For the Love of Money - 2

We live in a culture that is defined and driven by money. Reality shows exist to promote those who have money, or give money to the contestants. Every commercial we see or advertisement we hear…all driven by money. A recent global cultural trend shows this fascination with money. [video clip]

TS - money is an important area of our lives. Therefore we need God’s direction in this critical area.

- 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

We are spending just two weeks looking at the basic teaching on money in the Bible, seeing the practical help that God gives to us. Maybe you already know this information, so last week and today are a bit of review for you to see how closely aligned you are with God’s instructions. But perhaps you haven’t yet become familiar with this teaching on money…this will help you lay out a plan to get your finances in line with what God says.

—3 Actions you can take with money…Give, Save, Spend. The Bible addresses all three.

GIVE

-25 The generous will prosper;

those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

- 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.

TS - We understand that the Bible highlights, commands, and encourages us to give money away. But how does this giving thing work? Let’s zero in on the biblical concept of the tithe. The tithe is 10% of your income. Tithe is not just a biblical word for giving, it speaks to the specific amount. So no one tithes 2%.

This practice of tithing started with the OT patriarch Abraham. A coalition of pagan kings went to war against another coalition of kings. In the middle of all the battles, Lot (Abraham’s nephew) and his family were captured. One of Lot’s servants escapes to tell Abram the devastating news. He responded by mobilizing 318 trained fighting men from his own household and went on a rescue mission. Here is what happened afterwards:

- 16 Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.

17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth.

20 And blessed be God Most High,

who has defeated your enemies for you.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

We looked at this account a few months ago when we looked at about Melchizedek. Notice a couple things about this text:

—No one asked Abram to do this. He just felt it was right.

—No law dictated this action. OT law comes 400 years later.

This isn’t the only time an OT patriarch tithes. Abraham’s grandson Jacob does the same thing. On his way to Paddan-Aram to find a wife, Jacob has the “Stairway to Heaven” dream where God promises to bless him greatly. When Jacob wakes up, he builds a memorial and says this:

- 22 And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”

Again, there is no law dictating this. It seems that 10% was the appropriate standard giving in response to blessing. Why is that important? In the field of interpreting historical documents (including the Bible), known as Hermeneutics, there are laws that govern how they are to be interpreted to ensure we get it right. One of those laws is called the Law of the First Mention. It states that the first mention of a topic is to be the authoritative lens through which to view all future mentions of that topic. This is why for marriage we always go to . This is why we always go to when we talk about the church. They are the original foundational texts. That is what these Genesis passages are regarding giving. Anything the Bible says from this point forward about giving (NT passages on sacrificial generosity) is to be interpreted through the lens of the tithe.

As we move forward in the Bible, the tithe does become an established, formal command in the OT law. Once we get to the NT, Jesus affirms the practice of tithing, which ensures the command does supersede the Old Covenant as something for NT Christians (see that in a minute).

So here is what this means…10% is the biblical standard of giving. From the very beginning in Genesis to Jesus and the NT church, this is the standard. But as soon as we start talking about such a clear standard, some people’s alarm bells start going off. For some, the alarm bells go off for supposed theological reasons, for others it is practical reasons. Let’s look at some of the problems people may have with tithing and deal with them.

--Tithing is an Old Testament thing, we live in the New Testament age.

- 22 “You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. 23 Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored.

Yes, tithing is definitely an OT thing, a lawful practice for the Israelites. But let’s also remind ourselves that the patriarchs practiced the tithe hundreds of years before the law was given. For them, this was a lifestyle practice, not some law to obey.

This command to tithe is not limited to the OT Mosaic Law. It is part of God’s expectations for his people as they acknowledge him as the one true God. Jesus brings the tithe into the NT by affirming it as a good practice. In addressing the religious leaders of the day here is what he said:

- 23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Jesus wants us to continue to exhibit our submission to God, tangibly, through the act of the tithe. We are to practice justice, mercy, and faith, yes. But we aren’t to neglect the tithe. Living in the age of grace does not nullify all of God’s commands.

2. Tithing is a form of legalism.

--Tithing is a form of legalism.

In the OT a Jew was first required to give 1/10 to God. Then at harvest time, the farmer must give the first fruits to God, and that consisted of 1/6 of his increase. Then every three years a second 1/10 was given for the poor (think Social Security tax). In addition to all that there were special offerings of cleansing and consecration. Meaning their total giving was nearer to 20% of income every year. Not difficult to imagine the temptation to withhold the tithe during tough economic times.

Now, if we object that Jews were under the law and we Christians are under grace, and that for us the law of the tithe has been eliminated, then another question arises…Will a Christian who is experiencing joyful relationship with Christ want to take advantage of grace so that they can give less to God’s work in the world? Are we supposed to give less than the OT Jews who knew nothing of Christ’s sacrifice and the blessings it brought? Was God’s matchless generosity in becoming poor for us in Christ intended to make us give less? Paul cited that very example in as incentive to greater, sacrificial giving.

However, we must acknowledge that there is a way that tithing can become legalistic, one that cuts both ways. For example, if someone is giving 10% just because they think it will make God love them more, that’s legalism. They’re saying by their giving that they can earn God’s love and favor. That is contrary to the NT teaching on grace.

At the same time, if there is someone who can afford to give more than 10% but they stop at that level because that is all God “requires” of them, that too is a form of legalism. Doing the bare minimum to “just get by” is a serious problem. If the true spirit of grace has gripped my heart, I will not be calculating the minimum I can get away with, but the maximum I can give. The NT standard is not lower than the OT.

Practical Tips:

—Incremental Increase—For the last two years we have participated in the Will You Grow? financial initiative. The whole point of that was to help you see how to grow towards the tithe. If you are giving nothing…give something. You’re on your way. If you factor that you are giving 2.5% (the average American level of giving), what changes do you need to make to move that up? —Full Tithe—For some of you, though, the best decision you could make is just to go for it. Give the tithe and adjust as necessary. People do it all the time. In one study of tithers, 97% of them did just that.

—Utilize Digital giving—ministry exists 52 Sundays a year, even when you’re on vacation. We aren’t exempt from this if we are out of town.

2. SAVE

When people criticize a church for “being all about money” sometimes that may be a valid criticism because all they ever talk about with money is in reference to giving. The Bible has much more to say.

- 13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” 16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Oddly enough when we read an account like this it can seem like the Bible is anti-savings. Jesus calls this guy a fool for saving like he did. The Bible is not anti-saving. It is anti-selfish-saving. This guy wasn’t just good at saving, he was placing his trust in his wealth. That’s always a bad idea.

- 17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

We place our trust in God, who is the source of all we have. He is the one who controls all things, he has all the power. And in his wisdom we counsels us to save.

- 20 The wise have wealth and luxury,

but fools spend whatever they get.

Practical Tips:

—Save an Emergency Fund of $1000—this eliminates the reliance on credit which gets so many in trouble. This also represents a huge victory for people who have never saved that much in their life.

—Pay off all your debt—you can’t save if all your money is going to things you’ve already purchased. With that reliance on credit gone, now take available resources to pay off what you owe.

—Fully fund your Emergency Fund with 3-6 months of expenses covered. This will ensure you are covered during tough seasons of life. This will also represent savings that the vast amount of Americans have never seen before. This can be done. It takes time and discipline, but it can be done.

3. SPEND

This is the one thing we can do with money that we are really good at. We are so good at it we are terrible at it! I won’t revisit all the stats about debt and credit cards from last week, but we struggle here. The account we just looked at helps us by identifying some core attitudes that cause bad spending:

1. Entitlement - v. 13 - 13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

This is likely a younger brother who isn’t happy because his older brother (the firstborn) gets 2/3 of the inheritance. That’s not fair. It should all be equal. If he has it, I should get it too. And…that’s when you get in trouble. The attitude that says because someone else has it, you should have it too, is not only immature but dangerous.

2. Personal Value in Possessions - v. 15 - 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Finding your personal worth and value in the size of your house, the make of your car, or the numbers in your portfolio is an offense to the Gospel. Your value is found in the affection God has for you, secured by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. God loves you and has adopted you into his family. Nothing supersedes that.

3. Selfishness - v. 17-19 - 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

Notice his usage of the word “my.” His only concern is himself. This is the opposite of what God wants for us. Nassim Taleb said "The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” We have to be careful with our spending that we don’t lose sight of God’s sovereignty over it.

In reality, our theology (or lack thereof) plays a prominent role in how we view spending. Two primary theologies dominate Christians today in how they justify spending. Prosperity Theology says God exists to give me more. His primary desire is to make me happy, healthy, and wealthy. There are some prominent ways this shows up in America (think televangelists). But it can be much more subtle and affect a lot of people. Here is how it goes: doesn’t the Bible say in that God gives us all things for our enjoyment? Therefore the purpose of my money is to spend all I can on what I enjoy.

The other view is called Poverty Theology. This view says that God wants us all to be poor and give everything away. Again, this shows up in some prominent ways with monks who take vows of poverty, and with some social justice warriors who would condemn nice houses, cars, or meals out. To them, that money should be given away. But it shows up in more subtle ways too. Goes like this: doesn’t the Bible says in that God gives us money so that we can be generous? That means we should never own nice stuff, God gives us that to give away to others.

ILL - let me give you an example…Edge, Jason and Annie want to go to Rwanda with Compassion Intl. to see child. Cost is $10,000 for a week’s trip. Sent letters out to church. Lady called to inform me she wouldn’t be giving because that is an astronomical price for such a short trip for just two people. Should just send that money to Rwanda instead.

So which theology is right? Neither. Both are equally unbiblical because they both pull verses in the Bible out of context and misapply them. The bible says both of those things…God gives for our enjoyment AND he gives to us to be generous.

The dilemma of spending is solved by a dynamic relationship with God. Once we’ve generously given, once we’ve saved, now we have this money available to spend. Should we? So we ask God…are you giving this money to me to enjoy (as good fathers do with their kids) or to give away?

We decided to send Jason and Annie to Rwanda anyway without Grouchy McPennyPincher’s money. Because of that trip, Jason and Annie decided to become missionaries and served for years on an island in the South Pacific. Worth every penny.

Practical Tips:

—Create and follow a budget—your money is going to go somewhere. A budget tells it where to go.

—Use cash—here is the response of most people…”I can’t use cash! I spend cash so fast!” Yes, that’s the point! You spend just as much, if not more, on a debit card or credit card. The reason it seems like you are spending cash so quickly is because you are spending it so quickly! This will help you see where your money goes, how fast it gets there, and how to stop it. Once the cash is gone, stop buying stuff (revolutionary!).

Conclusion

As we close this down, let me offer a small caveat. The Bible’s teaching on money really isn’t about money. That’s kind of reassuring, right? I mean, this sermon on money really isn’t about money. It’s about something more. It’s about you. You see, at the end of the day, God’s commands about money aren’t about money; they’re about you. God wants all of you – from your life to your family to your job to your home – everything you have and everything you are. He wants you to turn it all over to Him. He wants you to give Him complete control of your life. That might sound like a big request. But, remember this: told us that everything on this earth belongs to the Lord. That includes you. You already belong to Him. Everything you have already belongs to Him. Why not take that step and give Him control of it all?