Excuses - "They (the church) just want my money."

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.

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.

Excuses - "Church is too emotional for me."

Sacrifice. It is a word rich in spirituality. It means giving up something precious to someone else. God sacrificed His son, Jesus, for us. Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross for our sins so that those who believe can be restored in a relationship with God the Father. We also talk about the word sacrifice within the context of our military and law enforcement personnel. These men and women sacrifice their lives to protect the world from tyranny. Parents make sacrifices, too, often giving up what they want or even need for family, especially children.

For the four years that I was in high school, I was a member of our school’s Key Club, which at that time was a young men’s service organization sponsored internationally by Kiwanis International, a community men’s service organization. I had a lot of success in Key Club, serving our local club as president, serving as a Georgia lieutenant governor, and finally serving as Georgia’s state governor during my senior year. As I advanced, the opportunities followed. I was able to attend international conventions at major U.S. cities, attend leadership development seminars in Chicago, and spent a long weekend at a leadership event at Valley Forge. I also had to have clothes to wear on all these trips. And, it all cost a lot of money. I was the oldest of four mouths to feed, and our country was mired in an economic recession not unlike the one we live in today. Times were tough. I had a part-time job at the local newspaper and so I was able to contribute to my own personal expenses. The organizations I served contributed, too. But, there was a gap that our family had to fill, financially. It would have been easy for my parents to sit me down and say, “You can’t pursue these opportunities because we just can’t afford it.” It would have put me in a position to make a sacrifice. But, they did not do that. Instead, they bore the sacrifice. We’ve never talked about it, but I know my mom, personally, visited with civic leaders to help raise money for me to be a leader in Georgia’s Key Club. I have a hunch my mom and dad sought out donations from family, which would not have been easy discussions. My dad got up before dark, drove to Atlanta every day, and got home about 10 p.m. to ensure the four of us children were able to do the things we wanted and needed to do as young people. My mom was almost never without a job during those times. And, while these were tense and stressful times, our family got through the valley okay. My parents sacrificed to see that their children did not; we children sacrificed by “not wanting” beyond what we needed.

It is very difficult for me to write and think about those days without becoming emotional. That doesn’t mean I always cry (though I have a lot). Sometimes the memories stir up compassion for and sacrifice for my own children, and for other people. Sometimes, the memories help me find a peaceful place, knowing that with our Lord all valleys come to an end. Mostly, memories of the sacrifices just weld deeper the love I have for my parents and family. When I think about how much I love them – well, tears of joy almost always follow in varying degrees. You see, sacrifice – a deeper, deeper form of giving – plows our lives together with others. We become so deeply woven that it’s impossible to avoid being emotional – even if it’s private – over the sacrifice.

Do you know why most people cry at the end of the move, “It’s A Wonderful Life”? It’s because George Bailey, at the end of his rope, is confronted by all his family and friends, who one-by-one express a level of compassion and sacrifice to help him out of the valley. Heck, I’m crying about it just writing these words. Understanding and appreciating sacrifice almost always brings about emotion.

Excuses - "I Don't Need The Church."

I enjoy exercise. I enjoy going to the gym at our church, getting on the elliptical and listening to my Zeppelin or ZZ Top for 30-40 minutes. Sometimes, there are good people there – I encourage them and they encourage me. I always feel better after I exercise, and if I get in a regular schedule . . . I sleep a lot better. But, here’s the deal: I’m hot and cold when it comes to exercise. I get out of the routine, and then I stop going, and then I set deadlines like this: “Okay, after this holiday, I’ll start back.” But, I never do. Because the longer and longer I put off going back, the less likely I am to go back. I don’t go back . . . despite how good I know it makes me feel. I develop a casual attitude toward exercise and my health suffers.

I believe that all believers are drawn to one another. (1 Corinthians 12:13). There is only one Holy Spirit. He resides in each follower of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit within us that draws us toward other believers. I believe there are a lot of believers who know they should be in the fellowship of other believers. I believe they even want to be in the fellowship of other believers, but, like me and the gym, they have been so long outside the fellowship that it’s awkward and uncomfortable to get back in the rhythm. And, outside the fellowship, I can assure you – there is Satan’s playground and it doesn’t take long for him to surround the believer with unbelievers, and the trap door waits to be sprung. Look at families in despair, and then look at how woven they are with other believers through a local church. More often than not, the further we get from the fellowship with other believers the more we ache inside.

My excuses for not going to the gym? I’m too busy, it’s been too long and people there will give me grief, and I can exercise at home. All excuses. (I’ve never worked out at home. I once got all ready, but then poured a glass of grape soda and watched Bonanza instead.) Believers who are not engaged with a fellowship of believers - a church – have all kinds of excuses. All of them are just excuses. Most believers get comfortable using them because Satan convinces believers that the excuses are legitimate and justified. They are not and never will be.

So, I’m going to take four weeks and look at the Top 4 excuses for not being with church. And, I’ll work in reverse order.

No. 4 : “God is everywhere. So, I can be anywhere and worship God. I don’t have to be in church.” I’m not taking away from the power of corporate worship, but how sad it is to have narrowed the church to a one-hour service on Sunday morning.

While corporate worship is absolutely essential to the believer’s faith journey, Acts 2:42-47 gives us the characteristics of the church: Teaching ministry; fellowship ministry; communion (the Lord’s Supper, but also the integrating of lives with one another); and, prayer. They met together all the time. They shared everything they had. They worshipped together, and they practiced hospitality. You see, the fellowship of believers is being arm-in-arm with one another all the time – not just Sunday morning. The believer’s walk with other believers has never been about a one-hour service on Sunday morning. We are the church even when we are not at our church’s property.

A few years ago, I met a friend for breakfast. Once, he and his family were very active in our church. He was involved in several ministries. Then, they got out of the rhythm and ultimately stopped going, and the spread of absences increased until it just became hard to come back. Our breakfast gave me opportunity tell him how much we missed them in Sunday School. He said, “Scott, I’m a believer. We’re just busy on the weekends with our children, and I feel we can worship God wherever we are.”

He was right. God is everywhere, and as worship is a complete focus on honoring and glorifying God, he could worship God anywhere and everywhere.

But, just as I never work out at my home, would he worship God all by himself? Not regularly. Very doubtful. Ultimately, his life has proven out that he can’t do it.
But, he and his family also missed all the other benefits of being with a fellowship of believers.

I certainly can’t encourage others who exercise by working out all alone in my home. And, no one can encourage me, either. My physical and emotional health improves when I am with other people, in public, while exercising.

It’s the same with our faith journey. To experience the fullness of God’s love, through Jesus, we must be involved with other believers. And, that extends from the individual to the family.

In the New Testament book of Hebrews, (10:24-25) it’s written, “And, let us (believers) consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” These verses implore us to spur (incite – stir up) one another for love and service. God did not design believers to be completely independent of one another – He designed us to need one another for love and encouragement, and He caused us to love and encourage one another. To withdraw from corporate strength is like the soldier who lags behind in battle – he is at risk of danger, and he is outside the platoon’s reach of encouragement. But, even worse, he’s not there when needed to encourage and support the other soldiers. You see, we can’t be Christian consumers, only, because at some level that becomes sinful. If faith is all about what I receive then the focus becomes on self, and that’s the root of all sin. I can’t lag behind and be a consumer; I’ve got to be in the mix exercising my faith and allowing others to exercise their faith toward me.

I have started texting my college boys with this, “Who did you encourage today at church?” I am constantly telling them – “find a church where you can see God at work and where you can encourage others. There are lots of faith-based churches – find the one that fits your feet and begin the journey.”

The Hebrews 10:24-25 verses tell us something else: “let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

If the Lord came back to Earth today, and He absolutely could, do you want Him to find you separated from the church that He established, that He loves and cherishes like a husband loves his bride? (Ephesians 5:22-23)

Paul writes in Romans 12:5 . . . “So, in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

When people say they “don’t need church,” here’s what you and I need to understand:

1. They may not know Jesus. They know about Jesus, they may call themselves Christian, but they may have never confessed Jesus as Savior. Scripture is clear – believers need one another. Believers, through the Holy Spirit in each of us, are drawn to one another. Move beyond the church discussion to the faith discussion.
2. They may know Jesus, but they are not following Jesus. They have slipped into a consumer mentality, and don’t understand how much the church needs them.
3.  If they are discussing church (even negatively), let that be your cue that church is on their mind, that the Holy Spirit may be calling them to be with other believers. Don’t’ shrug it off – build a relationship, let them see the value of church to you and your family, and welcome them in to the fellowship.

Finishing Well - The Days Of Our Lives

Since the early 1950s, daytime serials or “soap operas” have been a significant component of American television and American culture.
These 30-60 minute programs started on radio and transitioned to Monday-Friday afternoon television, targeting American housewives in post World War II suburban America. They were sponsored and produced by American soap manufacturers (Proctor & Gamble, for example). The plot lines ran concurrently, never-ending, and kept viewers coming back for the continuation of the story the next day. These programs became such a part of our culture that we still describe “over-dramatic” relationships as “a soap opera.”
By 1976, Time magazine called the daytime soap market “America’s richest television market” but that was also the beginning of the eulogy. In the late 70s, as most American women flooded the workforce, daytime soaps lost their footing. No new daytime soap has been created since 1999, and many of the 1950 veterans have been cancelled. Television producers made a shift in the late 70s, pushing programming to the evenings and launching programs like Dallas, Dynasty and Falcon Crest. Today, arguably, we still have soap operas in the form of reality television like The Bachelor – programs that at their core “spy” on the relational drama of others – real or fictional.
One of my mama’s favorite soaps was “Days Of Our Lives,” which – oddly – remains on television today and has been extended through 2013. “Days Of Our Lives” continues to open as it always has, with a creepy hourglass through which sand is sifting. There’s the “tick tock”  opening music, reminding us that our lives are on a clock that never ends. The late MacDonald Carey, who starred on the show, still narrates this opening with these words, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”
One summer, when I was 10 or 11, my mom was working and paid me to watch her “soaps,” and record the highlights of the various storylines. I joke that this was my first paid reporting job, which led to 20 years of newspaper work. The opening of “Days Of Our Lives” is still haunting, a reminder that our days are numbered. It’s a reminder that our days, like grains of sand, are slipping through our fingers and can never be recaptured.

About 3,000 years ago, King Solomon was the man who “had it all” – tremendous intellect, power and unbelievable wealth. Kings from other nations came to him for advice. He was the son of King David, and built the first temple in Jerusalem. His economic system made money on top of money, and with money came undeniable power throughout the world. And, yet, he was a man adrift from God. He fell into worldly lust, worshipped idols and took multiple wives who introduced pagan rituals and idol worship into his home. He knew God and his advice to others was to follow God, but he lived the majority of his life apart from God.
At the end of his life, presumably, and now a very old man, Solomon writes the simple Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. He writes it all of us who are young and those of us who remain active, and he provides a cautionary and sobering reminder that our days are numbered. He tells us to understand the fragile nature of life and to live extraordinarily the days of our lives.

The Days Of Our Lives count for something. They are numbered. We will never have a chance to live today again, or make right the decisions we make. Life is a chess game; and, you can’t take back a move.
In my own life, I think about the time wasted, rushing after career and money and influence. I picture Jesus sitting at my kitchen table, watching me chase all the unimportant drama in my life. Each time I rush pass the table, I can see Him calmly reach for me and say, “Scott, slow down. Slow down and follow me.” And, of course, I was too busy to listen. How much more peaceful my life would have been had I listened.

I picture Solomon as a very old man, living his last days in a nursing home, desperately wanting to throw back a warning to everyone headed toward this same fate . . . or worse.
He writes in Ecclesiastes 11:7-10: “Light (life) is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days (death). Everything still to come is meaningless (compared to our eternity). Young man, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.”
And, Solomon concludes in 12:13-14:
“Here now is my final conclusion: Fear (honor and respect) God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” (The words “everyone” and “everything” always get my attention.)

Here are my personal take-aways from this:

1. Remember Our Mortality. Solomon reminds us that we will spend more of our days in death than in life. We are going to die. Within all our networks – Sunday School, high school classes, family - there will be a “last one standing” – many of us will bury one another, will cling to one another in death, and will walk through the valley of death with one another. It’s coming. That’s why Solomon says don’t waste the adventure of life – one day my life will be over. Make your lives extraordinary – even today. If today is my last to breath, how will I mark it – how will I sign my name to it as one that was extraordinary? Oh, please don’t let this day be ordinary. One day, I will bury Vicki or she will bury me, and that provides an urgency for my loving her extraordinarily today. One day, I will bury my parents – is that worth a telephone call today, reminding them that I love them? There are no guarantees – we must live each day beyond ordinary. One day . . . soon . . . one day . . . each of this will be no more. We will have no more time to invest in the lives of others. More importantly, we will have no more opportunity to come to faith and to introduce others to Jesus.
2. There is the threat of Meaninglessness. If you should die before me, I want to stand among your friends and family – even casually – and say, “I know He knew Jesus. I know She is with our Savior in paradise.” Any life not lived in the fullness of salvation will end full of meaninglessness. What separates us from despair is not our bank accounts, or our address books, or the resumes we put together – no, it’s the light of our Savior flowing through us to improve the lives of other people and help them discover Jesus. Please don’t be that pitiful and pathetic person whose life is marked by the funeral parlor cliché - “He was a good man; she was a good woman.” No, be the person remembered this way: “He poured his life into others because He knew Jesus as His Savior; She never celebrated anything but the great things God did through the lives of those she knew.” A life without Jesus produces regret, bitterness, loneliness, and hopelessness. A life centered in Jesus is fulfilling and can be richer and more bearable. Solomon reminds us that squaring our lives with God points us to an end with no regrets. When Solomon says, follow God’s commands, we skip to the New Testament and know those are to (a) love God; (b) love others; (c) and, make disciples. That’s the only way to avoid a meaningless life.
3. Remember Divine Judgment. No person will escape the judgment of God upon his or her life. After telling us to follow our dreams and live extraordinarily, Solomon reminds us that everything – all things – even the secret – what we say, what we do, and what we think – are seen by God and known by God, including the motives. Not even the inclinations of our heart or the desires of our eyes escape His knowing. We are called to live extraordinary lives, but we are commanded to live “right” lives. The Holy Spirit, within us, reminds us of what is right. We don’t have to worry over changing ourselves; the Holy Spirit will change us according to God’s plan for us. Thank goodness we have Jesus – not to escape judgment – but to be pardoned because of our faith in the One who died for our sins.

These sobering Old Testament reminders remind us of the width and depth of Jesus’ sacrifice for each of us.
C.S. Lewis said that all people must make a decision about Jesus. Each individual will call Jesus, “Lord, Liar or Lunatic.” Those who call Him Lord, cannot be ashamed of Him, and must live lives that are numbered for Him, speaking His name, loving His church, serving His people, and reflecting His sacrificial love for others. Those who don’t do this, mock Jesus, and He says in Matthew 10:33, “If anyone acknowledges me here on Earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before God, but, if anyone denies me here on Earth (and fails to recognize me before men), I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.” And, in Matthew 7:22, Jesus says, “Many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord . . . but I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away.’”

These Are The Days Of Our Lives. Gone before we know it. While we are able:

1. Profess Jesus as Savior, ensuring our relationship with God for all eternity.
2. Communicate with God through prayer, Bible Study, and being in fellowship with other believers. Know God.
3. Love One Another. No conditions. Put others ahead of self. Let the Holy Spirit work through it. Live extraordinary lives of love and service.
4. Make Disciples. Be blessed along your own journey by helping someone on their journey. Point people to Jesus.

Those who live this way, will finish this life well.