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Sacrificial Giving.
Introductions:
It has been my experience that when one talks about money and giving, it makes us uncomfortable.
Why is that?
I think it is because money is extremely sensitive to us.
Whether it is because we think that it is of no one’s business or that the right hand is not to know what the left hand is doing.
Maybe our mind takes us to how we can barely pay the bills as it is right now so how can Monty ask us to give sacrificially?
There will probably be many other things that will cross your mind as we journey through this text.
In fact, by the end of the sermon, you may…or rather you probably will have more questions than answers.
Questions that you will have to wrestle with God on, questions that I may be able to help with or maybe not.
However, what Paul helps us with in properly navigating those questions is that it comes down to our attitude.
His main point as I see it is how to have the right attitude towards money.
My outline is pretty straight forward as I will show first of all the wrong and then the right attitude towards money.
Then lastly I will try to summarize the reason why sacrificial giving has eternal blessings.
Point #1 - The Worldly View of Money.
Point #1 -
Paul now returns to his discussion on money after taking a few verses to encourage Timothy to continue to fight the good fight of faith in (11-16) that Ralph preached on last Sunday.
If you recall from the message a couple weeks ago, Paul gave strict warnings of the dangers of desiring money.
How it is a snare or trap that leads to the ruin and destruction of ones life.
That due to the love of money, this craving for wealth has caused the shipwreck of their faith as they pierce themselves with many sorrows.
In the congregation there would be those who were listening to this teaching and would more than likely be left with some great pain if the teaching stopped there.
Pastorally, Paul knew this would happen so he now gives guidance in distinguishing two separate groups.
In (9) is the the first group of those who desire to be rich.
Now in (17) is the group of individuals that already are rich in this present age.
The Christians that already were rich in the church would be wondering what was to become of them.
If desiring to be rich led to many pitfalls in life what were these rich Christians to do with their money?
Paul answers this by instructing Timothy to charge these individuals to not be haughty.
This is to say that they should not be proud, arrogant, snobbish, condescending or self promoting.
This is what the world does.
The world says that their wealth is accumulated because of their hard work, skillful character, wise choices in what land to purchase and shrewdness in getting the best deal possible.
Look at me and all that I have accomplished.
This is what Nebuchadnezzar thought.
All his fame and fortune were due to his being a great ruler and he highly exalted himself.
Paul says to the rich believer, “Don’t be like that, be humble and gracious.”
Paul says to the rich believer, “Don’t be like that, be humble and gracious.”
He then instructs them to not set their hopes on fat bank balances.
Riches in possessions and money are uncertain.
Consider the stock market crash of 1929 that led to half the banks in the US failing and 30% of the workforce with no job.
Everything was going great until those fateful 4 days in October where the market dropped 25%.
In todays currency the market lost almost 400 billion dollars in four short days.
People were wiped out of savings, businesses had to be sold for pennies on the dollar.
Disaster.
This crash caused people who had hoped in money to be overcome with despair.
Their “kingdom” came crumbling down and led many to commit suicide because their hope was in possessions and riches.
Paul tells us not to set our hopes on riches because they are uncertain.
As Christians, we have everything we need and then some.
Both in this age and the one to come.
As long as we have food and shelter, let us be content (8).
Whatever we have in this life, abundance or lack, acknowledge that it is God who has given us the ability to work, to be wise in decisions, for favour at our jobs to get promotions and for our crops to multiply.
We plant but it is God who brings the rain and the increase.
I had an unbelieving friend who would ask my sincerely why we pray before meals.
Was it not you who went to the garden and picked the corn?
Did you not pay from your hard labour to the butcher for your steak?
Did you not labour over the stove to make this meal?
You did this, why would you thank God for it?
Well my reply at the time was not as refined as it is now, but quite simply I acknowledged that without God’s air in my lungs I could not breathe to smell this good food.
Without arms and legs and a mind I could not work to earn money to pay the butcher.
Everything that we have is from the Lord God Almighty, so do not be like the world in having confidence in your riches but on God.
Everything that we have is from the Lord God Almighty, so do not be like the world in having confidence in your riches but on God.
It did not go well with him as God humbled this great king in bringing him his knees as a mad man.
Notice these wonderful words at the end of (17).
God provides for us richly with everything we need for us to enjoy.
Whether you have much or little, we are to enjoy what God has given us.
Our good Father’s desire is for us to enjoy, to delight in and benefit from his rich blessings.
Enjoy a prosperous year, delight in warm clothes, appreciate food that can fill your belly, adore God for the love of family, the church of Christ and the salvation of your souls.
Worship God who has given all these blessings to you.
Now, a person could think in their mind that this group that Paul refers to being rich is not you.
Maybe you could be tempted to think that someone who is rich is someone who has a million dollars tax free in the account, or if you have enough in the RRSP’s to retire on, then you are rich.
But if you were in Ephesus, nearly everyone in this church would be considered to be very wealthy.
In fact, according to current world’s standards the average income in Albania is $379/month where in Canada it is $4,134/month.
Yes I know that you cannot compare apples to oranges but I think you get the point.
So let us be careful before we exclude ourselves from Paul’s teaching.
Transition:
Therefore, the world’s attitude towards money is to gain more for ourselves so we can make a name for ourselves.
Paul instructs the rich believers to not think of your money this way but rejoice in the Giver of everything which is God our Saviour.
Now, Paul turns from the negative use of money to the positive.
Point #2 - The Godly View of Money.
In (18), “they” which is the rich believers are to do good.
So does he contradict himself that the poor are not to do good?
Not at all.
He is just wanting to emphasize that the proper attitude towards money as a Christian is to do good with your money.
What are some examples?
Obviously from this letter alone, those who are rich have more ability to give to the widows in the church.
For the orphans and poor, they need food and shelter.
Food and daily living requires money.
Instead of being rich in possessions, use your money to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.
This is what often is referred to being good stewards of money.
What does it mean to be a steward?
To get the right interpretation of this doctrine we need to start in creation.
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Since God created all things and the fulness thereof which includes you and me, He alone is owner of all things.
From the pennies in your piggy bank to the wheat in the bin to the investments in RRSP’s.
As a Christian you were bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ so that you would receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life through our Saviour who died and rose again.
So since God is owner of all things, He has entrusted us to be a good steward or manager of His possessions.
This includes children that are born to us, homes that we live in, a flock that is to be shepherded, our jobs as well as the money that is in the bank account.
One thing to add that is vitally important in understanding stewardship.
It is more than just managing money, time, resources or gifts.
It is about our faithful obedience to Jesus Christ.
It is what motivates us to action because we love Jesus and want to bring honour and glory to God our Saviour!
So in the context of this letter, the rich are to properly steward or manage their money in such a way so as to use it for advancing the kingdom of God.
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