Giving to God

GIVING TO GOD

by Eric C. Wheeler

David prayed: “Lord, who are we that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You. For we are sojourners and pilgrims before You, as were all of our fathers. Our days on earth are as a shadow and without hope. O Lord our God, all this abundance is from Your hand, and is all Your own. I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You also. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel – our fathers – keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.” (I Chron. 29:14-18).

David, a man after God’s own heart, knew the importance of giving to God. He knew that it’s always an accurate reflection of the hearts of God’s people, a true indicator of what they value, and where their focus is. Additionally, he understood that it served as an earnest acknowledgement and constant reminder to God’s people of His ownership and sovereignty over everything including their very lives. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34). In other words, your focus and attention will be in what you value.  In saying this, Jesus made clear that what you value (treasure) is where your affections and attention (heart) will be. Additionally, where you invest your money, time, energy, and resources demonstrate what is most important to you.

Jesus once said to me: “Eric, if A equals B, then B equals A. If your treasure is in a certain place, and I said that your heart is directly tied to it being in that same place, then A equals B. And conversely, B equals A. Your treasure [what you value] is A; and your heart [your focus, interest, and affections] is B. Therefore, if A equals B, wouldn’t B equal A? If your heart is where your treasure is, shouldn’t the opposite be true as well? Shouldn’t your treasure be where your heart is?” He was pointing out that we, as Christians, should be putting our money, time, energies, and resources where our hearts are! We should be investing everything we have into what’s most important – the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (John 6:33). As Christians, the Lord and His Work should be what’s most important to us! We need to be about constantly building the Kingdom of God!

Consider what God spoke through the prophet Haggai: “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this Temple to lie in ruins?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord of Hosts: ‘Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.’ Thus says the Lord of Hosts: ‘Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the Temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,’ says the Lord. ‘You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘Because of My House that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.’” (Hagg. 1:4-11).

We find that the returning Jews, the people of God in their day, weren’t putting the Work of God first in their lives. They were too busy focusing on their own affairs. God was clearly not pleased with this lack of spiritual focus in His people. Jesus told His followers: “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Sell what you have and give alms [charitable contributions]; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness!” (Matt. 6:19-20,33; Luke 12:33). He further instructed those who came to Him: “If you want to be perfect [spiritually mature and complete], go and sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me!” (Matt. 19:21). In saying this, Jesus was clearly stating that when someone truly believes, they will then invest everything they have in it. This is what Jesus meant when He said: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matt. 13:44-46)? Believers in the first century understood this deep truth; and once they found Jesus, their possessions then became as nothing to them (see Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; Heb. 10:32-34).

Many don’t understand the truth of Christ: that in order to gain life, you must lose YOUR life; in order to possess all things, you must sacrifice all things; and in order to stand before God in His Kingdom, you have to FIRST lay down YOUR earthly kingdom. As the twentieth-century missionary and martyr Jim Elliot wisely once said (before a tribe of Huaorani Indians of Ecuador speared him to death in 1956): “That man is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain that which he can never lose.” As divine confirmation to the truth of Jim’s profound statement, these very same Huaorani Indians who murdered him along with four of his fellow missionaries later humbly confessed that they actually witnessed the spirits of these five missionary men “ascend to the tops of the trees” as they were murdering them, and miraculously join a chorale of angels who suddenly appeared singing and praising God. These same Indians later converted to Christianity in part as a result of seeing and hearing this great angelic choir welcoming these men’s souls into the heavenly realms!

Why would we, as professing Christians, so tightly hold on to that which is certain to perish? Why would we not rather give up everything for the sake of the Kingdom of God? Why would we not invest everything we have now (time, money, energies, resources, etc.) to increase our heavenly reward which will never be taken away (Matt. 19:27-29)? I suspect it’s because we are not truly KINGDOM FOCUSED! We are not heavenly-minded (Col. 3:1-2; Rom. 8:5-6). We are too caught-up in the pursuit and maintenance of materialism. In truth, we love this world and the things of this world. Brethren, this way of thinking epitomizes human nature and only leads to death (Rom. 8:5-9; Gal. 6:8); it is not of God’s Spirit. It is commanded in the Bible: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (I John 2:15). In the original Greek, this phrase “the love of the Father is not in him” actually means “the love FOR the Father is not in him.” As Jesus said, we cannot serve and love both God and money (Luke 16:13). But we can and should use our money, time and resources to serve and love both God and man. Notice what Jesus said: “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor your rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14). Wouldn’t we rather be repaid by God in the next life – a payment which will never be taken away – than repaid in this life which we will surely soon lose? Why are these things so hard for us, as professing Christians, to realize and to understand? Do we actually know anybody who hasn’t died, and who hasn’t left behind all that they have owned? Nobody has taken anything into the next life – except maybe their guilt, regret, and shame; or in the case of the righteous – their joy and excitement! Jesus asked: “What good does it do a person to gain the whole world, and lose their own soul? What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). Take a good hard look at yourself. Where, and on what, do you spend your time and money? The answer will truly reveal what you value most in life! What are you trading the kingdom of heaven for?

New Testament versus Old Testament Giving

As far as giving to God (and to others), what was required under the Old Covenant, versus what, if anything, is required or expected of us today under the New Covenant? Let’s examine this to find out the biblical truth. In the Old Testament, tithing (giving a tenth of a person’s income and yearly increase) was the God-ordained requirement set forth in the Law of Moses (see Lev. 27:30-34; Deut. 14:22; Prov. 3:9-10; II Chron. 31:5). A person of God was expected to give (by way of His priests) ten percent of their yearly increase which was customarily called a tithe. Every third year they were also commanded to give another “tenth” of their increase to be used for the poor and indigent of the land (Deut. 14:28-29). In addition to these tithes, they were expected to give various offerings and sacrifices throughout the year based on holy days, thank offerings, trespass offerings, etc. But is this tithing system still required and in effect under the New Covenant? The answer is clearly no – despite what your local, misinformed, and/or possibly just plain greedy pastor is telling you. The Old Testament system of tithing (giving ten percent of one’s income) to a church or ministry is NOT a New Testament mandate or expectation. In fact, to claim that it is, is wholly unbiblical, and even heretical.

In the Old Testament, “legislated faith” was the norm. God gave His people a list of do’s and don’ts. He did this primarily because they didn’t have a heart to serve and obey Him out of love. They lacked the desire to sincerely put forth the earnest effort to have a personal relationship with Him (Jer. 4:22; Hos. 6:3-6; Heb. 4:2). Collectively, His people – the Israelites – didn’t want to serve Him with their hearts, from their hearts. Instead, they wanted to get by with the bare minimums they thought God required in order to appease Him, not necessarily please Him. For it is written that God is not pleased with the blood of rams and goats (see I Sam. 15:22; Isa. 1:11-17; Micah 6:6-8). He is seeking a people whose hearts are completely submitted to Him – who love Him and trust Him above and beyond all things. He is not interested in legislated forms of worship and/or dictated faith because they are not true faith and real worship at all! Just as compelled love is not really love. Because of their hardened and disobedient hearts, God gave ancient Israel through Moses a covenant that wasn’t based in faith, because in actuality– they had no faith! As it was written of them: they were “children in whom was no faith” (Deut. 32:20). Therefore, because they were stubborn, disbelieving, self-serving, and disloyal, God “gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgements by which they could not live; and [God] pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts…” (Ezek. 20:25-26). God is not interested in empty ritualistic worship or commanded sacrifices and offerings. He desires gifts that are true, and worship from a heart committed to Him; whose offerings, sacrifices, and gifts are a direct result of a person’s adoration, appreciation, and praise of Him. As it is written: “God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7); and “the just [the righteous] shall live by his faith.” (Hab. 2:4). “For it is impossible to please God without faith.” (Heb. 11:6).

The New Covenant is based on faith – believing God and His Son Jesus Christ. And because we believe God – that is, we love and trust Him – we therefore do what He says. Our worship of Him is not based on a list of do’s and don’ts. He hasn’t legislated “this and that” to us. We obey Him because of our love for Him, our admiration of Him, and because we have come to fully trust Him with our lives and with all that we have. We know He created all things, is the Originator of all life, and that He is the embodiment of all that is Good. His commands are not grievous nor burdensome to us (I John 5:3); but are life-giving and life-preserving. We don’t need God to give us the “bare minimums” of how to regard Him or to treat others. Afterall, isn’t this what the Ten Commandments are? The bare minimums? In light of this, I want to relay a conversation I once had with the Lord about this very thing. It is recorded in a book I wrote in 2009 entitled In His Service: the Memoirs of a Modern-Day Messenger of God. (Please feel free to email me at eric@sharingtheway.com to request a free copy.) The following is taken from pages 78-80 in my book:

Before I go any further, I need to first relay a few details here. A couple of years earlier, I had asked God about paying tithes to Him. Many churches teach that a believer’s tithes should be given to their local church or sent in to their denomination’s headquarters—as ours taught. But over the last few years I had been feeling kind of reluctant to do so because I kept thinking about how when I was in college all they were doing at church headquarters with our tithe money was eating off gold plates. It made me sick to think about it. I could see how tithing (giving a tenth of your income to God) was commanded in the Bible, yet I wondered how a person might be able to give their money directly to Him without having to send their money in to a man’s organization. I didn’t want my holy sacrifices and offerings going to pay for some Pharisee’s or Sadducee’s extravagant lifestyle or to help pay for his college’s expensive dichondra (special landscaping grass). When I asked the Lord about paying my tithes to Him, He said to me: “It is written that whosoever gives anything, or does anything, to the least of these My brethren, has given it, and done it unto Me, right? So then, whenever you give anything to the least of My brethren—that is the poor and needy among you—you are actually giving it to Me.” The Lord continued, “And another thing, Eric. In the Old Testament, I required the bare minimum from My people—which was ten percent of their livelihood. In the New Testament, I require much more than that! I require all that you have and all that you are. In the New Testament, did I not commend the poor widow woman for throwing in her last two mites? Was it not said of her that she threw in ‘all that she had’ and ‘her entire livelihood’ as an offering into the treasury? Is it not written that you are to present your whole being as a living sacrifice and that you are to give up all that you have to come follow Me? In the Old Testament, I required the bare minimums. Isn’t that what the Ten Commandments are? The bare minimums? Where is the love that I require within the Ten Commandments? Where is the kindness that is required? The forgiveness? And the patience that I require? Is it truly loving your neighbor just not to kill him or not to steal from him or not to sleep with his wife? Under the New Testament, I have many more commandments that you must obey and keep. You must love your enemies and do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. You must give to those who would take from you and sue you, and must willingly lay yourself down in service to others, as I do. You must bless those who curse you, and forgive those who harm you. I tell you the truth, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and Sadducees, you will in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven. In order to be My follower, you must go far beyond what the Old Covenant requires!”

Needless to say, this revelation from the Lord completely changed my whole “tithing” and “giving to God” paradigm. Consider the ramifications of these truths. Under the New Covenant, giving a tenth (“tithe”) is not acceptable. We ourselves are to be “living sacrifices, holy acceptable to God, which is [our] reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). We can’t just tithe – give a tenth of our income and increase – and think we are right with God. The scribes and Pharisees did that! They even tithed on their spices (Matt. 23:23). Yet, Jesus said that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, we will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:20). We are not called to just tithe on our increase, but rather to “present ourselves as a whole living sacrifice” being poured out daily as “drink offerings on the altar of God” in service to Him and to others as Paul himself faithfully demonstrated by setting the example for us, saying, “Imitate me, as I imitate Christ” (see Rom. 12:1; Phil. 2:17; 3:17; I Cor. 4:16-17; 11:1; II Thes. 3:7-9).

As New Testament Christians, we are expected to be like the widow at the Temple treasury – who gave “all that she had!” She wasn’t like those who “only gave out of their abundance” (Mark 12:44). If it doesn’t hurt, it’s not an acceptable sacrifice to God (II Sam. 24:24). This is why Cain’s offering was rejected, and Abel’s offering was accepted (Gen. 4:3-5). Cain was only going through the religious motions and was not offering to God his very best. He was only giving to God out of a sense of obligation and/or by compulsion – that which he felt was expected of him; whereas Abel cheerfully brought God “of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat” – those things which were the very best and choicest parts of what he had (Gen. 4:4). Abel gave to God the true and purest form of worship which is by faith. For it is written of him: “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it, he being dead still speaks.” (Heb. 11:4). Notice that God testified of his gifts – and through his gifts Abel is still speaking to us today! In other words, even though Abel is long dead, God is still using him as the example and standard by which we are to properly worship God and give to Him. We are to give the best we have by faith and in faith! Abel gave God the best he had, not by compulsion, but rather, as a result of his faith in accordance with his adoration and appreciation for Who and What God is, thereby honoring Him. Similarly, the poor widow, standing before the Temple treasury, didn’t feel that just part of her humble income was sufficient enough to present to God; therefore, she put her whole self into the offering basket. Jesus, as both the Lord and Judge, commended her for putting in “more than all those who had given to the treasury” (Mark 12:43). This is what God wants from us. He wants our best. He wants all that we own. He wants all that we have. And He wants all that we are! After all, isn’t He worthy of it?

The truth is, He owns all of it anyway. We are not our own. God owns our very lives (Ezek. 18:4). He owns our children, spouses, homes, lands, money, possessions – everything! As David said, “What can we give You that You haven’t first given us? Everything belongs to You and is Yours!” Jesus told us: “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and give to God the things that are God’s” (Luke 20:25). Brothers and sisters, put all that you are, all that you have, and all that you want to be on the offering plate of God. He is worthy of nothing less. Isn’t this what we learned from our spiritual father Abraham? “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering to Me” (Gen. 22:2). God wanted Abraham’s whole heart to be fully committed to Him, and He tested him on it. As New Testament Christians – spiritual sons of Abraham – we have benefited from the blood and sacrifice of the “spiritual Isaac” Jesus. Should we not therefore also be tested? Is it not written that “those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham?” (Gal. 3:7)? Abraham was willing to give up his only beloved son, why are we still holding on to money and other temporal things? Invest in the Kingdom of God! Use your God-given resources, talents and abilities to further the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. This world is passing away, and sadly most people are passing away with it. Many have not even heard of Jesus Christ, nor have they ever seen a true representation of Him or His life-giving ways. We Christians are called to change that (Matt. 28:19-20)!

The First Century Church Changed the World Through Their Giving 

Have you ever stopped to consider how Christians of the first century changed the world through their giving? If not for their generosity and sacrifices, we wouldn’t be believers today. This statement rings true for all faithful servants of God, from every age, during both the Old and New Testaments, down through the Dark and Middle Ages, throughout the Renaissance and Revivalists periods, down to our present time. Through their whole-hearted investments of their time, lives, money, sacrifices, dedication, examples, preaching, perseverance, teaching, and earnest efforts, we have the Bible, God’s Word, available to us today. It’s from this very Word, and our belief in it, that our saving faith originates (Rom. 10:17). We are therefore their glory – their joy – their “crown of rejoicing” as Paul expressed (I Thes. 2:19; Phil. 4:1). We are their heritage. Their children. Their spiritual offspring. Their reward. When you think about it, there really is nothing of lasting value they’ve left behind – but US! We are their heritage! Why wouldn’t we also, in turn, invest everything we have in spreading the Gospel to others?! What could possibly be more important?!

Instead of keeping the Old Testament tithing system, how did the New Testament early Church give to God – and thereby, to us? In reading the Bible, I primarily find the following two ways:

1) By Consistent Sharing with the Poor, Especially the Poor in the Church

Jesus said, “I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me… and inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” (Matt. 25:40,45)

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands and houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.” (Acts 4:32-35)

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” (Rom. 12:10-13)

“Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:9-10)

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (I Tim. 6:17-19)

“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Heb. 13:16)

“And when James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me [Paul], they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.” (Gal. 2:9-10)

“For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.” (Rom. 15:26-27)

“Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first of every week, each one of you should set aside something and save it up as he has prospered so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.” (I Cor. 16:1-4)

“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” (II Cor. 8:1-5)

“But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: ‘He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.’” (II Cor. 8:7-15)

“So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He [the righteous man] has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (II Cor. 9:5-15)

2) By Materially Supporting Those who are Preaching the True Gospel Full-time on the Front Lines

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (Luke 8:1-3)

And Jesus said, “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals… When you enter a house… stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” (Luke 10:3-9)

“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law [of God] say the same thing?  For it is written in the Law of Moses: ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely He says this for our sakes, doesn’t He? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it any great thing if we should reap material things from you? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?… Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” (I Cor. 9:11-14)

“Did I perhaps make a mistake or commit an offense in humbling myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you [Corinthians] in any way, and will continue to do so.” (II Cor. 11:7-9)

“Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  (Phil. 4:15-19)

“Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher – contributing to his support” (Gal. 6:6)

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