Purposeful Giving, Part 2

Who Needs It?

All your bills are paid, all your needs are met, and you’ve got some extra money that you would be blessed to share with somebody else. Now the exciting part begins!

With God at work within you (Philippians 2:13), you look around to find out who needs it? It’s a big world out there with plenty of need, so let’s start by finding out what God’s Word says about who we are to share with.

The church of the body of Christ in our day has the joy and responsibility to help take care of each other’s needs financially and materially. Those believers who have more than they need (an abundance) have the opportunity to give freely and cheerfully to those who have need. Three groups of believers in need are specified in God’s Word.

1) Believers with need in the local fellowships

Acts 2:45:
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 4:34,35:
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

2) Believers in fellowships farther away with emergency or other needs

Acts 11:27-30:
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Romans 15:25-27:
But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

I Corinthians 16:1-4:
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

3) Full-time ministers and those who accompany them, that travel and work among the fellowships.

I Corinthians 9:7-18: [New International Version]
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 
Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 
For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”
Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 
Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 
If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 
If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 
If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 
What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Those are only some of the scriptures about these three groups that are to receive the abundance believers have to give in our age of grace. Next time in Purposeful Giving, Part 3, we’ll look further into the “how” and “when” of giving in the Word. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for needs in the church. Our cheerful sharing among our brothers and sisters in Christ has some great results!

II Corinthians 8:14:[NIV]
At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality [every need met].

Acts 4:34:
Neither was there any among them that lacked.