BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR CHARITY
NEW TESTAMENT SUPPORT
The church age brings an increased intensity to be responsive to the need of others, as to Christ himself. Contributions to meet needs of those in the church was the expected norm. Montgomery states, “Collections for the poor saints is part of the gospel work itself (2009:73)
Being thoroughly versed in the Law and the Prophets, and aided by Christ’s example, the church responded more than was required of them; the apostle Paul reported that without being asked they pleaded for the opportunity to sacrificially serve their fellow believers in distress:
Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. (2 Cor 8:1-5 The Message)
In Stewards of the Kingdom, Dr. Scott Rodin comments that this is kingdom ethics in the most radical form: even as they experienced severe trial and extreme poverty, they responded with rich generosity; even pleading to be allowed the privilege of giving. These are marks of the kingdom of God at work through missional stewardship. (Rodin 2000:211)
To those who refuse to see the duty of stewardship giving, an ominous warning comes from Christ as he provides a glimpse of the final judgment and the parameters by which the world is judged:
Then he will turn to the goats, the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because, I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’ (Mat 25:41)
Although there for anyone who needs the impetus, the church by no means should rely on this passage as their motivation for giving; but if that is what is needed, so be it. An example of an appropriate missonal stewardship response to an observed need is a much overlooked passage, Luke 19:34; when questioned why his colt was being led away, the only motivation the owner needed were the words, “the Lord has need of it.” As in this text, our grip should be held as lightly as his when our most prized possessions are being requested for His use.
Here in the New Testament we are not just charged with being charitable, but instructed in our stewardship of our possessions as treasures. We are not to “lay them up” here on earth, but in heaven . . . this is indicative of in which kingdom our treasure is being stored. (Mat 6:19-21) This text also hints of rewards, as does Hebrews 11:6; correlated with faithfully following God’s direction in faith, we are to please Him rather than man (or ourselves by the accolades we receive through our giving)—versus “having our reward in full.” (Mat 6:16) Here, as in Matthew 19:28-29, rewards motivate one’s unselfish living. Although scripture definitely speaks openly and favorably of rewards, it does not relate that this is the best reason to serve Christ and others. While the awareness of the rewards of service cannot be minimized, the true rewards we should seek are eternal—which provide resources in the Kingdom of God, here and in the hereafter.
No comments:
Post a Comment