In what ways can we support church activities as seen in 2 Chronicles 35:9? Setting the scene Josiah was restoring true worship. The Passover required thousands of animals. Rather than waiting for someone else to foot the bill, certain Levite leaders personally supplied what was needed. “Conaniah, along with Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad—the leaders of the Levites—provided from their own possessions 5,000 lambs and young goats for the Passover offerings, as well as 500 bulls.” What the Levite leaders actually did • Gave from their own possessions, not the temple treasury • Offered a sizable, costly gift (5,000 animals + 500 bulls) • Focused on a specific act of corporate worship • Worked together; none tried to meet the need alone • Modeled generosity for the rest of the nation Principles we can draw • Worship requires resources; God’s people supply them • Leaders should lead the way in giving (Luke 6:40; 1 Timothy 4:12) • Giving is voluntary and proportional to what one has (2 Corinthians 8:12) • Needs are met when believers cooperate, not compete • Offerings should be directed toward advancing God-ordained gatherings Practical ways to support church activities today • Financial giving: tithes, special offerings, emergency funds • Material donations: equipment, food, supplies for outreach or fellowship meals • Skilled labor: building maintenance, IT support, music, teaching, childcare • Time and presence: volunteering at services, rehearsals, prayer meetings • Event sponsorship: covering costs for retreats, mission trips, youth camps • Benevolence: discreetly assisting members in crisis (Galatians 6:10) • Hospitality: opening homes for small groups, visiting shut-ins (Romans 12:13) • Encouraging leadership: providing resources so pastors focus on ministry (1 Timothy 5:17-18) • Coordinated drives: pooling resources for community relief or overseas missions (Acts 11:29-30) Scripture that reinforces generous support • Proverbs 3:9 – “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest.” • Acts 4:34-35 – early believers laid gifts “at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each as anyone had need.” • 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” • Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Heart attitudes that please God • Cheerful, willing generosity • Faith that God supplies seed to the sower (2 Corinthians 9:10) • Stewardship that treats possessions as God’s, not ours (Psalm 24:1) • Unity—joining hands with others for kingdom purposes • Desire to magnify Christ, not ourselves (Colossians 3:17) By imitating the Levite leaders of 2 Chronicles 35:9—sacrificial, collaborative, and worship-focused—believers today can ensure that every God-honoring activity in the local church is fully supplied. |
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