Why does the church need money? God doesn’t need money! - There are those who say so.
It is absolutely true that God doesn’t need money. But any physical institution or system needs money. Even if we look at the church as just a building, it cannot last forever. The equipments will wear out; it will need repairs and maintenance; and after a few years, it will obviously need a complete renovation or rebuilding.
As people gain financial security, they tend to give less to the church and tend to distance themselves from the church and religion. In the past, people generously donated to the church or religious institutions. They felt a sense of belonging that the church was theirs. People certainly knew that they would not receive any material benefits in return. Still, they did not give to the church or religious institutions with any such expectations.
Giving to God began with Abel and Cain. Giving could be an expression of gratitude, or it may be a mere offering. Gratitude is for a blessing that is received. Whereas giving is done for one's own pleasure. When adult children who live elsewhere visit their parents, they bring gifts, and they give gifts for Christmas, birthdays, and pertinent anniversaries, they do so not with any calculation of what they would get in return, but they do it as an expression of one's love. Offering gifts and sacrifices to God should be done with the same attitude.
The New Testament shifts the emphasis of the most fundamental and necessary thing to be done from the external to the internal. Even then Jesus does not discard the external. I agree that giving to the poor is primarily giving to God. Even then, we cannot fail to give not only to the church, but to any worthwhile institution!
Often, our vows and devotions become like bribes to God.
"If you do this to me, I will do this for you in return"; or, "I am doing this for you. But you must do this to me in exchange": are the kind of vows and devotions these days!
"Give to the Most High as He has given to you; generously, according to your means ... But offer no bribes, these He does not accept." (Sir 35:12, 14)
