Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20010909.htm

2 CORINTHIANS: OVERCOMING WHEN GOD'S SERVANT FACES RESISTANCE
Part XIV: The Biblical Handling Of Collected Church Offerings
(2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5)
  1. Introduction
    1. When we deposit our offerings into the offering boxes, should we should assume God has the money sovereignly in His possession and thus we should not worry what happens to it or should there be any human responsibility to insure its proper handling from that point onwards?
    2. Paul supplied helpful instructions for local churches that address these concerns in 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5:
  2. The Biblical Handling Of Collected Church Offerings, 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5.
    1. Paul appointed Titus, who was known and trusted by the Corinthian givers, to handle the moneys given in the church collections by the Corinthian believers, 2 Corinthians 8:16-17 with 8:19, 20.
    2. In addition TO Titus, Paul sent another believer who was not known by the Corinthians to be on the collections committee along with Titus, 2 Cor. 8:18a. The credentials of this other believer met with the approval of other churches besides the Corinthian church who were concerned that there be no question as to the proper handling of these moneys, 8:18b-21.
    3. Besides Titus and this other believer, a THIRD Christian of good reputation was appointed to join these other two men as a member of the collections committee, 2 Cor. 8:22. This third brother further certified the actions of Titus and the other believer to protect the reputations of all involved from the very outset.
    4. The formation of this collections committee supplied ample edification for the practical need of moving the offerings from individual Corinthian believers to their needy recipients (2 Corinthians 8:23-9:5):
      1. In the first place, knowing the credentials of the collections committee made it easy for the Corinthians to give, for they thus had confidence their gifts would really be used in God's will, 2 Cor. 8:23-24.
        1. Paul noted someone might question the credibility of Titus who was on the offering collections committee, and so gave his own approval of his character and ministry, 2 Corinthians 8:23.
        2. This made it easier for the Corinthian givers to give their offerings as unto the Lord, 2 Cor. 8:24.
      2. Second, having their credentials known gave the men on the collections committee the confidence they needed to minister in collecting the moneys from the local church involved, 2 Corinthians 9:1-5:
        1. These three men on this offering handling committee, backed by reputable credentials, could rest in those credentials to be seen as so trustworthy that even the Corinthian givers were put in the spotlight of these men as to the credibility of their own capacity properly to give, 2 Cor. 9:1-4.
        2. Hence, the collections committee could be sent ahead of the actual taking of the offering to call the Corinthians givers with authority to give in accord with God's will, 2 Corinthians 9:5.
Lesson: Paul provided trustworthy "checks and balances" at BOTH the LOCAL church level where the offerings were collected AND at the organizational level with ALL the other churches to whom the various gifts were distributed. This kept the entire channel of distribution open and credible so the true ministry of giving unto the Lord could proceed in a way that edified all.

Application: Though we GIVE unto the Lord as we put our moneys into the offering boxes, WE are also RESPONSIBLE to see "checks and balances" provided with the handling of the COLLECTED offerings that the HANDLERS and the GIVERS be edified along with the giving ministry. (1) Though we trust our Treasurer, for that party's protection and everyone else's peace of mind, the Assistant Treasurer and auditors and assigned helpers who collect, count and disperse the moneys collected are necessary, and their actions appropriately monitored to the protection and blessing of all involved! (2) The recording of the funds given and dispersed should be available and be kept current to stifle any questions of impropriety for the edification of all involved. (3) All of the groups to which our church GIVES its offerings should have credibility as well. The Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability (ECFA) is an excellent organization specifically formed for this very purpose! The rule of thumb is that such groups need around 13% of the funds they receive for administration. If much more than that or much less than that is used for administration, the group is generally questionable!