Egypt to Canaan (Pt. 14): Practising Kingdom Generosity
Scriptural Anchors:
When God instructed Israel to build the tabernacle, He invited willing hearts, not coerced givers. “Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring an offering to the Lord.” Those whose spirits were stirred brought gold, silver, fabrics, oil, and stones until there was more than enough, and Moses restrained them from bringing more.
This foundation teaches us that spiritual acts must be done with understanding. In our church life we pursue financial transparency, avoid pressure and manipulation, and insist on revelation-based giving. Scripture also shows that it is right for ministers to be supported (1 Corinthians 9:8–14), yet our leaders choose bivocational service and give alongside us, modeling integrity and faithfulness.
Tithes, First fruits and God’s Provision
Israel’s giving was structured: a first 10% for the Levites, a second 10% for national festivals, and a third 10% every three years for the poor—averaging 23.3% annually. Added to this was the firstfruit offering, the costly first portion of harvest or flock. God’s purpose was clear: His house would be supplied, and His people—especially the poor—would not lack.
The principle remains: the 90% with God’s blessing is greater than the 100% without it. God gives both “bread for food” and “seed to sow” (2 Corinthians 9:10). Faithfulness keeps the seed as seed; unfaithfulness consumes it.
Today our giving—tithes, offerings, firstfruits, gifts, and seeds—flows into three purposes: sustaining church operations, caring for those in need, and advancing kingdom work beyond us, including what we commit to give away.
Old Testament tithing was mandatory, but the tabernacle offering was freewill. No curse was attached to refusal. This shapes our understanding: New Covenant generosity is not compulsion but willing partnership with God’s purposes.
Generosity as Faith, Love, and Priority
Generosity is first a demonstration of faithfulness. Israel brought from the treasures God had already given them when they left Egypt. A person can receive nothing unless it is given from heaven (John 3:27). When God asks us to give, He asks from what He has supplied. Because of this, we do not borrow to give. We offer what we truly have, asking for grace to discern bread from seed and to reorder our lives where needed. Nothing rivals God in the human heart like money, and we must refuse to serve both God and mammon.
Generosity is also an expression of love. Scripture measures love by sacrifice: God gave His Son (John 3:16), Christ died for us (Romans 5:8), Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed “but a few days.”
David models this in 1 Chronicles 29. Knowing he would not build the temple, he still prepared abundantly, then gave from his own treasure “over and above” because he had set his affection on God’s house. The people followed, giving willingly and rejoicing. David’s confession becomes ours: “All things come from You… and of Your own we have given You.”
Generosity also reveals our priorities. Through Haggai, God rebuked Israel for building fine houses while His house lay desolate. They worked hard but saw little return because their priorities were misaligned. David, by contrast, could not rest while the ark of God lacked a dwelling. Our giving declares where God truly stands in our lives.
Our Response in This Season
We therefore reject giving motivated by fear, guilt, pressure, or transactional expectations. We do not buy blessings or sow for personal breakthroughs. We give because we understand, because we love, because we trust, because we are blessed, and because we are led. We give to lay up treasure in heaven, where nothing rusts or decays.
In this present project, our giving will be sacrificial. Some will postpone purchases or plans; some will begin tithing; others will become consistent; others will give from stored-up treasure like David. Through it all, we lean on grace, not human willpower.
We affirm together that everything we have has come from God, that He has already prepared the provision before the need, and that as we give willingly and joyfully, we will see His supply made manifest. We dedicate our generosity, this work, and ourselves to Him, trusting that we are a people greatly helped by the Lord.