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Giving to the Lord’s Church

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The New Testament shows that the church raised money to do good works such as meeting the needs of the poor (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 11:28-30). To the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” From among the members at Corinth, a collection was to be taken up for the saints in need. This was not a new concept; the Jews had a treasury at the temple where people freely gave money (Mark 12:41; Luke 21:1). Similarly, Paul instructed congregations of the Lord’s church to take up collections from among Christians to do the work of the church, such as benevolence. This order was given to the churches of Galatia as well.  The churches of Galatia were also commanded to share their earthly goods with teachers of God’s word (Gal. 6:6). They were exhorted to do good to all men, with a special emphasis on helping fellow Christians (Gal. 6:10).

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When the early church had monetary needs, where did they get the money to meet those needs? Did the New Testament church get money from the government? No. Did they ask non-Christians in the community for support? No. Did they have sales and auctions to raise funds? No. The New Testament shows they took up contributions from the members of the church. Multiple times I have heard people of the world speak in derision of churches that are continually soliciting funds from everyone. Those sent forth to do the Lord’s work in the first century made a practice of “taking nothing of the Gentiles” (3 John 7).

Each Christian gives as God has prospered him (1 Cor. 16:2). Giving was done by “every man according to his ability” (Acts 11:29). Thus, some were able to give more than others. Some gave large sums, selling land or houses and giving the entirety of the sale to the church (Acts 4:34). Others were in deep poverty; recognition was given to the varying abilities with which different people were able to give (2 Cor. 8:1-3). Giving should not be done begrudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). Sometimes people are prone to give great contributions to the church, but have strings attached. They may expect to have control in the church over those funds. Giving should be done with simplicity, or sincerity of heart (Rom. 12:8). Thus, our generosity should not have strings attached.

God’s love has been shown to us by His giving (John 3:16). The grace of Jesus Christ is seen in that though He was rich, for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty may become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). A heart motivated to freely give is predominant in the ethos of the Lord’s church.

-Mark Day

The LORD Is My Everlasting Portion

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“Then the LORD said to Aaron: ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. ‘Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting” (Num. 18:20-21). In these two verses, the Levites were addressed specifically in regard to their inheritance. Later, during the conquest of the promised land, Israel knew by casting lots what God’s determination was for their portion (Josh. 14:2). Instead of owning a certain territory in the land God would give Israel, God Himself would be the Levites’ portion. The goods that were dedicated to God, accrued through tithing, would be given to these Levites, whose work was the continuance of the nation’s religious communion with God. Instead of land, the LORD would sustain them; thus, He is, time and again, described as their portion and inheritance (Deut. 10:9; 18:1).

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With this material background, some of the psalms describe the spiritual truth of having the LORD as our portion. The wealthy king David, by inspiration, wrote: “O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot” (Psa. 16:5). The language of land distribution—portion and lot—is used here to say God is the one who determines the path of life and provides sustenance through it all. While death results in leaving earthly goods, including the land we own, to someone else (Ecc. 2:18), having God as our portion is an inheritance that lasts into eternity. Psalm 16:9-11 describes the hope, joy, and eternal sustenance of having the Lord as one’s portion; it is quoted in Acts 2:25-32 to describe the resurrection of Jesus, the descendant of David, who gives us a living hope of an incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance (1 Pet. 1:3, 4).

The heading of Psalm 73 attributes authorship to Asaph, a musician from the tribe of Levi, appointed for work in worship by the commission of David (1 Chron. 6:31, 39). By inspiration, this psalmist says to God, “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psa. 73:24-26). With God as his portion forever, the hope of eternal life is expressed in these words: “afterward receive me to glory.” Wealthy men, honored in this world, will perish like beasts—with no eternal prosperity—if they do not seek God, but the righteous who have the Lord as their portion will see glory after death (Psa. 49:10-20; Prov. 11:4). When Israel lost all material possessions and their land, their only hope that remained was in the LORD who was their soul’s portion (Lam. 3:22-24).

Today under the New Testament, all Christians are priests (1 Pet. 2:9). With the background of the Levitical priests whose continual work was to offer worship, our bodies and lives are to be poured out as a living sacrifice in service to God (Rom. 12:1). Instead of having your mind set on earthly matters, remember your citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:19, 20). Do not merely labor for the food that perishes (Jn. 6:27), but hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mt. 5:6), being fed and sustained by God’s word (Mt. 4:4). Do not lay up treasures on earth, but rather in heaven (Mt. 6:19, 20). Seek the Lord first (Mt. 6:33), and He will be your everlasting portion.

-Mark Day