Is that thing in your back pocket saved?!

It's been said that the last part of a Christian to be converted is his wallet.  Now I want you to know that we are going to talk about money today so I hope you haven’t invited your friends out for the first time.

Our gifts must be the kind of gifts that inspire others to give.  We are called to lead by example in such a way that the flow doesn’t stop after we have given, but that we encourage gift giving to be reciprocated much like in the movie, ‘Pay It Forward’ where the debt is not paid back but done as a favour to a third party.  For believers we could never pay back the debt that we have owed; however we have been called to show that same kind of generosity in our love towards others whether in gift, deed or forgiveness. 

 I have been involved with the Ensenada Project over the past couple of years.  It is a ministry that is dedicated to building churches and homes for families in the local community of Maneadero.  The Mexican pastors were the ones who originally were blessed by this ministry as homes were built for them and churches where they could meet with their congregation.  Now, what is happening is that the pastors have become the means of blessing to people in their community as they choose the families, both inside and outside of the church to build homes for.  They work right alongside the teams that come from Canada and the US.  They lead by example on the construction site and work hard and display so much joy and passion for what they are doing.

Giving is meant to be reciprocal.  Matthew 18:23-35

When it comes to debt we are called to be generous.  We who have been forgiven an insurmountable debt have been called to show that same mercy to others.  We tend to forget that in the situation especially when it is us who have to ‘have to take the hit’.  We are quick to forget the price that has been paid for our forgiveness, to wipe our slate clean especially when we have been hard done by.  We think and may even say things like, ‘I must hold them responsible,’  ‘I must hold them accountable, I must make sure they pay up!  Really, is that our job?

When you lend someone money, the relationship between both of you changes. 

What kind of relationship does the Bible liken it to?

The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is servant to the lender  Proverbs 22:7

 

I love what Dave Ramsey says about this subject, if you see someone who truly has a need and you have the ability to help them out, just give it to them. 

Psalm 112:4-6

⁴ Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
   for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
⁵ Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
   who conduct their affairs with justice.

 ⁶ Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
   they will be remembered forever. 

Luke 6:34,35 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Do you see that what Jesus is asking of us goes completely against the stream of culture?  Money should not have the same grip on us that it has on the rest of our society.  We have to renew our minds when it comes to money.  We have to think differently about it and have a different mindset about it.  It’s not about possessing it and clenching it but holding it up to God with an open hand.

If you keep your fist clenched, it is impossible to receive anymore.

When I was in India a few years back, I was so moved by the story of the sponsored children I met there who were with Compassion and in West Bengal, India.  They w took the money that they received and in turn sponsored children themselves!

Now I know that all of us are not there yet, but wouldn’t you love to be there?   It is the place where you can hold everything openly and where you can trust God with the last part of you, your wallet!  It is a place where He will meet all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

It really is the ultimate test of our faith and trust in God.

Giving is meant to be the great exchange.  Luke 6:38 (take these verses in…a great practical word picture for those of you who work in the kitchen)

We are called to give up our lives for the One who has given His life for us.  We turn into spiritual parasites when we don’t follow through with the great exchange.  We do not dignify the life that Jesus called us to live when all we do is take.

It is David who tells us that ‘I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing. ‘in 1 Chronicles 21:23-25 so he offer Araunah the equivalent of 15 pounds of gold which is worth today about $274 500 for a place to make an offering for the Lord.  It is meant to be sacrificial as well.

We don’t have to exercise any faith, if it doesn’t cost us anything.

A person who receives but in turn does not misses out on the great exchange.  As the river of life flows through us we actually spur others on by challenging them to be rivers of living water through their sacrificial giving. 

We have a friend out west who is an amazing example of this.  She owns four properties.  She has a house in White Rock, a condo in Vancouver, a cottage on Victoria Island and a chalet in the mountains. If you talk to her about owning these places, she will correct you and tell you that it is not her’s, it’s God’s. She continually looks for ways to bless others with what she has and is always exceedingly generous.  As someone looking from the outside in, it seems to me that God continually entrusts her with more.  However, I do know that receiving more is not her motivation.

Giving is meant to be for gospel growth!   Luke 16:9,10

We are called to win souls for the kingdom of heaven and God by using material things to care for those in need.  The act of giving is a platform that God has given us.   The cardinal principle according to one ministry is that anyone who knows enough to be saved by Christ knows enough to tell another how to be saved.’ 

Through generous acts of giving, we are showing the love of Christ.  A disciple is one who reaches others to become disciples of Jesus as well.

Matthew 6:19-21 The true riches of heaven are the lives of those we touch and we can use our money to do just that. 

 

In my previous ministry, I had the opportunity to come alongside someone who served with a Christian relief ministry. He was most recently in Haiti and he shared something interesting about these countries that have been hit by earthquakes and floods.  When the supplies come in from a Christian relief organization, a Christian church, a quote unquote Christian nation, they really see coming from our God.   We really do represent our God and we are His hands and feet.

Through the power of the HS, we are called to pray, give and proclaim!

Giving was always meant to be simple and it brings freedom.   Genesis 14:17-20

The definition of tithe is 10% and we first see the example of this in Genesis 14:17-20.  So we can correctly identify that the tithe is ‘pre-law’.  Some people write it off and say well, that is the OT law, but no it wasn’t.  It was always about ‘firstfruits’ 22x it is spoken of and being an agrarian culture, they knew that this is the place that we begin.  It is the first line item on our budget.  There was no big calculations of how to figure it out, it was the first thing that you did with the goods or money that you received.

If you say well the NT doesn’t mention tithing and I will say that you are correct; however to be technical if you say you are bringing your tithe, it should be 10% because it is defined as that.

Studies have shown that the average Christian only gives 2.7% of their income.

People ask do I tithe 10% on my gross or my take home....As Dave Ramsey says, ‘I don’t care’ how you decide...let’s not get caught up in the technicalities.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

It is about a level of trust with God with our finances and once again we are faced with an incredible test to trust God with our level of giving.  How serious are we about believing these verses. 

Can you imagine a ‘belly aching’ laugh when you went up to give?  The fact is that we are to be hilarious givers!  We really do win the lottery in the ‘Christian’ sense when we can be set free to give.

Giving is meant to be reciprocal – lend freely

Giving is the great exchange – it is sacrificial

Giving is meant to be for gospel growth – it shows other’s God generous love

Giving is meant to be simple

The Takeaway

We receive in order to give in order to be entrusted with more.

Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

The more we understand this truth, the more we will experience freedom in our life and in the area of our finances.

As Dave Ramsey shares in the lesson on ‘The Great Misunderstanding, The Power of Generous Giving’ 

Water like giving money is supposed to flow through us.  When water flows into a pond and not out, it eventually turns into a swamp and then you know what happens, the scum starts to float to the surface and that is what happens to people who hold their money with clenched fists, they become ‘scummy!

Have a conversation with your spouse about this.  Are finances continually weighing on your mind?  This may be a good indication that it is still an issue.

Ask God to show you what you need to be giving to.

Journal about it and then ask him to start providing for you to do just that.

Test God in this.  Ask God to put something on your heart that you are trusting Him for, that you don’t have the finances for and let’s watch and see the supernatural happen together!