Church Fundraising

I truly hate to see churches selling dinners or doing other things to raise money. I believe it really shows a lack of faith in the Lord and a lack of obedience to Him. If you need to raise money for what you call "the Lord's work," is it truly His work? He is able to provide for His own and the promise is that He will be His children's Provider.

Here is a paper that I did back in January. I actually gave it to a couple of the ministry heads in my church. No response. No matter...I was obedient to God. Check it out!

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Introduction

What type of fundraising has biblical precedent? How should we, as Christians and particularly as a local body of believers, get the funds to do the work of the ministry God has given to us to do? Are worldly methods acceptable?

This study has come about because I have been grieved at some of the man-sponsored fundraising that has permeated the body of Christ. Methods such as these to gain funds are now deemed acceptable – so much so that doing a Google search on church fundraising has shown that this is a lucrative marketing and advertising business. Out of 31 pages of listings, there were only a few sites that were opposed to such tactics. After doing this search, I got discouraged and stopped.

Does fundraising result in God’s glory or man’s glory? Is fundraising a supernatural provision or man’s work? How does fundraising make the Church different from the world? Where is the submission to the Lord and the faith that He will speak to His people to give to that which He wills to be done? If the Lord does not provide, then the work should not be done and we should reevaluate that work to be certain that it is from God, or it may take longer to allow the Lord to prepare for the work to be done. If we truly wish to be biblical in all respects and if we believe that the Bible is our final authority, then we should make sure that we please the Lord on this issue.

Since there are several scriptural examples of funds being gathered or collected for the Lord’s work, why should we go beyond what is written therein? In these examples, it is shown that the Lord moved on the hearts of the people to give willingly and that they did not expect a return or even a “Thank you” for what they gave. No man’s hand was put to it, but the Lord provided so that He may receive the glory. Further, our Lord Himself spoke in Matthew 6:1-4:

1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

As Paul reminded the Corinthian Church (he also reminds us) in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 that:

6 “ …He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
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.
9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”


Example 1

The first example of raising funds to do the work of the Lord is found in Exodus 25, 35 & 36. The Lord spoke to Moses to tell the Israelites to give an offering to the Lord. Moses was to take the offering “from every man who gives it willingly and ungrudgingly with his heart” (Exodus 25:1, AMP). The Lord then delineates His requirements for the sanctuary. He tells what items to use, where to put every item, how to use things, and who should use them. The Lord leaves no room for error or confusion. He clearly spoke, and Moses obeyed His command.

In Chapter 35, Moses repeats word-for-word the Lord’s command for an offering for the sanctuary. Again, it was to “whoever is of a willing and generous heart” (verses 4-5, AMP). From verse 20 in this chapter and on to Chapter 36, the Bible tells of those “whose hearts were stirred up and whose spirit made him willing” (v.21, AMP). The people came, giving what they had, both men and women. Verse 29 (AMP) says:

“The Israelites brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all men and women, whose hearts made them willing and moved them to bring anything for any of the work which the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done.”

The people gave so much, that it was “more than enough” (36:5). Moses had to tell them to STOP GIVING!

The work that the Lord ordained would and did come to pass, because the Lord moved on the hearts of men to give. The Lord is Jehovah-Jireh – the Lord our Provider. If God is the Author, then He will finish the work to His satisfaction without us having the need to resort to worldly methodology.

And what did the Israelites receive in return for their giving? Were they promised a specific item or a gift? No. Because it was those who were of a willing heart who gave. They wanted to please the Lord. The Lord takes pleasure in cheerful, willing, and abundant givers (2 Corinthians 9:7).


Example 2

The next example in Scripture of raising money for the work of the Lord occurs in 1 Chronicles 29:1-20. All I can say is, WOW! May the Lord make my own heart so glad to give and to rejoice in the Lord and His provision.

David was an example to the people in giving. Some may say that David was being showy by using his own goods as an example and in giving much – very publicly, too. David’s heart was for the Lord and that his love for the Lord and his desire to build a house for the Lord compelled him to give abundantly. The Lord Himself chose David, “A man after His own heart…to be prince and ruler over His people…” (1 Samuel 13:15, AMP). In instructing his son, Solomon, in ruling as king and in the building of the temple, David tells him to “serve [the Lord] with a blameless heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts…” (1 Chronicles 29:9, AMP).

David’s heart was for the glory of the Lord, and his giving was due to the abundance that the Lord had given to him. After the people “offered willingly” (v.6) and they “rejoiced because these had given willingly” (v.9), David led the people in praise unto the Lord – for His might and power, for His kingdom, for His exaltation, and for His provision. For David says, “Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all…” (v. 12) and “But who am I, and what are my people, that we should retain strength and be able to offer thus so willingly? For all things come from You, and out of Your own [hand] we have given You” (v.14, AMP).

David acknowledges that nothing they have or have given came from them. The Lord gave materially to them and also gave them a willing heart to give to the work that the Lord ordained.


Other Examples

Other examples for study are:
· King Hezekiah: 2 Chronicles 31:1-10
· Nehemiah: Nehemiah 1-2
· Women with Jesus: Luke 8:1-3

Lastly we will end with Paul’s instructions. Concerning a work that has need of planning and forethought, Paul instructs the Corinthian Church on how to give an abundant gift to the Jerusalem Church. This instruction is one that Paul had given to the Church in Galatia also. 1 Corinthians 16:1- 4 says:

1 “Now concerning the money contributed for [the relief of] the saints (God’s people); you are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do.
2 On the first [day] of each week, let each one of you [personally] put aside something and save it up as he has prospered [in proportion to what he has given], so that no collections will need to be taken after I come.
3 And when I arrive, I will send on those whom you approve and authorize with credentials to carry your gift [of charity] to Jerusalem.
4 If it seems worthwhile that I should go too, they will accompany me.

Paul reminds the Corinthian Church of their promised gift and admonishes them to renew the collection in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. He instructs them to set aside the amount that each one has purposed to give. In Philippians 4:10-20, Paul tells the Philippians that the Lord is sufficient to meet his needs and he commends them for their gift because of the “fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]” (v. 17, AMP). He also tells them that “my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (v.19, AMP). Paul himself is an excellent example, along with the other apostles and evangelists, who depended on the Lord (providing through His people) for His supply. There were times where Paul worked, but it was his example in working that helped silenced his critics (false apostles) who tried to slander him (2 Corinthians 11:7-12; Acts 20:34-35).

How great are His riches! The Lord is able “to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). We have to get back to the biblical model and “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22), for “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6).


In Conclusion

Where is our faith in the Lord to provide? Not through man-made methods like bake sales, chicken dinner sales or other commerce, but through prayers and fasting and holding on to His Word. It is amazing what we can accomplish in and of ourselves and then give credit to the Lord. But does the Lord give us incentives?

The Lord gives promises, not incentives. The Lord gave a promise regarding giving in Luke 6:38. He said:

“Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

This is not spoken for motivational purposes. This is just a simple fact.

I hope you will study and trust the Lord to provide. If any project is truly of the Lord, then He will provide. It will only take a few people to join together to seek the Lord’s face and to pray, fast, and stand in faith that His will be done. Is the work led of the Holy Spirit, or is it just a good work that may be beneficial in some ways? Is it a God-ordained and therefore God-glorifying work? Let us not make the place where we worship an emporium, a place for commerce (John 2:16).

For those who truly belong to the Lord, giving is not a hardship. Let us return to what the bible says about giving and gathering funds for a particular work and allow the Holy Spirit to do His job. Let us leave behind the traditions of men and methods that do not take faith and that exclude the Lord’s supernatural provision where He makes the hearts of His people so willingly and so glad to give.


AMEN!