A
cheerful motive for cheerful giving
Read 2
Corinthians 8:1-15
Nowhere do I find
in the New Testament that Christian men are commanded to tithe. Such a
commandment would be contrary to the gospel of grace and the spirit of the new
covenant. Legal commandments are good enough for children of bondage, like
Ishmael. But the children of promise are motivated from a better principle. For
them it is enough to say, ‘Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ We do
not divide out our tenth, like religious misers. We give ourselves and all that
we have to Christ. Cheerfully we give all that we can for the cause of Christ
and the support of the gospel ministry. Why? Because we know his grace.
‘Though he was
rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.’ Brethren, the wealth of God, the treasures of the infinite, the riches
of eternity are the possession of our blessed Saviour. From the highest throne
of glory to the lowest pit in hell, Jesus owns it all. It is true Christ is the
lowly man of Nazareth. But he is more. He is the eternal God, possessing all
the riches of divine wisdom, power and glory.
Yet he became poor
(Phil. 2:5-8). The eternal Son of God took manhood into union with himself. The
God of glory robed himself in human flesh. Behold the depths of his poverty at
Calvary! He was betrayed, mocked and beaten. He was crucified. God made his Son
to be sin for us! There he was robbed of all the joy of heaven and the comfort
of his Father’s presence. His dying bed was a malefactor’s cross. His resting
place was a borrowed tomb. What was the reason for such humiliation?
‘That ye through
his poverty might be rich.’ What riches are ours through the mediation of
Christ! In him we have all and abound. The riches of grace and redemption, time
and eternity are ours. Do men who know such grace need the threat of the law to
make them tithe? No! The love of Christ constrains us. And in everything grace
produces more than the law. Let us then give cheerfully and bountifully.