MONEY: ITS GRIP ON US
By Andrew Chan, GIBC, Vancouver, BC
2002-04-21
What some people won’t do for money.
In an attempt to collect 40,000 euros ($44,780) in insurance payments, a 58-year-old German landscape gardener had a friend cut off his thumb and forefinger with a chainsaw.
According to authorities, the gardener held onto a cutting board while his accomplice, a 28-year-old trucker, sawed off his friend’s fingers. The gardener then threw the severed digits away before claiming money from two different insurance companies. The police arrested both men after one of them was overheard bragging about the ruse.
Both men were convicted in a Wuerzburg, Germany, courtroom. The eight-fingered gardener was given a probationary sentence of one-and-a-half-years, while his chainsaw-wielding accomplice (because of a previous criminal record) received a jail sentence.
“In fact, 15 percent of everything Christ said relates to this topic (money and possessions) – more than His teachings on heaven and hell combined. Why did Jesus put such an emphasis on money and possessions? Because there’s a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money. We may try to divorce our faith and our finances, but God sees them as inseparable.”
- Randy Alcorn in The Treasure Principle (2001, p.8)
Read Luke 3:7-14 (NLT)
7 Here is a sample of John’s preaching to the crowds that came for baptism: “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming judgment? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say, ‘We’re safe—we’re the descendants of Abraham.’ That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham. 9 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”
10 The crowd asked, “What should we do?”
11 John replied, “If you have two coats, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”
12 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 “Show your honesty,” he replied. “Make sure you collect no more taxes than the Roman government requires you to.”
14 “What should we do?” asked some soldiers.
John replied, “Don’t extort money, and don’t accuse people of things you know they didn’t do. And be content with your pay.”
Interesting isn’t it that John’s reply to the crowd, the tax collector and the soldier is linked to money and possessions?
"A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing."
Martin Luther
“There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, the mind and the purse. Of these three, it may well be that we moderns find the conversion of the purse the most difficult.” Martin Luther
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Missionary, Jim Elliott.
Luke 12:13-34 (NLT)
13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.”
16 And he gave an illustration: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. 18 So he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store everything. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
22 Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. 23 For life consists of far more than food and clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not! 26 And if worry can’t do little things like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! 29 And don’t worry about food—what to eat and drink. Don’t worry whether God will provide it for you. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
33 “Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe—no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.
We have to remember this always: GOD VALUES ME! Does that not grip us? Do we recognize as a society we are gripped instead by greed?
We need to recognize this - we are valued by God much more than we give Him the credit.
Hear Jesus
“are you not much more valuable than they (birds)?”
and the analogy of dressing up the lilies of the field by God “will he not much more clothe you?”
Challenge: Do we put God first or money? When we put God first, serve Him first, we will know in a fuller way that we are cared for!! That’s Jesus’ own opinion.
Proverbs 23:4-5 (NLT)
4 Don’t weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? 5 For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird!
Matthew 13:44 (NKJV)
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Is it time to switch our investments, from that which is volatile to that which is permanent?
“You can’t take it with you – but you can send it on ahead.” - Randy Alcorn
B. HOW TO BE FREE IN CHRIST WITH MONEY
The Macedonian Model of Grace Giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-9)
a. Giving as grace received (v.1,2)
They gave because of the Good News
“God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia” and “their wonderful joy” in Christ
b. Giving generously (v.2)
They gave even when it is inconvenient.
“going through much trouble and hard times”
c. Giving involves free will (v.3)
They gave willingly (no gun to their heads) and much more
“they did it of their own free will”
So Paul urges this type of giving in 2 Cor.9:5-8 (NLT) for the believers in Corinth:
But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given under pressure. 6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
d. Giving means there’s no holding back (v.4)
They gave enthusiastically
“They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift”
e. Giving is God’s will (v.5)
They gave their best
“their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.”
Biblical EXHORTATIONS for Giving (v.6-9)
1. Education: We need constant encouragement (v.6)
Giving trains me to be like Christ (a disciple of Christ)
Titus was there to start this giving a year ago but it got stalled and now sent again as added encouragement to be taught to give
2. Excellence: We need to excel in all areas of life (v.7)
Giving is part of what it means to be spiritual. Not to give shows immaturity.
3. Engagement: We need to engage ourselves in the grace of Christ’ generous act to be like Him (v.8-9)
Giving makes me more like Christ. This is where the sincerity of our love, our engagement in Him is tested!
For you know the GENEROUS ACT of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (v.9)
How can I give?
a. Give God the first portion as worship. Proverbs 3:9
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the FIRSTFRUITS of all your crops.
b. Give regularly. 1 Corinthians 16:2
“On the FIRST DAY OF EVERY WEEK , each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.”
c. Give a percentage. 1 Corinthians 16:2
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should SET ASIDE A SUM of money in keeping with his income.”
Can’t give away what u don’t have. “Give whatever you can according to what you have.” 2 Cor.8:11 (NLT)
d. Give thankfully. Ephesians 5:20
"always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ."
e. Give eagerly. 2 Corinthians 8:12
“If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have.”
“ … for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
