Kingdom Stewardship of Money & Possessions
Various Passages
Next week I’ll be speaking at a retreat. Beyond that, I’ll be away from the pulpit for the summer so I can shift more of my energy on preparing for the launch of our Plymouth Meeting site. I’ll be building our core team, searching for an assistant pastor, and working on the details of this multi-site transition. We’re excited about the site, but there’s a lot to be done.
Last week we started our summer series on stewardship, and Dwight and others will continue this series. In the Parable of the Talents, we said that Jesus was not so much telling us to be good steward but was exposing and warning the unsaved. We said that true Kingdom citizens, true Christians love God, and so it is our joy to please, serve, and honor our Master.
True Kingdom citizens recognize that everything we have is not our own, but God has entrusted His resources into our hands so that we could have the joy of serving Him. Like the first 2 servants, we consider it a privilege to be entrusted with so much and have the opportunity to serve Him.
Today we want to take a look at what it means that all of our money and possessions belong to God. We are His servants entrusted with His money to serve His kingdom. I’d like to consider the practice of giving: regular, generous and sacrificial giving.
Why Not to Give? . . . is not a reason to give
1. Because God and His Work needs money
God doesn’t need our money. God owns everything.
I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. Psalm 51:9-11
We never do anything for God. God always gives, and we always receive.
2. Because God will approve of me more.
Giving doesn’t make your righteous. Giving doesn’t make God love you more.
We’ve said that God’s love for us is not dependent on our performance, our “goodness.”
Doing good works, including generosity, does not make up for bad things we’ve done, nor does it secure more of God’s favor.
3. Because I can gain more material blessings
There are blessings for giving.
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10
I think its okay to want wealth; that itself is not bad. Being poor in itself is not necessarily more godly. However, we’re to want the right things to the right degree. The danger is when our real treasure is wealth and God is a means to gain wealth. That is a “health and wealth prosperity gospel.” “God can make you rich.” This is not a reason to give.
We mentioned a few weeks back, Kingdom Living means our treasure is Christ. If what we mainly want is more material gain, then God may be just a better investment strategy. God doesn’t want to be your investment strategy, He wants to be your treasure.
4. Because there are hurting people and desperate needs.
We give out of compassion. This is good. Last week we looked at Mt 25. In the parable after the talents, there’s the parable of the sheep and the goat. Jesus says, if you’ve fed, clothed, visited any of the least of these brothers of His, we’ve done it for Him.
Yes, we’re to love with actions, not just with words. 1 John 3:17-18
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18
Christians are definitely supposed to demonstrate compassion, to respond to our brothers with actions and generosity. But I also want to point out, Christian giving is not primarily about human compassion. There are a lot of kind and generous people out there. There are wonderful charities and philanthropists. My brother is working with the Clinton Foundation to help run their AIDS work in Ethiopia. He’s surrounded by good people who want to make the world a better place.
Christians should be compassionate, but Christian giving is not primarily about compassion.
Here’s the main problem in giving out of human compassion: our giving comes out of our goodness. We’re the heroes. We’re compassionate, generous, sacrificial, good. But in the Gospel, in Gospel Living, God is the hero. In the Gospel, God is the compassionate one, not us. It is because God has been so generous and gracious to me. God must be at the center. God is the hero.
1 John 3:16-20
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18
A closer look at this passage reveals that our giving to a brother in need is first based on Christ’s love for us. Jesus laid down His life for us, and so we are to lay down our lives for our brothers. The real source of compassion is Christ not us. Our compassion for others is the evidence of God’s love in us, that we’ve understood/experienced Christ’s sacrificial love for us. Again, the reason why we give is because God is compassionate, not us. It is because Christ first loved us. Jesus is the compassionate one, the hero. That leads us to Gospel giving.
Gospel Giving: What is our view of God?
The important issue is not the money you give but the faith by which you live. The important thing is being transformed by the Gospel, Gospel Living, and that expresses itself in our giving. What does Gospel Giving look like?
People have different approaches to money. Let’s take a quick test.
1. Shopping
A. Shopping is my favorite sport.
B. Shopping is torture.
2. Credit Cards
A. Credit cards allow me to have what I want without worrying if I can afford it.
B. Credit cards are a good way to build up a credit rating and a handy alternative to carrying cash.
3. If I see something I like, I
A. Buy it.
B. Usually talk myself out of buying it.
4. I love to use money to
A. Enjoy life to the fullest.
B. Build up a nest egg.
5. When I go shopping for something I need, I
A. Usually come home with a few extras.
B. Shop around to make sure I’m getting it for the best price.
6. If your car needed $2000 in repairs, what would you do?
A. Pay for it with credit
B. Pay for it from savings
7. How do I allocate my retirement account?
A. What retirement account?
B. Very carefully.
Some are more savers, some are more spenders. Usually, one marries the other. This creates for some interesting marriage dynamics. What are you? It’s easy for one side to see the flaws of the other side, but before we become self-righteous or defensive, let me say, both are selfish and sinful.
For those who lean more on the saver side, I think the deeper question is, why is financial security to important to us? The deeper spiritual question is, do we find security in God or in our savings? Where are we putting our hope? Do we believe God’s promises? Ironically our money says, “In God we trust,” but in reality, forget God, we trust in money.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
The Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything I need. Psalm 23:1 (New Living Translation)
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Do we believe this? What if you really believed all your needs would be met? What if you really believed your Father is so rich and generous, so faithful and kind, that you’ll always have all that we need for a godly and full life? What if you really believed you’re already rich, rich beyond our wildest dreams?
I look at my Dad. He was a passionate and faithful pastor, but a terrible financial planner. He had saved no money for his kids’ college education and no money for his retirement. Throughout my childhood, we lived in apartments. He didn’t really own a house until after I was in seminary. But the amazing thing is that all 3 of his kids went to college and now in retirement, all his needs are met. He’s not living fancy, but all his needs are provided.
I look at my life, and God provided for my college education (no loans), my seminary education (no loans), my single years and now for my family. He has generous to me, He has blessed me beyond my expectations.
For Savers, do we have testimonies of God’s faithful provisions, that all our needs are supplied.
1. Do we believe God will meet all our needs? Is God our Faithful Provider?
Do we have that assurance? Even if our savings dip low, even if our jobs are not secure? Do we worry? Do we feel the need to stockpile? Or are we freed, resting in the security of God’s promised faithfulness? The issue is our faith.
For the Spenders, the question is, where do we seek our pleasure? What do you think will give you true joy? What are we chasing after to fill our hearts? Do we want more things or do we want more of God? The deeper question for spenders is, is God your greatest treasure?
Are we like the guy who finds a treasure in the field or the pearl of great price? Have we found something better than money and possessions, something we want to give our money to gain?
Better than iPhones, nice laptops, shoes, purses, jewelry, digital cameras, HD TV’s, power tools, restaurants, vacations, home theaters, home upgrades, etc.
Better than big insurance policies, investment portfolios, real estate assets, etc.
We’ve found something better!
My Dad had come to the US for advanced studies. He got a PhD in applied mathematics and a job with the US Department of Agriculture. But he quit his job, sold the house and became a pastor.
Years ago the owner of Hatfied meats came to give a talk on Financial Stewardship. He’s a committed Christian and a very successful business man. But you’d never know. He dressed rather plainly, drove a modest car. He said he’s lived in the same house for decades. Although his wealth grew incredibly, his lifestyle didn’t. And it was his joy to give his money to different ministries.
These men found something better than money and possessions. They sold their lesser treasure to gain their greater treasure.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)
What if you really believed that money was fleeting, material things were fleeting, but you’ve tasted a deeper joy at God’s right hand. You’ve experienced that full life. You’ve experienced the freedom, joy, thankfulness, peace and love that flows from experiencing the Gospel/Christ changing your heart?
2. Do we believe God is the ultimate source of joy, the greatest treasure?
The issue here is not, will you be kind and generous, will you do the right things? The real question is, what do you believe? Is He a faithful provider? He is the ultimate treasure? How do you view God?
If we’re not trying to find security or pleasure in money & possessions, then what are we do with our money? We don’t need to hold onto it for ourselves.
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28)
I see 3 categories of people: Takers, Keepers, Givers
Christian ethics says more than don’t steal. It says more than work for yourself. It says, work and work hard, so you can give your money away.
As we said, the important thing is not so much the money given but the faith exercised. We don’t just want giving. We want Gospel giving. Is that what we have in Ephesians 4?
A. Structure of Ephesians. Ephesians is divided into 2 main sections:
1-3 Indicative, what God has done for us.
4-6 Imperative, how we’re now supposed to live
Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
You have a glorious calling as a servant of Christ. Live up to the calling already given.
The ethic to be a giver, not a taker or keeper, flows out of all that Christ has done for us.
B. Immediate Context. This indicative-imperative structure is in the immediate context as well
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Focus on vs. 24.
a. created, created by God. We are His workmanship. This new self is His project, not ours.
b. to be like God. He confirms us to Himself, to the image of Christ. More specifically, in true righteousness and holiness.
“true” righteousness and holiness. Jesus says I am the Truth. This is understood as Christ’s righteousness and holiness.
To become like God is not something we accomplish. This is God’s work of making us like Himself. We are His workmanship.
That’s how God made you. That is your new identity in Christ. Now stop living like the old self, and live like the new self. This new self is not a Taker, not a Keeper. God has made you like Himself, a Giver. Live like it. (indicative-imperative)
3. Do we believe that we are God’s workmanship, that God created us to be like Himself, a Giver?
The Gospel is not telling you to be a good giver. You’re not. You can’t. And to give out of own goodness is the self-reliance, self-righteousness that the Gospel condemns.
The Gospel says we’re selfish takers, we’re not givers. But Christ has died for our selfishness, stinginess, materialism. Christ has taken away our sins and made us a new creation. He has made you compassionate. He has made you to be a Giver, not a Taker. Do you believe, in Christ, this is who you are? You have a new identity. You are a child of God, you are righteous and holy the way Christ is righteous and holy.
Now live like this is who you are.
Application
We had announced that we would have a capital campaign, mainly for repair and renovations costs to the new building. We were about to launch this campaign, however, the session felt that this would be too much to process with the multi-site plans. We were concerned that we’d be trying to move too fast, and so we’ve decided to post-pone our capital campaign.
In postponing the capital campaign, we’ll also have to postpone our repairs & renovations. However, we can’t remain both in the Emmanuel building and the new building too long. We need to make the new building suitable for children’s ministry, and so our plan it to renovate the basement so that the children’s ministry space would be good to go. How are we going to pay for this? We have some money left in our building fund, there’s some unspent carry-over money from prior budgets. And the staff and session are going to make our own sacrificial gifts and pledges. If others want to contribute as well, you’re welcome to do so.
But in a while, we will be asking us as a church to help raise $100,000’s, and for all of us to give big and sacrificial gifts, 4- and 5-digit gifts.
I see 3 layers of applications for us, deepening in importance.
Financial Gift
This is important. Practically speaking, we’re going to need many $100,000’s.
Lifestyle of a Giver not a Keeper
But more than money, we need to change our lifestyle, our character. We’re not takers, or keepers. We earn money so we can give it away. That’s more than just giving an offering. This is a more profound lifestyle change.
Faith
This life change comes from faith, from the Gospel. God is looking throughout the earth, not for the generous, but for those who trust Him. It is our faith, not our giving, that pleases Him.
In the life of Faith, Gospel Living, God is the hero. God is the Giver, the Provider, the Greatest Treasure. He is our Maker and Redeemer. God is the compassionate one. God is the Hero, and God gets the glory.
Where to begin: Give.
Tithe is a starting point. Give sacrificially. Give as a steward using His money for His kingdom.
And in that giving, wresle with whether you trust God as your provider, whether you see God as your treasure. Claim that you are in fact being transformed into the image of Christ.
That giving is not because God needs your money, but so that you can express and deepen your faith in God. And in deepening your faith, you would find greater security and joy in God.