God is not a vending machine
The difference between a financial vs. a spiritual transaction
By Victor Castillo, victorhugocastillo73@gmail.com
Objective: To learn that tithes and offerings are an indicator, the disciple’s spiritual thermometer and an expression of worship that acknowledges God’s sovereignty over our lives
Introduction: If you insert the right amount of money into a vending machine, and press the right buttons, you will get whatever you’re hungry for when you want it. Many times, consciously or maybe not, we do the same thing with God. We assume if we comply with attending church and putting something in the offering plate we would get whatever we desire and in the moment we think we need it.
But the Word of God says He expects a spiritual transaction from our hearts, a spiritual investment that will serve His purposes not ours. Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 6:17 to not set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
It is only with this perspective along with godliness and contentment that there is great gain, according with 1 Timothy 6:6. With this biblical focus our tithes and offerings are not an obligation, they are an expression of worship acknowledging God’s sovereignty over our lives and our church.
Financial Transaction (Treasures on Earth)
God is not a bank or the stock market with whom we do financial transactions in order to get a “return on investment”. The biggest mistake we make is when we look at our tithes and offerings as our own resources and then we try to do a “financial transaction” in church, as if pressing some “magical spiritual buttons or codes” would make God answer our prayers or solve our problems.
First, we need to understand that God is not a vending machine to provide us in exchange of our tithes and offerings, nor He is a financial institution to carry our “contract terms”, and God is not a genie in a bottle that will grant us every wish to get us out of our financial struggles.
The Gospel of Matthew helps us understand, from a different perspective, the difference between a financial vs. a spiritual transaction: Matthew 6:19 “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. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
There are two ways to invest our resources: 1) to lay up for ourselves treasures on earth where things are temporary and will end or disappear at any moment of our life, or instead, 2) to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, spiritual transactions for His glory now and for eternity.
If we were honest with ourselves, and look into our hearts, we would ask us these questions: What is and where is my treasure? Is our treasure preventing us to perform spiritual transactions? Are we limiting the glory of God in our lives and in the lives of others by limiting what we put in the offering plate? How is our heart when we make our tithes and offerings?
It is important to note that God sees the condition of heart when we deposit our offerings. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Spiritual Transaction (Treasures in Heaven)
A spiritual transaction is based in the understanding that all our resources, whether it’d be money, time, family, real estate, a business, etc., all come from and belong to God. James 1:7 says “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
He’s placed resources in our hands, and expects us to be good administrators or stewards of His varied grace, so that 1) He and our Lord Jesus be glorified and honored, 2) our hearts be transformed and we become more like Christ, 3) for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another, 4) and so the world would know how to become citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
The big question is: Where’s our treasure, on earth or in heaven? Are we making “financial transactions” on earth, or are we making spiritual transactions in heaven? This is another reminder of Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Encouragement to give generously
One of the best examples of spiritual transactions or encouragement to give generously is found in the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9, we learn about the grace of God that was given among the churches of Macedonia.
I encourage you to read both chapters, and then focus on the following verses to learn what was in the heart of the churches of Macedonia and how they gave offerings.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NIV)
1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
2 Corinthians 8:8
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
2 Corinthians 8:12
12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:19
19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.
2 Corinthians 9:5
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Spiritual transactions of the churches of Macedonia:
1) The churches of Macedonia brought offerings even in midst of a very severe trial, and their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. (2 Cor. 8:2) This is great example of faith for the glory of the Lord, and this is the difference between happiness vs. joy. Happiness is based on our current conditions and circumstances, but joy is present no matter what our situation is.
2) They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. (2 Cor. 8:3) Basically, they gave according to their means, and beyond their means.
3) They urgently pleaded for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. (2 Cor. 8:4) Offerings were seen as a privilege, not as an obligation, they knew it was a blessing to share in this service. Bottom line, they knew this was a spiritual transaction, an investment in the “bank of heaven” and that’s why they saw their offerings as a privilege.
4) They gave themselves first of all to the Lord. (2 Cor. 8:5) They not only knew all their resources came from God, they knew they themselves belonged to the Lord. In Acts 20:24 Paul said “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Basically he estimated himself as property of God, and was willing to offer himself and all he had for the work of God (2 Cor. 12:15) “So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.” This was the same thing that the churches of Macedonia were doing.
5) They gave with sincerity of love. Their love was displayed when they brought their offerings. (2 Cor. 8:8) This is how Paul wanted to test the Corinthian’s sincerity of love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
6) Their gift was acceptable not only because they were willing but also because their offerings were according to what one had, not according to what one did not have. (2 Cor. 8:12)
7) The churches in Macedonia were eager to help, (2 Cor. 8:19) an evidence of a disciple who is interested in honoring God with all resources. In our case, this also applies in our tithes and offerings as a way to show our good will. These resources are administered in such a way that will glorify the Lord in our church, our vision and mission.
8) Macedonian churches brought generous gifts, not grudgingly given. (2 Cor. 9:5) Their generous offerings lead them to a deeper lever of intimacy with God and to a deeper level of commitment to a global concern that God put in Paul as a vision, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to remote areas where Macedonian Christians couldn’t go.
Conclusion
In light of these Bible verses, we must now evaluate our tithes and offerings. Are we like the Macedonian Christians making spiritual transactions growing into a deeper relationship with God and his vision for the world, or are we still doing “financial transactions” trying to domesticate God bringing Him to our level in order to fulfill our selfish desires?
Overflowing joy can only be experienced when we bring our tithes and offerings even in the midst of trials, when we give according to our means, and beyond our means. Abundant life can only be experienced when our offerings are seen as a privilege, not as an obligation, and when we give ourselves first of all to the Lord. Sincerity of love, willing and eager to help with rich generosity are characteristics of a Christian.
These Biblical principles are the spiritual thermometer, which reminds us that it takes more than doing all the right things, and saying all the right things or placing a Christian decal on our car or even wearing Christian t-shirts.
Yes, we have bills, maybe a mortgage and debts, but we must never forget Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Psalms 37:4-5 “4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
Don’t get stuck into what you have to do with a 10%, focus on the other 90% of your resources because all, including yourself, belong to God.
Let’s stop treating God like we do a vending machine, let’s be generous when coming to church, and let’s pray that all of our resources are administered in such a way that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
