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Ecc 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.
Whether you use a bag, box or some other devise on Sunday mornings it seems to have almost became a tradition to give money for some. The conviction is gone on how much we should put in the collection. We set a standard amount of money that we give and it rarely changes, we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of not allowing the Spirit of God to lead us in how much to give
Throughout the New Testament in places such as the book of Acts and Romans 15 it is mentioned that the Christians in Jerusalem were poor, and pleas were made to other assemblies (1 Cor. 16) to help the poor assemblies.
WHEN SHOULD WE GIVE?
When is the proper time to give money at the collection of the saints as referred to in 1 Corinthians 16? Is it fine to set a box somewhere and allow people to put money in it at any time throughout the week that they may be at their local assembly? Some may not find a problem with this yet scripture does set out a guideline to follow.
1Co 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
It perhaps is worth noting as well that this passage was directed at the Corinthian church, you can see this as well with the fact that Paul parallels it with similar teaching given to the Galatian church.
HELPING THE ASSEMBLIES
The Poor
Rom 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
The main focus of the passages throughout the New Testament about giving money, is the focus of helping other individuals. in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 the goal of the collection of money was to give it to other Christians in neighbouring assemblies. The teaching of helping the brethren is something that is very important to get a grasp ahold of, and is in many places in the writings of the New Testament. We should even be willing to lay down our lifes for the saints (1 John 3:16)
Act 4:32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common… 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold, 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
When explaining passages such as Acts chapter 4, I have heard some very interesting interpretations of the passage, including such things as during the time of the early church it was necessary to sell everything everyone had, and share it up to help others survive due to persecution and such. The way our society is set up today perhaps there is not a need for us to sell every single item we have and equally distribute it to others, yet the principle of what these early Christians did is there in writing and there for a reason, this is not a portion of scripture that comes to us with “tear along the dotted lines” instructions. We should be living our lives in the same way that the early Christians did. Are we of “one heart and soul”? Are we willing to give all to help a less fortunate Christian? If we wish to follow the way of scripture and the way of the Macedonian church which was commended for their godly actions (something that will be touched on later), we would be doing something to ensure the contentment of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. With that said giving to help the poor individuals is not something that is expected from the whole, but should be personal convictions as well, where you or I may privately help someone in passing that may need it (1 John 3:17)
Assembly Costs
Throughout the references that speak about collection. It always refers to people sending money from one assembly to another. One assembly that perhaps has more is expected to help more then a poor assembly. Paul mentions it to the Corinthian church.
2Co 8:14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
In today’s society many assemblies have their own buildings with either the name of “Gospel Hall”, “Gospel Chapel” or perhaps another name on them. To run these buildings there are taxes that need to be paid (Mk. 12:17), utility bills and other services that require money. The logical conclusion would be that each assembly on the beginning of every week would collect money to ensure the wellbeing of the testimony of the assembly in the community. The Corinthians collected money to help other assemblies, as well as did the assemblies of Macedonia, it is only wise as well to ensure the wellbeing of your own assembly to be able to continue on to provide help to others.
Full-Time Workers
In scripture the only clear teaching on who received money for their services of preaching the gospel were the ones who were “missionaries”. Ones who committed their entire life to travelling around either the country side or world telling others of Christ. It is worth taking the time to read the next few passages carefully:
1Co 9:6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
1Co 9:7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
1Co 9:8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?
1Co 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?
1Co 9:10 Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.
1Co 9:11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
1Co 9:12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
1Co 9:13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
1Co 9:14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
1Co 9:15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.
Paul is writing to an assembly and if you notice in verse 11 he mentions the term “from you”. He is not writing a defence to solicit money from the audience as he goes around preaching the gospel, and never do you see him do this or any of the apostles. If he visited a synagogue or a public place such as Mars Hill, he never once ended or began his message with passing around a collection plate or another money collection devise. It was up to the members of assemblies to ensure the well being of the full time workers proclaiming the message. We see this as well in other passages.
Php 4:14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
Php 4:15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
Php 4:16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
With this stated it is equally worth mentioning that the commission to spread the gospel was given to everyone and we should not need to rely so heavily on full time preachers to do the work that we should be doing on a daily basis.
Widows
1Ti 5:16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.
1 Timothy chapter 5 is very clear on the passage concerning the care of widows. The instructions is that if a widow happens to have family members it is important that they care for her, If a widow has a family member who professes to be a Christian and will not take care of her, that person is worse then an unbeliever, and is denying the faith (v.8)
With that said though, the assembly is not restricted from helping a widow that has family members, but should not be burdened down when others can help, so that the assembly can help the ones who are genuinely now alone with no others to help them.
HOW MUCH DO WE GIVE?
So how much exactly do we give? is it fine to set a standard amount as mentioned at the beginning of this writing? what if you have no money, and are just scraping to get by? First if this is so and you decide to take a large amount of your money out just because you think you have to, then I would advise you not to for you are missing the point of the collection of the assembly.
The churches of Macedonia got the full meaning of why they should be giving and how much they should give.
2Co 8:1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
2Co 8:2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
2Co 8:3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
2Co 8:4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints–
2Co 8:5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
The churches of Macedonia themselves were extremely poor. Paul could mention that they were in poverty. Perhaps the natural reaction of some of us today is to mumble amongst ourselve when we hear of an assembly in need, “well we do not have a lot either, we can not help.” The Macedonians did not think this, the reason being touched on in the next subject and can be found in verse number 5 of the above quoted scripture.
Also there is not a certain percentage set that we should give. In 2 Corinthians chapter 9, Paul explains how much we should give and if we understand who we are truly giving it to, and if we have the one heart and soul amongst all believers, it also will affect our giving.
2Co 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Tax Receipts
In being around some assemblies it has been an issue with some believers about receiving tax receipts for what they give on the beginning of the week. The defence that some will give is that it defeats the purpose of “giving until it hurts” as some feel is a good motivation for giving. Others seem to have an issue with it because they feel when money goes into the collection that should be the end of it, we should have no more desire to get anything back.
I believe there are a couple of points worth making in passing about this issue. In Romans 13 we are instructed that God has put in place our governments, we are also instructed to obey them. If within the government, they have provided an option that a Christian can receive a credit on what they are giving to what the government considers a charity, there is no scripture against this. If the issue is truly about “giving to you hurt” and wanting to give all to the Lord and then not think about it, then it should bring a smile to a person’s face when they realize the government of their country provides this option and they should jump at the opportunity to take advantage of it. The result means that any tax credit they get back for the money they put into the collection on Sunday morning, means that they can now give even more. They can take all the credit they received and help another service going on for the Lord. It should bring joy to the ones who are truly giving from their hearts to know that God has provided another way through the government of their country to help His people in serving Him. So now for people who enjoy the phrase “give until it hurts” can now “give until it hurts plus more”
THE REASON FOR GIVING AND THE RESULT OF GIVING FOR THE RIGHT REASON
The reason for giving has already briefly been touched on early in the article. We should be giving to help the poor Christians. We should be giving to help people who have given their entire lives to spreading the gospel of Christ. We should be giving because we understand the love we are supposed to have one for another.
We should also be giving because of the glory and praise that will be given to God by the receiver of the gift…
2Co 9:13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
We should also be giving freely because we have a desire to please God and do His will, and as a result if we do it from the heart and for the service of the Saints and the spreading of the gospel and glory of God, we in turn have been promised repayment from God.
2Co 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2Co 9:11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2Co 9:12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
Php 4:17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
Php 4:18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
Php 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Yet as this article draws to a close it is worth reminding us all that if we get into the mind set of “if we give more God will give us more” or if we attempt to appear as cheerful givers yet are deceiving in some way, God is not fooled and let us not fall into the trap that Ananias and Sapphira fell into for if we try to rob God in someway, we will be held accountable.
1Co 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.
*picture taken from www.kaimradio.com
