Church Finance Questions

QUESTION RECEIVED:

Where in the Bible does it say if members should know the finance's of the church?
How transparent should the finances of the church be?

MY ANSWER:

Concerning transparency in church finance, I do not give you a single Scripture. Honor and accountability are consistent biblical themes in the Bible. Yet we know the character of the Christian and the church should include honor and integrity and accountability.
People must trust the local church institution to give to the church.
People have to trust the local church with their tithes and offerings so the church
can be a "storehouse" in ministry.


Malachi 3:10
English Standard Version (ESV)
"10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."

Many verses in the Bible deal with finances. Christian Financial Concepts and Dave Ramsey teach folks how to be accountable to the Lord with their money.
Yes through budgets, percentages given or actual salaries given, people need to know where every dollar goes. Business meetings are not the most popular meetings of the year in church life. The care of money in the church is very important. Some church traditions have the complete financial budget available on request. Some churches hide the facts.
People in church finance need to be accountable to the Lord and His church who fund ministry.


Matthew 25:14-30
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Parable of the Talents

" 14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "