Posts Tagged ‘giving’
What This Woman Has Done
by Zeke Flores Writing these words this morning is a privilege as, one more time, I am proving Jesus’ prediction true. In Matthew 26:6-13, Jesus was visiting a leper (!) and was anointed by a woman using very costly perfume. Matthew doesn’t give her name, background, what moved her to get that jar of ointment,…
Read MoreGiving to God
by Zeke Flores Often, financially blessed people will give significant sums for worthy projects. Sometimes, it’s for charitable reasons, and sometimes, it’s for new, wonderful buildings for public use. And often, these buildings display the names of the contributors, letting everyone know who was responsible for the generous gift. Luke 21:1-4 tells us that Jesus…
Read MoreCan I give on Sunday instead of Wednesday as my church leaders want?
Question: Dear sir, Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! Am I not unified with the church if I contribute to the church on Sunday instead of Wednesday during our midweek devotional? Our church leader wants us to give our contribution during our midweek devotional and not on Sunday, and he wants us to be…
Read MoreCollection for the Saints or Collection for Preachers?
by Sewell Hall via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15, No. 1, January 2015 A very respected and perceptive brother expressed the following in a note to the elders where he worships: “I am concerned that the collection for the saints’ is becoming ‘the collection for the preachers.’” Since others may have similar concerns, we offer the…
Read MoreEveryone Who Had Something to Give Contributed
by Zeke Flores There’s an interesting incident in Exodus 35: Everyone with something to contribute to the Tabernacle gave what they had. Whether it was cloth, wood, stone, spices, oil, or gold, Scripture repeatedly says, “They brought it.” In fact, they brought so much that they had more than enough to do God’s work, and…
Read MoreShould the Elders know what each person gives?
Question: We have three elders at our local congregation, and one of them handles the banking, pays the bills, etc. Is it wrong for the other two elders to want to know more about the congregation’s financial situation and individual members’ contributions? We are expected to give of our means or first fruits. I’m not…
Read MoreCan non-believers contribute to the church?
Question: We recently discussed donations in the church, and I was wondering if you could provide any scriptural basis for them. Can a non-member or unbeliever donate money to the church? Can the church use that donation from him or her? Thanks! Answer: While the topic is not specifically addressed in the Scriptures, we can…
Read MoreCan a person withdraw his gift to the church?
Question: Hello Brother Jeffrey, I trust you have been doing well lately. I want to express my appreciation of your unwavering commitment to the work of God, and all the scriptural answers you’ve provided to solve challenges confronting the Christian faith. During our weekly Bible studies, we happened to talk about the brethren’s contributions to…
Read MoreDo What You Are Able to Do
by Andy Sochor Those who are conscientious Christians will have a desire to do all that they can in service to God. And as we see the needs that exist around us, it is natural for us to want to provide help for all that we can. However, the reality is that we cannot provide…
Read MoreHow do I give if I’m a student and not making any money?
Question: Good evening, I attend graduate school. I just came across your website when I did a Google search about the collection if you’re unemployed. I wanted to ask a question based on the response that was given. I used to be employed last year, but now I am not. Because of my previous employment,…
Read MoreI benefited greatly from the lessons about the collection for the saints
Question: I benefited greatly from the lessons about the collection for the saints (I Corinthians16:1-2). This has helped me prepare for Sunday school teaching! Thanks, Jeffrey. Answer: I’m glad they were useful to you in your studies.
Read MoreAre automatic withdrawals for contributions biblical?
Question: Would you help me understand if automatic withdrawals from your bank account for the first day of the week collection are biblical? Seeing people place money in the tray that is passed around, I think, incites others, especially children. I love seeing a child place some money in the tray. When I am attending…
Read MoreMeasuring Acceptability
by Whit Sasser In II Corinthians 8:12 we read, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” This principle of God’s word is to be respected, as well as all others. Sadly, there seem to be many areas…
Read MoreFreedom in Christ: A Biblical Look at Tithing
by Ajayi Samuel Ojeva “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). Men cherish freedom in every way. However, man is often led from freedom to bondage unaware. Men have been under various yokes of bondage at…
Read MoreShould I give a gift that I disapprove of?
Question: Greetings brother, I recently asked a family member (unfortunately, not now nor never a Christian, and openly disinterested in any discussion of the topic) for a list of items that she might want for a Christmas gift. The response was a list of alcoholic beverage types. I immediately asked for other ideas, as I…
Read MoreWere collections taken before and after the collection for the needy in Judea?
Question: Dear Jeffrey, I have a question: did the church at Corinth collect offering every first day of the week before Paul wrote to them. After Paul and his team picked what the Corinthian church donated, did they continue to take collection every first day of the week? If so, how do we know? Does…
Read MoreIs it right not to give to the church because you gave it to the poor?
Question: Hello, Please help me answer this question: A friend of mine told me that as he was going to church yesterday he met someone who was sick, and he gave all that he has on him that day to the sick person. Instead of using that money to give to the church, he gave…
Read MoreIs it a sin not to give each Sunday?
Question: Since giving is an act of worship. Do we sin on the Sundays we do not give? For example, from my understanding, we are to give as we prosper, so if I only get paid twice a month, don’t I only give on the Sunday following when I got paid? I got paid on…
Read MoreGiving to the Lord’s Work
by Matthew Bassford Of all of the spiritual topics that we might address, one of the most sensitive is giving. First of all, it’s about money, which always has been very important to people. Second, though, the Holy Spirit’s words on this subject have been misrepresented and abused for 2000 years. In 1 Timothy 6,…
Read MoreIs there liberty in how we give?
Question: I have a question concerning worship. Is there liberty when it comes to some parts of worship? For example when it comes to giving, does one have to give during worship service or can someone give any time just long as it’s on a Sunday. Can a congregation decide to just give at the…
Read MoreGiving to God
by Dan R. Owen, Ph.D. via The Gospel Advocate, June 2017 Since the time of Abraham, dedicated followers of God have given of their wealth to the One who provides all wealth. God blessed Abraham with much and Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:20). Jacob, an heir to the…
Read MoreI couldn’t make my pledge this month and the pastor wants God to afflict me. What do I do?
Question: I am a young lady of 26 years. I attend a church and during a fundraising, the pastor asked me to pay 2000 in our currency. I got 500 to pay him and promised to pay the rest later. He mentioned we should not cross the end of the month without paying our balance.…
Read MoreCan contributions be done through pledges?
Question: Is pledging wrong, as a way of giving? That is, asking members how much they are willing to put forward for a certain project. They specify an amount, which is then collected at the right time. We must give on the first day of the week, that is set, but is that the only…
Read MoreHow do I handle my contributions when I rotate between three congregations?
Question: Greetings, I have a question regarding the weekly contribution (I Corinthians 16:1-2). In my city, there are three local churches of Christ that I attend regularly. Normally I’ll attend one on a certain week, the next on the following week, and the third the week after that. And then I repeat the whole process.…
Read MoreIs it wrong to clap when giving?
Question: I have been reviewing the wealth of information that you have on your website regarding a wide array of subjects. We have several members who desire to express themselves by clapping when giving to the Lord. Is this practice okay in the Lord’s Church if it does not interfere with anything else? So far,…
Read MoreYour article on tithing was precise and referred to Scriptures to prove its point. Thank you
Question: Just read your article on tithing and it was very precise in breaking down and referring to scripture to get the point across. I thank you and wish many more churches would stop taking scripture out of context, misinterpreting, and abusing the members just to get what they want. I love sound doctrine! May God…
Read MoreHow do we decide how much to give once we are married?
Question: I am a member of the church of Christ. I’m a firm believer in giving 10% even if we aren’t commanded. My fiancé gives less since she doesn’t make as much as I do. My question is: Once we get married should we continue giving individual offerings? Another question is: When the Jews gave…
Read MoreHow can I support your work?
Question: I am a fellow Christian myself and a casual reader of your website. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the wonderful ministry (website), especially the Q&A section. The sound doctrine has helped me build up some basic theology foundation, as well as learning more about God. I am really interested in…
Read MoreIn giving, what exactly is a profit?
Question: I know tithing is not applicable under the New Covenant, but I was wondering what your view is on what exactly is gain or profit if one only receives wages. Is it only the amount by which they receive a raise on their paycheck each year? If so one could argue that it is…
Read MoreAre special contributions scriptural?
Question: Concerning collections: is it a good practice supported by Scripture to set aside “Special Giving Days” for specific purposes on the first day of the week in addition to the regular collection? This practice seems to contradict what a treasury is for in the work of the church. I respect your knowledge and work…
Read MoreShould I attend services elsewhere while traveling?
Question: I am a member of the Lord’s church in one state and will be traveling to another. While away is it acceptable to attend worship service at another meeting house? And for my offering, should this be given to them or held until my return to our home congregation? Answer: The requirement to attend…
Read MoreThe New Testament Pattern of Giving
by Wayne Jackson It is a strange phenomenon in today’s church. It is recognized widely that there are rules regulating worship. This is acknowledged in virtually every area of church activity—except in one’s “giving.” Many know how the music portion of the worship is to be conducted (with a cappella singing). Not a few understand the proper…
Read MoreIf I Had More I Would . . .
by Van James The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, is full of all sorts of information about us. I saw some figures from it the other day that I thought were interesting. They told us how much of our income was used for “charitable contributions.” In the…
Read MoreDidn’t Jesus say we should tithe?
Question: I’d advise you to change your stance toward tithing. I think there is a passage in the New Testament where Jesus says, you tithe your mint, rue, and spices but you don’t practice justice. You should as you do the latter and you shouldn’t forget the former. Be blessed, man of God, and if…
Read MoreDoes I Corinthians 16:1-2 Apply to Us Today?
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 25, June 20, 2008. Let us first note what the passage says: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by…
Read MoreYou make no attempt to understand the Salvation Army
Question: I just read with much displeasure the article, “Can Christians Help Support the Salvation Army?” I am admittedly somewhat biased as a third-generation Salvationist, but I found your posting quite misleading. It makes no attempt to understand the Salvation Army doctrines and looks simply to highlight doctrinal differences with other denominations. A few points…
Read MoreCan I arrange to give funds to a church from my life insurance?
Question: I have a question about giving. I have arranged to give funds to my church from my life insurance. I was wondering if this acceptable from a biblical standpoint. I understand, that God requires us to give as we have been blessed and since this is a special giving to the church I believe…
Read MoreThe Restoration of Giving
by Harold V. Comer via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 48, Dec. 2, 2007. This is a day of religious fundraising and money promotions. With all of the emphasis on pressure and gimmicks, there is a great need to restore the New Testament pattern of giving. The first-century practice would correct many of the abuses…
Read MoreIf Christians aren’t to tithe, then what about the curse mentioned in Malachi 3:9?
Question: You said in “I don’t work outside the home, so I have no income. How much should I give?”: The idea of giving a tithe (10% of your income) comes from the Old Testament. Christians are not under that covenant. What the New Testament teaches is that we are to give a portion of our…
Read MoreIf you get a raise, should the first check go to the Lord?
Question: I have been working for a year. I just recently got a raise. I paid tithe on the check the raise was on, but someone told me the first time it appears on my check I was supposed to give the whole thing to the Lord as the first fruit. They use the scripture…
Read More