By Jan Cowles in Lakewood…
I read this week that “Americans could easily give 100 billion dollars per year more without feeling much of a pinch”. If this is true how much more is there to be given when we are lead to be generous!
Acts 4 says “There was not a needy person among them” [that is of the New Testament believers in Jerusalem]. In the simplicity of house church there is so much more money to go around. The article that mentioned we could easily give another 100 billion a year noted that the average believer gives about 2.5% of his money. That means if every believer would just give 10% (we are not limited to 10%) our giving would multiple by four times. Then we will have another problem, what do we do with all the funds. In Exodus 36:5-7 when all the people were giving Moses had to tell the people to “stop all your giving”.
An older saint told me a few years back we have more than enough money to go around in the body of Christ. It seems to me there could be no better time to share stories as to how God has lead you as a house church in giving and receiving. The early church was known not only by their generosity but the joy of transforming a culture from within by their sharing of wealth. The result was daily conversions to the Way of Jesus.
“The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” Paul (II Cor. 9:6)
“There is one who gives freely yet gains more, but one who withholds what is due will surely become needy.” Solomon (Proverbs 11:25)