SHARING RESOURCES AND THE USE OF MONEY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
By Ron Fischer © 2005
God has promised to provide for our needs if we put Him first and put our trust in Him. He has also asked us to be good stewards of what He has given us including our relationships, health, possessions, gifted abilities, and money. Someday we will meet Jesus and give an account for what we have done with what we have received. This can be a sobering thought therefore it is good for us to take a look at what God's heart and indented purposes are for the use of what we have, by looking at some New Testament principles and practices.
What should be our attitude towards possessions, money or wealth?
The love of money is the root of much evil. Money is not evil but wanting it more than anything else makes people dishonest and God hates dishonesty [1]
Do not love money, be greedy for money, be controlled by money, or it will become our "God". We cannot serve both money and God [2]
Be willing to give up our resources if it has become our "God" or God asks us to give it away [3]
Be willing to share our resources with other believers and the needy in the world instead of storing it up for ourselves [4]
How should we acquire our resources and money?
Receive our money honestly and do not use others for personal gain [5]
Everyone who is able to work should work in the community to take care of themselves and their family so that they are not a burden on others. Apostle Paul said that if we are not willing to work but are able to, then we should not be allowed to eat. Working allows believers to be an example and witness for Jesus with those whom they work around [6]
The needy can receive from the church body (city church) which should provide a social program for those in need, which is taken care of by trusted social workers (deacons). This way those who are in need will be cared for, like the poor who do work, or those that cannot work like the handicap and elderly who have no family to care for them [7]
Traveling workers passing through (apostles, prophets, etc) may be offered a room, food, and perhaps a financial gift from believers [8]
Share our possessions with one another [9]
What should we do with our resources and money?
Pay our taxes which contributes to the society we live in [10]
Taking care of our family foremost including our needy relatives [6]
Share our resources and help one another - those who have share with those who do not (good Samaritan, sheep and the goats) [7]
Give directly to the needy ourselves OR give our surplus money to city church social workers (deacons) who can be trusted to distribute it to help local poor believers and elderly believers who do not have family [7]
Offer and share our home, food, and perhaps a financial gift to itinerant workers passing through (apostles, prophets, etc) [8]
What do believers do with their resources and money today that does not follow the New Testament model?
Consider their home and possessions as their own private property. The NT believers shared their homes and possessions
Tithing 10% of their income to local churches - this is an Old Testament law for the care of priests and the tabernacle. Since Jesus died, rose again, and the Jerusalem temple curtain tore in half, all believers are priests and the temple of God. The NT believers gave to the needy what they did not need
Giving towards buildings and maintenance of buildings - reinstating the Old Testament temple. The NT believers met in houses
Giving full time paid salaries to church leaders that are not working in the community - reinstating the Old Testament priesthood. We are all called to minister the Gospel and cannot all receive money for doing the ministry we are called to. Besides, freely we have received and freely we should give. The NT believers worked and participated in ministry
Excessive materialism - buying everything they can possibly afford. The NT believers gave what they did not need to those in need
Storing up wealth for themselves and their future. The NT believers trusted God and gave what they did not need to those in need
Let's repent of our greed and misuse of money in the body of Christ. We are to care for our own families and one another in the body of Christ by sharing our resources with those who truly are in need. We have advocated this responsibility to our government instead. If we would truly love, serve, and share with one another, the world would see the love of Jesus in us, glorify God, and be drawn into the Kingdom of God. Instead the world sees believers pouring money into buildings; paying professional leaders, giving people positions of control and recognition, and the needy not truly being cared for. Can we blame them for not being interested in us or the Gospel we preach?
Will we trust and obey God or the traditions of men? Will we choose to serve, trust, and follow Jesus and the apostolic traditions that were given to us in the New Testament?
In light of the above about sharing resources and use of money in the New Testament, we can better understand the reasons for the church body meeting in houses, sharing everything they had with one another, everyone being involved in ministry, and overseers/itinerant workers who had jobs (as an example to others) going from house to house to offer encouragement and guidance. I believe these things are what attracted non-believers to the Kingdom of God, why the church grew exponentially, and why believers were relationally strong enough to die for their faith in Christ.
For more articles about the New Testament Church you can visit http://www.edmontonhousechurches.com/ARTICLES.html.
Bible References:
[1] LK 3:12-14; AC 5:1-11; 1TI 6:6-11
[2] MT 6:24; JN 12:1-8; LK 16:13-15; HEB 13:5; 1TI 3:1-3; 1PE 5:1-4
[3] MT 19:16-22; LK 14:33
[4] MT 6:1-4,19; MT 25:31-46; LK 3:11; LK 6:37-38; LK 12:32-34; LK 14:12-14; AC 4:32-37; AC 20:32-35; 1CO 16:1-3; 2CO 8:10–15; 2CO 9:6-15; RO 12:9-13; 1TI 6:17-19; HEB 13:15-16
[5]
[6] EPH 4:28; 2CO 12:11-14; 2TH 3:6-10
[7]
[8] MK 6:7-13; 1CO 9:1-18; GAL 6:6; 2CO 11:7-9; PHP 4:14-16
[9]
[10]