A Study of Benevolence
INTRODUCTION.
A. Benevolence begins with love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-4a)
B. The problem with some people:
1. Some people have so much love and compassion that they would help ANYONE. However, because of their generosity, they are taken advantage of by those who are too lazy to work.
2. Some people have so little love and compassion that they are unwilling to help a person in need unless forced to do so.
3. There is a middle ground that allows us to have love and compassion for every person, yet have the judgment to discern who to help and who not to help.
C. Benevolence has also been a problem area for many churches.
1. Some churches have adopted the policy of the church being the solution in providing for the physical needs of the world.
2. Other churches have reached the point where they are so unsure of who to help that they help no one.
3. We must reach the middle ground where we understand who we can and cannot help and then possess the compassion to help.
D. It is the purpose of this lesson to consider the Bible’s teachings regarding benevolence.
I. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
A. Christians are to love one another.
1. Hebrews 13:1 - “Let brotherly love continue.”
2. 1 Peter 2:17 - “Love the brotherhood.”
3. 1 Peter 4:8 - “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” (NKJV)
4. John 13:34-35 - “. . .as I have loved you, that you also love one another . . .” (NKJV)
B. Christians are to love their neighbors.
1. Matthew 25:35-45 - “. . . for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; . . .” (NKJV)
2. Luke 10:30-37 - The good Samaritan.
3. 3 John 1:5-6 - “Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, . . .” (NKJV)
4. Galatians 6:10 - “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (NKJV)
5. Galatians 5:14 - “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (NKJV)
6. James 1:27 - “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (NKJV)
C. Christians are to love their enemies. (Matthew 5:43-48)
II. COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.
A. Acts 2:41, 44-45
1. In verse 41, the text says that three thousand individuals received the word and was baptized.
2. Verse 44 points out that all those who “believed were together, and had all things common.”
3. As a result of there being three thousand people displaced in Jerusalem, there were individuals who needed help. The brethren turned to one another for help. Notice the collective work of the first local congregation.
B. Acts 4:32-35
1. Verse 32 points out that “the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.”
2. There was still a great need among those who had traveled to Jerusalem for the Pentecost and had decided to stay and obey the Gospel. According to verse 34, those who had lands and properties sold their possessions and brought the proceeds to the apostles. The apostles then distributed unto the Christians who had need.
C. Acts 6:1-7
1. Again, there was a great physical need created by those who did not return home. As a result, we see that there was a daily ministration for those who had need.
2. The apostles told the disciples of that first congregation to select among themselves individuals who would be responsible for administering to the physical needs of the needy of their group.
3. Take notice of the collective group functioning as one in helping the needy among them as well as in the selecting of the men to administer to their physical needs.
D. Acts 11:27-30
1. In verse 27 and 28, the brethren in Antioch were told of a coming dearth through the region of Judea.
2. The disciples in Antioch gave as each man could for the relief of those saints in Judea. This money was carried by Paul and Barnabas back to the elders of the local congregation.
E. Romans 15:25-31
1. Paul was going to go to Jerusalem to take aid unto the needy saints in Jerusalem.
2. According to verse 26, the congregations in Macedonia and Achaia made certain contribution for those poor saints in Jerusalem.
3. Verse 31 reaffirms that the money carried by Paul was intended for the saints in Jerusalem.
F. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
1. Take notice that Paul told both the brethren in Corinth as well as the churches throughout Galatia that they were to lay by in store on the first day of the week.
2. The purpose for this collection was to bring together money for the needy saints in Jerusalem.
3. The question has been asked, “If this collection was only for needy saints, then how can we pay the preacher or do anything else not relating to needy saints?” The answer is that this passage, while primarily dealing with the collection for the needy saints, does set for us the only example of raising funds. Passages such as 2 Corinthians 11:8 and 1 Corinthians 9 establish the authority for using those funds for the support of preachers and of the teaching of the Gospel.
G. 2 Corinthians 8:1-4
1. In verse 1 Paul referred to the grace of God bestowed on the churches (congregations) throughout Macedonia.
2. It is apparent from verse 2 that those congregations throughout Macedonia gave very liberally despite their own afflictions.
3. In verse 4 we must note that the gift of the churches of Macedonia were for ministering to saints.
H. 2 Corinthians 9:1-14
1. According to verse one, the subject Paul is dealing with in this part of the chapter is the ministering to the saints.
2. Paul is exhorting the church in Corinth to help the needy saints. Take notice of how Paul referred to the collective group as an individual unity. He said, “...and find you unprepared...that they would go before unto you,...” (vs 4,5)
3. According to verse 12, the administration of this service supplied the want of the saints.
4. Some would suggest that verse 13 sets an example for the local congregation to render financial aid to those needy who are not saints. The all in verse 13 is referring to needy saints other than those directly referred to in this chapter.
5. One more thought along these lines. Paul makes the point that those who received the help offered thanksgiving (vs 12), glorified God (vs 13), and received with prayer (vs 14). These actions are the actions of saints.
I. 1 Timothy 5:16
1. Paul told Timothy that there was a limit to whom the church or local congregation (collective group) could help regarding the supporting of widows.
2. The individual Christians were charged with the responsibility of taking care of the widows in their family. The local church, working collectively, was to take care of the widows indeed.
CONCLUSIONS.
A. No matter how long the world continues to turn, there will always be situations where people are in need. Knowing this, we must do what we can to understand the Lord's will regarding our responsibility in helping the needs of others.
B. When you study the Bible, you find that the Lord does not want anyone truly in need to remain in need. As Christians, we have an obligation to do what we can to help them.
C. As a local congregation, working together from a collective treasure, we are limited by Bible examples. We are authorized by Bible examples to help only saints who are in need.
D. Let us understand our responsibility in the area of benevolence, whether it be our individual responsibility or our collective responsibility.
A Study of Benevolence - August 15, 2004 -- File: 2702
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK