What guidance does the Bible have for how a church should use its money? It seems from places such as 1 Corinthians 16 that when the early church collected funds, they were primarily used for benevolence. Today it seems like the majority of a church’s income tends to go towards paying utilities and mortgages, and churches frequently have a large savings account. What guidance does the Bible have as far as how much a church should keep in savings, how much debt it should take on, etc.? If a church buys land, should it consider the investment value of the land as well? What about earning interest on money in savings?
Sincerely,
Not For Profit
Dear Not For Profit,
The church is allowed to spend money on anything God commands the church to do. If God commands the church to assemble (Heb 10:24-25Heb 10:24-25
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting [one another]; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.
WP-Bible plugin), the church can spend money to assemble in the most practical way it sees fit. If God commands the church to teach (1 Cor 4:171 Cor 4:17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.
WP-Bible plugin), the church is authorized to spend money to facilitate teaching the saved and the lost. If the church is told to do something, they are authorized to spend money to make it happen – that freedom to spend money is inherent within the command. It would be the same as if someone asked you to take their car to the car wash… it would be understood that it was okay for you to spend the gas to drive the car to the car wash, and it was also okay for you to spend the money to pay for the car to be washed. Whatever is necessary to fulfill a command is automatically allowed.
In the particular case of the Corinthian church, they needed to collect funds for benevolence… and that was a very common reason for collection in that time of christian persecution. In today’s culture and world the church finds itself in, we need to pay for things that the first century saints would never have dreamed of (“Electrical bills? What’s that?!”). However, just because the expenses we face are not the same, that doesn’t mean that the same guidelines don’t apply. 1 Cor 16:1-21 Cor 16:1-2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
16
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.
WP-Bible plugin outlines the mode with which to collect funds to pay for whatever expenses a church may incur. It also explains that it is appropriate for the church to have a store of money for future expenses (1 Cor 16:2-31 Cor 16:2-3
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.
3 And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:
WP-Bible plugin).
As far as how big that savings account can be, what level of debt the church can incur, savings accounts with interest, etc. – the church has the same guidelines for financial management as individuals… use wisdom (Pr 8:12-18Pr 8:12-18
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge [and] discretion.
13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.
15 By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, And nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness.
WP-Bible plugin). Too little of savings is foolish; too much is greedy. Interest is condoned by God (Matt 25:27Matt 25:27
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
27 thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.
WP-Bible plugin) and shows wisdom, but “playing the market” with the church’s treasury is very different from gaining simple interest. In other words, the church needs to show wisdom and discretion in its financial management.