17 Mar Giving and the Church
The topic of giving often stirs a range of emotions in the church. Some think immediately of budgets and bills, while others feel uneasy because of past experiences where money seemed to overshadow the gospel. Yet Scripture presents giving in a much richer way. Giving is not merely about funding an organization; it is about participating in God’s work through the church. When we understand the church’s role in God’s plan, our giving begins to make sense in the context of the gospel itself.
God’s Gospel Instrument: The Church (Acts 1:6–8)
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples asked a question that revealed their expectations. They wondered if Jesus was about to restore the kingdom to Israel. Their question focused on national restoration and political change. But Jesus redirected their attention to something far greater.
Instead of discussing political restoration, Jesus spoke about the coming of the Holy Spirit and the mission of the church. The disciples would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they would become witnesses of Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
This moment establishes a foundational truth: the church is God’s primary instrument for spreading the gospel in the world. The mission of proclaiming Christ was entrusted not to governments, institutions, or individuals acting alone, but to the gathered people of God empowered by the Spirit.
Because the church carries this mission, supporting the church is not simply supporting a local organization. It is participating in God’s unfolding plan to bring the good news of Jesus to the world.
A Question of Loyalties (Matthew 16:17–19)
In Matthew 16, Peter confesses that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responds by declaring that this truth was revealed by the Father and then makes a remarkable promise: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus does not say He will build a movement, a political structure, or a cultural institution. He says He will build His church. The church belongs to Christ, and He is committed to establishing it and preserving it.
This raises an important question about loyalty. If Christ is committed to His church, are we?
Our culture encourages us to treat the church as optional. It can become one activity among many competing priorities—family schedules, entertainment, sports, and career pursuits. But Scripture presents the church as central to God’s redemptive work.
Loyalty to Christ naturally expresses itself in loyalty to the church He is building. Our time, our energy, and even our resources reveal where our loyalties truly lie.
Our Resources and the Church (Acts 2:42–47)
Acts 2 gives us a glimpse of the early church immediately after Pentecost. Luke describes a community devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. But he also highlights something else that characterized this early Christian community: radical generosity.
Believers shared their possessions and cared for one another’s needs. Their resources were no longer viewed as purely personal property but as gifts from God that could be used for the good of the body.
This generosity was not forced. It flowed from hearts transformed by the gospel. These believers had encountered the grace of Christ, and that grace reshaped how they viewed everything they possessed.
When we begin to see our time, talents, and possessions as gifts entrusted to us by God, our perspective changes. Instead of asking, “How much do I have to give?” we begin asking, “How can what God has given me serve His people and His mission?”
The church becomes the primary context where those resources are shared and used for the good of others and the advancement of the gospel.
Our Finances and the Church (1 Timothy 5:17–18)
Scripture also speaks directly about financial support within the church. In 1 Timothy 5, Paul instructs that elders who rule well—especially those who labor in preaching and teaching—are worthy of double honor. He then supports this instruction by quoting both the Old Testament and the words of Jesus: “The laborer deserves his wages.”
This passage reminds us that financial giving is part of how God sustains the ministry of the church. Pastors and church leaders who devote themselves to teaching and shepherding the flock depend on the generosity of the congregation.
Giving allows the church to focus on its God-given mission—proclaiming the gospel, discipling believers, and caring for the people of God. It is one of the practical ways that members of the body support the work of ministry.
Giving as Gospel Participation
When viewed through the lens of Scripture, giving is not merely about maintaining church operations. It is about participation in the gospel.
God has chosen the church as His instrument to proclaim Christ to the world. Jesus Himself promises to build and sustain His church. The early believers shared their resources joyfully, and Scripture calls believers to support those who labor in gospel ministry.
All of this reframes how we think about giving.
We do not give because the church needs money in the same way a business needs revenue. We give because Christ has given Himself for us. Our generosity becomes a response to His grace and a way of participating in the mission He has entrusted to His people.
Ultimately, Christian giving flows from the gospel. The more deeply we grasp the generosity of God in Christ, the more naturally generosity begins to shape our lives—including how we support the church He is building.