Page 99 - Ecclesiology Textbook Masters

supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may
be equality; as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE
WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”

Should all the money given to God be given to the Church?

The answer to this question requires some considerations. The church is the bride of Jesus Christ. The
church is God’s people, not a building. The church gathers together to worship God and serve Him.
Unfortunately, many church’s priorities today, as we have seen, have shifted from evangelism and
discipleship to growing an edifice unto itself. God’s Word makes it very clear what the church is to do
with the gifts that are given:

1. It should pay its own elders and workers, especially teaching elders (1 Timothy 5:17,18;
Galatians 6:6; Luke 10:7-10).
2. It should pay for evangelistic and missionary work, including logistic expenses for meetings and
training (Acts 18:5; Philippians 4:15,16; 1 Corinthians 9:4-11).
3. It should give to the needs of the Christian poor (Galatians 6:10; John 12:8; Luke 10:30-37;
Matthew 19:21).
4. It should give to the needs of the non-Christian poor (Galatians 6:10; John 12:8; Luke 10:30-37;
Matthew 19:21).
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If your church has these Scriptural priorities in managing the gifts given to it, then it would be great to
give your entire gifts to the church so that God’s will can be done on earth. However, since many
churches use the great majority of the gifts to enhance its own ministry, and little goes toward God’s
goals for giving, then it may be necessary for a person to give portions of their available giving budget
toward meeting the priorities of Scriptural giving.

Here is an example. A Sunday School class I taught many years ago wanted to support a missionary in
Africa. They planned to take up an offering every week to meet the needs of this missionary. They
asked the pastor for permission to take up this project and permission was denied. The pastor told us
that the gifts of the Sunday School class belonged to the church to meet its every growing financial
needs. In this case, we all individually gave our gifts to the missionary outside the church jurisdiction.

If the church is failing to meet needs of the poor, then you may have to give directly to meet those
needs. If the church is not involved or minimally involved in evangelistic efforts in supporting missions
work, you may have to redirect some of your funds to send and support missions locally or worldwide.
The church must meet the needs of those who are on staff so it is obvious that some of your gift should
go to meet those needs.

So, the answer to this question depends a lot upon how your church is obeying God’s plan for the use of
the gifts that come into its doors. Obey II Cor. 9:7 which says, “7 Each of you should give what you have
decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” God
will speak to you through the Holy Spirit to give as He directs in your heart. Obey the still small voice of
God.

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