Money and the Kingdom

Malachi 1:8 (NIV)
⁸  When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.

Once again, the text for today is pointing out what a difference it is when our hearts are not in the right condition.

God is upset over the offerings the priests are pawning off as worthy sacrifices. Their hearts are polluted and they are trying to short-change God. They truly don't understand the reason for worship. They don't understand the God they claim to worship. They are standing at the altar of God and offering, not the best of the best, but the imperfect and diseased animals. The ones they would throw away.

How often do we do the same? It is hard to part with something we worked hard and long for - but giving it to God isn't parting with it, it is letting go of that which isn't ours to begin with. This is a difficult concept to accept or even believe when we are new to the faith. It is a new way to practice our faith, to step out and trust that God will take care of us.

I am remembering when we first began to practice tithing. It was hard. First I was afraid my husband wouldn't buy into this. I was not ready to bring the subject up, as we were both pretty new to in our walk with Jesus and we were in a financial mess.

I didn't have to say a thing. God had been working on my husband's heart at the same time He was working on mine. It was his suggestion that we start to give our 10% to God. Whew! What a relief. God took care of that right before my eyes. Then He also started to take care of our financial problems.

Malachi 1:14 (MSG)
¹⁴  "A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it! 

God is good...all the time.

Malachi 1:6-14

2 Corinthians 9: 1-9

^{2 Corinthians 9:6-7}  

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

So I guess this means we are not supposed to race around all week, and when we finally slow down and settle into the pew on Sunday, check to see what’s left in our wallet and put that into the collection basket.

Any time activities are well planned and properly orchestrated we are more calm and comfortable. When we are flying by the seat of our pants, we cannot be at peace. It is not wise to take a trip without extensive planning and preparation. It is foolish to simply throw a few things into a suitcase without thinking through what we will truly need for each day of our journey, what it will cost, how we will pay for it, and what our ultimate goal or plan is when we arrive at our destination.

Several years ago my nephew, who was a young Pastor at the time, was traveling with us by car to Ohio. We took turns driving and talking, catching up on each other’s lives and getting to know my nephew again as he had been away for quite some time. I recall some words of wisdom he spoke when reflecting on a mentor of his from seminary; “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry.”

I latched onto that line, and have it posted in various locations at home and work as a constant reminder. This world encourages and supports just the opposite. How are we ever going to Be still and know that He is God, if we are constantly on the go until we plop down on Sunday morning?

Planning and preparation have never been my strength, however as the years race by I am learning the beauty in eliminating hurry, and the time it leaves for planning what I am to do for the Kingdom of God…in my daily life, in my prayer life, and in my giving. I urge you to do the same. 

Read/Listen to 2 Corinthians 9:1-9

Pray, GIVE, Go

Why is giving such a touchy topic? I know folks who won't go to church because every time they do they think preacher is asking for money? Is this by chance one area we aren't ready to surrender to God? Do we cling tight to our money because we don't believe God will truly take care of us?

I walked a path of financial insecurity, for three years now, and God has been refining my heart. He is addressing the trust issues with which I struggle. I say I have faith, but do I really? When the going gets real tough, do I believe God is in control; or do I only give lip service to this idea?

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

I am beginning to understand and believe God will take care of me and my needs. That doesn't mean He will provide for my every whim or desire. It means He will provide for my daily bread. During this season of refining, God reveal is showing me just how much my 'wants' determine my comfort and I hate to admit, but maybe even my faith.

Faith is an area of weakness for me. Oh, to embrace the faith of Abraham or Moses, or Ruth or Mary. The next time I prepare my offering envelope I will look at the experience as an exercise in Faith and Love. I practice tithing but the area I need more practice is doing it with a full and open heart. For me that means not holding back my heart when I give, but praising God for all He has done and will do for me just because He loves.

2 Corinthians 9

Do God's Work

Many years ago I travelled frequently on business. At first blush travelling to Chicago, New York, Amsterdam, Madrid, San Diego, Dallas, Frankfurt, Paris, Bordeaux, Nice and Rome can seem glamorous.  And at first it is glamorous.

 

However, over time, I came to loathe it.

My plane is not even shown in this picture

Flight delays, circling airports during thunderstorms, missed connections, flight delays, taxi drivers taking me to the wrong hotel, more flight delays,  locked out of my room on the balcony of my fourth floor room, lost luggage, cancelled flights, airport bomb scares, … , the list goes on and on (did I mention flight delays?).

 

I was not preaching the Gospel; I was merely trying to earn a living!

 

Today’s reading, Acts 27:1-44, is about one of the (arguably) worst trips in recorded history. Paul was travelling from Caesarea to Rome and in one trip he went through more than I went through in all my business travels combined.

 

Paul was preaching the Gospel; He was doing God’s work.

 

So was I doing God’s work? Well, I was not on the front line like Paul, but perhaps I was doing God’s work.

 

All Christians have a vocation. It includes worshipping God. Most of us have occupations, and some of us are called to be parents. Our vocation also includes being a member of a congregation that proclaims the love of Jesus to the world.

 

Earning a living meant travel, and that meant I was bound to have to put up with all the frustrations of travel. It also meant that I would have an income, and would have the wherewithal to contribute to my congregation.

 

By giving, I was playing a part, albeit small, in proclaiming God’s Message. I was not in a position in my life to go on mission trips, but I was in a position to give. God had blessed my family and I financially and it was only proper that I give back. The spiritual blessings my family and I received were immense!

 

Be a contributing member of a faithful congregation. Do God’s work. Give.

Give til it makes you Smile

I wonder why we resent hearing a sermon on the topic of giving.  We squirm when someone suggests that maybe we should be more generous than we are. Then the word 'tithe' is thrown into the conversation and eye-contact stops.

It is said that our checkbooks and our calendars will reveal where our heart is. "...God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7b) This first time I read these words in the Bible I didn't understand how anyone could happily give their money away.  I didn't like paying bills, I did it because if I didn't the lights wouldn't stay on very long.  I really didn't like putting anything in the offering plate. It felt like I wasn't getting anything in return. Doesn't sound very cheerful does it?

I can't pinpoint the moment all this changed for me.  I do remember being convicted about my attitude with money.  This conviction began around the same time God was changing my heart. I had been teaching myself to pray and read Scripture.  Life was a mess and I was grasping for anything to help. My business had failed and debt was piling up.

I began to drop an envelope in the offering on Sundays.  Before long I started to tithe and it felt good.  Just like it felt good to pray and talk everything over with God. It seems that once I got over the ‘money’ hurdle, God began to tare down more walls.

2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)
 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

I have never given so that I would get, but I cannot deny the fact that once my heart changed in this area God began to bless me in others. During my current financial struggle, I have been blessed by the generosity of a number of anonymous benefactors.  Now that this current season is ending, I can’t wait to do the same for someone else. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Sometimes You Have to Let Things Happen

Have you ever had a feeling that things were not going to turn out properly or that disaster was looming? Maybe you had these feelings the first time your child got behind the steering wheel of a car. Or, worse yet, you bit your lip when a friend was about to get married to a person of questionable character.  Sometimes you have to let things happen.

Greek Merchant Vessel

Today’s reading (Acts 21:1-6) tells us that the disciples at Tyre had that feeling about a trip Paul was taking to Jerusalem. Paul was delivering a donation to the poor Christians in Jerusalem from the Corinthians (1 Cor 16:1-4).

 

“Through the Spirit, they (disciples at Tyre) urged Paul not to go” (verse 4). The disciples knew Paul would suffer hardships in Jerusalem, and they selfishly advised him not to go.

 

Yet Paul went. He was “compelled by the Spirit” (Acts 20:22). In spite of the fact that everyone knew that Paul would have a difficult time in Jerusalem, Paul understood that this was God’s plan. Paul was on a mission and he had to let things happen so that God’s plan would be accomplished.

 

Before he left Tyre, Paul and the disciples prayed.

Believe it or not, these mere six verses of scripture contain elements of a good model for mission work.

1.       Pray: The disciples and Paul prayed.

2.       Give: The disciples in Corinth gave and Paul was delivering the gift.

3.       Go:  After prayerful preparations, Paul continued to Jerusalem.

The disciples may have been wrong in urging Paul to stay with them. Bear in mind that their love for Paul was strong and his well being was their motivation. Nonetheless Paul was compelled to go, and we know he was persecuted. Yet God accomplished great things through Paul because he went.

Paul witnessed to Jews in Jerusalem. He witnessed to two Roman governors in Judea.  He witnessed to King Herod Agrippa II. Ultimately, Paul was sent to Rome, where he witnessed to many Roman soldiers and citizens, and most likely the emperor himself.

Sometimes you have to let things happen!

Riches Galore

Acts 20:2-4

The Message (MSG)

20 Then he came to Greece and stayed on for three months. Just as he was about to sail for Syria, the Jews cooked up a plot against him. So he went the other way, by land back through Macedonia, and gave them the slip. His companions for the journey were Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus, both Thessalonians; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and the two from western Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

As a missionary, Paul had to be on his "A" game all the time, alert for any signs of danger.  He walked closely with the Holy Spirit and on more than one occasion was prompted to take a different route or plan for different stops. Paul knew he was responsible for others on this trip, his companions were representatives of churches Paul had started in Asia.

We know that these ambassadors from their home churches were bringing gifts for the new believers and they wanted to hand deliver them. Having each man deliver the gift gave the gifts a personal touch and strengthened the unity of the believers. This was also an effective way to teach the church about giving.

One of the ways many of us participate in missions is by giving, either financially or with our prayers or other tangible offerings. But, when there is an opportunity to go personally and experience the joy of face to face encounters with people of other nations, we must do it.  The experience will change you forever.

I know, having been a part of five trips to Honduras, each one different and amazing in its own way.  I can remember so much of those trips.  I can see the children and the elderly.  The beautiful smiles and the heartbreaking poverty. It am stunned to this day when I remember how poor the folks are for material things, but how rich they are in Spirit.

What a lesson to learn and bring back home with me - you are only as poor as your attitude.

Acts 20:1-5

Day of Judgment - Matthew 25:31-46

As I was reading the text for today I was surprised to read in a commentary, "If Christians who have resources, would help needy fellow Christians, non-Christians would be totally persuaded of the reality of Christian love."  I guess my surprise stemmed from the fact I was looking at giving and serving in a totally different light.  For some reason I equated helping the needy with helping the non-believer, but this makes so much more sense.

There is a song I remember singing with the line, "They will know we are Christians by our love."  The basis of our judgment will be how we cared for and loved God's people.  Jesus wants to invite us to join Him in Heaven, but if we don't know Him, we can't expect to receive an invitation.  It seems a key phase is God's people, for aren't we all His people?  Doesn't He want a relationship with each of us?

Giving of our time and our gifts to others, serves God.  Sharing our 'things' with others, serves God.  Touching the lives of others, serves God.  These all build our relationship with one another and with God.  Our generosity with God's people will result in God's generosity with us.  He will know we are Christian, followers of His Son, by our love.  We will hear the words, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)

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