After Jesus rose from the grave, established the Church, and entrusted the message of the gospel to His disciples, He ascended into heaven. Jesus’s disciples and the other early Christians zealously shared the good news and were quickly faced with a unique transition. They were moving from a small sect into something organized.
The church was faced with immediate and considerable financial responsibilities. There had to be a plan in place to meet the needs of converts. And taking Jesus’s message to the ends of the earth required a significant investment of capital into the travel and daily needs of workers and into the establishment of new churches.
The early church had to be creative.
In order to grow, the early church needed funds. But without a strong base and with zero budget, this group of Jesus followers had to do some creative financing to meet those needs.
They shared their resources.
The first Christians underwent a change in how they viewed ownership. It is interesting to note that Luke brings this up more than once; it seems important to him that readers recognize this is not normal. It was a supernatural response to their genuine conversion.
“And all who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44 ESV).
“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common” (Acts 4:32 ESV).
They sold their possessions and distributed the proceeds.
This sense of common ownership led them to go as far as selling possessions of great value and giving that income to the apostles.
“And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:45 ESV).
“There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:34–35 ESV).
They collected funds from established churches on behalf of struggling ones.
As more churches were established in various towns, apostles were able to take collections in order to cover the needs of other congregations.
“Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem” (1 Corinthians 16:1–3 ESV).
What did the church do with their funds?
The early church had significant needs that these funds went to support.
They helped entire congregations.
For instance, when the church in Jerusalem was suffering from famine and persecution, the church in Antioch took up an offering to help them.
“So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea” (Acts 11:29 ESV).
Christians were regularly exhorted to consider the needs of the various churches.
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13 ESV).
“At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem” (Romans 15:25–26 ESV).
They assisted needy individuals.
In the sixth chapter of Acts, we see the disciples responding to a crisis regarding the care of the Hellenist widows. They were being neglected in the daily distribution of food, not receiving the same care that the Jewish widows did.
The apostles dealt with the problem by choosing seven spirit-filled men to care for these widows. They would have needed considerable funds to distribute food daily to both sets of widows.
In addition to caring for the saints, churches also paid attention to needs in their communities and took responsibility for those who could not care for themselves.
“Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do” (Galatians 2:10 ESV).
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10 ESV).
They funded mission work.
Finally, there were funds needed to take care of those who had committed themselves to outreach, mission work, and teaching. This included the disciples and ministers in various congregations.
“Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches” (Galatians 6:6 ESV).
“Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again” (Philippians 4:14–16 ESV).
“I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you” (2 Corinthians 11:8 ESV).
How is church fundraising similar today?
The Church still requires funds to serve in the same ways. We care for those who minister to us in our own churches and make sure there are adequate funds to keep and maintain our facilities. We raise funds to extend benevolence to those who have needs in our congregations and in our communities. Finally, we send money to meet the needs of the body of Christ across the world and to provide aid to the poor.
How can you help?
Needs are met in the church today in the same way they have always been: through the sacrificial giving of everyday Christians whose experience with Jesus has caused them to think differently about their resources and belongings.
If you do not give regularly and sacrificially to a local church, it is time. If we all had the same mind that the first Christians did, there is no end to the good we could do—and the Kingdom growth we could experience.
