“Even
when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work,
neither let him eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
This is a popular question. Who really warrants our help? God’s Word is not ambiguous.
1. Those We Are Not to Help.
Are you surprised that God specifically directs us not to help someone? There are people God is correcting through material difficulties. That may be to bring them to Him or to strengthen them. For us to interfere is to presume His will. Other people are asking for wants or desires rather then needs. We can choose to help, but we are not required to.
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 and state in your own words.
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
How are we to respond to such a situation?
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. {Yet} do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Proverbs 22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.
Where should we help, according to Proverbs 22:9
What is required ?
Read Proverbs 28:22
Proverbs 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.
Who is not deserving?
Luke 12:33 "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.
Luke 12:33 says:
Give to _______________
2 Corinthians 8:13 For {this} is not for the ease of others {and} for your affliction, but by way of equality--
According to 2 Corinthians 8:13, we are not to give for the ____________ of others.
2. Sharing With Your Family
What is a family? How are we to help family members?
A family, in God’s Word, is more than just husband, wife, and children. It also refers to other relatives within your family such as mother, father, aunts, uncles. All are deserving of our help, provided they are unable to meet their own needs.
Read 1 Timothy 5:8
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
a. A Christian must: _____________
b. Or he has: _________________
c. And is equated to an: ______________
Read 1 Timothy 5:16
1 Timothy 5:16 If any woman who is a believer has {dependent} widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
We are to support our _________________________
( I believe this refers to the disabled also.)
Read Matthew 15:5-6
"But you say, 'Whoever says to {his} father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given {to God,}" he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And {by this} you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
a. Christ confronted the Pharisees because they encouraged giving gifts to the church while parents were suffering. Why is this contrary to God’s law?
b. Christ said they had substituted a ___________ for God’s Word.
Although God does not wish us to lavishly provide for our families, He will not allow an attitude of indifference. The responsibility for family members who cannot provide for themselves rests with each Christian – not with the government.
It seems almost inconceivable that there are hungry Christians in our country today, but there are. The worst witness is to ignore the needs in the Body of Christ.
1. God’s attitude is clearly stated in 1 John 3:17-18 as discussed earlier
But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
If we have a surplus and behold a brother ___________ and fail to help, what is the conclusion? _________________________
Let us not love only with ____________ but with __________________.
2. James stated that same attitude in James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for {their} body, what use is that?
The description is of Christians in: _____________________
The command is to: __________________
3. Christ Himself left us explicit directions on the same requirement. Read Matthew 24:45-46. "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
Christ describes one who supplies needs at the proper time as: ____________________
One who does so is _____________________
Many Christians somehow feel that the shepherds of our faith should live on a lower standard than anyone else. That is against God’s Word. Spirituality is not proportional to poverty.
First Corinthians 9:9-11 states several principles.
For it is written in the Law of Moses, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING." God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher {to thresh} in hope of sharing {the crops.} If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
A Christian soldier has a need for his living.
God commands those who hear the Word to support those who deliver it.
Describe this principle in your own words
1. Read 3 John 5-6
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well
How are we to support ministering brethren?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 9:14
So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
Describe the Lord’s directive
Why would God expect us to use His money to feed the unsaved? Many Christians question whether we are to give to their needs. God’s answer shows how important this is to Him by the sheer quantity of references to doing so.
It seems obvious that most Christians would recognize the need to help the Body (although even those go unmet many times). But allowed to rationalize with our own logic, we would probably exclude the unsaved. Therefore God leaves no possible misunderstanding. We are to witness by our actions as well as our words.
Matthew 5:42 requires:
"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
___________ to those who ask (in need).
The amount is not important, only the attitude.
Matthew 10:42 promises a reward to:
"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
Those who give even _________________
What is the promise?
Be sensitive to God’s direction in giving.
God provides opportunities not only to give to the needs of the saints, but also to invest tithes and offerings in His work. Unfortunately, the Christian is besieged by charitable requests – some are deserving, but many are poorly managed, unfruitful, or dishonest. In seeking God’s direction, ask the following questions before giving:
1. Is the organization communicating a message true to Scripture?
2. Are people responding positively?
3. Is the organization seeking and accomplishing goals?
4. Are the lives of the leadership consistent with scriptural principles?
1. Is the organization multiplying itself?
2. Is there a standard of excellence along with freedom from waste? What is the ratio of money spent on fund-raising to that used by the ministry?
3. What do other Christian organizations say about it?
No one could possibly supply the needs of everyone else. Therefore, it is important to discern God’s will in sharing. He will place in each Christian’s heart the needs of particular individuals and organizations. Be sensitive and available to God’s direction, and He will use you in His work.
In Proverbs 28:27 God makes two promises.
He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
a. One who gives to the poor will: _________________
b. One who ignores the needs around him: __________________
It is important that Christians acquire the proper perspective concerning with whom to share and when. We have reviewed those areas from God’s Word and found:
We are required to share in needs – not wants or desires.
We are to share with those unable to provide for themselves.
We are to always supply the needs of our family.
We are to provide for the ministering brethren in a manner worthy of God.
We are to provide for the needs of fellow believers.
We are to supply the needs of the poor – saved or unsaved.