In a Psychology Today article called, “The Myth of Multitasking,” Dr. Nancy Napier shares a test delivered by the Potential Project, a group based out of Denmark that proves that multitasking, the idea that we can focus on two things at the same time, is a myth. I am going to time you as you carry out the following tasks: 1) On the first line, write: I am a great multitasker; 2) On the second line: write out the numbers 1-20 sequentially. How much time did that take? Usually, about 20 seconds. Now, let’s multitask. Write a letter, then a number, then the next letter, then the next number, changing from line to line. In other words, write the letter “I” and then the number “1” and then the letter “a” and then the number “2”, until you complete both lines.
Your time will double from the first round. You may have made errors and were frustrated since you had to “rethink” what the next letter would be and then the next number. What you’re doing is, “switch-tasking,” not multitasking. Multitasking is a myth. We can only focus on one thing at a time. When we try to multitask, we waste time, make mistakes and become frustrated.
“Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” - James 1:8 (NIV)
Now, what is true of us in the natural, is also true in the supernatural.
Salvation was provided for all through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead. But to be saved, we must repent, that is, “turn around.” Specifically, we must sacrifice living for sin and choose instead to live for the Savior. Once that choice is made, God’s Spirit goes to work to enable me to live a life that pleases the Savior. But before the Spirit can change our hearts, we have to make our choice. We have to sacrifice a life of sin for a life with the Savior. This principle is also true as we continue to grow as a follower of Christ.
We began this series talking about the illustration of the disciple’s cross. We said there are four disciplines God calls us to if we are going to “take up our cross” and follow Him as His disciple; and each one requires some sort of sacrifice. For instance, we can’t talk to God in prayer or hear Him through His Word and watch TV at the same time. Multitasking is a myth. We can’t fellowship with God’s people and also be somewhere else. To be here today, you had to sacrifice being somewhere else. Multitasking is a myth.
We also can’t give our tithe and spend all our money on ourselves. If I give at least 10% to God’s work through His church, I can’t spend that same 10% of my income on something else. I have to say “no” to something in order to say “yes” to God. Multitasking is a myth.
One man told me how he and his wife had tried tithing, but that it just didn’t work for them. I asked him what they were doing. He
explained, “We write out our tithe check the very first thing. Then we tape it to our refrigerator so we won’t forget it. But every time we come to the end of the month, we don’t have enough money in the bank to make the check good, so we end up not giving it.”
He was trying to obey God without sacrifice; and that’s impossible. Multitasking is a myth. Or as Jesus put it: “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
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David sinned by taking a census of his fighting men. He wanted to know how large his army was. His sin was pride. He committed the sin of Deuteronomy 8:17: “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” And, since he was focused on himself, rather than God, he ignored God’s Word about conducting a census:
“Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the Lord. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them. Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the Lord.” - Exodus 30:12 (NLT)
Because things weren’t done God’s way, a curse came upon the people. God struck them with a plague, no doubt, partly to teach David and the people that what God has given you, He can easily take away.
When David realize his sin, he confessed it and was instructed as to what he was to do. He was to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. In verse 24, David declares what we’ve been talking about, the principle of sacrifice: We can’t obey God without sacrificing something. Obedience costs. Why? Because . . .
1. A second-hand faith dishonors God and is devoid of His power.
Araunah offered to provide all David needed without him having to incur any cost to himself. But David refused. He would not seek to
relate to God on the basis of a second-hand faith; because he knew that God would not relate to him on that basis.
God pursues us in order to have a personal love relationship with us; and that cannot be done second-hand; although many people try.
The famous 18th century preacher George Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England, and he asked one miner, “What do you believe?” “Well,” he said, “I believe the same as the church.” Whitfield asked, “And what does the church believe?” The miner replied, “They believe the same as me.” Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield asked, “OK, so then what is it that you both believe?” And the miner said, “I suppose the same thing.”
A second-hand faith tends to be rather vague and is devoid of the power of God to transform. You can’t be saved depending on the faith of another and you can’t serve depending on the faith of another. Whether it is responding to the call to salvation or the call to serve . . .
Obedience requires a personal commitment from us.
It has been pointed out that we have too many hitch-hickers in the church today. A hitchhiker says, “You furnish the car, gas, attend to the repairs and upkeep, supply the insurance, and I’ll ride with you. But you must be going my way, and if you have an accident, I’ll sue for the damages.” Too many folks in churches today have an attitude that says, “You pay for the program, the personnel, the property and the mission program and I’ll go along for the ride. But know this, if things don’t suit me, I will let you know by criticizing; and if that doesn’t work, I’ll just hitch a ride with another church.”
“All too many people wish to give as little as they can to God. They are willing for others to pay for the cost of the meeting house and the program of the Church. A true Christian will not allow others to pay for his share of the support of the work of the Lord, but finds joy in making a sacrifice to the full extent of his ability.” - James Coffman
If we are to grow in the grace of giving, we’ve got to be willing to make a personal commitment to sacrifice is necessary to obey God in giving our tithes and our offerings; because it’s only then that God’s power is released to grow us, change us and use us.
2. A left-over faith dishonors God and is devoid of His power.
David had plenty of land, oxen and wood. After all, he was the king! Couldn’t God be just as happy with whatever David offered Him? No! David understood that it is only as we respond to God’s call with obedience that His power is released in our lives.
Obedience requires a priority commitment from us.
This is something the man I mentioned earlier didn’t understand. He said that tithing didn’t work for him. In that statement, he revealed his problem. Tithing isn’t about finding something that works for you; tithing is all about recognizing that you and I work for God! Tithing is an activity (giving at least 10%) combined with an attitude (that God is the owner and I am the manager). And if I do not practice tithing without a willingness to allow God direct me in the management of His resources, the power of God will not be there to teach me how to live better on 90% that I can on my own with 100%!
If I am going to grow in the grace of giving and do giving God’s way, it must be a priority commitment; for a left-over faith dishonors God and is devoid of His power.
Conclusion: This story illustrates at least three ways God’s power is released through our willingness to give sacrificially.
1) God uses our sacrificial giving to grow us - David learned through this experience that it pays to obey God’s Word. As you and I grow in the grace of giving by making a personal and priority commitment to obey God’s Word, we will be grow us and draw us closer to Him.
2) God uses our sacrificial giving to benefit others - Because of David’s sacrificial offering God reversed the curse that was upon the people. This curse was on the people because God’s law required a ransom be paid. God accepted David’s sacrifice in lieu of that ransom; which is a beautiful picture of how God accepted Christ’s sacrifice for the sake of our ransom. As you and I give to support God’s work through His church, more people will hear this Good News and as they respond, they will see the curse of sin reversed in their lives by the power of God.
3) God uses our sacrificial giving to provide for the future - The sum mentioned here of fifty shekels paid for the threshing floor, oxen and wood. But later, a larger sum of six hundred shekels (1 Chronicles 21:25) was paid for the whole hill, on which David made preparations for building the temple. Who knows? God can also use whatever we give by way of our tithe or as an offering to His work to provide for a future in which hundreds and thousands might also come to know Him, worship Him, and serve Him.
