The church of Christ on earth was organized for missionary purposes, and the Lord desires to see the entire church devising ways and means whereby high and low, rich and poor, may hear the message of truth."—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 29.
Any department or procedure that we establish within our church must contribute to this missionary purpose or it is ill-conceived. Soul winning is the lifeblood of our church.
How does the church development service fit into this missionary purpose?
Probably the first thing that the church development service suggests to one is fund raising for new churches and schools. This is a vital work in our soul-winning endeavors. The churches and schools we erect become a standing testimony of our faith. The buildings themselves tell the value we place upon the work carried on within their walls. There are always more people who pass by our churches and other institutions than pass through their doors. And to those who pass by the building says something. It should be a reminder of God, and correctly represent "present truth,"
People have continued to go hungry rather than enter a shabby restaurant to eat, and the bread of life may be refused if it is presented in an unrepresentative building. A beautiful picture needs a proper frame, a bouquet needs an adequate vase, good food needs a well-set table in a proper atmosphere. Our message, the most important ever committed to man, must be represented by buildings that are functionally adequate, and that witness in favor of the message. This is why funds must be raised for churches, schools, and other buildings.
And when the funds are raised and the buildings occupied, then what?
If after the new buildings are in place, we are not utilizing them in a greatly expanded and more effective plan of soul winning than we were able to carry on in the old buildings, then we are missing the mark.As the church development service educates our members for more dedicated stewardship it means greater growth in Christ as in a larger way they enter into His plan of keeping His work advancing by their gifts and offerings. Increased giving makes them stronger Christians.The apostle Paul, in his ministry among the churches, was untiring in his efforts to inspire in the hearts of the new converts a desire to do large things for the cause of God. Often he exhorted them to the exercise of liberality.—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 342.
When Paul sent Titus to Corinth to strengthen the believers there, he instructed him to build up that church in the grace of giving; and in a personal letter to the believers he also added his own appeal.—/bid., p. 344. (His appeal is found in 2 Corinthians 8:7, 11, 12; 9:8-11.)
Unselfish liberality can do for the remnant church what it did for the early church.
Unselfish liberality threw the early church into a transport of joy; for the believers knew that their efforts were helping to send the gospel message to those in darkness. Their benevolence testified that they had not received the grace of God in vain. Nt'hat could produce such liberality but the sanctification of the Spirit? In the eyes of believers and unbelievers it was a miracle of grace. Spiritual prosperity is closely bound up with Christian liberality.—/bid.
Self-sacrifice, self-denial in every church would change the order of things.—Counsels on Stewardship, p. 261.
When the Lord sees His people restricting their imaginary wants, practicing self-denial, not in a mournful, regretful spirit, as Lot's wife left Sodom, but joyfully for Christ's sake, then the work will go forward with power.--Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 104.
The church development service works primarily in helping churches raise funds for building projects. Yet because it effects more dedicated stewardship, it means more funds for other areas of church work. As the necessary buildings are completed, and the pressure of an unfinished task weighs upon us, cannot our membership be led to give as sacrificially and as systematically for evangelism and for missions as for a new church building?
"The contributions required of the Hebrews for religious and charitable purposes amounted to fully one-fourth of their income."—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 527. Some gave a third (see Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 467).
What would it mean to souls and to Christ if today our membership gave this proportion not merely of their income, but of their time and talents to soul winning and the cause of God?
The goal of the church development service is a finished work, a church prepared to meet her Lord.
A prepared people means that our members will be in the church—not as Achan, Gehazi, or Ananias and Sapphira, whom Satan overthrew because of their love of money—but in the church as Noah and Paul, who by love for Christ, hazarded all for God and the gospel. When Noah entered the ark for the last time and the Lord shut him in, he did not leave hundreds of dollars in the banks of the city, he was not leaving thousands of dollars invested in the stocks and bonds of his day. His pocketbook was empty. Noah had spent all of his possessions, all of his talents, all of his time, in finishing the work that God had given him to do.
This will be the experience of the remnant whom Christ greets with peace at His appearing.
Don't miss the point—
God's purpose in sacrificial giving is:
Not the gift, but the giver—
Not the possession, but the possessor—
Not your money, but you for God!
