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If you and I talk to enough people about church, we will soon hear the excuse, “They are just after my money.” The best way for me to combat this excuse is (a) live with my own Biblical approach to money, (b) talk about changed lives through the church, which requires money for mission and ministry, and (c) help people have a Biblical understanding of money. When people criticize giving to the church they often focus on the bureaucracy of organization, but we must focus them on the lives changed. Property requires money, but consider the lives changed through the rooms and corridors of our church. Missions and ministry require money, but consider the lives changed through Vacation Bible School, mission trips, and small groups. Gatherings require money, but consider the lives changed through worship and fellowship and Bible teaching. Yes, money is necessary for the work of the church, but the work of the church is to love and serve people toward being followers of Jesus.
For the first 30 years of my life, I loved money. I hit my young-adult stride in the spend-spend-spend 1980s. I loved the Lord, but I loved money more. I would not have admitted that fact, then, but my actions and words and emotions told the true story. I thought more about money than I thought about the Lord. Each week, I spent 2-3 hours at my church, but I spent 10x that energy thinking about and worrying over money. I was always looking for ways to make money. Most of my pursuit of money fell to two categories: (1) To fuel what I wanted (not needed) for myself and family; and (2) To keep up with other people (who didn’t really care anything about me). Satan used that worldly intoxication to put me on a roller coaster of highs and lows, always wanting, always reaching, and always wasting. It almost destroyed me and my family. In fact, were it not for the saving grace of Jesus and a complete surrender of my life to Him – it would have destroyed me. The past 22 years have been much simpler, and much more peaceful.
The then and now is why I can write so assuredly about faith and money.
Here are five things you should know:
1. Followers of Jesus don’t see money the way the world sees money.
The world – with Satan’s direct influence – sees money as a means to gather up and influence for the good of self. I watch people. Someone will go on a trip – it’s not long before their friends are going on the same trip only a little better. Someone will improve their yard – it’s not long before their friends are improving the yard. Someone buys a car – it’s not long before their friends are trading cars. Someone pays for their child to do this – it’s not long before friends are paying for their children to do the same. And, back and forth they go like rats in Satan’s wheel. Followers of Jesus see money as a tool to improve the lives of others, building relationships with others through which they (we) can talk about Jesus. The side of the ledger on which you and I fall - spending on self or spending on others - is a barometer of our faith life. Look in the mirror. Talk to your spouse or close friends. Where are you with money – self or others? Do your actions reflect a believer or an unbeliever? There’s not a lot of gray. Because . . .
2. Followers of Jesus understand that everything belongs to God, including all of our money. That money you have? It’s not yours. It belongs to the Lord – every nickel and every dime. And, it’s not the IRS to whom you and I will account – it’s our Lord to whom we will account for our management of His money. Many alleged believers will nod their head at understanding this, but when it’s time to open the wallet they go brain dead. What? Suddenly, we cling to the wallet and hear Satan’s whisper, “They don’t deserve it. You need it. If you help them, you can’t do this or that for your own children.” Psalm 24:1 reminds us that “the Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” Wealth belongs to me and you – just like a child’s bedroom belongs to him. We have it to use, but it doesn’t belong to us.
3. Other than the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus spoke about money more than any other subject, and 11 of 39 parables involve money or commerce. Jesus knows that good and evil turn on the coin. Satan wins through our attitudes, worries and celebrations of how we use our money.
In Mark 12:17, Jesus looks at a coin, sees Caesar’s head on it, and says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” Look at your life. Whose image is on your life? If my life bears the image of Jesus, my life belongs to Jesus. Unconditionally. Even today, all the money in my wallet bears the faces of government leaders and government monuments. Whose image is on my life? Have I confessed Jesus as my Savior? If so, have I turned from all the world calls important – including money – to follow Jesus, to trust Him, to trust that all things work to the glory of God, and to trust that He is greater than money – that He will provide for everything that I need according to His plan for me? Jesus says those who cling to and worship money – and over-focus on money – can’t possibly worship Him. That’s why he praises the poor woman in Luke 21-1-4 “For they (those who focus on small percentages of giving, but hoard the rest for self) have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” And, it’s why he condemns the money-worshippers in Luke 8:13 – “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Note: You have to fully engage Nos. 1 and 2, above, and embracing this one comes much easier. If I have a believer’s approach to money, I can cheerfully be ready to give away all that I have.
1. Followers of Jesus don’t see money the way the world sees money.
The world – with Satan’s direct influence – sees money as a means to gather up and influence for the good of self. I watch people. Someone will go on a trip – it’s not long before their friends are going on the same trip only a little better. Someone will improve their yard – it’s not long before their friends are improving the yard. Someone buys a car – it’s not long before their friends are trading cars. Someone pays for their child to do this – it’s not long before friends are paying for their children to do the same. And, back and forth they go like rats in Satan’s wheel. Followers of Jesus see money as a tool to improve the lives of others, building relationships with others through which they (we) can talk about Jesus. The side of the ledger on which you and I fall - spending on self or spending on others - is a barometer of our faith life. Look in the mirror. Talk to your spouse or close friends. Where are you with money – self or others? Do your actions reflect a believer or an unbeliever? There’s not a lot of gray. Because . . .
2. Followers of Jesus understand that everything belongs to God, including all of our money. That money you have? It’s not yours. It belongs to the Lord – every nickel and every dime. And, it’s not the IRS to whom you and I will account – it’s our Lord to whom we will account for our management of His money. Many alleged believers will nod their head at understanding this, but when it’s time to open the wallet they go brain dead. What? Suddenly, we cling to the wallet and hear Satan’s whisper, “They don’t deserve it. You need it. If you help them, you can’t do this or that for your own children.” Psalm 24:1 reminds us that “the Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” Wealth belongs to me and you – just like a child’s bedroom belongs to him. We have it to use, but it doesn’t belong to us.
3. Other than the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus spoke about money more than any other subject, and 11 of 39 parables involve money or commerce. Jesus knows that good and evil turn on the coin. Satan wins through our attitudes, worries and celebrations of how we use our money.
In Mark 12:17, Jesus looks at a coin, sees Caesar’s head on it, and says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” Look at your life. Whose image is on your life? If my life bears the image of Jesus, my life belongs to Jesus. Unconditionally. Even today, all the money in my wallet bears the faces of government leaders and government monuments. Whose image is on my life? Have I confessed Jesus as my Savior? If so, have I turned from all the world calls important – including money – to follow Jesus, to trust Him, to trust that all things work to the glory of God, and to trust that He is greater than money – that He will provide for everything that I need according to His plan for me? Jesus says those who cling to and worship money – and over-focus on money – can’t possibly worship Him. That’s why he praises the poor woman in Luke 21-1-4 “For they (those who focus on small percentages of giving, but hoard the rest for self) have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” And, it’s why he condemns the money-worshippers in Luke 8:13 – “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Note: You have to fully engage Nos. 1 and 2, above, and embracing this one comes much easier. If I have a believer’s approach to money, I can cheerfully be ready to give away all that I have.
4. If God owns everything, and I am simply His steward, what does God want me to do with His money? Like many of you, who perhaps grew up in church, my mama would give me a little offering envelope each Sunday. And, she would give me a quarter to put in the envelope. She would say, “This is money for Jesus.” The Bible lays out several uses for money, including investing and providing for family and staying out of debt and more. But, everything is toward a goal of turning our money back into people. Even giving to the church is seeding our money into lives changed for Jesus. And, the more sacrificial the more we model God’s gift to us – His son Jesus. What are you and I doing without this year – giving that away to others in need? And, especially to those we don’t even know. Each of us, I believe, will give an account to the Lord for how we managed His stuff on Earth. (Revelation 20:12 – And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done.) Friends, a person’s deeds and actions, especially with regard to Biblical generosity, are clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with Jesus. Good works don’t get you in that eternal relationship, but they are a sign of the relationship’s existence.
5. As the church is a fellowship of believers, we can often do more with God’s money – together – than we can individually. And, while Scripture is clear that you and I have a personal responsibility to plow our money into others beyond church, it is clear that we have a responsibility to ALSO pool our money for greater impact. In Acts 2:44: “And all the believers met together constantly, and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. . . . And, each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” Paul constantly writes about believers, through churches, supporting one another.
To the Kingdom of God, through the church and through your own private conviction by the Holy Spirit, you should be prepared to sell and give away everything that you have. Everything. Be prepared to give everything to the Lord. I came into this world naked, and from the first diaper everything was a gift from the Lord. Nothing is really mine.
Here’s my guide for giving:
“You must each decide in your own heart how much to give. And, don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And, God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.’ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving – the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-12).
What people need to know:
1. All our money belongs to God. Believers separate themselves from “it belongs to me” to “it belongs to God.”
2. As God sacrificed His son, Jesus, for us – we are to sacrifice what we have for others – especially those who have nothing.
3. We are to give generously because it’s not ours in the first place, and we should delight in giving away to those whom the Lord loves.
4. And, we can do more for the Kingdom together than we can do individually. Church giving, in additional to personal giving, is very important.
We will deflate the excuse that “the church is after my money” when we begin talking about lives changed, ministry empowered, love shared, and sanctuary found through being arm-in-arm with one another and having a Godly perspective of money.
“You must each decide in your own heart how much to give. And, don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And, God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.’ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving – the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-12).
What people need to know:
1. All our money belongs to God. Believers separate themselves from “it belongs to me” to “it belongs to God.”
2. As God sacrificed His son, Jesus, for us – we are to sacrifice what we have for others – especially those who have nothing.
3. We are to give generously because it’s not ours in the first place, and we should delight in giving away to those whom the Lord loves.
4. And, we can do more for the Kingdom together than we can do individually. Church giving, in additional to personal giving, is very important.
We will deflate the excuse that “the church is after my money” when we begin talking about lives changed, ministry empowered, love shared, and sanctuary found through being arm-in-arm with one another and having a Godly perspective of money.
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