Charles Fry – “Silver in the Church”
Gen. 1: 1 The Earth is the Lord’s, the people living here are His. Hag. 2: 8 “The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine.” Ps. 50: 9-12 God doesn’t need anything, the world is His. Matt. 6: 24-34 You cannot serve God and riches. Do not worry about the physical things of the world. Gen. 1: 29 God initiated giving from the very beginning with Adam
9: 3, 12: 2-3 and with Abraham We are to learn the spirit of giving. Ex. 13: 11-13 Giving the land of Canaan, presenting the first born to God. Lk. 8 Jesus had nowhere to lay His head, yet He and His disciples survived.
v. 1-3 They were helped by the generosity of others. Jn. 12: 1-8 Jesus anointed at Bethany. This was a costly gift. Of what Jesus received, He helped other people as well, giving to the poor. Jn. 12: 29, 12: 5 Jn. 4: 8 The disciples buy food Mk. 6: 34-37 Feeding the 5, 000. The disciples suggest that the people go away to buy food. Jesus says, no you give them food. The disciples then object, saying this would cost too much. Jesus says, well what do you have? They use what they have. *The Lord is interested in what you have to give, how you use what He has supplied. Ex. 35: 5-10 Building the tabernacle- “from what you have, take an offering to the Lord.” Which from this list is the most important gift? Every one of these was essential for building the tabernacle.
The gift of time and the gift of money are on the same level to God. Acts 2: 42-45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. We should behave as if Christ is coming any minute, as these people thought. Then we’ll take more risks, big leaps of faith like this. The spirit of the church here caused everyone to look on the church favorably. Acts 4: 32 No one considered anything his own. Acts 6 Deacons chosen to serve Acts 11: 27-30 Famine predicted, all the disciples, each according to their own ability, determined to send relief to Judea. Rom. 15: 25-26 Paul on the way to Jerusalem to deliver funds to them from other brethren. I Cor. 16, Acts 20 II Cor. 8: 13-15 “that there may be equality” Your plenty will supply their need, and vice versa. He who gathered much did not have too much and he who gathered little didn’t have too little. This was just like the manna. II Cor. 8: 16-24 Multiple men traveled together to carry the gift to Jerusalem – accountability. I Cor. 16: 1-2 Collection on the 1st day of the week
I Cor. 9: 1-2 We also have the responsibility to give aid to some outside the church. Heb. 13: 2 entertaining angels unawares Gal. 6: 9-10 Let us do good to all, especially those of the household of faith Matt. 15: 21-28 The persistent pleading of the Gentile woman. Jesus did something because she was persistent in order to show the need for persistent prayers. “Was Jesus smiling when He, in essence, called Gentiles dogs? I don’t know. The Bible doesn’t have smileys [emoticons].” C.F. The church could easily squander its resources. We were not called to solve the world’s problems of poverty. But there are times when the crumbs need to fall from the table. There are some places, church locations where having a pancake breakfast and some teaching would be a good thing to have in the community. EX: Some homeless men were hungry and came by the San Jose congregation where they were having a basket dinner. Feeding them was showing a good light. Bakersfield gets calls from people wanting money. The rule they have is that if you come to church meeting, they will buy groceries for the person. The Lord wants us to help either as individuals, or congregationally. It should be for the glory of the Lord, not our glory. Understand that everything we have is from God. We should share it if there is a need. There are people who try to take advantage of the good nature of the church. We must not be jaded, but we must use good judgment, even sometimes with people in the church who are asking for money. I Cor. 9: 9 You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. This passage refers to the work of Evangelists. I Tim. 5: 17-18 Same passage quoted, this time in regard to elders. Worthy of double honor are those who labor in the Word and doctrine. Tithing- Lev. 27: 30-33 10% of everything
Num. 18: 21-24 Tithes to support the Levites
Deut. 14: 22-29 Every year
The tithes would be used fro a celebration in Jerusalem. The third year, this 10% is given to Levites, and then the poor. They, then, received 1/3 of the tithes. Amos 4: 4 Still tithing in Amos’ day Ezra, Neh., Mal. – It seems the Levites are now getting the 10% every year. There were more Levites. Paul didn’t go into all this detail.
Heb. 7: 4-10 speaks of tithes as part of the old covenant. We are not told now how much to give. Our giving is based on what we have and what we have decided. 10% is a good measurement. Should we give any less? Rom. 16: 1-3 Assistance for Phoebe, a fellow sister, who is traveling far away from home. *Lk. 19: 13 The parable of the talents is a parable of a departing king. This is a prediction of Christ’s departure. Christ wants us to be good stewards of our money, the blessings from Him, our talents until He returns. Acts 18: 5, Phil. 4: 14-19, Acts 19: 8-9, 28: 30-31 I Tim. 5: 3-4 Help widows who are really in need, without family. v. 8 We must also provide for our family. The church must not support those who are lazy and don’t work. Acts 20: 28 The church was purchased by God with Christ’s blood. Col. 3:17 Do all in the name of the Lord. I Cor. 10: 31-33
II Cor. 9: 7 cheerful giver | 
