八。為要奉獻好讓教會傳揚耶穌的福音
奉獻是基督徒具體的行動之一表示告訴神他愛他，以及他關心教會的善工。好的奉獻出於愛心和信心——對神的愛和信心，對人的愛和關心。對屬靈的基督徒來說，捐獻是一件非常快樂之事。可惜！不少基督徒既不明白又不欣賞捐錢之樂。
在馬其頓的基督徒的確明白捐獻的快樂。使徒保羅形容他們說：“我可以作證，他們是按着能力，並且是超過了能力，自動地再三懇求我們，准許他們在供應聖徒的事上有分。他們超過了我們所期望的，照着 神的旨意，先把自己獻給主…”（哥林多後書8:3-5）。
請注意：馬其頓的基督徒：願意參與捐款善工。他們懇求使徒允許他們捐款。但是，他們預先把自己獻給主耶穌，所以他們願意捐款。他們屬靈的“捐款”產生了金錢的捐款。他們愛主之心使得他們願意與那些有需要的基督徒來分享他們的財產。捐款的動機乃是愛—愛神，愛人。
這些馬其頓的基督徒明白主耶穌所說的，“施比受更為有福”（使徒行轉20:35）。
但是，有個問題！有些人不樂意捐獻；也有人不想奉獻錢。
我曾經聽過人家批評他時常去的教會說他們一天到晚不講別的，只向弟兄姐妹要錢。也有別人開玩笑說，傳道人對教會弟兄姐妹說，“有好消息，也有壞消息。好消息是教會所需用的錢都在這裡；壞消息是我所說的‘這裡’就是你們的口袋裡”。
是的，教會需要錢，但是教會存在的目的不是錢；錢也不是教會最主要的東西，更不是它最重要的需要。所謂“奉獻”的意思不只是指錢而言。神更加想要的不是人的錢財乃是人的心。
請想想看。錢財、物質、萬物都是神所創造的；所以神需要什麼呢？神把生命、氣息、萬物賜給萬人；神需要人手為他服侍嗎？不可能。（請參看使徒行傳17:24-25。）因此，神藉着聖經告訴我們說，“因為樹林中的百獸是我的，千山上的牲畜也是我的。山中的雀鳥我都認識，田野的走獸也都屬我。如果我餓了，我也不用對你說；因為世界和其中所充滿的，都是我的”（詩篇50:10-12）。
奉獻是基督徒的喜樂，而不是他的負擔。奉獻是基督徒的特權，而不是他的應付款。捐錢是基督徒參與傳福音的工作的機會，而不是他購買“天堂快車”車票。基督徒有責任支持教會的開支，包括救濟慈善工作，印刷文物，購買、裝修、打掃聚會所，給傳道人和其他的工作人員發薪水等。
為了大家的方便，保羅教導哥林多城的基督徒說，“關於捐獻給聖徒的事，從前我怎樣吩咐加拉太的眾教會，你們也要照着去行。每逢七日的第一日，你們各人要按着自己的收入抽一些出來留着，免得我來的時候才現湊”（哥林多前書16:1-2） 。今天，大多數的基督徒認為此經文教導我們每當主日，要收奉獻支持教會的善工。
如果教會的領導人叫弟兄姐妹把口袋打開要他們“拔出”錢就好像牙醫拔牙一樣似的，他們錯了。如果弟兄姐妹把心和口袋完全封閉不奉獻，他們也錯了。如果教會不把所奉獻的錢用在屬靈、救濟、傳福音、教會事工上，他們錯了。如果弟兄姐妹不以奉獻為樂，他們也錯了。換句話說，弟兄姐妹要先把心，先把自己奉獻給主耶穌，之後奉獻金錢不會是個問題。教會用這筆錢傳福音榮耀神，弟兄姐妹會感到高興，願意奉獻更多。教會的領導人要以愛心，要保持溫柔和謙虛的心，把教會傳福音的計劃告訴弟兄姐妹，請他們支持參與。這樣，使徒保羅的勸勉就會實現：“各人要照着心裡所決定的捐輸，不要為難，不必勉強，因為捐得樂意的人，是神所喜愛的。神能把各樣的恩惠多多地加給你們，使你們凡事常常充足，多作各樣的善事”（哥林多後書9:7-8）。
基督徒為什麼要參加每周日敬拜聚會呢？因為明白這真理的基督徒參與主日敬拜聚會就可以獲得樂意捐款的快樂。
Why Christians Attend Worship Every Sunday
08: To Contribute Money for the Propagation of the Gospel
By Edward Short
The contribution of funds is a concrete action by which Christians expresses their love for God, and their interest in the work of the church. It stems from love for and faith in God, and from love and concern for mankind. For spiritually minded Christians, contributing of one’s funds is a very happy experience. Unfortunately, the contribution is a much misunderstood and under appreciated activity.
The Macedonian Christians, however, certainly understood the joy of giving. The apostle Paul described them in this way: “For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 8:3-5).
Notice some things about the Christians in Macedonia: They wanted to be involved in the contribution, and they petitioned the apostles to allow them to take part. First, however, they gave themselves to the Lord Jesus, and this spiritual “contribution” in turn caused them to want to make a financial contribution. They desired to share their monetary possessions with the Christians who were in need. Thus we see that the motivation for financial contribution is love—love for God and love for mankind.
These Macadonian Christians understood what the Lord Jesus meant when he said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
There is a problem, however. Not everyone contributes willingly, and some people don’t want to contribute much at all.
A lady complains about the church she normally attends—she said that all the preacher there ever does is ask the congregation for money! Sometimes other people make similar jokes about their church. For example, it’s said that a preacher once told the congregation that he had some good news and some bad news. “The good news is that all the money that this church needs is right here! The bad news is that the money is still in your pockets!”
Yes, it’s a fact! The church needs money. But the purpose of the church isn’t money. Funding isn’t the most important thing in the church, and it isn’t the church’s greatest need. The word “contribution” refers to more than money. What God wants most is not a person’s money but his heart.
Think about it. Wealth, material items and all things were created by God; so what does God need from us?! God gives to all men life and breath and everything; so, does God need to be served by human hands? Certainly not. [See Acts 17:24-25.] Therefore, God tells us in the Bible, “For every wild animal in the forest is mine, and cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the fields is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine” (Psalms 50:10-12).
The contributing of funds to the church is a joy for Christians, not their burden. The contribution is a privilege of Christians, not their “dues.” It’s an opportunity to participate in the spread of the gospel, not a ticket purchase to ensure passage on the Heaven-Bound Express. Christians have responsibility to support the expenses of the church, such as benevolent works, printing, church purchases, building repairs and cleaning, salary for the ministers and other workers, etc.
For the general convenience of everyone involved, Paul taught the Christians in Corinth, “Now concerning the collection for the saints: You should follow the directions I gave to the churches in Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Today, most Christians believe this Scripture implies that every Lord’s day a contribution should be collected to support the good works of the church.
If church leaders make the church members open their billfolds, purses and checkbooks, and extract money like a dentist extracts teeth, they are wrong. If the church members completely close their hearts and their billfolds, and refuse to contribute, they are wrong. If the church does not use the contribution for spiritual, benevolent, evangelical and church edification purposes, the church is wrong. If Christians don’t find joy in giving their money, they are wrong. In other words, a Christian brother or sister should first give his/her heart and his/her self to the Lord, after which he/she will have no problem giving his/her money to God. It makes Christians very happy when the church uses these funds to propagate the gospel and to glorify God, and they become anxious to contribute even more. In an attitude of love, humility and meekness, church leaders should tell the local church members their plans for spreading the gospel and ask them to support the plans. In so doing they will effectuate Paul’s exhortation that, “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).
Why go to church? Because Christians who understand these truths assemble in worship on Sundays and find the special joy that comes from cheerful giving.