The days following Thanksgiving are filled with bids for our money. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday encourage us to spend our money to get something for our loved ones at a discounted price or to generously give to create change around the world. The New Testament reveals that the Lord’s church raises money to do its work of helping those in need and spreading the gospel by the voluntary donations. From the very inception of the church, Christians gave freely to help those in need: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:44-45). Some made very sizeable donations, such as selling houses or land and giving all the proceeds to the church, “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need” (Acts 4:34-35).
In the New Testament, the church is never seen going into business or having special sales to raise funds. When a need arose, such as the famine (Acts 11:27-30; Rom. 15:25-27), Christians would freely give as they had been prospered on Sunday, the first day of the week, the day they had been called together for worship in taking the Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:17-29; 16:1-4). These donations first helped fellow saints and then all others in need (2 Cor. 9:13; cf. Gal. 6:10). When Christian missionaries went forth they made it their policy to be supported by fellow Christians rather than peddling the word of God for profit from unbelievers (3 John 7; 2 Cor. 2:17; 1 Thess. 2: 5-9). If a non-believer wanted to house missionaries or give them a gift, it did not have to be refused (Luke 10:3-8); however, their policy was that missionaries would not be begging from those they were trying to convert, but in fact would be supported by those who already believed. After one is a Christian, it is appropriate for the one taught to share material things with the one teaching (Gal. 6:6; 1 Cor. 9:1-14).
Paul commended congregations that did well in giving to those in need (2 Cor. 8:1-5), and who bore spiritual fruit by giving to those preaching the gospel as a well-pleasing sacrifice to God (Phil. 4:14-19). The Lord’s church at Flatwoods is to be commended for generous giving. Whenever special needs have arisen for missionaries (3 John 5-8), to care for orphans (Jas. 1:27), or to help those who have lost much in natural disasters (Acts 11:29), generous members of this congregation have given—above their regular contributions in supporting the Lord’s cause here—to meet these specific needs. Truly, it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35), for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7).
-Mark Day
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