- FOREWORD
- CONVERSION
- CONVERSION OF An Ethiopian
- THE RESTORATION OF AN ERRING CHRISTIAN
- GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
- THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION
- THE DEACONSHIP
- THE SIN OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA
- THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM
- CHRIST THE FOUNDATION
- CHRIST THE PROPHET
- Humility
- BAPTISM
- Miracles in the Christian Dispensation
- The Divine Body
- CONTINUING STEADFASTLY
- The Origin of the Church
- THE CONVERSION OF THE THREE THOUSAND
- THE DAY OF PENTECOST
- THE FOUR BAPTISMS OF THE SCRIPTURES
- THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
- THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLES
- ACTS OF APOSTLES
- THE GOOD CONFESSION
- CONVERSION OF SAUL
- AFTERWORD
- REPENTANCE
- APOSTOLIC EVANGELISM
- THE DIVINE MISSIONARY POLICY
- THE TRIALS OF PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY
- THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY
- CONSCIENCE
- PAUL BEFORE FELIX
- THE ELDERSHIP
- THE COMMUNION
- THE SABBATH OR THE LORD’S DAY— WHICH?
- THE WAY
- THE DISCOURSE ON MARS’ HILL
- THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION FROM ADAM TO MOSES
- FAITH
- WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
- THE CONVERSION OF THE JAILOR
- THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA
- THE COMMON ERROR OF HUMANITY
- PRAYER
- THE DIVINE NAME
- THE WORD POWER OF GOD
- THE CONVERSION OF A MORAL MAN
- THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION FROM MOSES TO CORNELIUS
- THE NEW TESTAMENT
(Acts 5:1-11) THERE were two classes of miracles in the divine economy: those that evinced God's approval of the right, and those that evinced His disapproval of the wrong. An example of the former class is that miracle which occurred at the death of Stephen (Acts 7 : 55, 56). He was allowed to look into heaven and see Jesus seated at the right hand of God. This miracle showed God's approval of the man who withstands all enemies of the gospel (Matt. 28: 20), and is placed on the divine record as an example for all subsequent ages of the ulti- mate blessing that will come to those who preach the truth as revealed in the New Testament. An example of the latter class is the death of Ana- nias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). The judgment that came upon them evinced God's disapprobation of their conduct, and is placed on the divine record as an ex- ample of the ultimate punishment that will come upon all who withhold from God a portion of that which rightfully belongs to Him. This sermon will deal with Christian liberality. In stressing the restoration of primitive Christianity, this one essential item has been neglected. We have over- looked the preaching of liberality as one of the essen- tial fruits of the Christian spirit. This neglect on the part of the eldership has resulted in disaster to many congregations. Lack of business administration has been the cause of the failure of hundreds of churches, especially those that are termed " rural.' ' A successful administration of the business side of Christianity will pave the way for missionary and evangelistic accom- plishments. The problem of finance is the first problem that must be met and solved. It can be solved by the faithful teaching and practice of the New Testament plan of Christian giving. We are essentially a Bible people. Then, let us carry out the Bible instructions regarding the financial department of the Lord's work. 1. The parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16 : 1- 13). The explanation of the parable is found in verse 12. The application is very clear. All the material possessions that we are using in this world belong to God. We can take nothing with us into the world to come. We are merely stewards of God for an ap- pointed time upon earth, and will ultimately be called upon to render an account of our stewardship. What He gives here is His; what He gives us hereafter will be ours forever. Hence if we are not faithful here in taking care of what belongs to Him, how can we ex- pect to be judged worthy of anything hereafter? If you were to leave a son to take care of your property while you were away on a visit, and were to return and find the property devastated, you would certainly not be very liable to give that son any property for himself until he has proved himself capable of taking care of it. All that we have in this world belongs to God. Even we who are in Christ have been bought with the price of His blood; therefore we are not our own, but we belong to Him (1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 7:22, 23; 1 Pet. 1: 18-20). Therefore we should feel our responsibility as servants and stewards of God (Rom. 12: 1, 2). 2. The example of the church at Jerusalem (Acts 2 : 44, 45 ; 4 : 32-37) . This community of goods was the result of the application of the above-named parable. The church at Jerusalem, under the guidance of the Spirit-filled apostles, thus became the example for all future ages. No man in that congregation regarded what he had as his own, but they had all things in common. This came about as a result of the spontane- ous outburst of Christian love. Conversion 'means absolute surrender to God. It is a passing from the selfishness of this world, in which the law of existence is the " survival of the fittest'' into the glorious un- selfishness of the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Either Christ or mammon predominates in the individual heart (Luke 16:13). The question as to which pre- dominates decides whether or not those who have been baptized are really Christian. When modern congre- gations are brought to realize that they themselves, as well as all they have, belong to God, they will emulate the financial liberality of the Jerusalem church. Hence the duty of the ministry! 3. The New Testament plan of Christian giving (1 Cor. 16:1, 2). This is outlined just as plainly as the gospel plan of salvation. While this was written to the church at Corinth, it becomes just as authoritative to all churches of Christ. Let us analyze this plan. a. Who should give? To whom was the letter ad- dressed? (1 Cor. 1:2). Unto the whole church of God at Corinth, those sanctified in Jesus Christ. This in- cluded all the members of the church — men, women and children. The command was to each and every member. It makes the offering a part of the regular service, and something in which every Christian should participate. A man can not be baptized for his family, neither can he give for his family. The divine plan teaches the children, as well as the adults, to give. "When the children of to-day are educated in this man- ner, giving will become a necessary factor in their worship as they grow up into men and women. b. How often? Upon the first day of the week, or the Lord's Day (Rev, 1:10). Thus the offering be- comes a part of the Lord's Day worship, along with the praise service, communion and sermon (Acts 20: 7). "We can see the wisdom of such a plan. The offering becomes a factor in bringing the Christian to the Lord's Day worship (Matt. 6:21). The man who in- vests in the extension of the kingdom of God naturally enjoys seeing the results of his investment. Every Christian giving upon each first day of the week establishes a systematic plan of giving. This money is paid into the Lord's treasury for the extension of the kingdom, and should continue to be paid year after year regularly, whether the congregation has a minister or not. By following the divine plan, there will always be plenty of money to meet all current expenses c. How much? Every one should give as God has prospered him. In estimating this, man should take into account his spiritual, as well as his material, bless- ings. Men, as a rule, do not appreciate the goodness of God, and are liable to underestimate their responsi- bility. Hence the value of the assessment plan by which the weekly assessments are made by the board of deacons acting in consultation with each individual member. "As God hath prospered us" establishes the measure of giving. It merely increases the responsi- bility of the wealthy member in proportion to his riches. It establishes an equality between all members. If I am a steward of what God has given me, it fol- lows that I should give back to Him in proportion to what He has given to me. Let us emphasize the tithe. God expected one-tenth from the Jews. The Christian is blessed infinitely more than the Jew. If God expected a tenth from the Jew, He undoubtedly expects even more from the Christian. Let us never be guilty of giving less than one-tenth of our income to the Lord. 4. The manner of Christian giving. What we give must be given freely, cheerfully and humbly (2 Cor. 9:6, 7). If not cheerfully given, better not be given at all. Giving for the sake of respectability, or to be seen of men, is an abomination in the sight of God (Luke 16:15; Matt. 23:5). Every Christian, giving to the Lord's work cheerfully, regularly, as God hath prospered him, would soon solve the financial problem of many congregations. 5. The Bible condemnation of covetousness (Luke 12 : 15 ; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10 ; Eph. 5 : 3-5) . There is no evil in material wealth, if honestly gained, and dedicated to the glory of God. Wealth, however, has a tendency to develop covetousness, and covetousness will damn the soul (Luke 18:18-25). The person who is funda- mentally selfish at heart has never been "born again." A covetous man is more unlike Christ than any other person in the world (1 Cor. 5:9-11). The church has greatly sinned in dealing with covetous members. Ananias and Sapphira tried to keep back a portion of their possessions. They suffered the consequences of their folly, Many Christians to-day are withholding from God a portion of that which rightfully belongs to Him. The fate of Ananias and Sapphira should be a most solemn warning to all that it is impossible to steal from God without just retribution. People must be warned to flee covetousness as a pestilence. Because ministers have failed to live up to their duty along this line, hundreds of professed Christians are going straight to the perdition of ungodly men (2 Pet, 2: 9-14). Christianity is pre-eminently a religion of sacri- fice. The story is told that Phillips Brooks once called upon Cornelius Vanderbilt, the multimillionaire, to ask for money to carry out a certain benevolent project. Mr. Vanderbilt wrote a check for two thousand dollars, then reached in his pocket, secured a two-dollar bill, and laid it upon the check, offering the amount to the preacher. The latter was somewhat puzzled. Said he: "I do not understand why you have given me this bill along with such a generous check. " To which Mr. Van- derbilt replied: "That check amounts to nothing. It does not even represent a small fraction of my income. But I sat up all the way from Buffalo to New York the other night, instead of buying a Pullman berth, to save this two dollars. It represents a sacrifice, and I want you to accept it as such'' A congregation that represents thousands of dollars in bank accounts, real estate, farm land, live stock, etc., but lingers along with half or quarter time preaching, without any sense of missionary obligation whatever, is not a congregation of Christians, but a congregation of heathen. Men must learn and apply the Bible principles of Christian giving. Because they have depended upon human wisdom instead of the wisdom of God, the church has often been brought into disrepute in many communities. In such manner, church fairs, bazaars, oyster suppers, public dinners, and so on, have origi- nated, which have done more to destroy the power of the church over the world than any other cause. The Lord's business should be financed by the Lord's peo- ple. The church lowers her prestige by making indis- criminate appeals to men of the world for financial assistance. When we begin to teach the Bible prin- ciples of liberality, and warn people to flee covetous- ness, the business side of Christianity will soon adjust itself.
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