At the beginning of last year, I issued everyone a challenge. That challenge was to trust God with your finances more in 2014 than you have been. The first six months were great. The response to the challenge was accepted.
Then we lost two families. Both families were faithful givers and the budget took a huge hit. The next six months we met budget three times and were under budget three times. I must admit there were times when I found myself in some dark moments.
At the beginning of December, I mailed 50 Christmas invitations to people who live in our area that attended Love Denver. We had a few hits on our website, which was encouraging. I was prepared for a few visitors but instead some who come regularly wasn’t here.
I think the last Sunday of December was my lowest point. Recently attendance has been sporadic. Most Sunday mornings Debbie and I come in and set up for church. Shane, Amy, Thad, and Brian are here practicing. At 10, I go into the side studio for prayer. Terri usually joins me. We pray until 10:15. When we come out no one has arrived. I began wondering who will show and who wouldn‘t. 10:30 arrives and maybe some others have arrived. Maybe some arrive later. But on Sunday December 28, no one came but Terri.
The praise band was prepared to sing and would have for that one person. But too many times, I have seen the disappointment in their faces over an audience of one or two. So I decided not to do church. Instead, we set down and just began chatting. Another couple did join us so we had an impromptu Bible study.
That night I am questioning God, my ministry, my effectiveness as a leader. I am wondering what I can do. I am asking why we can’t be a church of 30. But He reminded me that He did not call me for that purpose. He called me to pastor these people at this church for this time and nothing more. If I do that which He has called me to do then He is pleased with me. He doesn’t love all those other pastors out there with huge congregations more than He does me. His love is not based on success stories. His love is not even based on faithfulness. His loved is based on his character. God is love. So as long as I am doing that which He called me to do, I am successful. I just needed to look ay my Ebenezer. And when I did, I was astonished.
90% of us responded positively to the challenge of trusting God more with our finances, some more than others. And looking back at June when I thought we were going to be in a deep hole by the end of the year, we actually finished with $700 more in the bank over 2013. I pray you had a good year and saw God’s faithfulness shine because you were faithful.
So I begin preparing the sermon on giving for 2015. My challenge for you was to take your statement on giving, divided by your W2s on all jobs in your household, and discover what percentage you actually gave. Then decide to give just 1% more than you did last year. If God blessed you last year think of how many more blessings will be poured out on you in 2015. But in doing so I realized that I was guilty of doing what almost every pastor in the land is guilty of; causing you to give to earn God’s favor.
You see, I bought into that same line of thought. If I give, God will bless me more. The more I give, the greater the blessings. The less I give, my blessings are stifled. If someone was having financial difficulties, I may have asked, “How much are you giving to God?” And if they weren’t, there is the problem.
I met a young couple. They weren’t giving and they were struggling. They knew my philosophy. They began giving and things got worse. They kept giving when I knew they could not afford it. I almost went to them and said, “Stop. You need your money.” I prayed and prayed for God to be faithful. End of story, they were blessed at the end of the year. But it wasn’t because they earned God’s favor. The results of their fortunes were in the makings before they began giving. His hard work paid off. However, God is the ultimate source which we are about to discover.
We will be talking a lot about money this year since Jesus did so. Jesus spoke on the issue of wealth and money more than He did on the issue of heaven and hell combined. Over half his parables spoke on wealth and money. What you will not hear are any references from the Old Testament and the Law of Moses unless Jesus refers to them. No promises of this will happen if you do this. Just pure gospel teaching.
We will begin today with a story from Matthew 22. The Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “We know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Let’s begin reading Matthew 22:18-21 “But Jesus knew their evil motives. ‘You hypocrites!’ he said. ‘Why are you trying to trap me? Here, show me the coin used for the tax.’ When they handed him a Roman coin, he asked, ‘Whose picture and title are stamped on it?’
‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.
‘Well, then,’ he said, ‘give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.’”
You are probably familiar with this verse. Most often, it is interpreted to prove that God instructs us about our obligation to pay our taxes. And our obligation to pay our God. Give to the government their share and to God his share. An equal obligation.
When I was working I usually paid close to 20% in federal, state, and social security taxes. According to God, that was my obligation. But to show you how compassionate God is, He only asks for 10% allowing me to keep the other 10%. What a great God.
Also this verse answers the question of what amount to tithe from, gross (before tax) or net (after tax). If I am to give to the government what is theirs, they get theirs gross. Therefore, God gets his gross. Now you have a clear understanding of God’s principal of giving. You give 10% of your paycheck before taxes because Jesus said so. And to be a true Christian you must do everything Jesus tells you to do. I bet some of you are feeling uncomfortable right now. Well, don’t.
In my hands is a one-dollar bill. Whose picture is on it? Then this dollar bill belongs to him. But it actually represents the United States government. We may possess this piece of paper but without their backing, it’s worthless. All of our finances are possessions of the government that can be taxed and even seized by them. So give them what belongs to them. Pay your taxes, as if you had a choice, and be law-abiding citizens so they cannot seize your possessions.
It’s obvious to see what belongs to the government. Is it obvious for you to see what belongs to God? Look around the room. Do you see God’s handiwork? The very dollar that I was holding would have been impossible without God. You are sitting in chairs at tables though crafted by man would not be there except for the raw material provided by God. Look at the artwork created by a talent that was God given so we could enjoy its beauty and splendor. Your ability to see from an organ filled with nerves and electrical impulses that cannot be duplicated by man. You ability to hear from holes in the sides of your head that are so uniquely made to register different tones to allow us to enjoy music and a child’s laughter.
How about your child? The Bible says God knitted you a special gift. He gave your child a unique personality unlike any other. He made your child wonderfully complex and marvelous. And He did this for your enjoyment. I’ve seen your faces light up when your child smiles at you. I heard the excitement in your voice over your child’s newest accomplishment. I’ve laughed with you over the latest witty comment your child has made. Your child belongs to God and was given to you.
Your job belongs to God. Therefore so does your income. No one here would have the job they have were it not for God. Perhaps He gave you skills to do your job. Perhaps He gave you talents to do your job. Perhaps He opened doors to give you the job you have now. I know of three of you who were in retail selling clothes or the latest gadgets. Because of circumstances and meeting the right person, you now have an income that you never would have had in your old job. Can you deny that God was a factor in that?
So if we are to give to the government what is theirs and to God what is his, we must ask, “What belongs to God?” Obviously, the answer is “Everything.” We are to give to God everything. And that includes our finances. We are not to give him 10% or 20% as we give the government. We are to give him 100%.
However, He doesn’t want it. He doesn’t want 100%, 20%, or even 10% of your money. He doesn’t want any of your money that you are not willing to give with joy. He won’t love you any less. He won’t bless you any less.
Let’s look at Mark 10:17-22
“As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus asked. ‘Only God is truly good. (perhaps a loaded question to see if this young man recognized him as God?) But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’
‘Teacher,’ the man replied, ‘I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.’
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. ‘There is still one thing you haven’t done,’ he told him. ‘Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’
At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”
Why would Jesus make such a demand? Why would He require this guy to give God the 100% that we have established belongs to God? I think the answer is found in his approach to God. I think it’s found in his very first question. “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
He didn’t come looking for grace and mercy. He came to prove himself worthy of grace and mercy. What must I do? How much must I give? How many times must I serve? God says his grace, his mercy, and his blessings are free paid for by the blood of his son. But if you desire to earn it, He will not settle for less that 100%.
The Bible says in Romans 10:9 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Salvation is not in your works. Giving God 10% will not assure you of a heavenly ticket. Nor will it result in greater blessings.
So here is the question; “Why give?” God doesn’t command it. Reality God doesn’t need your money. He has no needs. You will not be blessed any more or any less if you don’t. But you rob yourself of something that you will not find in anything else; true joy.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives (fearfully? No.) cheerfully.’”
We dishonor God when we give out of fear and compulsion. When we hit a hard spot and our reaction is to state in our holiest of voices, “I can’t afford not to give to God. Things will only get worse.” we have dishonored him by lowering him to a god who becomes displeased with our performance and removes his blessings. When we give because we always have and it’s just the way it is, there’s no joy in that.
Here’s my challenge to you this year. Join me and become a cheerful giver because in the past I have been a fearful, often reluctant giver.
Last year Debbie and I tithed 10% on our net income. We will do so again this year. On the first of each month, I receive a housing allowance of $750 to cover my rent. As I write a check for $75 to the church, I thank God for each of you. Without your faithfulness to this body, I would not have the money to pay my rent. I write that check cheerfully because I have been blessed by you guys.
On the third Wednesday of each month, I receive a social security check for $1550. As I write a check to the church for $155, I thank God that He allowed me to get to this point in my life that I can enjoy living. I write that check cheerfully because I am blessed to live in a nation that cares for its seniors.
When Debbie gives me her check written to the church, I thank God that she overcame some obstacles that landed her a great job with numerous benefits. We rejoice together by the blessings of God.
When an unexpected check comes in, a bonus, a tax return, we write a check to the church to show our joy in our blessing from God. Think how you as a parent feel when your child receives a gift from you and they hug you and thank you and tell you how wonderful you are. It just makes you want to do more for them. God feels the same way. He loves our worship and our praise. Even better, He responds to our worship and praise, just as we do as parents.
So join me this year. With every check, you receive, look at it and meditate on what God has done for you that week. If what you give to God is just another budgeted item, than He just becomes another line item on the ledger. But if you will praise him for your income. If you will meditate on what He has given you and cheerfully thank him by giving to him through this church (dare I say?) 10% of your net income, I can’t promise you riches but I can promise you joy.
