What does the Bible say about supporting the church financially?
God loves a cheerful giver and someone who wants to give back to the Lord because of everything he has done for them. If a member of your church isn't sure how much to give, the Bible tells us that God asks for 10% as a tithe for all he has given us.
How the church should handle its money. Those who lead in spiritual matters should also lead in financial matters (Acts 4:35,37; Acts 11:29,30; 1 Timothy 3:3,8). Money should be handled in such a way that is defensible against any accusation (2 Corinthians 8:21). Money stewards should be trustworthy people.
In the Old Testament, as the Levitical priests were the civil government, tithes were required taxes for funding the national budget in Israel. By the New Testament, Christians were not commanded to tithe anymore but rather encouraged to voluntarily give to the church (and to God) in proportion to their wealth.
Philippians 4:19: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Proverbs 10:22: The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. 2 Corinthians 9:8: And God will generously provide all you need.
God instructed Old Testament believers to give a tithe, or a tenth because this ten percent represented the first, most important portion of all they had. The New Testament does not suggest a certain percentage for giving, but simply says for each to give "in keeping with his income."
The finance committee as a whole is tasked with generating and maintaining church funds to support the organization. They are responsible for maintaining and auditing the church's financial records, and they must make decisions that will directly affect the church's finances.
The biblical pattern shows without question that the pastor should be involved in the oversight of the church's finances, however, Scripture also prescribes the attitude and actions of the pastor to avoid disqualification of influence and trust.
While tithing 10% of your income is biblical, you're not required to tithe to be a Christian. And you're not a bad Christian if you don't tithe. Thankfully, God loves us when we give and when we don't give. And that's key here: We don't have to tithe to earn God's love—because we already have it.
2 Corinthians 9:6: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:7: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Budget Management
The treasurer monitors the budget, ensuring that the church is raising enough money and isn't overspending in alignment with the church's goals. They also need to produce monthly, quarterly, and annual budget reports and coordinate the creation of the budget each year.
What does God say about financial stewardship?
God blesses His people with many resources, including money, but that blessing comes with the responsibility of using it for God's glory. After all, everything comes from Him. Therefore, Christians must use their gifts by His will (1 Corinthians 4:7), being good stewards or "caretakers" of what God has entrusted.
Not only does the Law promote support-based ministry (9:8–12), Christ obligated the church and its members to support those who labor to proclaim the kingdom (Matt. 10:10; Luke 10:7).
Support raising is not a 20th-century invention, but a way that the people of God throughout history have cared for and supported one another. Many Bible passages demonstrate how Jesus, Paul, and others received support from those who stood by them in their work.
Leviticus 27:30 says, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord: it is holy to the Lord.” These gifts were a reminder that everything belonged to God and a portion was given back to God to thank him for what they had received.
Monetary Contributions
Tithing is an act of worship that involves giving 10 percent of one's income to the church, as instructed in the Bible. It's a regular reminder of our gratitude for God's provision and a way to support the work of the church. On the other hand, offerings are gifts above and beyond the tithe.
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." In this passage, the Apostle Paul is reminding the church in Corinth about the promise they made to collect money for other believers.
The board, along with the finance team, is responsible for ensuring that there are proper financial controls of church assets. This group should write cash-handling policies and regularly audit the process.
Financial stewardship includes the proper use and distribution of personal monetary resources in support of God's mission on earth (Matthew 6:20; 28:19-20).
Church financial management is essential in overall church management because it ensures the prudent stewardship of financial resources to support the church's mission and goals.
Using church money for personal reasons is stealing. Intention, rationale, or even promises to return funds does not change this fact. While it's easy to believe fraud could never happen in your church, the truth is that no church is invulnerable.
Who is responsible for church debt?
In a non-profit organization, such as a church, the board is the bearer of this fiduciary responsibility and therefore should properly oversee all operations, including finances, to protect the members of the church.
In larger churches, treasurers sometmes receive some compensation. In the largest of churches, the treasurer position is only a position on the church board, with financial duties handled by paid staff such as a church business administrator.
In Matthew 23:23, Jesus talks to the Pharisees, condemning them for tithing to the penny but neglecting the more important issues of justice, mercy, and faith. He then goes on to tell them that they should in fact tithe, but that they shouldn't neglect the more important things.
If you can't afford to tithe due to a tight budget, you can always volunteer your time and talents, says Deborah L. Meyer, CPA/PFS, CFP®, and the author of Redefining Family Wealth: A Parent's Guide to Purposeful Living. “Giving both your money and your time are forms of tithing,” Meyer explained.
Although we aren't commanded to give 10% of our earnings to God, he does expect us to be givers. Don't look at the requirement to not tithe as an opportunity to be stingy. In the Old Testament, God required Israelite farmers and herdsmen to give the tithe regardless if they were in debt or not.
