2 Corinthians 8:1-6

   Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 2 Corinthians 8:1-6

Throughout the history of the church, benevolence has been a hallmark. Almost to the point it has become a confirmation of salvation. At the very least, our generosity indicates an understanding that our worldly possessions are not our own but...belong to God.

Brian Yeager (wordsoftruth.net) provides some insight here. He says most brethren will agree that the local church has a role in helping those in physical need.  The disagreement comes to whom the church should help when there are physical needs.  The church takes a collection every first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2).  This is the only way the local church has authority to get funds.  With that money it can do it’s own local work.  The Bible gives us a clear pattern of who the local church helped in it’s work in the 1st Century.  We can tell that the church of Christ in the 1st Century aided saints in need.  We can know that because the Bible shows us that (Acts 2:44-45, Romans 15:25-27, I Corinthians 16:1-4, II Corinthians 8:4, 9:1; 12, and I Timothy 5:3-16). 

Yeager continues...what we do not find is an example, command, or inference showing the non-saints were aided in benevolent needs by the local church.  It should also be pointed out that when the church aided saints in need, those saints were truly in need.  It was not the paying of an electric bill because the saint had to choose to pay the electric bill or the car payment and the electric was going to be shut off.  Saints in need were those who were poverty stricken.  Maybe that is something for all of us to consider when we look at helping saints in need.  Brother so and so comes to the church and says he needs food.  So, the church cuts him a check for $200.00, then he goes out in his two year old Lincoln Town Car.  It is not the role of the church to provide for one’s family that is the role of the head of the household (I Timothy 5:8).

The church has been overwhelmingly generous through history...almost to the point of being indiscriminating. But, I don't suggest we never help those outside the church. I suggest we follow the Biblical pattern that Jesus, Himself, set: "First Judea, then Samaria, and then the rest of the earth".

Benevolence begins at home...

One sure result...if we follow the Biblical pattern of benevolence, our churches will be filled to capacity!

Live boldly out there today...