MOVEMENT THINKING at DIVINITY SCHOOL _ part 7 GIVING
THIS MATERIAL BELOW
is a borrowed material
for DISCUSSION PURPOSES at
HIS LIFE DIVINITY SCHOOL
PART 7 of 10
First Church of Possum Gulch was having trouble financially.
Meeting after meeting was given over to finding a way to increase revenue and decrease expenditures. Finally, the golden suggestion was made. . . a new-fangled offering plate would be used! It would work like this: if someone dropped only a dollar in, a siren would go off; if they dropped only fifty cents in, a bell would ring. If they put nothing in it, it would take their picture! Well, no one really knows the outcome of the imaginary story, but we do know that an essential factor in church growth is a clear teaching and understanding of what God’s principles are concerning finance and stewardship.
Many churches struggle for years in this area, they plateau at one or two hundred, maybe even five hundred, and go on farther. Why? Sometimes, because they aren’t willing to pay the price, go the distance, and be confronted with the clear Biblical teaching on finances. It still comes as a shock to many that almost half of all Jesus’ parables deal with a man and his money. Jesus taught more in this area than he did about heaven, hell, baptism, and judgement all put together. No book in all the Bible fails to mention this in some way. Yet many churches fail to expand much needed facilities, add long overdue staff, or launch ambitious evangelistic campaigns due to lack of funds, caused by poor giving resulting from little or no teaching.
There are two musts, I believe, for any churches desiring growth as it pertains to the area of stewardship and finances. The first must is good, sound Biblical perspective. We might call them laws, not in the legalistic sense, but in the sense that there is a “fixness” about them. Just as there are physical laws at work in our universe such as the law of gravity, and if that law is violated, consequences will occur, so there are moral laws, and specifically laws of stewardship that are inviolable. Without attempting to be exhaustive in a study of stewardship, here is a list of inviolate laws that I’ve made to teach in every new member’s class as well as from the pulpit in my sermons.
1. THE LAW OF OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
This is the first, because if it is acknowledged by all believers, the other laws will all fall into proper place. The essence of this law in scripture is that God owns all, and we ae called to manage what is His. This cuts right across our affluent culture’s concept of material things. The Psalmist said, “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). And who can possibly deny this law when they read the following prayer of David?
Thine O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majestic; for all that is in the heavens is thine; thine is the kingdom, O lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over all. In my hand are power and might . . . but who am I and what is my people that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee (I Chron. 29:11-14).
Again, just in case were still in doubt, God himself says:
For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine (Psa. 50:10-11).
The fact of God’s ownership and our trusteeship radically changes our concept of material things and/or money. For the believer, the issue of ownership must be settled and acknowledged at the entrance gate of the Christian life. That’s why Jesus said, “So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). Well, what exactly does “renounce” mean? Does that suggest that in order to become a disciple one must give up all his possessions and lapse into total poverty and become a ward of the state? Absolutely not! Nor does it mean some kind of “transfer of ownership” theology. It’s not like we are transferring what WE own at conversion over to before you came on the scene, while you are on the scene, and long after you’ve departed the scene! It means that, when you to be a disciple one must give up all his possessions and lapse into total poverty and become a ward of the state? Absolutely not! Nor does it mean some kind of ”transfer of ownership” theology. It’s not like we are transferring what WE own at conversion over to God so that HE now owns it. No, He has always owned it, long before you came on the scene, while you are on the scene, and long after you’ve departed the scene! It means that, when you walk into the Christian life, at least one of the entry requirements to be a disciple is total acknowledgement of God’s ownership and your management. God owns it ALL, we simply are managers of what He has entrusted to us. Sadly, enough, many believers discover this law many years AFTER the become Christians instead of on the first day.
2. THE LAW OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Not only does God own all and entrust to us differing amounts of money and material to manage, we are accountable to Him of what we manage. The bible clearly says that it is required of stewards that they be accountable (I Cor. 4:2). Who can forget the parable Jesus told of the land owner who decided to take a journey and entrusted to his servants some funds. To one he gave $5000, to another $2000, and to another $1000. A key verse in that account says this, “Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them (Matt. 25:19). There was and is a time of accounting. That’s why it is not only important to teach the tithe, but equally important to teach that God is holding us accountable with how we use the nine-tenths we keep!
3. THE LAW OF SACRIFICE
Sacrifice is a relative word. We Westerners have a very difficult time understanding what sacrifice really is, because as a rule, our lifestyles are relatively high. In third world countries where $68 a year is considered good income, sacrifice means one thing. In a country where many people earn over $50,000 a year, it means another. Jesus graphically underscored this by highlighting the widow who dropped two pennies in the Temple treasury. The only time in His entire ministry when He made a comment about a particular person’s giving, Jesus praised this woman because while others were giving out of their abundance and plenty, she gave out of her abject poverty… she literally gave everything she had! The principle of sacrifice runs throughout the Bible.
If a man’s offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord (Lev. 3:1).
That admonition is repeated many times in the Old Testament. What was behind a “without blemish” offering on the part of God’s people? Was God short on good lambs? Hardly, since He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The point is, we need to give the best, first. By King David’s era, this was a well-accepted teaching and indeed, part of a sincere Hebrew’s life. That is why when he was offered all the ingredients of a sacrifice by Araunah, King David declined the offering saying:
…No, but I will buy it of you for a price, I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing (II Sam. 24:24).
No cost, no meaning, no sacrifice involved, no depth or meaning to giving. God’s indictment to Israel in her latter years concerning their cheating in this matter is very sharp to say the least. When the Jews asked God how they had despised His name in their giving, God was quick to respond:
“By offering polluted food upon mu alter… When you offer blind animals in sacrifice. Is that no evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that no evil? Present that to your governor, will he be pleased with you or show you favor? “says the Lord of hosts (Mal. 1:7-9).
Those are pretty strong words, yet they underscore the fact that it does make a difference in what we give and how we give it. It must be sacrificial.
4. THE LAW OF TRUE SUCCESS
Again, we Westerners have a mind-set that defines success in a narrow, limited frame of reference, namely possessions: if a person drives an expensive car, lives in a fashionable neighborhood, takes long and expensive vacations, wears the finest clothing, we dub him a “success.” On the other hand,
Someone who rents instead of owns, drives a car over 5 years old, and is an hourly wage earner with no savings in bank most people would not consider successful.
Jesus challenges this very limited concept of success with one simple statement: “For a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15). He then proceeded to tell a parable about a farmer whose crops brought forth plentifully. With inadequate barns, the farmer determined to tear down the small “inadequate” barns and build larger barns where he would store (actually hoard) his crop. Someone has pointed out that the personal pronouns, I, my, you, and your, appear some 12 times in 3 short verses! Then Jesus concludes with very straight to the point words:
Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be (Luke 12:22)?
The accumulation of things is not a symbol of success in God’s eyes. Of course, neither is poverty, but rather a right relationship with God! In a day when great emphasis is placed on get, get, accrue, have, we need to remind ourselves of Jesus’ words again and again. It isn’t wrong to have nice things or a lot of things, it’s when things have you that you’re in trouble.
5. THE LAW OF GODLY FOCUS
This really is similar to the law of success, but an added warning is given. DON’T SEEK WEALTH! The wealthiest man who ever lived wrote:
Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist (Prov. 23:4).
In other words, do not make the objective of your life the accumulation of wealth. Several years ago, a friend of mine said, “My life goal is to be a millionaire by the time I’m 30!” why does God that’s wrong? Paul wrote Timothy some sound advice. It wasn’t just for young Timothy either! He told him that we need to be content with food and clothing without seeking other things. He reminded Timothy that we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of this world. That is true, isn’t it? You never see a hearse with a U-Haul trailer behind it. But in I Timothy 6, Paul really gets to the core.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction (I Tim. 6:9).
Then Paul delivers the punch line:
For the love of money is the root of all evils, it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs (I Tim. 6:10).
Later in that same chapter he warns the rich not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches. So, is it wrong to be rich? No! God chooses to bless some with great amounts of money. Even Jesus had wealthy friends. What is wrong, is to seek wealth, and to make the accumulation of money and financial security your goal and objective in life. Nor is this to say that people with special ability to make money should stifle that ability. It is to say that we are not to seek wealth, nor are we to see it as a panacea to cure all ills. If a local church is going to grow numerically and spiritually, it cannot avoid or evade this part of stewardship teaching. In a culture that has become extremely materialistic, God’s people somehow must be different. No, poverty is not spiritual and wealth is not evil. Yet we cannot avoid the signposts erected in scripture for our safety.
6. THE LAW OF COMMITMENT FOLLOWING GIVING
A common mistake many churches make is their approach to new members. the philosophy has been, “Don’t mention money or giving to these new people until they have become active and are ready for it.” Jesus’ method was just the opposite. His philosophy was that giving generates activity.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matt. 6:21).
In thirty years’ ministry, I have seen the truth of that statement. When you look behind those members who are unselfish in giving of their time and talents, you’ll find they are part of that 20 group who support 8% of the church’s budget! It is people whose financial resources are firmly planted in the kingdom who follow their financial commitment with their life. We have found that right teaching up front concerning the tithe and beyond is the quickest and most lasting way of people becoming active in the body of Christ. Interest follows dollars.
A non-Christian man walked into my office one day and ask if we were the church involve in the Miracle Day Campaign. I assured him we were. His response was puzzling at first. He said, “I’m not a Christian, and a member of no church, yet I admire the courage and large goal you have set. Would you mind accepting a donation from me? He wrote out a check for $ 1000 and left. The following Sunday I saw him in church. He returned a week later with his wife. The third Sunday they were back and both came forward to accept Christ at the close of the service. His comment to me much later was , “I followed my investment right into the kingdom of God!” That’s exactly what Jesus said would happen.
7. THE LAW OF REGULARITY AND CONSISTENCY
Paul wrote Corinthians an interesting command:
8.THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING
This is a simple law , but one that has been used and abused . it is the Biblical law that what you give is what you get back. It has been called in some circles the law of returns. Without being exhaustive, Solomon espoused this thousands of years ago
Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be bursting with wine (Prov. 3:9-10).
Notice the sequence . YOU honor the Lord with your substance. The New International Version gets more explicit. “Honor the Lord with your wealth.” It’s your money, your finances Solomon is speaking of here. Now note how the verse continues “… with the first fruits…” “That means your best , it means to take right off the top , not give what is left all the bills are paid. Now, watch carefully the wording,. “Then your barns will be filled with plenty….”The sequence is clear; you give first the best, lavishly and unselfishly and then God will bring it all back plus some more! Its said in Proverbs again, but with more clarity;
One man gives freely and grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give and only suffers want. A liberal man will be enriched and one who waters himself will be watered (Prov. 11:24-25).
That scripture cuts right across American, middle class, economic thinking. Any economist will tell you that you will have money when you learn to “hold on” to it. Give it away and you lose it forever. So it really boils down to whose economic system you’re willing to trust, God’s or man’s. the world says, “GET ALL YOU CAN, CAN ALL YOU GET, THEN BURY THE CAN!” God says, “Give it away and watch it come back so you can continue to give.”
We cant leave Solomon without his wife words in Ecclesiastes.
Cast your bread upon the waters and you will find it after many days (Eccl. 11:1)
The world system would re-write that and say if you cast your bread upon the waters, either the ducks will eat it or you’ll have soggy bread. He goes on in that chapter to warn us against letting our circumstances determine our giving. In verse 4 he says, “He who observes the wind will not sow and he who regards the clouds will not reap. “ In other words, don’t check the surrounding climate before you give or you’ll never do it, thus you will get nothing back, Jesus went straight to the heart of the matter in the Sermon on the Mount;
Give ant it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down , shaken together, running over , will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back Luke 6:38.
Many people want to “spiritualize” that verse to mean everything but money, but Jesus was talking about one’s possessions here. Notice how what is given back to you is “pressed down, shaken together and running over. “Gods give back is always bigger than our “give to”. This same promise God made in Malachi 3 when tithers are promised a blessing they won’t be able to hold. Again, we are taught this principle in II Corinthians 9:
The point is this, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who bountifully will also reap bountifully (IICor. 9-6).
Now look further down that passage at the promise made to those who sow (give) bountifully (liberally).
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance.
SO THAT YOU MAY ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH OF EVERYTHING and may provide in abundance for every good work (II Cor. 9:8).
Here’s the cycle! We give abundantly. God gives it back so that we may give more. SO THAT He will give more back, SO THAT we can give more…. And so the cycle goes. But also notice… it doesn’t start by waiting for God to give back, it starts with our giving, which is the God -given way of trigging God’s response. By the way, later in the passage, another promise is made.
He who sup[plies bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness (II Cor. 9:10a).
He not only will give all back that you give. He will multiply it for you so that you can continually give more. If we are the starters of this increased giving cycle we can also be the stoppers. Cut your giving or cut drastically back, and His give back is cut as well.
Now you maybe thinking. “Then, does that mean we give in order to get? Only in the sense that we pour a quart of water into a pump to prime it so well get endless water. This God’s great plan of economy. We can actually increase our ability to give by having the resources increased. How does that happen? By giving more! Get it? What this means is that you cant out give God. You shovel in, God shovels out and God has a bigger shovel. Giving to get, in order to spend it on your desires is obviously a carnal motive. But giving to get so we can give more is God’s program. It works.
Growing , dynamic churches don’t shy away from Biblical teaching on this matter. If these subjects are faithfully, consistently and lovingly taught, there will be results. It has to happen.
If property taught and if the leadership of the church leads the way with magnanimous giving, budget drives will be unneeded.
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