Why Do We Give Money to the Church?
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
First, we give and receive offerings in order to provide for ministry through the church.
God set it up this way. This is how we survive as a church by going through this process. We see this in the Old Testament with what they called the Levite offering that they used to provide for the ministry of the Temple.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29. “At the end of every third year, you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”
And in the New Testament – in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4: “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatians churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.”
The early church took up offerings to provide for the needs of the newly formed congregations. Without the people of the church giving, the church would have a very hard time even existing.
Some of the donations we receive go for salaries, some toward upkeep of the building. We use some to buy equipment for use in the church, new materials for the Children’s ministry; support members who need financial help or otherwise. etc. etc.
We are an independent Christian Church, which means that we do not answer to any organisation other than to the Bible and God Himself. We do not have to answer to some headquarters. But it also means that if we are going to do anything that involves money then we need to take it from our members and others who love God and want to help with His work. We are self-supporting.
Giving Makes a Difference in the Lives of those who Give and in Those who Receive.
Giving changes the one who receives the gift and the one who gives it. What you give in the name of God carries the potential to change another person’s life and by doing that you change your own.
Giving makes us more generous. Giving makes us more gracious. Giving makes us more faithful. Giving makes us more hopeful.
God blesses us and makes us better people when we give.
We believe in giving not because of what I will get back, which really does happen, but because of the privilege of participating in something that is so great when I am so small.” To help build the Kingdom of God.
If you would like to support the work of the church with a donation please contact us here.