Simple Answers

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SimpleAnswers
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• Troubling Questions

Is Benevolence Limited?
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Is Benevolence Limited?

• Actually, two Questions need answering
• Are there individuals who are unworthy of being
  helped benevolently, no matter the means used?
• Does God limit the work of benevolence, as it
  pertains to the work of the local church?

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Who May Be Helped?

• The call for the Christian to be benevolent is a
  general and important command
• It is being neighborly (Luke 1033, 36-37)

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Luke 1033, 36-37

• (33), But a certain Samaritan, as he
  journeyed, came where he was. And when
  he saw him, he had compassion.
• (36-37), So which of these three do you think
  was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?
  37 And he said, He who showed mercy on him.
  Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise.

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Who May Be Helped?

• The call for the Christian to be benevolent is a
  general and important command
• It is being neighborly (Luke 1033, 36-37)
• It is a Christians individual responsibility
  (James 127 Galatians 64-5, 10)

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James 127

• Pure and undefiled religion before
  God and the Father is this to visit
  orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep
  oneself unspotted from the world.

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Galatians 64-5, 10

• (4-5), But let each one examine
  his own work, and then he will have rejoicing
  in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each
  one shall bear his own load.
• (10), Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us
  do good to all, especially to those who are of
  the household of faith.

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Who May Be Helped?

• The call for the Christian to be benevolent is a
  general and important command
• It is being neighborly (Luke 1033, 36-37)
• It is a Christians individual responsibility
  (James 127 Galatians 64-5, 10)
• However, not every man is worthy of such help!
• God condemns the indolent
  (2 Thessalonians 310-12)

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2 Thessalonians 310-12

• For even when we were with you, we commanded you
  this If anyone will not work, neither shall he
  eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk
  among you in a disorderly manner, not working at
  all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are
  such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus
  Christ that they work in quietness and eat their
  own bread.

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Who May the Church Help?

• There is authority for a local congregation to
  offer relief to saints in hardship (indigent)
• Famine in Judea (Acts 1127-30)

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Acts 1127-30

• And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to
  Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood
  up and showed by the Spirit that there was going
  to be a great famine throughout all the world,
  which also happened in the days of Claudius
  Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to
  his ability, determined to send relief to the
  brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also
  did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of
  Barnabas and Saul.

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Who May the Church Help?

• There is authority for a local congregation to
  offer relief to saints in hardship (indigent)
• Famine in Judea (Acts 1127-30)
• First day of the week contribution
  (1 Corinthians 161-2)

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1 Corinthians 161-2

• Now concerning the collection for
  the saints, as I have given orders to the
  churches of Galatia, so you must do also
  2 On the first day of the week let each one of
  you lay something aside, storing up as he may
  prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

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Who May the Church Help?

• There is authority for a local congregation to
  offer relief to saints in hardship (indigent)
• Famine in Judea (Acts 1127-30)
• First day of the week contribution
  (1 Corinthians 161-2)
• A distinction is made between individual
  responsibility and church responsibility (1
  Timothy 53-4, 16)
• Church only responsible for indigent saints
• Not even all saints are to be helped by the church

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1 Timothy 53-4, 16

• (3-4), Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But
  if any widow has children or
  grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety
  at home and to repay their parents for this is
  good and acceptable before God.
• (16), If any believing man or woman has widows,
  let them relieve them, and do not let the church
  be burdened, that it may relieve those who are
  really widows.

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Conclusion

• While love demands that Christians be
  benevolent, we must recognize that some are not
  worthy of help. We must not enable any to sin.
• Further, the obligation of benevolence is
  primarily given to the individual. It was never
  Gods intention to use the resources of the local
  church in the practice of unlimited benevolence.
  The churchs benevolent scope is limited to
  indigent saints.