Let Not The Church Be Burdened

Within the New Testament the Lord put real limits on the work and activities of the local church. In one instance Paul commanded that certain widows should not be supported on a regular basis from the church treasury,

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. (1 Tim 5:16)

The issue was not whether or not a widow should be taken care of. Certainly, helping out widows is a good and necessary thing. But--in this case--when there are individuals who can do the job, the individuals should do it. This frees the church to deal with other business. What could be more pressing than helping out widows? Helping the widows who have no other recourse, for one. Spiritual business, for another. The spiritual work of the church is much more important than any physical work, no matter how noble the cause.

When widows were being neglected at the church in Jerusalem, the apostles set up seven men to oversee it. Why? Because, quite frankly, they had more important work to do:

Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:2-4)

The apostles had a greater work in preaching the word and prayer than in overseeing the distribution to needy widows. Likewise the church has its greatest work in being the ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15), not in being a big Care Giver of physical things. The Bible teaches that the more important functions of the church are to spread the gospel and spiritually edify itself,

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. . . (Eph 4:11-13)

How can the church do this if it burdens itself down with all sorts of business that the Lord did not give it?

Without doubt, a widow in need should be helped. Yet we see from Paul that individuals are first responsible. Let the relatives of the widow take care of her, and let not the church be burdened.

This principle has widespread application.

The poor in general need help. Paul commanded,

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Eph 4:28)

The joy of helping the needy is part of the reason for Christians to have and hold secular jobs. When you contemplate the needy man on the street, loosen your own wallet and help the man, but let not the church be burdened. It should focus on spiritual matters. The church should be the focal point for teaching, preaching and Bible classes. The local church should be there for those--in and out of its membership--who hunger and thirst for righteousness. If the church focuses on feeding all the hungry with food, who will focus on feeding the spiritually destitute?

Do not give the church a job the Lord did not give it. You help the needy who are not saints, and let not the church be burdened.

It is good for Christians to eat together. But, careful--this is not fellowship in the scriptural use of the term. The Bible never uses the term fellowship for anything other that spiritual sharing in preaching the gospel and worshipping together.

Yet, I say again, it is good for Christians to meet and enjoy each other's company. We see in the early church at Jerusalem that they ate in each other's houses often,

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. . . (Acts 2:46)

Perhaps you see a need for more "togetherness" in the congregation of which you are a member. Begin asking more people into your home for a meal and a visit, but let not the church be burdened. Nowhere does God give the church responsibility for providing meals so that the members might be closer.

As a matter of fact, in one instance the apostle Paul had to rebuke a church because it was using the assembly as an excuse to have a regular meal,

Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? . . . But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. (1 Cor 11:20-34)

The church is charged with taking the Lord's Supper when it comes together--a little bread, a little juice--but not a common meal. Why should the church get into the catering business? It has enough work to focus on: feeding the spiritually hungry.

If members want to eat together, let them eat together. But do not let the church be burdened.

And there are many that see the need for Christians--especially young Christians--to find companionship in other Christians. They do not want young Christians to have only worldly people as their friends. They want Christians to have alternatives to the evil ways that most of the world gets its entertainment. Yes, the Bible warns against too much involvement with people of the world,

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." (1 Cor 15:33)

If you see that the young people need to get together more, invite them into your home next Friday or take them to the Putt-Putt golf course next Saturday. Do not let the church be burdened. Its job is to see to their spiritual upbringing--Bible classes and Bible studies is the church's focus.

Nowhere in the New Testament is the church given any role in providing entertainment for the young people, middle-aged or elderly. The Lord did not organize the church for that function, the Lord did not command the church to fulfill that role.

Rather than looking around for more and more things for the church to do, help the church focus on the jobs the Lord gave it. Other worthy efforts can be carried out by the members, but do not let the church be burdened with them. The Lord gave the local church enough to do.