Worshipping God with Finances

Today we’re talking about worshipping God with our finances. Off the top, I want to be clear:

God’s Word says do not give reluctantly, grudgingly, or b/c someone twisted your arm.

At Crosspoint, the goal is not to collect as much money as possible, the goal is to glorify God with our finances.

More is not necessarily better. Your motives and attitude when you give are more important than the amount you give. Both Mark and Luke describe the day Jesus sat in the temple courts watching people put money into the temple treasury. Mark says that many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow put in 2 very small copper coins.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” ‌‌Mark 12:43–44 (NIV)

Jesus honored the poor widow for her generosity. Her faith that God would provide all she needed was so strong that she was generous with the small amount of money she had. Her faith and generosity impressed Jesus so much that he called the disciples to huddle up so they could appreciate what she did: “she put in everything she had to live on.”

‌Here’s the thing: You are made in God’s image. One of God’s many virtues is generosity. He is gracious, loving, and merciful.

The sun shines on everyone, rich and poor alike, because God is loving and generous.

Rain lands on everyone’s land regardless of what they’re like, because of God’s generosity.

And, most of us have plenty. Sometimes we take God’s gifts for granted:

physical strength,

knowledge,

skills,

food,

shelter,

clothing,

and 1000 other things, because God is generous and made us in his image.

One of the ways we see God’s image in other is in their generosity. Not everyone is equally generous. Some people are VERY generous: they’d give you the shirt off their back.

Sometimes children embarrass us with their generosity – mine have. Perhaps one reason is that kids haven’t gotten attached to stuff, especially if they get all they need at home. ‌The trouble is, as we gain perspective and gain possessions, our stuff becomes important to us. We are tempted to hold our belongings tightly.

The last time I illustrated tithing by giving 10 coins away I used loonies. This week, I debated between loonies, toonies, and $5 bills. It’s easier to give away $20 than $50!

God’s Word challenges our possessiveness. Take what God says in the NT Letter to the Christians in Colosse:

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5 (NIV)

‌Sometimes it’s tough to determine when we’re being stewardly and when we’re simply being cheap, miserly, or greedy. The outward actions might look similar; the difference is in our heart, in our motives, in our attitude.

‌Here’s the rub: God’s law insists that the Lord has the #1 spot in our life. When idolatry such as greed gets between us and God, we’re on thin ice. Our God is a jealous God.

He wants his people to find our security in his Fatherly love and generosity and not in our wealth.

He wants us to find our self-worth in being his dear children and not in having more stuff or nicer stuff than other people.

The reality is: if we are holding on to our stuff tightly, we are not holding tightly on to our heavenly Father.

‌Greed is idolatry. Idolatry is sin. Sinful behaviour cuts us off from God, the source of life and all good things. The penalty for sin is death. Because he is just, God punishes all sin.

That’s why I need God’s generosity, grace, compassion and forgiveness. All people need God’s generosity, grace, compassion and forgiveness. Thankfully, that’s what God is like.

‌So, because God loves the world and the people he made: Jesus came. God the Son entered his own creation. Jesus is the most generous, self-sacrificing person you’ll ever encounter.

‌By dying on the cross, Jesus takes the punishment for our sin, our greed, our idolatry, and our disobedience. By rising from the grave, Jesus gives you abundant life and clothes you in all his goodness, all his righteousness, and all his obedience. Jesus freely offers you everything he earned in his life, death, and resurrection.

Here’s the deal: by faith in Jesus Christ, all your wrongdoing is erased, and all Jesus’ goodness is credited to your account. You’ll never find a better offer!

‌As part of this new relationship with Jesus, God the HS peels away the habits and layers of sin and greed and idolatry. It can be a painful process.

Have you heard the story of how Bob went to his minister to talk about his struggle with tithing?

“Pastor,” said Bob, “when I lived on $40 000/year, it was easy to give 10%. It’s just $4000. Now I’m making $400 000/year. It’s hard to give away $40 000!”

“Bob” said the pastor, “let’s pray about this. ‘Lord, please reduce Bob’s income to $40 000/year so he finds it easier to tithe.’”

Having God peel away the habits and layers of greed and idolatry can be painful. But it is good. Hard but good.

What emerges when your old nature is stripped away and your new nature is emerges is the real you – as God designed you without sin. By the work of God the HS, the people around you are able to see the real “you;” the “you” which reveals God’s image, his character, his values. It’s an awesome thing when you start to look and acts and sound like your heavenly Father.

And God’s word reminds us that our righteousness comes from God, just like everything else comes from God.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. II Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)

It’s an encouraging thought. God will increase your store of seed and enlarge the harvest. But the harvest is not bushels of seed and truckloads of money: the harvest is your righteousness. It’s a different mindset: righteousness, goodness, and godliness are the reward.

‌I’ve heard it said that the last thing converted in a Christian’s life is their wallet. It’s tough to apply God’s values of grace, generosity, and compassion to the wealth and other resources God has entrusted to us. God’s word in II Cor. 9 is counter cultural. Paul writes:

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. II Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)

Talk about counter cultural! God’s purpose in enriching people is so you can be generous.

What does this look like practically?

When Paul wrote this part of the letter, he was working on a fundraising project. He was raising money to support the church in Jerusalem. They were facing persecution. On top of trouble with the Jewish and Roman governments, a famine hit Judea. Food was scarce, so Paul urged the Christians in Corinth, Philippi, Berea, and Thessalonica to give money to help the church in Jerusalem.

This is the encouragement Paul gave them as they decided how to help the church in Jerusalem:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. II Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)

It’s the reality of planting. If you skimp on the seed, your harvest will be skimpy too.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

Like the Christians in Corinth so long ago, you get to make some decisions.

· How much would you like to give? If 10% doesn’t sound workable, start with 2% or 5%. Some people work their way up to 15% or 20%. Make a commitment to God, then give the amount you have decided to give.

o Don’t give reluctantly, unwillingly, or because it’s someone else’ great idea.

o If you’re married, talk it over with your spouse!

o If you’ve never done this before and want help, ask a mature Christian for guidance: a mentor, a deacon, an elder . . . someone you trust.

· Once you’ve decided what to give, then comes the fun part: figure out where you’ll make the donations:

o local church,

o Christian education,

o Christian missions advancing the gospel

o Christian projects to help the needy.

You don’t always see the benefits of your generosity.

The Christians in Corinth sent their gifts to Jerusalem with Paul and it’s unlikely they met the people they helped. At least, not until they found each other in heavenly glory.

But generosity has its rewards. Do you remember what the goal of our giving is? We give for God’s glory.

That’s what Paul writes too:

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. II Corinthians 9:12–13 (NIV)

Your generosity leads to thanks and praise to God!