What the Bible Teaches About… Charity
“Now about the collection for the Lord’s people.” 1 Corinthians 16:1 NIV
When a recession hit Jerusalem, Paul asked the believers at Corinth to give offerings to meet this need: “Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem” (vv. 1-3 NIV).
A healthy church will always have two things: in-reach and outreach. It will endeavor to meet both the spiritual and material needs of people. In the Old Testament, God told His people, “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren…you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother “(Dt 15:7 NKJV). When you have a true encounter with Christ, you will have a heart for hurting people. “Then Zacchaeus…said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house’” (Lk 19:8-9 NKJV).
When it comes to giving to God, the Bible sets the baseline at 10 percent (See Mal 3:10). Beyond that, you should be guided by your love for God: “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Co 9:7 NKJV).
PRAYER: O Lord God, help me to know how to spread the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ as I share the from the abundance you make available to me. Remind to remain cheerful as I give. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
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