New Testament giving just like the covenant itself is a very new thing. Giving in the New Testament is very important and a crucial part of the church. In 2 Cor.9:6-7 the apostle Paul said to the Corinthian church,
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
I hope you know that tithing is sowing sparingly, New Testament giving is about purposing in the heart not calculating of the tithe. If it were the tithe there would be no need for purposing in the heart. Where did Paul get this revelation from? It is in Exodus 25:1-2,
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
This was not a tithe they were to bring, it was much more than a tithe. It is the Lord who instructed Moses. Moses was not trying to fundraise. In Exodus 36:5, the people brought “much more than enough” of the offering. They brought much more because they were willing. This is what Paul saw as the New Testament giving and told the Corinthians to give cheerfully. In Gen. 22:1, when the Lord told Abraham to take his only son whom he loved and offer him as a sacrifice, that was not a tithe. That was bountiful sowing, a sacrifice. After that the Lord proclaimed great blessings upon Abraham. David the king was preparing for the temple and gave with his might (1 Chronicles 29:3-5). After that, all the chiefs gave and in verse 9 it says,
Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
So giving is by willingness a reflection of a perfect heart and it is crowned with exceeding joy. It is not tithing. No wonder we give the tithe and be sad still. This is the time to graduate from tithers to sowers, bountiful sowers, purposeful with a willing heart, giving cheerfully. Poverty will never be our portion for ever.