What happens when seeds are planted? The seed sends a shoot down so that it may be rooted and grounded, while at the same time it sends a shoot up to be the very flower, which brightens up our world. BOTH growths are necessary. Without the strength of a good root it would soon wither. The higher the flower wishes to be, the deeper the root must go.
John 15 tells us to stay connected to the True Vine, Jesus Christ. If we are connected to the vine, we as Christ's followers will bear good fruit. If we want our lives to exemplify God character, we must be strongly connected to the vine. If we desire for our ministries to grow and flourish, it must happen as a result of us first being deeply rooted in the Word of God, in a life of prayer, in an attitude of worship.
Many good meaning Christians and church leaders forget the importance of being connected to Christ and thus their work ceases to be fruitful, or as rich as it could be. Let us not celebrate the leaves and flowers of our ministries if we are not certain of the strength of the root.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
delay is not denial
Audrey and I have been waiting, and even as I type this sentence I know the term "waiting" is an understatement, at best, of how we truly feel. It is like we are at the airport, on time, packed, through security and anxious to get to our destination because a week of vacation and leaving the stress of busy life is just about within our grasp. As we count the minutes that slowly move toward the time we are to board our plane, an announcement echos through the waiting room - flight 227 has been delayed. "NO! That is our flight!"
Now we have to find out what "delayed" means. How long do we have to wait? What happened to cause the delay? When will we get to our destination now? How much time of vacation are we going to lose as a result of this? Is the plane okay or do we have to be worried when we actually board?
As these thoughts race through our mind going 500 miles an hour, we sit and watch the screen give us a new boarding time - 2 hours later. Okay, we can work with 2 hours. But in two hours, the same thing happens. We are delayed again. And then again. And then again. Soon, we feel like we have spent the entire day waiting to board an airplane that has never arrived - and we don't even know for sure IF it will ever arrive - and there are no other available airplanes for us to take. Now the clock works the other way - moving faster as time slips by - mocking us because now we are losing vacation time. We are just there, ready to go, all packed up, having done everything on our end there is to do, but waiting for an unknown amount of time before we can actually leave.
Audrey and I have been delayed. Not for a flight, but in entering the next season of our lives. We have left the Lord out of nothing and are trusting in the truth that all of the Lord's love is with us. We want to believe, "All is well." But we are delayed. We are delayed in important prayer requests. We are delayed in our desire to advance the Kingdom of God. We are delayed in hearing from the Lord.
"Delay is but the wonderful and all-loving restraint of your Father-not reluctance, not desire to deny-but the Divine control of a Father who can scarcely brook the delay." - Anonymous
I read the above quote once, and then again. I try to believe delay is something wonderful, but I cannot. It does not make sense for this delay to be wonderful and all-loving restraint. And there's more...
"Delay has to be-sometimes. Your lives are so linked up with those of others, so bound by circumstances that to let your desire have instant fulfillment might in many cases cause another, as earnest prayer, to go unanswered. But think for a moment of the Love and thoughtful care that seek to harmonize and reconcile all your desires and longings and prayers."
I do not even try to create a chart of how my prayers being answered can hinder anyone else. If anything, I feel other people's answered prayers are hindering us. I feel that people who do not even pray to the Lord are receiving and their gain is our loss. Perhaps this is selfishness. But how long must we be overlooked? At least that is how it feels. Of course, the Lord overlooks no one, especially His beloved children. But the reality is, we are delayed and have no clue as to why - and we have no indication as to when the delay will be lifted from us.
This entry does not end with the happy, "It all worked out and we got on our plane and had a great vacation." After I finish typing these words and posting this entry, we will still be waiting. We will still be delayed. But we have a new hope and assurance. We have to believe delay is not denial - not even withholding. Rather, delay is the opportunity for God to work out our problems and accomplish our desires in the most wonderful way possible for us. That if God were to give us what we want when we wanted, it would awaken love before its time. We have to wait for God's best, and God's best does not always correlate with when we are ready - and so being delayed is waiting for God's eternal best to take fruition in our temporal lives. We have learned a new lesson of trusting the Lord, remembering that our Maker is also the one who came to serve us, quick to fulfill, quick to achieve, faithful in accomplishment. We have come to believe in faith, all is truly well. As Audrey has told me, answered prayer is not the prize - being in the presence of the Lord is truly the prize. Everything else is added blessing.
Now we have to find out what "delayed" means. How long do we have to wait? What happened to cause the delay? When will we get to our destination now? How much time of vacation are we going to lose as a result of this? Is the plane okay or do we have to be worried when we actually board?
As these thoughts race through our mind going 500 miles an hour, we sit and watch the screen give us a new boarding time - 2 hours later. Okay, we can work with 2 hours. But in two hours, the same thing happens. We are delayed again. And then again. And then again. Soon, we feel like we have spent the entire day waiting to board an airplane that has never arrived - and we don't even know for sure IF it will ever arrive - and there are no other available airplanes for us to take. Now the clock works the other way - moving faster as time slips by - mocking us because now we are losing vacation time. We are just there, ready to go, all packed up, having done everything on our end there is to do, but waiting for an unknown amount of time before we can actually leave.
Audrey and I have been delayed. Not for a flight, but in entering the next season of our lives. We have left the Lord out of nothing and are trusting in the truth that all of the Lord's love is with us. We want to believe, "All is well." But we are delayed. We are delayed in important prayer requests. We are delayed in our desire to advance the Kingdom of God. We are delayed in hearing from the Lord.
"Delay is but the wonderful and all-loving restraint of your Father-not reluctance, not desire to deny-but the Divine control of a Father who can scarcely brook the delay." - Anonymous
I read the above quote once, and then again. I try to believe delay is something wonderful, but I cannot. It does not make sense for this delay to be wonderful and all-loving restraint. And there's more...
"Delay has to be-sometimes. Your lives are so linked up with those of others, so bound by circumstances that to let your desire have instant fulfillment might in many cases cause another, as earnest prayer, to go unanswered. But think for a moment of the Love and thoughtful care that seek to harmonize and reconcile all your desires and longings and prayers."
I do not even try to create a chart of how my prayers being answered can hinder anyone else. If anything, I feel other people's answered prayers are hindering us. I feel that people who do not even pray to the Lord are receiving and their gain is our loss. Perhaps this is selfishness. But how long must we be overlooked? At least that is how it feels. Of course, the Lord overlooks no one, especially His beloved children. But the reality is, we are delayed and have no clue as to why - and we have no indication as to when the delay will be lifted from us.
This entry does not end with the happy, "It all worked out and we got on our plane and had a great vacation." After I finish typing these words and posting this entry, we will still be waiting. We will still be delayed. But we have a new hope and assurance. We have to believe delay is not denial - not even withholding. Rather, delay is the opportunity for God to work out our problems and accomplish our desires in the most wonderful way possible for us. That if God were to give us what we want when we wanted, it would awaken love before its time. We have to wait for God's best, and God's best does not always correlate with when we are ready - and so being delayed is waiting for God's eternal best to take fruition in our temporal lives. We have learned a new lesson of trusting the Lord, remembering that our Maker is also the one who came to serve us, quick to fulfill, quick to achieve, faithful in accomplishment. We have come to believe in faith, all is truly well. As Audrey has told me, answered prayer is not the prize - being in the presence of the Lord is truly the prize. Everything else is added blessing.
Monday, May 17, 2010
money, giving and Christ's followers
When Christians talk about money with regards to the Church, probably one of the most quoted verses is found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus admonishes his disciples to not store up for themselves treasures on earth that are perishable but rather store up for themselves treasures in heaven that are eternal. He then teaches on anxiety and tells his disciples to trust the Lord to take care of their daily needs. In the middle of these teachings, Jesus refers to mammon, a term that denotes greed or material wealth. The word mammon is the Hebrew word for “money” and is also personified as a false god in the New Testament. Jesus says:
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (mammon).
-Matthew 6:24
Are Christians, then, to have nothing to do with money? In our modern society, this is not a viable choice. Money is a necessity for people to care for themselves, their families and others. Furthermore, many of Christ’s followers do numerous good things with money. This includes, among other things, supporting good causes, meeting the needs of others, supporting Christian institutions, and supporting various church ministries.
Jesus’ message is not to avoid money, but rather to not be controlled by money. As Christ’s followers, we must never serve the spirit of mammon. We do not serve money or do whatever is needed to have more of it. Instead, we use money to serve God, as good stewards of God’s blessings, and exhibit our primary concern is centered on furthering the Kingdom of God. We must take caution and avoid falling into the desire or need for money; a desire that will undermine and pervert our relationship with God.
The issue of money and Christians has come up several times during my time as a church leader. I have been asked questions as to how much money a Christian should have, whether or not a Christian should become wealthy/rich, and if Christians are to have a savings account with excess money. I believe all of these questions are derived from the misconception that it is bad for Christians to have money. Most often, those who are determined that Christians keep away from money, and even strive to be poor, quote the book of James or the story of the rich young ruler.
But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
-James 1:10-11
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
-James 5:1
At first glance, the above passages may seem as black and white Bible teachings that being rich is bad and people with money are evil. However, the full context is necessary in interpreting these verses. The first set of verses (James 1:10-11) is used to differentiate between those who are humble and those who are proud. If a person becomes prideful or arrogant as a result of being wealthy, that person has a character flaw. Thus, God is concerned about the person’s heart, attitude, and character, not the material item he or she possesses.
Concerning the second verse mentioned above, James is referring to oppressors. These are people who use money as a means of making themselves even richer while stepping on the poor. Rather than using their money to bless people and show generosity, they are hoarding money and even ripping off or repressing those who are much less fortunate. Again, the issue here is not money itself, but a character of greed and tyranny.
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?" he inquired. Jesus replied, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
-Matthew 19:16-22
I have heard people use this passage as a means of teaching that all Christians should sell all of their possessions and follow Jesus. But this is not a logical conclusion. The rich young ruler, or in some texts the rich young fool, had some key issues keeping him from fully being connected to God. First, the rich young man had an unhealthy attachment to his money. His attachment to his wealth was a barrier between him and full devotion to Jesus Christ and God’s Kingdom. Second, the rich young man had a false sense of comfort in his wealth. He had a misinformed perception of security. He did not look to God to take care of his needs but to his wealth. Lastly, the rich young man walked away sad at the thought of departing from his money. Perhaps he had a need for power. It may very well be the case that this young man had to relinquish his worldly power of wealth and become poor in order to have heavenly power through God. In any case, he was unwilling to let go of his earthly power.
On the flip side, there are passages in Scripture that show people using great amounts of money to serve God and further God’s Kingdom on earth. Zacchaeus had great wealth and used it for Kingdom purposes. In the same way, Jesus shares a parable in which three different people, representing God’s servants, are given an amount of money to serve their master, who represents God.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
-Luke 9:1-9
Who was Zacchaeus? He was a chief tax collector, which means he gained great wealth by defrauding people, his own people. He was a traitor to his kin and a lover of money, but he wanted to see Jesus. Knowing he was in a tree, Jesus called out to Zacchaeus and talked with him. Zacchaeus had an encounter with Jesus Christ and was moved. Without being given a single command, Zacchaeus took action. He made a decision to be generous and give half of his wealth to the poor. He then made a decision to be just and repay those he had swindled fourfold. Unlike the rich young ruler, Zacchaeus had a heart that longed to be close to Jesus despite his wealth. For God, it is not so much what we have or do that is of importance. Rather, it is the heart, attitude, and character behind what we have or do that God considers.
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
-Matthew 25:14-18
Contrary to the view that God does not want Christ’s followers to have money, here Jesus teaches about a man who entrusts wealth to his servants. The man going on the journey symbolizes God, and the servants symbolize Christ’s followers. The servants are given wealth and expected to serve the man, doing his work, in some capacity. The first two do well and are rewarded. The third servant does nothing to serve the man and is thus condemned.
The TNIV renders the Greek word “talent” as “bag of gold.” A talent is worth about 20 years of wages for a normal worker. Thus, the servants were given great wealth. The point is that God’s people are given resources, wealth included, with the expectation they will use those resources to serve God and further the Kingdom. If they do so, they are entrusted with more to do even greater work for God. If they fail to do so, that which they have is taken away.
Keep in mind that money is not the root of all evil. Rather, “the love of money” is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). That which captivates our focus will guide our footsteps. If we are focused on money, we will walk a path controlled by mammon. If we are focused on God and the Kingdom, we will walk a path led by the Holy Spirit. How, then, do we focus on God and the Kingdom? Simply put, focus on the blessings God has bestowed and is bestowing upon you and be thankful. Focus on the different needs around you, in your church, among your family and friends, and in the community. Focus on Scripture and the life and teachings of Jesus along with the messages of the prophets. Focus on the Holy Spirit who brings comfort, guidance, and encouragement. Lastly, focus on being transformed in heart, attitude, and character to become more like Jesus Christ.
Concerning money, and all other blessings from the Lord, we must be willing to freely give them away just as we were willing to freely receive them in the first place. We must not clench on to the material items we have been given. We must not be attached to perishable things that rust and decay. We must not have a false sense of comfort in earthly wealth. We must not seek power of our own or of this world. Conversely, we must be willing to give away that which has been given to us when we are summoned to do so. Yet we must give with good motives, a good heart, and in good character.
Motivations for Giving
Both the Old and New Testaments suggest that the Judeo-Christian tradition expects that God’s people will give as a part of generosity and philanthropy. The community of God has a responsibility to take care of others in their community as well as outsiders. Yet there are so many different reasons why people give. People are motivated by emotions, beliefs, commitments, fear, guilt, affiliation or obligation to a specific community, the desire for self-aggrandizement, or perhaps genuine gratitude and love to name a few.
What should the motivation behind giving be? Just writing a check to some cause or person cannot generally fulfill the joy of participation in Kingdom work. Fear, guilt, and self-aggrandizement are closely related to egotistic motivations and thus not Spirit-led. In general, feeling obligated to give without an understanding of the reason to give is a red flag. For the Christian, giving must be coupled with a relationship with Jesus Christ. Believers give out of an identity of being God’s people as seen in Scripture.
The Old Testament
In the Old Testament we find three models of giving represented. The first appears in Genesis 14:20. Honoring God for empowering him to win a victory, Abram paid a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the priest-king, thereby recognizing God as the primary owner of these goods. Abram’s action showed his character of faith. The second appears in Exodus 30:11-16, which includes payment for the service of the tent of meeting. Simply put, this is money that will support the edifice of worship and religious services for the community. Thus, members have a part in supporting the religious infrastructure, which we would now call the church. Finally, each member of the community of God was to act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8), in terms of blessing the poor, outcast, and needy.
For the Israelites, in their perception of themselves as a “chosen people” who had promised to obey and “delight in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 1:2), support of the priesthood and the temple was as vital to living in accordance with God’s will as acting generously to care for those in need – i.e. the poor, the widows, and the orphan – of whom the Prophets speak so frequently (cf. Psalm 146:9; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:10). How, then, should we as the Church, God’s chosen people, view money with respect to these Old Testament passages? In short, acknowledging that all we have belongs to God, developing a character of God-faith in finances, supporting the community in which we worship and serve, and furthering the Kingdom of God (specifically in terms of justice and taking care of the oppressed/needy) sum up giving from an Old Testament perspective.
The New Testament
The Gospels say little about giving out of an obligation to, a sense of reciprocity with, or the need to honor a particular community or tradition. Jesus taught that people not be hypocritical in their “righteous acts.” Thus, it is understood that giving should not be done for self-glory.
Jesus encouraged his followers to “do good” and to give of themselves as an expression of their gratitude to God. They never question God’s faithfulness. The primary way to express gratitude and bear witness to God’s grace is through acts of profound generosity.
Jesus also sent his disciples out with these instructions: “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). The twelve disciples did not ask to follow Jesus; they were selected. People did not ask Jesus to die on the cross for their sins; God made that decision before Christ was born. The Church did not ask to be filled with power to do God’s work in the world; Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit and commanded we do so. Therefore, we have been freely given a relationship with Jesus Christ, we have been freely given grace, and we have been freely given power and authority through the Holy Spirit. In essence, we have been freely given all heavenly blessings, and it is our responsibility to freely give away heavenly blessings to others.
In the early development of the Church, Paul writes to the church in Corinth saying:
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…Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion…
-2 Corinthians 9:6-11
This passage contains a variety of teachings. For starters, “sowing and reaping” in context refers to the contribution the church at Corinth is to make and the results of that contribution respectively. While Paul is pressing for a bountiful contribution, he stresses that it must be a gift given with the right heart. Thus, Christians should not give reluctantly or under compulsion. Their giving must be in accordance with their joy of participating in the Kingdom of God.
Participation is a key teaching in this passage. God will give Christ’s followers grace that they may partner with God to do God’s work in the world. The grace of God shown to the Corinthian church is understood as the blessing of relative affluence. The purpose of God’s blessing is then spelled out: so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. The meaning of the Greek word translated enough does not denote self-sufficiency for Paul, but the sufficiency provided by God’s grace. Thus, Christians should be willing to give, even when it does not make sense, with a joyful heart because they trust God will sustain them and always provide so that they may continue to give.
Christians can have joy in giving because they know they are being used as representatives of God, ensuring that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The joy of the believer, then, is cheerfully doing God’s work as chosen a vessel. As a result, God delights in the believer and loves the joy present as he or she does God’s work in the world. God is a giver and desires to see the characteristic of generosity found in Christ’s followers.
In short, the New Testament reminds God’s people to continually develop a God-character. Christ’s followers should do acts of righteousness because they are filled with the righteousness of God. They should be generous because God is generous. They should give because they trust God will take care of their needs. They should have joy in doing good deeds because they are participating in God’s Kingdom works. Finally, Christ’s followers give tithes and offerings as a spiritual act of worship.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (mammon).
-Matthew 6:24
Are Christians, then, to have nothing to do with money? In our modern society, this is not a viable choice. Money is a necessity for people to care for themselves, their families and others. Furthermore, many of Christ’s followers do numerous good things with money. This includes, among other things, supporting good causes, meeting the needs of others, supporting Christian institutions, and supporting various church ministries.
Jesus’ message is not to avoid money, but rather to not be controlled by money. As Christ’s followers, we must never serve the spirit of mammon. We do not serve money or do whatever is needed to have more of it. Instead, we use money to serve God, as good stewards of God’s blessings, and exhibit our primary concern is centered on furthering the Kingdom of God. We must take caution and avoid falling into the desire or need for money; a desire that will undermine and pervert our relationship with God.
The issue of money and Christians has come up several times during my time as a church leader. I have been asked questions as to how much money a Christian should have, whether or not a Christian should become wealthy/rich, and if Christians are to have a savings account with excess money. I believe all of these questions are derived from the misconception that it is bad for Christians to have money. Most often, those who are determined that Christians keep away from money, and even strive to be poor, quote the book of James or the story of the rich young ruler.
But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
-James 1:10-11
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
-James 5:1
At first glance, the above passages may seem as black and white Bible teachings that being rich is bad and people with money are evil. However, the full context is necessary in interpreting these verses. The first set of verses (James 1:10-11) is used to differentiate between those who are humble and those who are proud. If a person becomes prideful or arrogant as a result of being wealthy, that person has a character flaw. Thus, God is concerned about the person’s heart, attitude, and character, not the material item he or she possesses.
Concerning the second verse mentioned above, James is referring to oppressors. These are people who use money as a means of making themselves even richer while stepping on the poor. Rather than using their money to bless people and show generosity, they are hoarding money and even ripping off or repressing those who are much less fortunate. Again, the issue here is not money itself, but a character of greed and tyranny.
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?" he inquired. Jesus replied, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
-Matthew 19:16-22
I have heard people use this passage as a means of teaching that all Christians should sell all of their possessions and follow Jesus. But this is not a logical conclusion. The rich young ruler, or in some texts the rich young fool, had some key issues keeping him from fully being connected to God. First, the rich young man had an unhealthy attachment to his money. His attachment to his wealth was a barrier between him and full devotion to Jesus Christ and God’s Kingdom. Second, the rich young man had a false sense of comfort in his wealth. He had a misinformed perception of security. He did not look to God to take care of his needs but to his wealth. Lastly, the rich young man walked away sad at the thought of departing from his money. Perhaps he had a need for power. It may very well be the case that this young man had to relinquish his worldly power of wealth and become poor in order to have heavenly power through God. In any case, he was unwilling to let go of his earthly power.
On the flip side, there are passages in Scripture that show people using great amounts of money to serve God and further God’s Kingdom on earth. Zacchaeus had great wealth and used it for Kingdom purposes. In the same way, Jesus shares a parable in which three different people, representing God’s servants, are given an amount of money to serve their master, who represents God.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
-Luke 9:1-9
Who was Zacchaeus? He was a chief tax collector, which means he gained great wealth by defrauding people, his own people. He was a traitor to his kin and a lover of money, but he wanted to see Jesus. Knowing he was in a tree, Jesus called out to Zacchaeus and talked with him. Zacchaeus had an encounter with Jesus Christ and was moved. Without being given a single command, Zacchaeus took action. He made a decision to be generous and give half of his wealth to the poor. He then made a decision to be just and repay those he had swindled fourfold. Unlike the rich young ruler, Zacchaeus had a heart that longed to be close to Jesus despite his wealth. For God, it is not so much what we have or do that is of importance. Rather, it is the heart, attitude, and character behind what we have or do that God considers.
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
-Matthew 25:14-18
Contrary to the view that God does not want Christ’s followers to have money, here Jesus teaches about a man who entrusts wealth to his servants. The man going on the journey symbolizes God, and the servants symbolize Christ’s followers. The servants are given wealth and expected to serve the man, doing his work, in some capacity. The first two do well and are rewarded. The third servant does nothing to serve the man and is thus condemned.
The TNIV renders the Greek word “talent” as “bag of gold.” A talent is worth about 20 years of wages for a normal worker. Thus, the servants were given great wealth. The point is that God’s people are given resources, wealth included, with the expectation they will use those resources to serve God and further the Kingdom. If they do so, they are entrusted with more to do even greater work for God. If they fail to do so, that which they have is taken away.
Keep in mind that money is not the root of all evil. Rather, “the love of money” is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). That which captivates our focus will guide our footsteps. If we are focused on money, we will walk a path controlled by mammon. If we are focused on God and the Kingdom, we will walk a path led by the Holy Spirit. How, then, do we focus on God and the Kingdom? Simply put, focus on the blessings God has bestowed and is bestowing upon you and be thankful. Focus on the different needs around you, in your church, among your family and friends, and in the community. Focus on Scripture and the life and teachings of Jesus along with the messages of the prophets. Focus on the Holy Spirit who brings comfort, guidance, and encouragement. Lastly, focus on being transformed in heart, attitude, and character to become more like Jesus Christ.
Concerning money, and all other blessings from the Lord, we must be willing to freely give them away just as we were willing to freely receive them in the first place. We must not clench on to the material items we have been given. We must not be attached to perishable things that rust and decay. We must not have a false sense of comfort in earthly wealth. We must not seek power of our own or of this world. Conversely, we must be willing to give away that which has been given to us when we are summoned to do so. Yet we must give with good motives, a good heart, and in good character.
Motivations for Giving
Both the Old and New Testaments suggest that the Judeo-Christian tradition expects that God’s people will give as a part of generosity and philanthropy. The community of God has a responsibility to take care of others in their community as well as outsiders. Yet there are so many different reasons why people give. People are motivated by emotions, beliefs, commitments, fear, guilt, affiliation or obligation to a specific community, the desire for self-aggrandizement, or perhaps genuine gratitude and love to name a few.
What should the motivation behind giving be? Just writing a check to some cause or person cannot generally fulfill the joy of participation in Kingdom work. Fear, guilt, and self-aggrandizement are closely related to egotistic motivations and thus not Spirit-led. In general, feeling obligated to give without an understanding of the reason to give is a red flag. For the Christian, giving must be coupled with a relationship with Jesus Christ. Believers give out of an identity of being God’s people as seen in Scripture.
The Old Testament
In the Old Testament we find three models of giving represented. The first appears in Genesis 14:20. Honoring God for empowering him to win a victory, Abram paid a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the priest-king, thereby recognizing God as the primary owner of these goods. Abram’s action showed his character of faith. The second appears in Exodus 30:11-16, which includes payment for the service of the tent of meeting. Simply put, this is money that will support the edifice of worship and religious services for the community. Thus, members have a part in supporting the religious infrastructure, which we would now call the church. Finally, each member of the community of God was to act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8), in terms of blessing the poor, outcast, and needy.
For the Israelites, in their perception of themselves as a “chosen people” who had promised to obey and “delight in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 1:2), support of the priesthood and the temple was as vital to living in accordance with God’s will as acting generously to care for those in need – i.e. the poor, the widows, and the orphan – of whom the Prophets speak so frequently (cf. Psalm 146:9; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:10). How, then, should we as the Church, God’s chosen people, view money with respect to these Old Testament passages? In short, acknowledging that all we have belongs to God, developing a character of God-faith in finances, supporting the community in which we worship and serve, and furthering the Kingdom of God (specifically in terms of justice and taking care of the oppressed/needy) sum up giving from an Old Testament perspective.
The New Testament
The Gospels say little about giving out of an obligation to, a sense of reciprocity with, or the need to honor a particular community or tradition. Jesus taught that people not be hypocritical in their “righteous acts.” Thus, it is understood that giving should not be done for self-glory.
Jesus encouraged his followers to “do good” and to give of themselves as an expression of their gratitude to God. They never question God’s faithfulness. The primary way to express gratitude and bear witness to God’s grace is through acts of profound generosity.
Jesus also sent his disciples out with these instructions: “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). The twelve disciples did not ask to follow Jesus; they were selected. People did not ask Jesus to die on the cross for their sins; God made that decision before Christ was born. The Church did not ask to be filled with power to do God’s work in the world; Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit and commanded we do so. Therefore, we have been freely given a relationship with Jesus Christ, we have been freely given grace, and we have been freely given power and authority through the Holy Spirit. In essence, we have been freely given all heavenly blessings, and it is our responsibility to freely give away heavenly blessings to others.
In the early development of the Church, Paul writes to the church in Corinth saying:
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…Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion…
-2 Corinthians 9:6-11
This passage contains a variety of teachings. For starters, “sowing and reaping” in context refers to the contribution the church at Corinth is to make and the results of that contribution respectively. While Paul is pressing for a bountiful contribution, he stresses that it must be a gift given with the right heart. Thus, Christians should not give reluctantly or under compulsion. Their giving must be in accordance with their joy of participating in the Kingdom of God.
Participation is a key teaching in this passage. God will give Christ’s followers grace that they may partner with God to do God’s work in the world. The grace of God shown to the Corinthian church is understood as the blessing of relative affluence. The purpose of God’s blessing is then spelled out: so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. The meaning of the Greek word translated enough does not denote self-sufficiency for Paul, but the sufficiency provided by God’s grace. Thus, Christians should be willing to give, even when it does not make sense, with a joyful heart because they trust God will sustain them and always provide so that they may continue to give.
Christians can have joy in giving because they know they are being used as representatives of God, ensuring that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The joy of the believer, then, is cheerfully doing God’s work as chosen a vessel. As a result, God delights in the believer and loves the joy present as he or she does God’s work in the world. God is a giver and desires to see the characteristic of generosity found in Christ’s followers.
In short, the New Testament reminds God’s people to continually develop a God-character. Christ’s followers should do acts of righteousness because they are filled with the righteousness of God. They should be generous because God is generous. They should give because they trust God will take care of their needs. They should have joy in doing good deeds because they are participating in God’s Kingdom works. Finally, Christ’s followers give tithes and offerings as a spiritual act of worship.
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