FINANCES

We will start by looking at some important truths from Acts 20:28-35 (vs. 28) Be diligent with yourself and with fellow believers, remembering we were all bought with Christ’s own blood.  (vs. 29) Savage wolves (destructive people) will come into Christians midst.  (vs. 30)  Even people from your own number will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  (vs. 31)  Be on your guard.  (vs. 32) Be Committed to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (in Jesus 1 Cor. 1:2)  (vs. 33) Do not covet anyone’s wealth. (vs. 34) Work to supply your own needs.  (vs. 35) Demonstrate hard work and sharing with those in need.  We must help the weak, as Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.

In James 5:1-6 We are warned not to hoard wealth in the last days.  2 Corinthians 9:7 Teaches that man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 8:12 teaches us to give according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.  It is not God’s desire that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

This sets up a flexible framework to build on.  Please remember God may ask you to do something special.  In that case be certain it is Jesus leading you and not man trying to hustle you.

How to give:

• Look after your own needs first. Remember 2 Corinthians 8:12 we give out of our abundance.

1. Isaiah 58:7 Do not turn away from your own flesh and blood.
2. Mark 7:11  If a man says to his father or mother:  whatever help you might receive from me is corban (that is a gift devoted to God).  Jesus said the leaders nullify the word of God by their tradition.
3. 1 Timothy 5:8  If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

• 1 Timothy 5:3 Look after widows who are really in need.

1. I Tim. 5:4 If a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God
2. Acts 6:1 shows some widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.  Note:  The help was current and ongoing not sporadic.
3. 1 Timothy 5:16 reinforces 1Timothy 5:4.  Family is to help their own widows, so that the church not be burdened with them, thus enabling the church to help widows who are really in need.
4. James 1:27 religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

• Those who preach the gospel

1. 1 Corinthians 9:14 ….. The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
2. 1 Timothy 5:18 The worker deserves his wages.

• Sharing with fellow Christians

1. Acts 4:32  All believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
2. Acts 4:34 There were no needy persons among them.  For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostle’s feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

• Sheltering and clothing the wanderer  Isaiah 58:7
  
  
  1. Luke 3:11 The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
  2. Luke 10:34 & 35  He went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. (vs. 35).  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the inn keeper.  Look after him he said and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.


• Missions and Travelling Ministers.
  
  
  1. 1 Corinthians 16:1 & 2  Now about the collection for God’s people:  (vs. 2) on  the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

            Some of the material that we have covered concerning financial giving teaches responsibilities and attitudes for giving.  One word used is diligent.  This means a constant effort, attentive persistent and painstaking, with yourself, family and fellow believers.

            Another thing is being committed to God which translates into living obedience to the Word or the Bible.  We are encouraged by the fact that God, by His grace can build us up and give us an inheritance.

            We are warned not to covet anyone’s wealth.  We are told to work to supply our own needs, demonstrating a hard work ethic.

            Our attitude should be one of giving not one of receiving from others.  Our giving should be a personal decision based on scripture and our heart.  We are to guard against compulsion and be a cheerful giver.

            We are to give according to what we have, not by what we do not have.  God does not want us to be hard pressed.

            Our priority in giving starts with self, family, relatives, widows in real need, orphans, full time Christian workers, fellow Christians in need amongst your own numbers, sheltering and clothing.  Your own numbers, sheltering and clothing the wanderer and missions giving to other needy Christians.  Our giving is not limited to Christian’s priorities.  As needs are made known, prayerfully address these needs and give as your heart leads you.

            I can find nothing in the new testament church to substantiate the way the Christian denominations collect money and spend it.  All new testament teachings centre on the dispersement of all available finances among the believers.  The only exception I find is the wanderer.  He may or may not be a believer.

            In fact if a believer tithes as laid out under the law and summed up in Malachi 3, he will bring a curse on himself and his family.  The law is what the bible refers to as works.  This means man performing to get God to reward him.  In Christian circles this is referred to as the prosperity doctrine.

            Scripture tells us that masses of money was placed at the disciples’ feet.  It also tells us how it was spent, as we have covered.  In Acts 3:6 Peter said ‘Silver or gold have I none but such as I have give I thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.’  He obviously was not hoarding the saint’s money, but he was sure full of the treasure from heaven.

            What is your choice?  Would you prefer money to buy the cripple a donkey and pay for servants to look after him, or give him the heavenly treasure of healing?  Let us give you the scripture to back up the truth about tithing and giving to get.  Hebrews 7:5 states, now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests, to collect a tenth from the people. 

            Now go to Galatians 3:10  All who rely on observing the law are under a curse.  You will hear tireless testimonies of how people were blessed when they started to tithe.  Well if you are not born again you will prosper.  I can give you testimonies of Christians who never got out of debt or prospered till they quit tithing.  I am one of them.  We now have no debt, we pay cash for our needs, do not own a credit card, we live comfortably and give much more money than we were able to when we tithed.  The non financial blessings have skyrocketed as well.

            We do not give to get.  We give generously out of love for Jesus, as our heart moves us in the framework of God’s word.