I recently visited a church that does not pass around a collection plate at worship. The brother, addressing the visitors said, “We do not have a collection at this church. Most of our members give through internet banking, but if you would like to give, there is a box at the back of the auditorium.” I liked that and would like to see it become ubiquitous.
Giving into the church treasury is Biblical and necessary. We achieve a lot more when we pool our resources. But that is but the beginning of our giving. As we individually look to the spiritual needs of those around us, we are faced with physical needs too. We find ourselves being challenged to help with food, clothing, accommodation, transportation, overdue bills, dental work… (to name but a few needs).
Debate may be had over levels of responsibility, but that doesn’t help the helpless.
We must take Paul at his word when he says,
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Now, the “grace” that Paul is speaking about is that which God “gives you” to give to others. The “abundance” of that “God-gift” reaches to every aspect of your Christian service. God will provide everything you need so you can provide everything needed by others.
This calls for faith and wisdom! Faith that God will reward your giving with even more to give (and he most certainly does), and wisdom to know the difference between a real need and a waste of God’s resources.
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
John Staiger
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