Generously

Give generously.  This is perhaps the most difficult teaching about supporting God's Mission in the Bible.  That's because we think of generous giving completely differently than the people in the New Testament.  Their definition of generous giving is overwhelming to us today.

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. (Acts 2:44-45 NLT)

Here are a few terms that form the background of their giving:

Tithe

You may have heard preachers or churchgoers talking about a "tithe."  This word simply means 10%.  In Old Testament Israel, there were twelve tribes that grew from the twelve brothers.  One of the tribes, Levi, was set apart to do God's work with and in the tabernacle (tent) and eventually the temple (building) where they would "meet" with God.  The other eleven tribes gave 10% of their income so the tribe of Levi could focus on the work given to them by God.  Levi, then, would also tithe as an act of worship to God.

"Give these instructions to the Levites: When you receive from the people of Israel the tithes I have assigned as your allotment, give a tenth of the tithes you receive—a tithe of the tithe—to the LORD as a sacred offering. (Numbers 18:26 NLT)

Offering

Offerings were any gift offered to God.  Tithes were offerings to God, but there were many other offerings people would make as well.  Some of them were to celebrate God's goodness.  Some of them were to repent of sin.  Some of them were for special projects, like building the tabernacle (tent of meeting) or, later, the temple (building of God).  

Take a sacred offering for the LORD. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the LORD...  (Exodus 35:5 NLT)

After the temple was built, they would maintain the building with a special offering that was sometimes called the "temple tax."  

Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the LORD the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness. (2 Chronicles 24:9 NLT)

These special gifts were designated above and beyond the tithe for God's workers.  They got the buildings built and paid for the maintenance.

Poor and Foreigners

Before any of this giving took place, God had a built-in system for supporting the poor among Israel as well as foreigners who decided to live in Israel.  They would always have food to eat.

"When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 23:22 NLT)

Israelites, then, were already used to paying for the poor and foreigners, giving 10% to support the tribe of Levi, and a temple tax to maintain God's building.  This all took place before they paid taxes to the Roman government, paid for their own shelter, and fed their own family.  Yet, somehow, God provided.

The New Church

Generous giving in the New Testament church went above and beyond the things I just listed here.  They were meeting together in the temple courts.  They most probably hadn't stopped bringing offerings to the temple - at least not at first.  Even if they did stop, the old practices, the mindset of giving was at least as committed as before.  The poor were cared for generously.

There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. (Acts 4:34-35 NLT)

God's workers, such as the apostles and elders, were supported similarly to the tribe of Levi.

Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!" (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NLT)

Most importantly, God's Mission continued and the Gospel was spread throughout the world.

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47 NLT)

How about you?  Does your giving participate in God's Mission?  Are the poor fed through your giving?  Are God's buildings built and maintained?  Is the Gospel preached by people you support?  Do you give generously?