Vision Track 2.3

DEVOTED TO THE FELLOWSHIP

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

This description of the newly-birthed church in Jerusalem provides one of Scripture’s clearest pictures of what the Christian community should look like. Though the Body of Christ has had two thousand years to mature since then, and has grown to comprise millions of believers worldwide, it would be hard to find a congregation today that matches this inspiring precedent. However, Jesus will return for a Church that will be more glorious than anything previously seen. To become that Church, we must continue to recapture the commitment to God, His people, and His purpose that we see in the book of Acts.

BEING DEVOTED

The first thing we should note is the attitude with which the early Church approached their relationship with God and their life together. Acts 2:42 tells us that the believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” The Greek could be translated to say that they were “wholly given over to” or “adhering themselves to” these things. It conveys the idea of total, ongoing commitment in heart and mind.

This is a foreign concept to many today. People tend to think of church involvement merely in terms of attendance, and it can be a fairly casual step into—and out of—church “membership.” However, nothing about our life in God is to be casual or half-hearted. We are told: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). This passionate approach to God will be reflected in how we live out the calling He has for us together.

WHAT IS FELLOWSHIP?

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul,” Acts 4:32a

One of the things that the early Church was devoted to was “the fellowship.” Sometimes, Christians can tend to think of “fellowship” merely as socializing with others in the church, but it has a much stronger meaning than this. The Greek word is koinonia. It literally means joining or partnering with others in something. It is another example of a word that would not have had a particularly religious connotation at the time. In fact, when we read in Luke 5:10 that James and John were Simon Peter’s “partners” in his fishing business, the word used there is from the same root. It conveys the idea of being united with other people by and for a common purpose.

It is important to note that Acts 2:42 tells us that the believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship.” It isn’t just that they were avid listeners, but that they were devoted to doing what they heard. True fellowship is not present unless we are responding together in obedience to what God is telling us to do. Of course, this cannot happen unless individually we are being obedient to God. Therefore, before we look further at the shared aspect of our life in Christ, we must remind ourselves of the importance of our personal response.

THE INTEGRITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL

Obviously, Christian fellowship can only exist between Christians:

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

However, the degree to which even Christians can experience fellowship will depend on the individual relationship each has with God. Integration requires integrity. Ongoing sin in the life of a believer will hinder our communion with God and with others:

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7

Therefore, for the sake of our intimacy with God and our fellowship with one another, we must “abstain from every form of evil” (1Thessalonians 5:22). We must never be guilty of hypocrisy, acting one way in church circles and another way elsewhere (see Luke 12:1). Instead, we must pursue godliness in every aspect of life. For example:

• In the home, our attitude should be one of patience, understanding, and kindness, and our conduct should be consistent with God’s will for the family:

  “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” Colossians 3:18-21

• In the workplace or school, the Christian should be honest, respectful, faithful, and hard-working, and should never be guilty of lying, contentiousness, unreliability, or laziness:

  “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” Colossians 3:22

In fact, we should act righteously in every relationship and every interaction in the world: “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (Romans 13:7). How we conduct ourselves in life reflects not just on our own personal testimony but also on the congregation to which we belong, on the Church generally, and indeed on the Lord Himself:

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:12

THE INTEGRITY OF THE BODY

So, maintaining personal integrity is the only way to ensure the integrity of the body of believers. This will flow into how we relate to one another. Regrettably, there is always potential in the church for relational issues to arise that, if not addressed properly, can have devastating consequences. Many congregations have collapsed as a result of disagreements, jealousy, suspicion, or gossip, grieving the Lord and causing the world to ridicule and dismiss the Church. We must guard and act against such strategies of the enemy. We will briefly consider just two potential problems, though the principles involved in dealing with them have much wider application.

GOSSIP

“A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” Proverbs 16:28 (NIV 1984)

Authentic church life creates an environment of friendship and trust, in which many personal things are shared. When information is inappropriately passed on, and particularly when confidences are broken, the effects can be very damaging. Scripture strongly condemns gossip, and we need to eradicate this poison from the church. However, where people are genuinely interested and involved in one another’s lives, it can sometimes be difficult to know when the sharing of information is legitimate and when it is gossip.

The root of gossip is malice (see, for example, 1 Timothy 6:4 (NIV 1984) and 3 John v.10 (NIV 1984)) and the goal, both in the telling and the hearing, is sensationalism (“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts” Proverbs 18:8 - NIV 1984). It is, therefore, helpful to ask ourselves these questions when considering whether to share or listen to information regarding another: Is my intention to benefit the person concerned? Am I, on some level, enjoying the sharing of this information, even though it relates to something negative? Would I be happy with the person concerned knowing about this conversation?

Before leaving this subject, it is important to note that we should also exercise wisdom and discretion when discussing church-related concerns (whether regarding individuals or the congregation) with those outside the church. Quite apart from the issue of confidentiality, such people are unlikely to be able to help in resolving the issues, so what is the point of sharing them?

GRIEVANCES

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” Galatians 5:14-15

Misunderstandings can arise and mistakes can be made in any relationship—and of course, Christians are still able to act in a deliberately sinful way at times. In any of these situations, we must respond rightly, and Jesus directs us how:

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17

Whoever is in the wrong, it is always up to you to make the first move. If you know (or even suspect) that you have offended a brother, don’t wait for him to come to you—go and put matters right. If you feel a brother has wronged you, don’t wait for him to come to you—go and put matters right. If the attempt does not succeed, try again. When necessary, Matthew 18:15-17 shows how to involve other people. We are exhorted in Ephesians 4:3 to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In humility and submission to God, we must do everything we can to bring about restoration.

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV 1984)

THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS

“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3:13

Of course, a vital component in resolving relational problems is forgiveness. We are repeatedly commanded in Scripture to forgive one another—so the assumption is that there will always be plenty of need for this in church life! Christians, of all people, should be good at forgiving others, since we are all beneficiaries of the most amazing and undeserved mercy. We must commit ourselves to being those who continually flow in the grace and mercy of God towards one another, in obedience to Him and for the sake of the unity of the body of Christ.

LOVING ONE ANOTHER

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others... Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:4-5, 10 (NIV 1984)

1 Corinthians 12:13 tells us that “in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” Independence is not a viable option for us—we belong to one another. We must bear in mind that our relating within the body of Christ is in all ways to be a display of this fundamental instruction:

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

We must ask God to show us how He sees those around us and to enable us, by the Spirit, to know His love for them. Thus envisioned and equipped, we will find it easier to think and act in true love:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV 1984)

Here are some further practical expressions of our love for one another:

PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;” Romans 12:10 (NASB)

We live in an individualistic culture that advocates self-importance, self-advancement, and self-fulfillment. However, our focus as Christians is to be on God first, then on others, being more concerned for their good than for our own:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

SERVING ONE ANOTHER

“...through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28), and similarly we are in the church not primarily to receive, but to give. Every Christian has some means of serving, whether publicly or “behind the scenes.” Everyone should be actively seeking to contribute to the building up of the local church. There are many ways of doing so, and we would encourage you to speak with one of the leaders of One Voice Church to learn about ways you can serve.

ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER

“...encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13 (NIV 1984)

There are many Scriptural exhortations to encourage one another, and most of us know from experience the powerful effect of encouragement (or the lack of it). We should, therefore, take to heart the above instruction from Hebrews, determining not to let a day go by without encouraging someone. Any kind words we speak to others will no doubt be appreciated, but God is the God of all encouragement (see 2 Corinthians 1:3 - NIV 1984), and people will be most built up when our encouragement is conveying His mind and heart, lovingly communicating the truth of His Word.

MINISTERING TO ONE ANOTHER

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV 1984)

The well-known passage on love from 1 Corinthians 13 comes in the middle of Scripture’s most extensive treatment of why and how the body of Christ is to function in the gifts of the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12 and 14). We should be looking to build one another up in this way, taking every opportunity to respond to the Spirit’s leading, whether by bringing a contribution publicly in a meeting, or by ministering to an individual.

OFFERING HOSPITALITY

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV 1984)

As far as circumstances allow, our open hearts to one another should be reflected in open homes, where we are happy to provide others with a place to stay, enjoy a meal, or just relax. This can be a particular blessing for those who live alone, or whose homes offer no Christian warmth or encouragement. We should not be overly concerned about having the house spotlessly tidy, or providing impressive meals. The essence of hospitality is our welcome and our willingness to share what we have, be it much or little.

MEETING TOGETHER

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

To be able to truly fellowship, we need to be together! The believers in the early Church were very committed to this, and so should we be. Hopefully, we will always come away from our times together feeling built up, but this should not be our primary motivation in going. We should go to bless God and others. Having this perspective will help us to prioritize fellowship over other, more self-serving options.

Looking again at the church in Jerusalem, we see that “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47). This passage indicates that there were public meetings, smaller gatherings in homes, and the sharing of life on a day-to-day basis.

THE CONGREGATION

“I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.” Psalm 35:18

The Sunday morning meeting is an excellent opportunity to come together to celebrate the goodness of God and to hear His Word to us. It also provides a very public testimony to the world. We should never take times such as these for granted, but should approach them with faith and excitement, fully available for all that God wants to do in and through us.

HOME GROUPS

“...When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV 1984)

Wonderful though the large gathering can be, it is not the best environment for everything that God wants to do in our lives. For example, it does not usually provide the opportunity to build significant relationships, ask questions, learn to contribute, give and receive care, etc. Small gatherings such as home groups usually provide a better context for these, and indeed for the consistent application of much of what we have looked at in this session. We, therefore, place a great emphasis on the importance of home groups, and expect everyone who is part of this church to belong to one, with all this implies in terms of attendance and participation.

SHARING LIFE

“...all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8

Even attendance on a Sunday morning and involvement in a home group is not enough. If we are devoted to the fellowship, we will seek out opportunities to spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The believers in Jerusalem were so committed that they met together every day! This does not translate into a packed schedule of church events, but rather speaks of a desire to share life and rejoice in the goodness of God together. In doing so, we are to be Christ-like and Kingdom-minded, reaching across worldly barriers of age, race, upbringing, life circumstances, interests, etc.

CORPORATE PRAYER

“...they devoted themselves to...the prayers.” Acts 2:42

The commitment of the early Church to corporate prayer is clear throughout the book of Acts (see also Acts 1:14, 4:24-31 and 12:12). This commitment no doubt sprang from the apostles’ teaching, which would itself have been the passing on of Jesus’ teachings on prayer. Corporate prayer is an important aspect of fellowship, in which we join together in heart and voice, calling upon God to move mightily in, through, and beyond us.

A TESTIMONY TO THE WORLD

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Though He calls us into real community, God does not want us to be inward-focused and exclusive, but rather to be interacting with the world and a visible demonstration of His love. We see that the church in Jerusalem, though focused on God and committed to one another, were “having favor with all the people” and that “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). We believe for this to be our testimony too, as we give ourselves wholeheartedly to fellowship with God and one another.

GIVING AND RECEIVING

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

In the last session, we saw that to be in fellowship means to be joined together with others in outworking a common purpose. The Greek word translated as “fellowship” in Acts 2:42, koinonia, is translated elsewhere in the New Testament as “sharing.” In this session, we will look at two further ways in which we express fellowship with God and one another: sharing bread and wine (“The Lord’s Supper”), and sharing our finances.

THE LORD’S SUPPER

“And he [Jesus] took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” Luke 22:19-20

As we see in Acts 2, the early Church was devoted to breaking bread with one another. This term can simply mean eating together, but we know that they were also committed to sharing bread and wine in obedience to the command of Jesus, and in remembrance of Him. Churches through the ages have practiced this in one form or another. In some cases, it has become so ceremonial and ritualistic as to have lost all sense of intimacy. In others, it has become so casual as to have lost all sense of awe and wonder. We need to look at the intention of Jesus in directing us to remember Him in this way, and it is helpful to start by considering the roots of the practice.

In Luke 22, we have an account of what has become known as “The Last Supper.” Jesus had gathered with His disciples to partake in the Passover Meal, an annual Jewish event commemorating one of the greatest moments in Israel’s history—the deliverance of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 11-12). By His imminent death, Jesus was going to bring about a far greater deliverance — one from slavery to sin and Satan. In anticipation of this, He introduced a wonderful way to help us contemplate the significance of this deliverance, and to celebrate it.

A COVENANT MEAL

As already noted, this act can be referred to simply as “breaking bread,” but it has been given several specific names by the Church: the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20); the Eucharist (from the Greek verb meaning “to give thanks” in 1 Corinthians 11:24); the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 10:21 - NIV 1984); and Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16 - KJV).

It has also often been referred to as “The Covenant Meal.” A covenant is a binding agreement or special arrangement. Covenants in biblical times were usually celebrated with a meal, rather like a marriage banquet (marriage is, of course, a covenant; see Malachi 2:14). As Christians, we are beneficiaries of the New Covenant, the arrangement that God made, enabling those who trust in the saving work of Jesus on the cross to live in right relationship with Him. Our “covenant meal” celebrates this. It is not a “once only” meal, like a wedding reception, or even just once a year, like the Passover Meal. We can and should celebrate it regularly.

Where? Sometimes breaking bread will take place at gatherings of the whole church (see Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 11:20-22), but it can be anywhere that any Christians are together. As already noted, the believers in Jerusalem were “breaking bread in their homes” (Acts 2:46). The home can provide a great environment in which to share, give thanks, and pray together in an unhurried and meaningful way.

What? The bread is just ordinary bread, and the wine ordinary wine. They are not “sacred” in and of themselves, nor “made sacred” by prayer or any other process. They represent the body and blood of Jesus, but—contrary to what some denominations teach—they do not become His actual flesh and blood!

When? The Bible does not tell us exactly when or how frequently to do it. The believers in Jerusalem met together every day, and may have broken bread in this way every day (Acts 2:46). In Acts 20:7, we read that the believers in Troas came together on the first day of the week to break bread, though we cannot assume they only (or even always) broke bread on the first day of the week. However, since Jesus commanded us to do it in remembrance of Him, it should certainly be a regular part of our fellowship.

Who? Only those who know they are saved through Christ’s death on the cross should participate, because it only applies to them. However, all for whom this is the case can participate—a believing child does not have to have attained a certain age, nor does a person have to be a “member” of the congregation. A church leader does not have to “officiate”; any Christian may offer the bread and wine to others.

WHAT’S THE POINT OF IT?

The Lord’s Supper is sometimes referred to as a sacrament. By sacrament, some denominations mean a religious act that is an outward/physical sign of an inward/spiritual reality, though others go as far as to say that sacraments convey a benefit to the partaker, irrespective of that person’s spiritual state. There is no biblical justification for this latter view. Just as baptism (which is also often referred to as a sacrament) does nothing unless one is submitting to it in obedient response to salvation, neither does taking the bread and wine. However, just as baptism is of great significance for those who approach it properly, the Lord’s Supper should be also.

So what is the significance of the Lord’s Supper, and what truths are conveyed by it? In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Paul shows that our attention is to be directed in several different ways as we participate in this act. We are to:

Look Back — “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

The Lord’s Supper directs our thoughts back in history to the cross. The bread reminds us of Christ’s body, given up for us, and the wine reminds us of his blood, shed for us. We are sobered and filled with gratitude as we consider the cost of our salvation, paid willingly by Jesus out of His great love for us. We proclaim it to one another, and determine to proclaim it to the world.

Look Up — Jesus said, “...‘Do this in remembrance of me.’” 1 Corinthians 11:24

We take the bread and wine in remembrance not just of His death, but also to focus on Jesus Himself. While not brushing over Christ’s suffering on the cross, we must never forget that it was followed by the resurrection. He is no longer dead! The Supper reminds us to look up, with the eyes of faith, to see Jesus seated at the Father’s right hand in glory (see Colossians 3:1), and to worship Him.

Look Around — “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” 1 Corinthians 10:17

The Lord’s Supper is a communal meal; we take it with other Christians. When Paul refers in 1 Corinthians 11:29 (NIV 1984) to “recognizing the body of the Lord,” he is speaking not of the bread but of fellow believers, the body of Christ. As he goes on to say, “now you [plural] are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 - NIV 1984). So as we eat and drink, we should look around at our spiritual brothers and sisters, thanking the Lord for joining us to them. There is a sobering aspect to this, too...

Look Within — “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” 1 Corinthians 11:28-29 (NIV 1984)

Many suppose this to mean that we need to check whether we are free of sin before we eat “the body of the Lord” (i.e., supposedly the bread). This can lead some to refrain from partaking if they do not feel “worthy.” The Lord’s Supper can certainly make us mindful of shortcomings in our walk with the Lord, but where necessary we should just repent and receive God’s forgiveness. We can then thankfully participate in the act that reminds us that we rely on Christ’s performance, not our own!

However, as previously noted, “the body of the Lord” that we are to recognize, and in regard to which we are to examine ourselves, is our spiritual family. The problem in Corinth was that many were selfishly being disrespectful and dismissive of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Their approach to the Lord’s Supper made it a travesty, and brought God’s judgment. This covenant meal is meant to demonstrate our oneness as believers. By it, we declare, “We are joined together in Christ; I love you and am for you!” If this is not actually our heart, we are inviting God’s judgment (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-30). We must, therefore, take the opportunity to deal with any grievances there and then (see Matthew 5:23-24 and 18:15-17).

Look Forward — “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

It is not just about the past or even the present—it is also about the future. Our celebration now is just a foretaste of the unspeakable joy that awaits us when Christ returns. The Bible describes this in terms of a marriage, when Christ, the Bridegroom, will at last be united with the Church, His Bride. Therefore, as we partake in the Lord’s Supper now, we look forward to “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). It will be the meal to end all meals, a great heavenly banquet that will last forever.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

God, in His great wisdom, has given us this practice so that we might be continually reminded of what He has done for us through Christ. It should be as significant to us as baptism, but with the advantage of it being something we can do again and again, with ever-deepening revelation.

Let us turn now to another way of expressing fellowship—with our money!

FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP

“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need... There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” Acts 2:44-45, 4:34-35

This aspect of the life of the early Church may seem surprisingly radical to us, but it is entirely in keeping with their wholehearted response to the gospel. It is also in keeping with God’s intention for His people.

Even a casual reading of Scripture reveals that money plays an important part in the Kingdom of God. It has been estimated that around 15% of Jesus’ words recorded in the New Testament relate to money and financial issues, and that He says twice as much on these subjects as on faith and prayer combined, or on Heaven and Hell combined!

MONEY: THE HEART MONITOR

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil. Money is not evil; God blesses us with it! However, in 1 Timothy 6:10, we see that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” Our attitude towards money, and our handling of it, can reveal a lot about us (“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:21). It is also a basis on which God will determine what of real and eternal value can be entrusted to us:

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” Luke 16:10-12

If our desire is to be faithful to God with what He has given us, we must learn the importance of giving.

GODLY GIVING

“But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV 1984)

Before looking at specific types of giving, there are some fundamental truths that must be understood. First, we see in the above passage of Scripture that Paul refers to giving as a “grace.” It is something that God graciously enables us to do, first by providing the resources, then by putting it in our hearts to share those resources with others. Giving is to be a Spirit-led act of worship to God, and a way of ministering His love to others. Secondly, we see that it is a grace in which we can grow and excel. This will happen as we reach to God for a greater revelation of His mind and heart in this regard—and as we actually do it! Scripture gives us some very practical guidance to help us get started. Our giving is to be:

Systematic — “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income,” 1 Corinthians 16:2a (NIV 1984)

Thought, prayer, and preparation should go into our giving. We should not be taken by surprise when it is time for the offering. And we should determine to give regularly and consistently. Some are inclined to wait until they feel “led” to give, or to postpone it with the intent of catching up later in the month/year. They tend to end up giving relatively little. God understands how this can happen—so He tells us to give regularly and consistently!

In Proportion To Our Income — “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income,” 1 Corinthians 16:2a (NIV 1984)

When deciding what to give, we start by looking at what we receive. Our giving should never be at the mercy of our fluctuating expenses.

Sacrificial — “For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,” 2 Corinthians 8:3

Our giving is to be an act of worship to God and an expression of love for others. As we have seen previously in this course, worship involves sacrifice, and true love gives sacrificially (see John 3:16). The early Church clearly grasped this truth. Therefore, when deciding what to give, we should determine a figure with which we feel comfortable— then go beyond it!

Willing/Joyful — “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

Again, our giving is to speak of grace not law, and of wholehearted love for God and others. If we are reluctant, something is wrong that needs to be put right. We should always be able to rejoice in the privilege we have to give, be it much or little (see 2 Corinthians 8:12).

With these general principles in place, we can move on to look at particular types of giving.

TITHES

Tithe means “tenth.” The first biblical record of tithing is in Genesis 14:17-20, where Abraham (then called Abram) tithes to the priest and king, Melchizedek (who, interestingly in the light of our earlier subject, offered him bread and wine). In Genesis 28:20-22, we see Jacob vowing to tithe. Tithing was subsequently included in the Law of Moses (see, for example, Leviticus 27:30-33).

Some think that tithing has no relevance for Christians under the New Covenant. While it is true that tithing is not specifically commanded in the New Testament, there are several reasons why we should not reject it. For example:

1. Though tithing was included in the Mosaic Law, we have seen that it did not originate there, but rather with Abraham. We can, therefore, assume that tithing (like marriage and one day of rest in seven) is a principle that, though later embodied in the Law, is of a more enduring nature.

2. Hebrews 7:1-10 specifically references Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek to emphasize the fact that it was of greater significance than tithing to the Levitical priesthood.

3. We are elsewhere in Scripture exhorted to follow the example of Abraham, the father of the faithful (see, for example, Galatians 3:6-9). Why would we not follow his example in this faith-filled act of devotion?

4. Perhaps most significantly for us, Jesus affirmed the practice of tithing when, in rebuking the legalistic and hypocritical Pharisees, He said:

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”  Matthew 23:23 NLT

5. We have already seen that in the New Testament we are directed to give systematically and in proportion to our income. On what basis would we assume that, living in the good of the New Covenant with its far greater blessings, we would give proportionately less than under the Old Covenant?

For all these reasons, we teach the principle of tithing and strongly encourage its practice.

THE USE OF THE TITHE

In the Old Testament, the tithe supported the Levites, the religious leaders of the people. They were thereby freed from regular work to concentrate on religious duties (see Numbers 18:21). The principle of financially supporting those who minister to the people of God flows into the New Testament:

“...the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:14

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor [here referring to financial reward], especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” 1 Timothy 5:17

Tithes are, therefore, usually used for people: the support of the ministries of the church and visiting speakers, wages for support staff, gifts to overseas workers, help for the needy in the church, and so on.

PRACTICING TITHING

The following two questions often arise when people are considering tithing:

“Do I calculate the tithe on my gross income or my net income?”

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10

The tithe is to be a tenth of your income, not a tenth of what’s left of your income! Though most of us have tax automatically deducted from our salary, our heart should still be that the Lord receives first. The tithe should, therefore, be calculated before tax.

“Do I have to give all of the tithe to the church, or can I divide it between different recipients, e.g., the church, a Christian TV ministry, a charity, and people I know who are in need?”

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.” Malachi 3:10a (NIV 1984)

The tithe is for the local spiritual “house,” or community, to which you belong. Other desired giving would constitute offerings.

OFFERINGS

God does not limit us to one tenth—that is just the starting point. What we give beyond the tithe constitutes offerings. Whereas tithes are primarily for people, offerings are usually applied towards outside needs, for, e.g., evangelism, buildings, utilities, special projects, etc. This distinction is, however, a guideline rather than a strict rule. For example, we may from time to time take up an offering for the poor.

That very example leads us to a third type of giving required by the Lord and identified in Scripture.

GIVING TO THE POOR

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,” Proverbs 19:17a

God’s heart for the poor and needy is clear throughout Scripture. He directs us to identify with—and manifest—His heart to them in practical ways. We each have an individual responsibility in this regard, and as a church, we are committed to giving to the poor, both within our congregation and beyond.

THE FINANCE TEST

“I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.” 2 Corinthians 8:8 (NIV 1984)

We mentioned at the beginning of this section that our approach to money reveals our hearts. Some Christians become offended when challenged in the area of giving, but Paul had no qualms about it being a basis on which to judge real love for God and His people.

However, God is also willing to put Himself to the test in this area:

“‘Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’” Malachi 3:10b (NIV 1984)

The principle of the blessing that flows from this obedience to God is also clear in the New Testament:

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 (see also 2 Corinthians 9:6)

Receiving is not to be our motivation for giving. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), but as we give, we will surely be blessed—so that we can, in turn, bless others and glorify God:

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work... He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-11