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The New Testament era Christians also worshiped God with their money. A true Christian considers the giving of his money to the Lord a privilege. While it is a privilege, it is also depicted in the Bible as a responsibility. Among the Jews of the Old Testament, to withhold their tithes and offerings was to “rob God” (Mat. 3:8). It is not that God is a pauper and needs our money, but it is for our own good that He ordained that we be a generous, giving, benevolent people (“It is more blessed to give than to receive” [Acts 20:35]). God has told men, not angels, to preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15–16) and he has placed the priceless treasure of the Gospel in the hands of “earthen vessels” (i.e., men) (2 Cor. 4:7). Not only are men to do the going, but those who cannot or will not go are to do the sending (1 Cor. 9:6–14). This requires money. Additionally, the church must help the helpless when they are unable to provide their necessities of life (Gal. 6:2, 10).
To answer the need of His children to give of their money for their own spiritual growth, and the need of a world lost in sin that needs the Gospel, the Lord has provided the opportunity for us to give when we assemble each Lord’s Day. Since Christians would be assembling each first day of the week to eat the Lord’s Supper and otherwise worship God (Acts 20:7), The New Testament also commands that we should give some of our money each Lord’s Day (1 Cor. 16:1–2). It is noteworthy that there is no other method authorized by Scripture for financing the work of God’s church except through simple, free-will offerings. This is in direct contrast to the rummage sales, pie suppers, bingo games, wineries and distilleries, raffles, and various business enterprises that are common among most of the denominations. High pressure methods and assessments are unacceptable (2 Cor. 9:7). God’s people are to give regularly, according to their prosperity (1 Cor. 16:1–2), bountifully, with purpose or thought, willingly and cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:6–7). Sacrificial giving is commended (2 Cor. 8:1–5). What we give to the Lord on the Lord’s Day is truly worship, for it is a measure of our love (2 Cor. 8:8). The more we love, the more we will give.
[Note: I wrote this article for, and it was published in the “Bible Thoughts” Column for the Hood County News, Granbury, Texas, September 25, 1977.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
