Giving in the Early Church

The author is unknown on the following article (it may be Richard Plache) but the points are well made and bear repeating:

"The major emphasis on giving in the early church is not for the planned expenses of a full-time ministry, but rather for meeting the needs of our fellow humans, such as family, friends, neighbors, even strangers, whether in or out of the church.

"John said that if we have the love of Christ in us, we will not shut up the flow of compassion when we have the ability to meet a brother's need. Paul said that those who formerly sought only to get will want to labour in order to 'have to give to him that needs.' Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive. We are to 'do good to all men' as opportunity arises, especially to God's people. The rich above all are to use their money 'to do good,' 'contributing to the needs of the saints.'

"These and many other statements of the New Testament have to do principally with giving to individuals in need, not to giving to corporate 'works of the Lord.' Giving to our fellowmen is one of the most direct ways we have of serving Jesus Christ. When we do it unto 'one of the least of these my brethren,' we have done it to Jesus himself.

"Too often in our age of organised, institutionalised giving, we relinquish the responsibility of distributing our gifts to others. We fail to be personally sensitive to the needs of those with whom we come into contact, and the inner voice commanding us to help is quenched. We miss out on the fulfillment that comes with the freedom of on-the-spot Christ-inspired giving.

"When we know the daily reality of the indwelling Christ monitoring our lives and moving us into action, we realise that he brings to our attention and causes to cross our path those who are in need of ministry from him. Through us he continues the ministry of meeting men's needs that he began while he was here in the flesh. Giving, then, moves from the artificial, mechanical fulfillment of a formula, such as placing an envelope in the collection plate each week, into the spontaneous ministry of Christ toward those he has chosen to have mercy upon.

What about the clergy then?

"The New Testament does show people involved in full-time ministry. Paul told the Galatians it was good to provide for such people: 'And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.' He also expounded the right of ministers to be supported in I Corinthians 9. If someone ministers to you, you will want to minister to him, just as a man in the armed forces has his expenses paid, or as a farmer eats of his produce. Notice, however, that it is the individual meeting of needs that is spoken of here, not a pleading for funds so that a minister can 'do his own thing,' creating his own empire.

"The present pathetic scene of mass media preachers begging for money so they can expand their organisations is totally foreign to the early church's experience. There is no record of any minister asking for money for himself! Paul never asked the church for financial support. If God moved people to minister to his needs, he was grateful; if not, he simply did a job. Many times he suffered want, but there wasn't a word of complaint. He took it that such was God's intention for him at that time.

Who Should Survive?

"There is a very simple, practical way whereby any 'work of faith' can demonstrate both to itself and others that it is indeed a work God wants done.

"The purest expression of a true work of faith is to totally trust God to provide whatever income he chooses to send. The verse that says 'ask, and it shall be given to you' isn't authorising us to ask others for money, but to ask the Father who gives all good things. There is no biblical example authorizing ministers to urge people to send them money.

"If a ministry is really the Lord's work, because he has given that ministry something of value to share with others, he will provide the financial support he desires that ministry to have. It may not be what we think we should have, but we can be content in all circumstances once we know that we are in his hands totally. He is the one who then opens and shuts doors, as he wills. So we make our requests known to him when we feel he is leading us into a particular ministry, not to men.

"If God has begun a ministry and is pleased with the fruits being borne, he will move upon the hearts and minds of his people to provide for that ministry without any pleading for money. He will cause his people to give spontaneously. If a man really wants to know if God is in what he is doing, let him LET CHRIST DECIDE WHO SHOULD SURVIVE!

"Instead of listening to the pleas of men for support and dutifully contributing out of necessity, we need to hear the 'still, small voice' from within. This is the voice of the Good Shepherd, and he has promised that his sheep will hear his voice and follow where he directs. We will know where to give, not because someone has asked or can demonstrate great need, but because he commands us in our hearts.

"And as we 'shovel out,' the Lord will shovel back--and he has a bigger shovel than any of us."