Ten Principles of Christian Giving

Khen Lim (References from 2 Corinthians)



Image source: fhlchristianministries.org

A significant part of 2 Corinthians is about Christian giving, which is an important hallmark of all who live in Christ. Paul takes the opportunity to outline it in his letter to the church in Corinth, encouraging us to give and to give generously and also to continuously give. 

We are not to count how much nor to take stock of what we give because it is not in the material value that God examines our hearts but in our willingness and desire to give so that others less fortunate or privileged may see the light of Christ in us.

All of that is great but be careful of wolves who exploit this to undermine our spiritual naïveté. 

Peter in his second and final letter (2 Pet 2:3) said, “In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

From the context of Christian giving, churches that thrive solely on the prosperity message are worthy of a very cautious study. Much of how they manipulate Christian giving may not necessarily be a good thing but instead, deceptive. I pray the Holy Spirit will help you to discern.

Based on 2 Corinthians 8-9, the late Dr John Stott observed ten principles of Christian giving. In brief, Christian giving is:

1.    …an expression of God’s grace

Paul doesn’t refer to the Macedonians’ whose charitability was actually acknowledged in the letter but instead to God’s generosity – which is essentially what grace is about – at work within His people (8:1-6).

2.  …a gift of the Spirit

While all of us are called to be generous, certain ones among us have the gift of giving bestowed upon them by none other than God (v.7).

3.  … inspired by the cross of Christ

Christ renounces His wealth and on His cross, He assumed the poverty like us. We must hence be reminded of His sacrifice (vv.8-9).

4.  …is proportionate giving

We are to give according to our abilities and to his needs (vv.10-12).

5.   … contributes to equality

We give even if our social statuses or income differences are disparagingly different because in Christian giving, we are all equals (vv.13-15).

6.  …must be carefully supervised

Avoid criticisms by acceding to proper church appointees to handle the finances (vv.16-24). This way crooked fingers can never be pointed at us and politics can be averted.

7.   …be encouraged by friendly competition

It’s healthy to stir each other to give even more because in friendly competition, we do all in glory to God (9:1-5).

8.  …resembles a harvest

Paul’s promise is that, the more we continue to give generously, the more richly blessed we will be by God (vv.6-11a)

9.  …has symbolic significance

Our Christian giving expresses our theology in which we demonstrate our confidence in the power of the Gospel of God (vv.11b-15).

10.  …promotes thanksgiving to God

Our giving should not only lead others to thank us as donors but more importantly, to thank God as they see our gift in the light of who the Lord Jesus Christ truly is (vv. 11b-15).