131020 Whose Wealth Is It?

From time to time we need to visit what the Scriptures teach us about wealth and material blessings. As I was working on my message this week I kept being drawn back to the words of Jesus when he said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Those words had nothing to do with the message I was preparing so I had to stop and think. Thinking is not always easy with all the other stuff going on around me. But I feel sure God was leading me to change the message. So, here it is!

Our text for today is, Luke 12:13-21, A large crowd had gathered around Jesus. Listen while I read. Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” ¹⁶ And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, ¹⁷ and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ²¹ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

We might not consider this story to apply to us because Jesus is talking about a rich man and by our standards none of us are really rich. Bear with me. I believe I will show you how this passage applies to us. At the request of the man in the crowd Jesus replied…

Guard against covetousness. I am sure that the man believed that he was concerned with justice not covetousness. He just wanted what was right! He wanted his share of the family wealth. In response to his request Jesus pointed towards…

The tenth commandment. Found in Exodus 20:17, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

The last of the Ten Commandments may also be considered to be the least of them. After all, admiring someone’s wealth whether it be in the form of a spouse, an employee or his, or her, “stuff” is just that — admiring — isn’t it? God says, “No, admiration quickly turns to desire and demand.” The man who wanted his share of the inheritance was coveting what his brother had the right to. He was asking for a ruling in his favor in order to consume it on his own desires. He certainly wasn’t placing his faith in God. Because…

Covetousness is idolatry. Let’s read from Paul’s letter to the Colossians found in chapter three verses five through ten, Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Here Paul gives us a list of character traits that’s pretty much common to mankind. Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. And then he notes that covetousness is idolatry. We are to put all these things to death. In other words we are to take an active part in changing our outlook on life. And in the midst of this is the statement that covetousness is idolatry!

We live in a materialistic world that circulates around wealth and possessions. If a person doesn’t have wealth and possessions we are encouraged to admire those who have such and desire the same for ourselves. You see…

Our world is filled with covetousness. Wherever we look we see advertisements for material things designed to make us covet them. Gambling, through the state lotteries, has become very common and is based entirely on a desire to have wealth that was not earned. A desire to be rich is a very dangerous thing. Paul wrote to Timothy words that really apply to every age. Listen while I read, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, But godliness with contentment is great gain, ⁷ for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Money itself is not evil. It’s not even a necessary evil. Morally, money is neutral and is simply a way of our exchanging labor for material goods. It’s the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil. The world we live in is filled with the love of money. Everywhere we look there is the drug culture, robbery, bribery, prostitution, violence, corrupt politicians and greedy businessmen. In order to illustrate the problem Jesus told the story of…

A good farmer with wrong values. We know this man was a good farmer because his land produced an abundant crop year after year. Abundant crops are not an accident. They are caused by a combination of good soil, hard work and common sense. I am sure that Jesus did not have to look far to find a farmer whose story provided a very good illustration.

Luke calls this story a “parable” and for a lot of people that means it’s not necessarily true. One definition of a biblical parable is, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. While that definition is correct, yet no way implies that the events didn’t really happen. Jesus, as the Son of God, had access to knowledge about everyone and everything. So when you read a parable in the Bible I hope you will always know that it’s true because Jesus does not lie!

Throughout human history people have confused material blessings with spiritual approval. I can assure you that…
Material blessings do not guarantee God’s approval. Let’s look at, Psalm 73:2-3, But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. ³ For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

The psalmist looked around himself and saw that there were many people who enjoyed wealth, health and apparent happiness. Yet, they did not honor God with their lives and it began to draw him away from his faith in God. As he said, he almost stumbled and his steps nearly slipped. He saw the arrogant and wicked people who seemed to enjoy abundant prosperity.

The same kind of observation can be made today. How is it that the wealth of this world seems often to flow to the wicked of the world? It just doesn’t seem fair! We just can’t see the big picture. The psalmist came to see that…

God settles his accounts in his own time. Listen while I read, Psalm 73:16-24. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, ¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. ¹⁸ Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. ¹⁹ How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! ²⁰ Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. ²¹ When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, ²² I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. ²³ Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. ²⁴ You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

In the midst of his confusion and concern over the unfair system of the world the psalmist went to church! He went into the sanctuary of God and there he saw something he had not seen before. “I discerned their end” he said. While the arrogant and the wicked seem to prosper the truth is their feet are in a slippery place. God will make them fall in his own time and in his own way.

There is a story about two farmers who had similar farms side by side. One of the farmers was a very godly man who loved the Lord. The other farmer was an unbeliever and was very arrogant in his unbelief.

One year, when they took their crops to market, there was a clear difference between the two crops. The Christian farmer had the smallest crop even though everything had been about the same for his farm as the farm of the unbeliever.

The unbeliever couldn’t wait to rub it in. Looking at the disparity between the crops he said to the Christian farmer, “You know what this means don’t you?” To which the Christian farmer promptly replied, “Yes, God doesn’t settle his accounts in September.” Like the psalmist he had been in the sanctuary of God.

The psalmist realized that he was wrong in his admiration of the wicked. In fact, he said that he was like an animal rather than like a man who trusted God. In his time of worship he came to see that God held him by the hand. He then understood that God guided him by his counsel and he rejoiced in that. A little further in the Psalm he said, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” He understood that God would provide all his needs. He knew that God had a purpose in the things of this life and that he would provide for him. He might fail but God never would and we need to remember that also.

You see…

Our resources are gifts to be shared. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians commending them for their giving he wanted them to understand that God had a purpose in supplying them with their needs. Listen while I read, 2 Corinthians 9:10-11, He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Notice that it is God who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food. The world’s way of thinking doesn’t see that at all. We think that we provide the resources that we use. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he instructs the rich to not set their hopes on their riches but instead to set their hopes upon God. You see it is God who richly provides us with everything that we need. Without him none of us would have anything to enjoy. It causes the rain to fall on the good and the bad equally. We need to remember that it is His wealth not ours! It is God who has enriched us in every way.

Enriched in every way! Wow, that’s a pretty comprehensive thought! And if we stopped with just that phrase we might think that we’ve been enriched so that we can enjoy prosperity. But that’s nowhere near what Paul is saying. We are enriched in every way so that we can be generous in every way. Not so we can have more and more wealth but so we can share with others.

The context of this passage is the taking of an offering to relieve the suffering of Christians during a time of famine. Since they had given abundantly they can expect God to reward them abundantly so that they could give even more.

God rewards those who give cheerfully. His reward is in direct proportion to their giving. This giving is in the context of the fellowship of believers. He’s not writing to individual Christians thanking them for giving here, there and the other place. He is thanking them and assuring them of God’s support for giving to and through their church. I believe the Bible teaches that our first level of giving should always be to the local congregation to support the local ministry and the local church’s outreach to the world.

The Old Testament tells us that the tithe is the Lord’s. And, that we are to bring the tithe into the storehouse. Immediately someone will argue that this is not necessary anymore because we live under grace not law. Well, Jesus said, while talking about the Pharisees’ tithing the herbs in their garden while ignoring the weightier matters of love and justice, that they should have done both. They should have been concerned with love and justice but at the same time they should have tithed even the littlest things in their garden.

If that’s the way we would have lived under the law, shouldn’t we give even more under grace?

I remember when we first began the church here in Stamford when a new member came to me one day asking why I gave to the offering. She believed that the offering all went to me personally. I had the privilege of explaining to her that this was the Lord’s offering and only that part of it the church designated as salary went to me. But, in so far as giving is concerned, I have the same responsibilities as every other member of the church. I can honestly tell you that Cherlyn and I do not tithe. We do, and have always, given more than 10% of our income to the church. We give very little to causes that are not directly related to the church. I don’t tell you this in order to bring you under some kind of bondage. I tell you this to encourage you.

God rewards a cheerful giver and will meet every need of our lives if we give first and then let him guide us in the use of the rest of our money.

We need to recognize that…

Real treasures are eternal.

Let’s look at what Jesus had to say in Matthew chapter 6.

Earthly treasures are temporary. Listen while I read the words of Jesus found in Matthew 6:19-20, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

All of our material things are temporary. Why bother to lay up treasures on earth beyond our day-to-day need? Jesus was very specific. Moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Whatever we have in the way of material things is not going to last very long.

Instead, we are to lay up treasures in heaven. When we do that whatever we have will always be secure. How do we go about laying up treasures in heaven? We certainly can’t send a check to heaven. Instead we give through the local church so that our resources can be used to win men, women, boys and girls to Jesus Christ. Those that have gone on before become our treasures in heaven.

Investing in this world is a foolish waste of money. I don’t mean by this that we should not provide adequate housing, nourishment and transportation while we’re on this earth. I mean that we should limit our investment in material things so that we can give more, through the church, to eternal things.

What you treasure reveals what you love. Read on in Matthew 6:21, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Is your heart focused on the world and material things? If it is that’s where your investment will be made. Such an investment, as I said before, is a foolish waste of money. This world is temporary and ultimately will be destroyed. Expending our treasure on worldly things is like the person whose house has been condemned spending on new carpet and paint. It’s just a waste! But it is evidence of where the heart is focused. What we invest in is ultimately what we love. Those who love the Lord invest in the things of God. Those who love the world invest in the things of the world.

One problem is that people in America often do not think of themselves as having wealth. However when we’re compared to the rest of the world we are wealthy beyond imagination. Even the poorest of us have a better standard of living than the middle class in most countries much less than the poorer classes.

Jesus goes on to say…

You cannot serve two masters. Matthew 6:24, No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

What is the evidence that we’re serving money rather than God? Jesus goes on to say, immediately after this verse, that we are not to be anxious about life. Instead we are to look at the birds of the air how the Father feeds them. Then he adds, “Are you not of more value than they?” Tragically, some people have such a poor self-image that they do not believe they are more valuable than a bird. Folks, remember, we are made in the image of God!

We are to be faithful in managing our resources in such a way that it is obvious we serve God and not money.

When Paul wrote that God would supply all our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus he was writing in the context of the Philippians having given abundantly to meet his needs. God is under no obligation to supply us if we are not going to manage well what he has already entrusted us with. After all, whose wealth is it that we manage? It is God’s wealth and we are simply stewards of it. We return a tithe to God through the church as part of the evidence that we serve God not money.

After the conquest of the land of Israel, Joshua called the people together and repeated to them the covenant story of their deliverance from Egypt. He then challenged them to put away the gods of the past and serve the Lord. He said to them, “… choose this day whom you will serve.” And he concluded by saying, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We need to make the same kind of challenge with regard to the material things God has blessed us with. Will we worship the things that we have and covet the things of others? Or, will we commit ourselves to trust God for all our needs and worship and honor him with the wealth he has given us? That’s really a choice we make on a day-to-day basis. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. What will you and your house do?

All scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Privilege of Giving 130519

2 Corinthians 8:1-9, We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

The apostle wanted the church in Corinth to know about the special attitude the churches of Macedonia had towards giving. Corinth was a wealthy cosmopolitan city while Macedonia was an impoverished rural area. In fact, the contrast exists even today. Poverty was a problem to the people of Macedonia. I suspect that Paul, as he traveled through Macedonia, mentioned the offering he was taking for the saints in Jerusalem without much expectation from the Macedonians. They became an example of generosity to Corinth. They knew the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage of Scripture has been very special to me since the early days of our ministry in this area. By God's grace we had been given a church building in the town of Maryland, in Otsego County, and soon after we were given the grace to buy the farm that became the pastor's home for the Maryland Baptist Church and the church camp. In order to make the church building useful a tremendous amount of renovation had to be done. We were dependent on God for our living and extra expenses.

One day I went to the mailbox and found a package that I immediately recognized as being the size of, and having the feel of, a Good News for Modern Man New Testament. Immediately I looked to see where it had come from. The handwritten return address was: Macedonia Principal, 2 Corinthians 8:9. The 4th class stamp on it was canceled in Babylon, Long Island. It was wrapped in brown paper. I was intrigued by this item so I went inside the house, got a knife and slit the wrapping so I could see the edge of the book. On the edge of the pages was written "GIVE" in big bold letters. I am fairly cynical so I assumed that someone had found the book with our address inside it and wanted me to give them something.

I carefully opened the cover to expose the flyleaf and found written there, "Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands - all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you." Luke 6:38 GNT. This reinforced my belief that someone wanted me to give them something. I ran my thumb along the edge of the book and fanned the pages. In doing that I discovered 10 bookmarks each one marking a verse, or passage, about giving. Each bookmark was a brand-new $100 bill!

I was overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift. At the same time my joy was mixed with shame that I had expected so little from God. I went to the bank and deposited the money and immediately went to the lumber yard for building supplies. God is so good and he has met our needs so many times! I give glory to his name!

We need to remember that God does not need our gifts. The Bible tells us exactly that! God says in his word that every beast of the forest is his and that the cattle on a thousand hills are his. We need to remember that before he came to the earth…

Our Lord was rich. When Jesus came to the earth he was already the Creator God and was recognized as the firstborn of all creation. As such, he was the heir of all things! Let's look at what the Scripture says about Jesus…

As Creator. Listen to Paul's letter to the Colossians. Colossians 1:15-20, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

By him all things were created. That's an amazing statement and speaks clearly about his ownership. The laws of the United States are based on Judeo-Christian principles. Two collections of laws are of interest as we look at this passage of Scripture. The copyright laws and the patent laws. In these laws we find that the originators, or creators, have the right to protect their creations.

Not only were all things created by him they were also created for him. The God we serve, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, created the universe and owns it outright! Jesus was rich beyond our wildest imagination as the creator of the universe. His rights are more completely established…

As God. There are many passages of Scripture that show that Jesus is God. For our purposes we will use John 1:14-18, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

“The only Son from the Father” might not establish the truth about Jesus being God but verse 18 is very clear: "No one is ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." In fact, John began his gospel with, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." That last phrase is very interesting. "The Word was God." If it were translated word for word from the Greek it would say, "God was the Word". I'm not scholarly enough to know why all English translations seem to avoid that construction. There might be a reason but I don't know what it is. If I were to say, "Aree is my son." Or, "My son is Aree." In both cases the meaning would be the same. It's very clear that John, in writing his gospel, wanted to affirm the truth that Jesus is the Creator God of the universe. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus has always existed…

As the heir of all things. Look at what the writer of Hebrews had to say to us! Hebrews 1:1-4, Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

When Jesus told the story that we call "The Parable of the Tenants" he told of a landowner who created a vineyard and rented it out to tenants. Then he moved far away. When he sent his servants to collect the rent the tenants refused to pay. They not only rejected the rent collectors they also beat some of them and killed some of them! The landowner, last of all, sent his son saying, "Surely they will respect my Son." The tenants, recognizing that the son was the heir, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Clearly, Jesus is the Son in the story.

Jesus was, and is, rich. He is the creator. He is God. And he is the heir of all things. But, for our sakes…

He became poor. It's hard to imagine the contrast between the glory of heaven and the gloom of the earth. Jesus, the creator God, the older brother who has the right of primogeniture, chose poverty for our sakes. He was poor…

In his birth. In order to be born in Bethlehem, as the prophecy said he would, he had to be moved, before his birth, from Nazareth. In order to achieve that God had the Roman Empire issue a decree. Let's read about it. Luke 2:1-7, In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

For the wealthy there was plenty of room. I am sure the Inn in Bethlehem had rooms for the wealthy. But for a common carpenter and his pregnant wife there was no room. I can imagine the innkeeper explaining that there was no place for anyone because of the order of the Romans. Those who were well-off had arrived early and secured the available space. Then, I imagine, he told them that they could use part of the stable. At least there would be hay there for them to make a simple bed. And the creator of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords was born in a stable not in a palace!

He was born in poverty and he was poor…

In his early life. Listen to Luke's account. Luke 2:22-24, And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Proof of the poverty of the carpenter's family is seen in the sacrifice offered when they presented him to the Lord. The Law of the Lord is more specific than Luke's quote. What Leviticus says is, “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

A lamb a year old and a pigeon, or a turtledove, were to be the sacrifices. But if she cannot afford a lamb then two turtledoves or two pigeons would be offered. The Royal Family were uprooted from their home and made to travel some 80 miles. Joseph on foot and Mary on a donkey would have covered 10 or 15 miles a day. The wealthy would have had horses or camels to ride on and cut the time in half. Not only was Jesus born in poverty but he was poor…

During his ministry. So far as we know, except for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus walked everywhere he went. Luke tells us about one instance in, Luke 9:57-58, As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Many times people say to Jesus, in the words of Mary Brown, "It may not be on the mountain's height or over the stormy sea; it may not be at the battle's front my Lord will have need of me. But if by a still small voice he calls to paths that I do not know, I'll answer dear Lord with my hand in Thine, "I'll go where you want me to go." I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, over a mountain or plain or sea. I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord. I'll be what you want me to be. And they mean well as did the man who confronted Jesus along the road. I am sure he was ready to join Jesus' band without question. But the implication is he had not counted the cost. If he went with Jesus he would find himself sleeping on the ground beside the road that night. The implication is he turned away and did not follow when he understood the poverty of Jesus. Let's look again at 2 Corinthians 8:9, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Wow, Jesus became poor so…

That believers might become rich!

I remember a pastor in Louisiana telling me about a man whose wife attended his church. The man came to church with his wife one Sunday determined to accept Christ as his Savior. Looking over the order of service he saw a word he didn't know and asked her, "What is 'tithe'?” She answered that it was 10% of income. He asked, "Net or gross?" She said, "Gross." He took out his pay stub and moved the decimal point and counted out his first tithe and put it in the offering plate. At the end of the service he came forward to accept Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. The Scriptures teach that…

God blesses givers. Listen to the prophet Malachi. Malachi 3:8-12, Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

Do you hear the promise? Many years ago I worked with my dad in the construction business. One day a sudden shower caused us to go inside the office. There were four or five men in the group. One of them spoke to my dad and said, "Mr. Bray, why is it that everything you do turns to gold?” Before my dad to answer, an elderly black preacher asked, "Can I tell him?" My dad, not sure what he would say, said, "Go ahead." The old preacher said, "That man is sitting under the window. The Bible says, 'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.' He's just sitting under the window.”

You might say, "That's Old Testament law and we live under grace."

We need to remember…

Jesus continued the promise. Listen to what Jesus said, Luke 6:38, give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

The first word in that quote is "give" followed by the promise "it will be given to you". Not just what you gave, but good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.

Once Jesus rebuked the teachers of the law for tithing the herbs in their garden while leaving out more important things, justice, and the love of God. But he wasn't saying, "Don't tithe." Because he added, "These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others." Not only did Jesus continue the promise…

Paul supported it. Let's go back to 2nd Corinthians chapter 9.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15, The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Two things need to be pointed out in this lengthy passage. First, stingy givers get stingy results and generous givers get generous results. Second, God enriches a person for a reason. And that reason is never so they can live like royalty on earth. We are enriched in every way so that we can be generous in every way. Such generosity causes many thanksgivings to God. God is glorified when people are generous givers. And the result is the gospel is respected by those who receive. God's purpose is very clear. Look back in verse 8, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." Our sufficiency is not for our blessing but in order for us to abound in every good work. "The tithe is the Lord's" the Bible says and when we give it to him we are simply returning that which already belongs to him.

The Macedonian Christians understood that earthly wealth is a transient treasure. They knew that it was only money and, given time, it would be replaced. The needs of the Judean Christians was so great that the Macedonians needed to give what they could, and even more, to meet those needs. We need to remember that the first thing they did was give themselves to the Lord. Then they could comfortably give of their resources for the offering. Because they knew the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. They understood that when you give to the poor you lend to the Lord and he always repays! Have you given yourself to the Lord? He gave his life to set you free only a fool would refuse that gift!

All scripture quotes are from:The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.