The Didache on the subject of Money:
Didache 1:5
<i>To every man that asketh of thee give, and ask not back</i>
for the
Father desireth that gifts be given to all from His own bounties. Blessed
is he that giveth according to the commandment; for he is guiltless.
Woe
to him that receiveth; for, if a man receiveth having need, he is
guiltless; but he that hath no need shall give satisfaction why and
wherefore he received and being put in confinement he shall be examined
concerning the deeds that he hath done, and <i>he shall not come
out
thence until he hath given back the last farthing.</i>
Didache 1:6
Yea, as touching this also it is said; <i>Let thine alms sweat into
thine hands, until thou have learnt to whom to give</i>.
---
Didache 3:5
My child, be not a liar, since lying leads to theft, neither
avaricious neither vainglorious; for from all these things thefts are
engendered.
---
Didache 4:1
My child, <i>thou shalt remember him that speaketh
unto thee the word <i>of God</i> night and day, and shalt honor him as the Lord;
for
whencesoever the Lordship speaketh, there is the Lord.
---
Didache 4:5
<i>Be not thou found holding out thy hands to receive,
but drawing them in as to giving</i>.
Didache 4:6
If thou hast ought passing through thy hands, thou shalt give a
ransom for thy sins.
Didache 4:7
Thou shalt not hesitate to give, neither shalt thou murmur when
giving; for thou shalt know who is the good paymaster of thy reward.
Didache 4:8
Thou shalt not turn away from him that is in want, but shalt make thy
brother partaker in all things, and shalt not say <i>that anything
is thy
own</i>. For if ye are fellow-partakers in that which is imperishable,
how
much rather in the things which are perishable?
----
Didache 5:2
persecutors of good men, hating truth, loving a lie, not perceiving
the reward of righteousness, not <i>cleaving to the good</i>
nor to
righteous judgment, wakeful not for that which is good but for that
which is evil-from whom gentleness and forbearance stand aloof;
loving vain things, pursuing a recompense, not pitying the poor man,
not toiling for him that is oppressed with toil, not recognizing Him
that made them, murderers of children, corrupters of the creatures
of God,
turning away from him that is in want, oppressing him that is afflicted,
advocates of the wealthy, unjust judges of the poor, altogether sinful.
May ye be delivered, my children, from all these things.
----
Didache 6:1
See lest any man lead you astray from this way of righteousness,
for he
teacheth thee apart from God.
----
Didache 11:1
Whosoever therefore shall come and teach you all these
things that have been said before, receive him;
Didache 11:2
but if the teacher himself be perverted and teach a different
doctrine to the destruction thereof, hear him not; but if to the
increase of righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him
as the Lord.
Didache 11:3
But concerning the apostles and prophets, so do ye according
to the
ordinance of the Gospel.
Didache 11:4
Let every apostle, when he cometh to you, be received as the Lord;
Didache 11:5
but he shall not abide more than a single day, or if there be need,
a
second likewise; but if he abide three days, he is a false prophet.
Didache 11:6
And when he departeth let the apostle receive nothing save bread,until he findeth shelter; but if he ask money, he is a false prophet.
Didache 11:7
And any prophet speaking in the Spirit ye shall not try neither
discern; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be
forgiven.
Didache 11:8
Yet not every one that speaketh in the Spirit is a prophet, but only
if he have the ways of the Lord. From his ways therefore the false
prophet and the prophet shall be recognized.
Didache 11:9
And no prophet when he ordereth a table in the Spirit shall eat of
it; otherwise he is a false prophet.
Didache 11:10
And every prophet teaching the truth, if he doeth not what he
teacheth, is a false prophet.
Didache 11:11
And every prophet approved and found true, if he doeth ought as an
outward mystery typical of the Church, and yet teacheth you not to
do all
that he himself doeth, shall not be judged before you; he hath his
judgment in the presence of God; for in like manner also did the prophets
of old time.
Didache 11:12
And whosoever shall say in the Spirit, Give me silver or anything
else, ye shall not listen to him; but if he tell you to give on
behalf of others that are in want, let no man judge him.
----
Didache 12:1
But let every one <i>that cometh in the name of the
Lord</i> be
received; and then when ye have tested him ye shall know him, for ye
shall have understanding on the right hand and on the left.
Didache 12:2
If the comer is a traveler, assist him, so far as ye are able; but
he shall not stay with you more than two or three days, if it be
necessary.
Didache 12:3
But if he wishes to settle with you, being a craftsman, let him work
for and eat his bread.
Didache 12:4
But if he has no craft, according to your wisdom provide how he shall
live
as a Christian among you, but not in idleness.
Didache 12:5
If he will not do this, he is trafficking upon Christ. Beware of
such men.
----
Didache 13:1
But every time prophet desiring to settle among you is
<i>worthy of his
food</i>.
Didache 13:2
In like manner a true teacher <i>is</i> also <i>worthy</i>,like <i>the workman, of his food</i>.
Didache 13:3
Every firstfruit then of the produce of the wine-vat and of the
threshing-floor, of thy oxen and of thy sheep, thou shalt take and
give as the firstfruit to the prophets; for they are your
chief-priests.
Didache 13:4
But if ye have not a prophet, give them to the poor.
Didache 13:5
If thou makest bread, take the firstfruit and give according to the
commandment.
Didache 13:6
In like manner, when thou openest a jar of wine or of oil, take the
firstfruit and give to the prophets;
Didache 13:7
yea and of money and raiment and every possession take the
firstfruit, as shall seem good to thee, and give according to the
commandment.
----
Our thanks for the book, The Dollar & The Cross
(An Inside Look At the Church and Money),
by Timothy
Sheaff
from which we first became aware of the Didache.
This book is an excellent and 'meaty' resource
regarding the subject.
$8.95 + $2.00 S/H for up to 3 books. Discounts for bulk
(*See author's ministry standards in above link*)
from IMF Publishing
P.O. Box 3079
Denton, TX 76202
fax (940) 387-4576
Go to our 'Money' Page for more teachings about giving and money in the Christian's life. |
