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Scriptural Means of Financing the Work of the Church I. Christians are to give of their means on the first day of
the week.
A. Acts 4:31-34; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
B. Note from these passages that Christians are:
1. To give, not to think in terms of getting.
a. More blessed to give than to receive.
2. To give on the first day of the week.
3. To give as they have been prospered.
4. To give as they purposed in their heart.
a. Giving is to be planned.
C. This is the only means authorized by God for financing
the Lord’s work.
D. AS a part of the work and worship of the church, this
contribution is under the oversight of the Elders. 1
Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:28
1. Elders are to use the money according to God’s
authority.
2. If Elders use money for that which is not authorized
of God, we must obey God.
3. Illustration of government and Christian. Romans
13:1-7; Acts 4-5
4. Illustration of husband and wife. Ephesians 5:22
5. Illustration of parent and child. Ephesians 6:1-2
E. Deacons to assist the elders as in Acts 6
F. The money was used for the work for which the Lord’s
church was responsible.
1. To help the needy saints. Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-37;
6:1-7; 11:27-30; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians
8 and 9; 1 Timothy 5:16
a. Distribution was made on the basis of need.
b. Each congregation is responsible to relieve its
own needy to the full extent of their ability.
c. When one congregation is unable to relieve
adequately the needs (within that church) other
churches may send help.
(1) Acts 11:27-30
(2) 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
d. Churches which helped relieve the needs of saints
in other congregations sent the help directly to
the elders of the church where the need existed.
e. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 – Contribution not limited
to benevolence.
(1) Only passage concerning obtaining money.
(2) Not the only Scriptural example or command
for using the money.
2. To support the preaching of the Gospel.
a. The laborer is worthy of his hire.
(1) Luke 10:7
(2) 1 Timothy 5:18
b. 1 Corinthians 9:6-14
c. Churches sent this money directly to the preacher
in the field, not through some central church or
human agency.
(1) Philippians 2:25-30; 4:14-20
(2) 2 Corinthians 11:8-9
3. The support of the preaching or teaching the gospel
as a part of the church’s work and the
responsibility of edification.
a. An important function of the church
(congregation) as God designed it is the
edification of its members. Ephesians 4:11-16
b. The proper objective of a congregation is the
development of the spiritual strength of the
members. Ephesians 6:10-18
c. Elders (who are charged with overseeing the
spiritual development of the church – Acts 20:28)
when their full time to laboring in the Word and
doctrine may be supported. 1 Timothy 5:17
d. That which is necessary to edification, teaching
aids, etc.
4. To provide a place to assemble to worship.
a. Commanded to assemble. Hebrews 10:25
b. Authority inherent in the command.
c. Example of Troas. Acts 20:7-8
(1) Upper room
(2) Sea side
(3) Private home
5. May use money for that which is necessary to
worship.
a. Bread and fruit of the vine.
b. Containers in which to serve the Lord’s Supper.
G. The money was not used for work that was peculiarly the
responsibility of individual Christians.
1. Individual and church treasury.
a. All our money is the Lord’s, but there is a
difference between that contributed to the church
and that not contributed.
(1) Ananias – Acts 5:4
2. The church acts through individuals, but not every
act of individuals is church action.
a. 1 Timothy 5:16; Matthew 18:15
3. How are treasuries accumulated?
a. Individuals:
(1) Honest Labor – Ephesians 4:28
(2) Gift
(3) Inheritance
(4) Interest
(5) Any lawful means or method that does not
violate scriptural principles.
b. Church:
(1) Christians lay by in store on the first day
of the week. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
(2) By contributions from other churches if it is
an object of charity. Acts 11:27-30; 1
Corinthians 16:1-2
4. Individual Christians were responsible to relieve
the needs which arise in the home which might take
the form of benevolence.
a. Supply the needs of their own family. 1 Timothy
5:8
b. Supply the needs of relatives who are unable to
care for themselves. 1 Timothy 5:4, 8, 16
c. Help relive the needs of saints (household of
faith) according their ability. Galatians 6:10
d. Visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction. James 1:27
e. Help relieve the needs of all men according to
their opportunity and ability. Galatians 6:10;
Ephesians 4:28
f. The individual’s responsibility is in this order.
II. When Christians fail to give as they have been prospered
they rob God.
A. Malachi 3:8-10
B. Some guidelines which may be helpful in determining or
purposing how much we as Christians should give.
1. In the time of Malachi, God rebuked them for not
giving the whole tithe.
2. Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek. Genesis 14:20;
Hebrews 7:4-7
3. Tithing was taught by Leviticus 27:30.
4. Today, however, we live under a different
dispensation. We have a different system of worship.
Our worship and service is voluntary. We are not
commanded to tithe. We are commanded to give as we
have been prospered.
a. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
b. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
5. As Christians we have greater spiritual blessings
than the Israelites did under Moses.
6. We are under a better Covenant. Hebrews 8:6
7. It is sealed by better blood – the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:13-14
8. It is enacted upon better promises – Hebrews 8:6
9. The early Christians serve as an example of giving.
a. Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37
b. They gave to the point of selling of possessions.
10. Christians must give bountifully if they expect to
reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
11. Love should impel us. Love gives – God so loved
that He gave His Son. Christ loved the church and
gave Himself for it. Ephesians 5:25
C. Christians also rob God when they fail to purpose or
give on a planned basis.
1. Failure to plan our giving leads to failure to give
as we have been prospered. It leads to giving God
what little is left over after we have spent what we
wanted or needed for other things.
2. The highest type of giving is sacrificial giving.
Luke 21:3-4
3. The Lord is interested in our giving. Luke 21:3-4
4. The Lord desires a willing mind. 2 Corinthians 8:11-
12
5. The Lord evidently, therefore, judges our giving not
only by the amount that we give, but also:
a. How.
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