What's The Church About? Money or Christ?
Almost every week, someone from the local community calls the church for help. The kind of help being requested, however, isn't in the form of prayers, spiritual guidance, or a request about how to better know or serve God. In some ways, that's no surprise as the New Testament pattern for teaching has little to do with others coming to "us" for help and everything to do with Christians going to the lost and teaching them. Requests for money for gasoline, for food, for rent, and to pay medical bills are by far the most common requests that the church gets. Of the many things this proves, one is that many churches have done their part to foster the idea that the church's primary purpose or business is to help the poor.
Paul writes, however, that "the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy..." (Romans 14:17). He also writes, when describing the church, that it's the "pillar and ground of the truth" (I Timothy 3:15). The God inspired scriptures which discuss the church and its purposes are quite clear in their focus on spiritual matters. Worshipping God, teaching the truth, and encouraging church members is the true work of Christ.
It's important to note that the scriptures do talk about money and the physical needs that people have. The New Testament church was commanded to take up a collection for needy saints in I Corinthians 16. That collection, like modern church collections, was specifically "for the saints." Churches should not only be cautious in their handling of the Lord's money but, in order to fulfill God's law, must be careful in how they spend the collected monies, using all due diligence to ensure that the funds are indeed "for the saints."
Jesus talks about the concerns that people have regarding food and clothing and the means to purchase them. Instead of worrying about those things, however, the Savior says that we should, "seek first the kingdom of God and ... all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). For those who are without food or adequate clothing, the mention of these words doesn't necessarily make it "all better." Yet, THE best thing a person can do when he is in need of anything is to be certain his life is right with God and make service to Him his major focus.
In a religious world wherein many religious groups have altered the New Testament pattern of stressing the spiritual things, it's oftentimes distressing to those in need why the church doesn't simply hand out its monies to any and every person experiencing a hardship. Yet, our goal is to please God and not men. When it comes to the Lord's church, purchased with His own blood, we should be resolved to do His will and follow His commands and always be certain that our concern and focus is on Christ and nothing else.