The Contribution

I. Old Testament

A. Tithe

B. Tenth of everything: produce and flocks (Lev. 27, Dt 14) Collected and brought to the priests on the third year.

C. Use

D. The tithe was given to the Levites because they did not receive a land of inheritance but were dedicated to God’s service.

E. Nehemiah 13:10-11 – When the Levites were not supported, they sometimes had to return the fields and forsake the temple. It was a sign of weakness and faithlessness when the people of God did not give the tithe as they should and those who dedicated their lives to serving God suffered. It was also used to help out the stranger, fatherless, and widows among God’s people (Deuteronomy 14)

F. The Jews could also bring freewill offerings to the Lord.

II. New Testament

A. Apostles

B. The apostles kept a treasury in a money box. Judas kept the box and sometimes stole from it. Money was used to help the poor, John 12:4-6. Used to buy food when they had a need, John 13:29; also before feeding the five thousand in John 6.

C. Church

D. Help for saints who stayed in Jerusalem

E. Acts 2:43-47 – They gave to any “of them” who had need

F. Acts 4:32-37 – Selling possessions to provide for needs

G. They took care of the needs among the brethren (none “among them” lacked) The money was laid at the apostle’s feet, therefore they had the authority to distribute the money as needed.

H. Help for saints during famine

I. Acts 11:27-30 - A great famine came upon the land of Judea. Paul urged churches in other regions to collect money to help the needy brethren.

J. Paul and his fellow workers gathered the money and delivered it to the elders to distribute to their needy saints.

K. No grand benevolence gathering or distributing agency was necessary; brethren sent the money directly to those in need.

III. Uses of the church’s money

A. Support the preaching of the gospel, Philippians 4:15-20

B. Provide support here and, when able, in other places

C. There is no authority or examples of churches sending money to support other churches, but the support was sent to the evangelist.

D. Providing the place for worship

E. This is necessary to accomplish our work of preaching the gospel in Northport. No one could house the brethren for worship so we must secure a place to worship. Even in this, we must spend the Lord’s money wisely, not extravagantly under the guise of “teaching the gospel.”

F. Financial support of elders

G. We are permitted to financially support the elders, 1 Timothy 5:17. We do not do this here, but we do have authority to do it.

H. Benevolence

I. Limited to the saints

J. Acts 3:1-7 – “Silver and gold I do not have”

K. In the context before and after this incident, the brethren were selling possessions and giving the money to the apostles for distribution. Yet the money was used among the brethren who had need. Peter could rightly say, “Silver and gold I do not have” for they only used the money to help brethren in need. There was a limit to the “anyone who had need,” it was anyone among them.

L. Widows indeed, 1 Timothy 5:1-16

M. The first obligation is to the family, (verses 4, 8,16).If the church needs to help, it is limited on the widows who can be helped, (verses 9-11).

N. An important principle is in verse 16, “Do not let the church be burdened.”

O. Many people want to burden the church with the help of every hard luck case, social ill, and community need; needs that have nothing to do with the preaching of the gospel or the financial needs of the local brethren. Jesus said, “The poor you will have with you always.” The church is physically incapable of taking care of every need in the community; we have a responsibility and command to preach the gospel and take care of our own brethren.

P. How is the need to be met?

Q. Community organizations formed to take care of those needs by those who share the concern. We can find a person in need and give directly to them, Galatians 6:10. As individuals we can choose to give money and time to individuals or organizations, it is our decision how we spend our money. If we want to be involved with the Red Cross, homeless shelters, Habitat for Humanity, etc., as individuals we can do this, but “do not let the church be burdened.”

IV. New Testament giving

A. Freewill ( Corinthians 16:2)

B. No tithe. The tithe passed away with the Old Testament Law. Not “billed” No one will calculate what you should be able to give and bill you for it. It is a personal decision Not grudgingly or of compulsion, 2 Corinthians 9:7

C. Give selflessly

D. 2 Corinthians 9:6; 10-15 You must first give of yourself, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. You are not expected to give until you are in poverty, 2 Cor. 8:12-15. Giving is more for us than the recipient of the gift. Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

E. Give cheerfully

F. 2 Corinthians 9:7 The attitude is more important than the gift itself. Remember the good that is accomplished by giving both of the benefit to others and the change in your attitude towards your possessions by giving to meet greater needs.

G. Determine what you will give, 2 Corinthians 9:7.