be the beginning. In fact, our obligations as Christians are never paid, because the compassion of God is so infinite. Obviously, all this enjoins the Christian to be liberal with whatever the Lord has entrusted to his hand. Of course, we must never forget that those who are dependent on us must be cared for first, for “he that provides not for his own is worse than an infidel.” However, many have means beyond the necessities and our substance belongs to Christ. If we use it in His interest we shall be greatly rewarded here and hereafter. All this is wrapped up in Paul’s exhortation, “In giving, let it be done in simplicity,” or liberality.
