Word for the day: Giving To Your Local Church – Pastor Chris Onayinka

The local church is your family .
It’s likened to the physical body.
1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
You are meant to care for it as yourself and in many cases more than yourself .
Philippians 2:30 KJV
[30] Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Epaphroditus exemplified this much .
Just like Jesus as put by John
1 John 3:16 KJV
[16] Hereby perceive we the love of God , because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
The local church is a primary place to demonstrate this .
The church has needs that aren’t spiritual and saying “bless you” to solve is hypocritical .
1 John 3:17 KJV
[17] But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
James 2:16 KJV
[16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Giving is faith in action .
Gods love isn’t convenient giving but sacrificial .
The immediate context here is needs of individuals,however the local church has physical needs that’s corporate ,it affects us all,
Places to meet.
Buses to transport members.
Sound equipments .
Seats.
Welfare of individual members
Salaries of paid staff
Salaries ,allowances etc for clergy
These needs aren’t met by prayer but by giving material things .
You must NOT treat giving in church like a casual exercise .
You must prioritize it .
1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV
[2] Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Lay in store.
Set aside your offerings / gifts / etc.
Don’t just think about it during ” offering time “!
Examples abound in scriptures of how men gave with much seriousness .
Acts 4:36-37 KJV
[36] And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
[37] Having land, sold it , and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Sold a property ( a status symbol to the Jew ) and brought the Money to church .
Acts 20:34 KJV
[34] Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Paul used his income / salary as offering .
David gave us a very good description of attitude .
I chronicles 21:24But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”
He gave something of worth and value .it COST him .
David even upon discovering he will not build the temple still offered to pay for it !
1 Chronicles 29:3-4 KJV
[3] Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house
, [4] Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal :
Over and above !
The church at Macedonia demonstrated this too
2 Corinthians 8:2-3 KJV
[2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
[3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
They gave beyond their capacity ,even though they had lost their jobs etc and had financial crisis .
Jesus commended a widow for giving much .
Luke 21:2-4 KJV
[2] And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
[3] And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
[4] For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
All she had !
Paul requested Timothy to look for this generosity from widows needing support too
1 Timothy 5:10 KJV
[10] Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
You must be generous even when you have your own needs !
Giving and generosity is a major requirement in appointing leaders in the local church .
1 Timothy 3:2 KJV
[2] A bishop then must be …..given to hospitality,…
It means supportive materially .
I teach none generous members should NOT be allowed in leadership in the local church where I serve.
It’s as important as prayer and gifts of healing .Many times even more .
It’s wrong thinking to think you are doing the church a Favour by giving
No you are not !
It’s an obligation .
Galatians 6:6 KJV
[6] Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Your church teaches you ,through your pastor .
This is not a suggestion but an instruction .
1 Timothy 5:18 KJV
[18] For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Stop muzzling your church !
It’s worthy of good giving .worthy here means what is due to..
So ,on Sunday ( tomorrow ) and church services ,what are you planning to give ?
Some spare change or tip in your wallet or you will sell,withdraw from your account something of worth for your church .
Your giving must commensurate with your income .
1 Timothy 6:17-18 KJV
[17] Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
[18] That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
A special sermon for the well to do .
The more you have the more you give .
You can’t be driving a Mercedes Benz and be giving an ” Okada ” offering !
Give well.
The local church needs it .
God is counting you .
Any teaching which reduces your material support for the work of ministry is error .
Start tomorrow morning …get ready a very good offering .
We need to get the Word out more ,support material needs of the church ,support more ministers and show much grace upon our lives !
Seen this?
Say ,I give qualitatively from tomorrow ,I am naturally inclined to give generously .