God's Financial Plan for the Church

There have been more churches split over financial disagreements than almost anything else. If churches were as stringent defending the Bible as they were protecting money, we might have a good thing going in this society.

The Devil uses a church’s finances and money to sew divisions in the church.

Adding to the problem is the fact that preachers rarely preach about money because they do not want to be hammered by the people who think the only reason a preacher preaches about money is because he wants a raise.

Well, I am not asking for anything, but I am concerned. As a matter of fact, two weeks ago on Wednesday night, I asked y’all to pray for me. I did not say specifically why I wanted prayer. I just prayed that the Lord make His will known. I wanted to make sure that I was not being prideful or selfish.

This is really ironic, but Shayne and Colin are the two the Holy Spirit used to reach me with this sermon.

By the way, Shayne, Colin, JP, and Justin, you may not realize it yet, but God has big plans for you guys even though you might not know it yet. As a matter of fact, one of you, outside of Colin, could very well be the next pastor of this church.

I guarantee you that in 1990 I did not think I would be a pastor.

Speaking of 1990, Joey and I had just been ordained as deacons, and for a couple of years after that, this church exploded with growth. We were at the point where we were going to have to add some Sunday School classes some kind of way.

Joey and I began checking into building costs and plans, but this church let one man raise a raucous over it one Sunday morning. He said we did not need to spend money on growth. We needed to spend money feeding the poor, and that Sunday morning, we probably had about 80 for preaching and by October of 2019, we were down to 9.

Are we about to repeat the same mistake? Did you know that two Sundays ago that Hope had some kids sitting in the floor because she did not have enough room for all of them to sit.

In the church, some do not want to spend a dime because they want to make sure we can afford an air conditioner in 2046. Some want to spend money like it is going out of style. The balance lies in the middle.

Let me just say this. (I GIVE MY MONEY LIKE HE OR SHE DOES)

When you and I give money to the church, it is no longer our money. It belongs to God. As a matter of fact, it belonged to God to begin with, and if you have the attitude that you should have the say where your money goes, just keep it because you are not giving for the right reasons anyway.

The church should not spend like the US government, but neither should the church be in the money-making business, and if you are focused on how much money this church can accumulate, you do not understand what the New Testament says about the relationship between the church and money.

1. THE TRUTH ABOUT GIVING.

Ideas about giving in the New Testament church have been so distorted that the truth is almost unbelievable.

As a matter of fact, I do not even know where to begin.

Did you know the Bible never says that we are to only give 10%?

As a matter of fact, in the Old Testament, the Jews were required to pay three different tithes.

Levitical Tithe (10% to pay for the priests who served in the Temple)

Feast Tithe (10% to cover the cost of religious festivals)

Poor Tithe (10% given every third year to help widows, orphans, and strangers who were not able to support themselves)

The Jews were required to pay 20% every year, and they were required to pay 30% every third year. Now, let me ask you a serious question.

Where in the world did we come up with the idea that we are only to give 10%?

Malachi 3:8 ““Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”

We limit our giving to 10% thinking we have really done something good for the Lord, but giving 10% robs us of what God wants to do for us.

Do you what the New Testament says about giving?

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

These two verses are the basis for giving in the New Testament church. These two verses form the three principles about giving in the New Testament. (2 Cor. Chap 9 verses 6-7)

Our blessings are based upon what we give. Is that what verse 6 says.

Each member of the body should give financially to the church. (Each one)

Each member is to give cheerfully as led by the Lord and not out of necessity or grudgingly. What is giving out of necessity or grudgingly?

Did you know that you are to pray before you give? Do you? Do you pray seeking the Lord’s guidance concerning the amount of your offering, or do you grudgingly say that I am only giving 10%?

Now, Paul says that each one was to give. It is not the responsibility of just a few to give. Every member is to give, and if we followed what the New Testament taught, we would call out the ones who do not give.

If the Holy Spirit leads you to give 25% this week, do you know it is sin for you to give less than that 25%?

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

You and I cannot “outgive” God. It is the responsibility of all saints to give prayerfully and cheerfully. It is not the responsibility of outside donors to finance church missions. It is not the responsibility of visitors to finance church missions. It is the responsibility of each member of the body which is why it is so important to join a local body. You have responsibilities both to Christ and that body.

Let me share some troubling statistics with you, and they are troubling because they are true.

The average adult who attends church gives $17/week. 50% of those same adults spend $20/week on soft drinks and coffee.

37% of regular church attendees give nothing to the church.

Dear friend, that is not biblical. It is sin, and I really believe what I am about to say is the truth.

The number one reason many Christians get into financial trouble is that they do not give as they should, and in turn, they rob themselves of the blessings God wants to give them.

It is time for all of us to give as God leads.

2. THE TRUTH ABOUT SPENDING.

We are commanded to be good stewards of what God gives us. In the Bible, a good steward is someone who manages resources responsibly and faithfully, recognizing that God owns everything.

Being a good steward, however, does not mean being miserly. Being a good steward does not mean trying to build a large bank account for the church.

Do you know what is going to happen to Beech Grove’s money one of these days?

When the true church is raptured, whatever money Beech Grove has in its account will be used to finance the Antichrist, and if you do not believe me, read Rev. the 17th Chap. verses 1-7.

We are to be good stewards, but we are not to be miserly. If we are good stewards, our account will build up because we cannot “outgive” God.

Do you know what our financial goal should be as a church? Our goal should be to sustain this church until the Rapture. The Bible clearly teaches that we are not to build treasure on earth but in heaven, so how do we build treasure in heaven? What does the New Testament say about the church and spending?

**** PS. SOME OF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS.****

A. A Church has a financial responsibility to its members.

Acts 4:33–35 “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.”

Churches have a financial responsibility to meet the legitimate needs of its membership.

I believe, too often, the church neglects its members in need. The church of the New Testament, however, is to look for opportunities to help its membership.

Now, let me say this before you think I am saying the church should be a welfare agency.

Yes, the church is to help, but being a good steward means knowing when to and when not help according to God’s Word. That is why prayer is so important. If we pray about helping someone, God will reveal His will in that particular case to us.

If you read 1st Tim Chap 5, you will see some specific guidelines for spending on the membership. The Bible is very specific about who and when we are to help. I am telling you that you need to read that chapter to see what God says.

B. A church has a financial responsibility to its surrounding community (Mission Field).

The church has a financial obligation to do outreach.

Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

When it comes to outreach, we should spare no expense. What we spend for the Dyer County Fair and for Bibles and tracts should not bother you one bit, and if it does, you have an issue somewhere. If you volunteer to work at the fair for one hour, you will see the need, and it is our responsibility to meet that need.

At the heart of all outreach should be evangelism.

A healthy church will strive to use its resource to evangelize the community.

Now, I must be honest here.

A church that loses focus on evangelism will worry more about building up a nest egg for future expenses, but I am telling you dear friend, if we cannot afford an air conditioner in 2035 is a small sacrifice compared to the value of a saved soul. Is not one lost soul being saved worth all the treasure we have?

We must have faith. We have enough insurance on these two buildings that we do not have anything to fear financially. Besides, does fear indicate being led by the Lord?

C. A church has a financial responsibility to its pastor.

The reason preachers do not preach about giving and spending in the church is because they fear being accused of wanting a raise. The Devil attacks pastors pressuring them to not preach the whole counsel of God because they want to be perceived as asking for a raise.

Well, let me tell you this.

My goal is for Beech Grove to be an evangelizing church that attempts to make disciples out of all Dyer County and not to get a raise, but who knows how long I am going to be around, and this church needs a plan in place to take care of its pastor in the future.

God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save the lost. It is the highest calling in the church.

Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Believe this or not, without the gospel being preached, no one would hear the gospel.

Pastors are ordained to proclaim the mystery of Christ.

Delivering the gospel is the most important thing, not wondering whether or not we have an AC in 2035.

1 Timothy 5:17–18 “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.””

This church, going forward from me, needs a plan and the faith to execute that plan to financially support the pastor.

Can I share some statistics with you? These statistics came from the Baptist Reflector of December 2024.

75% of all SBC pastors in the state of Tennessee make $40,800 a year or higher with benefit packages including paid vacation, retirement, health insurance, dental and vision insurance, disability insurance, and accident insurance.

Now, I have all those, so that is not what I am wanting for myself.

The point is this.

I think or I believe I present well-studied and well-researched messages. I take this calling seriously. Considering the amount of time I put in, Beech Grove will have trouble finding a full-time pastor in the future if we do not plan for that reality now. Once again, who knows what will happen to me, or when it will happen.

Please do not twist my words.

I have not asked for a raise, and I am not asking for one now, but I do want Beech Grove to be around long after I am gone, and I want Beech Grove to be a vibrant, living, growing church right up until the Rapture.

Here is the main point.

You have an obligation, if you belong to this church, to give financially.

The church has a financial obligation to spend as God’s Word dictates on its members, its mission field, and its minister.

As a matter of fact, deacons were first set aside so that the preachers would not have to take time away from God’s Word to serve tables.

Our future is hanging in the balance. Are we ready to invest in that future, or are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of 32 years ago that started this church on a decline that almost ruined us?