29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.Acts 11:29–30
On the subject of giving, apart from that which keeps the lights on, where there is a true need in the church (here a famine in land), it’s up to the individual disciple to apportion funds to be given as a gift to meet that need.
On occasion, I’ve felt less of a need to give than my wife has, and a discussion ensued. We either agreed as a family on the amount or she slipped the needy something on the side without my knowing it. You never want to put a crimp in the free flowing grace of God.
It seems that contributions in this case came from the available means of the disciples, but we learn elsewhere that significant sacrifice can be involved.
1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 2 Corinthians 8:1–5
Therefore, it’s necessary to respond to the spirit’s leading rather than one’s bank balance.
We also learn here that the monies were to be placed into the care of church elders. Even in apostle-rich Jerusalem elder leadership was established (Acts 14:23), with James the half brother of the Lord the principal leader. (Galatians 2:9)
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