Sermon: Moola …a sermon about money –Part 4                                        printer-friendly     MP3
by Chris Cumming

It was the famous Jonathan Swift [satirist and poet] who said: “A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.”

Today we continue the journey to get wise about money in our heads.  We are going to immerse ourselves into the Word of God to see what is being said about money.  It will be a comprehensive journey as I encourage all of us to bring the finances of our lives under God’s authority.

Bring your finances under God’s authority.

Notice Luke 16:

Luke 16:10-12
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Notice the meaning here in the commentary.

Who will commit ... - If you are not faithful in the small matters pertaining to this world, if you do not use aright your property and influence, you cannot expect that God will commit to you the true riches of his grace. Men who are dishonest and worldly, and who do not employ the deceitful mammon as they ought, cannot expect to grow in grace. God does not confer grace upon them, and their being unfaithful in earthly matters is evidence that they “would be” also in much greater affairs, and would likewise “misimprove” the true riches.

True riches - The graces of the gospel; the influences of the Spirit; eternal life, or religion. The riches of this world are false, deceitful, not to be trusted Luke 16:9; the treasures of heaven are “true,” faithful, never-failing, Matthew 6:19-20. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verses:
Luke 16:9
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail [when you die], they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Matthew 6:19-20
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

So God is saying to us that He wants us to be experts in the small matters of the world, as they are the training ground for us becoming experts in the real riches of the Kingdom of God.

This is going to be an ongoing series of sermons.  We will not necessarily being doing them all in a row but I will be bringing them to you in the coming months as we schedule them.  This will be very important training for all of us.  We will be dealing with worldly elements; money and finances.  From scripture, God will be giving us a multitude of spiritual principles and concepts to become experts in all aspects of them.  What you are going to see is that what we learn through money and finances will impact virtually every aspect of our physical and spiritual lives.

So… Bring your finances under God’s authority.

Here are the twelve elements into which we are going to be immersing ourselves:

1] Right Attitudes
2] Wrong Attitudes
3] Credit
4] Giving…todays subject
5] Family
6] God’s Blessings
7] God’s Curses
8] Government
9] Investing
10] Planning
11] Restitution
12] Work and Wages

Let us continue.  Today we will deal with element Four, “Giving”

First this from our doctrine on tithing.

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Tithing and generous giving are biblical injunctions applicable to all people who choose to follow the way of God. The dedication of ten percent of one's income to God is a private act of worship and thanksgiving which recognizes Him as Creator. It is by means of the tithes and offerings of its faithful membership and interested co-workers that the scriptural commissions of the Church of God are being fulfilled.

And now a bit from our doctrinal overview on Giving:

DOCTRINAL OVERVIEW

The entire universe belongs to God-He designed it and created it; He sustains and maintains it. God, in fact, owns everything. 

God created the material universe, including the earth and its resources, as a fit environment for an even greater creation. It was here that God placed man and began the creation of His own character in children eventually destined to be born into His own family. Thus, this earth-and its vast store of animal, vegetable, and mineral resources-is only a preliminary step in a much larger drama unfolding progressively before mankind. It is God's purpose that human beings should eventually attain an infinitely greater role in rulership over God's creation by inheriting not merely this world and its resources but even the entire universe (Hebrews 2:6-8).

Every human being owes his entire existence to God-his very life and living. In designing man, God knew it would be in man's best interest to worship his Creator in the fullest, most logical manner. Prayer is an important vehicle for that worship. So is obedience to God's Law, which is His system for governing man's proper behavior and activities. Tithing is an integral part of that Law. 

When it comes to tithing and giving, probably the most referenced verse ever is Malachi 3:10.

Malachi 3:10 
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

From this verse, I want to talk about the storehouse.  What is the storehouse?  What it is about the storehouse that will instruct me in managing my money?

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse - Or "treasury"; for there were places in the temple where the tithe was put. ~John Gill

We have all read this verse countless times but there is something here that speaks to your treasury.  To see this we must use Isaiah 28:10, 13 “precept must be upon precept, line upon line.”  Turn to Nehemiah 13.

Nehemiah 13:5 …mention of these treasury rooms
And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

Turn now to 1 Chronicles 26.

1 Chronicles 26:20
And of the Levites, Ahijah [uh-HAI-jah] was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.

1 Chronicles 26:22
The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 26:24
And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.

Now go back to Nehemiah 13 for more on these treasuries.

Nehemiah 13:12-13
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

So we see clearly that there were treasuries and that things of value were put in them.  We see that there were people put in place to administer these treasuries.  In the verse 13 I just read we see the phrase, “And I made treasurers over the treasuries.  In the John Gill commentary we read:

“New ones, since the others appointed were either dead or unfaithful to their trust.”

As tithes and offerings were taken into the treasuries and administrated by faithful servants, God expects us to put our treasure in safe places and invoke faithful administration of them.  Verse 13 also demonstrates the concept of giving as elements of the treasuries were distributed to the brethren.

We will now go to a number of scriptures on giving.

Do gifts have power?
Proverbs 18:16 
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

Do parents give gifts to children?  Does God give us gifts?
Luke 11:13 
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Did Jacob give to God?
Genesis 28:22 
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Did Israel bring offerings for the building of the tabernacle?
Exodus 35:4-5
4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass.

When God makes known a need for the Work, we should answer to the call as we are able.

Does God command us to give to Him offerings on Holy Days?
Deuteronomy 16:16-17
16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

Is the amount of what we give the most important aspect of giving?
Luke 21:1-4
1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

This principle goes the same for our giving to any human on the earth.  It is not necessarily what we give, but the act of giving.  The gift can be more than money or possessions.  One can give of him or herself.  Notice some quotes on giving:

“It is not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

“You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.”

“Good works is giving to the poor and the helpless, but divine works is showing them their worth to the One who matters.”

“Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone’s day.

Now to our next set of questions.

If giving a gift of God?
Romans 12:4-8
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Every commentary will speak to this gift of giving referring to the work of deacons in the church.  The phrase, “do it with simplicity” is speaking to do it with honesty, purity, integrity and without being partial.  The principle for the deacon applies to all who give.  We should all give without partiality or for any personal or selfish ends.  The only reward one should seek is the simple joy of the giving.

Does God wish us to be cheerful in our giving?  Is giving counted to our righteousness?
2 Corinthians 9:6-9
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Does God bless those who consider the poor?
Psalm 41:1 
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Notice the commentary for “that considereth.”

That considereth - The word used here - from שׂכל  śâkal - means properly to look at, to behold; then, to be prudent or circumspect; then, to attend to; and then in general to act prudently, wisely, intelligently, in any case. Here it means to attend to; to show an interest in; to care for. The idea is that of not neglecting; not passing by; not being indifferent to; not being hard-hearted and uncharitable toward. ~Barnes Notes

Is there happiness in helping the poor?
Proverbs 14:21 
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Notice some quotes:

“Happiness does not result from what we get, but from what we give.”

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer up somebody else.”

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

“Happiness consists in giving, and in serving others.”

Is helping the needy the same as lending to God?
Proverbs 14:31 
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

The commentaries give the meaning as, “God is peculiarly delighted.”  All people belong to God.

Is there a Christian dilemma in giving to the poor or needy?
Giving used to be a problem for Christians.  The questions were, “Who are the poor and who are the needy?”  “Am I obligated to give to everyone I see in need?”  The answer is, “no, there is no Christian dilemma.”

First, give only as you are able.  Always give from your assets, talents and resources.  Second, never give by sight but by facts. 

While we are here, let us define terms: the poor are defined as anyone you encounter who is less well-off than you.  We are not talking about those in absolute poverty, but also those under-employed and those in any number of financial difficulties.  Can you name any examples?  The needy are defined as anyone on the planet in a circumstance where they need something.  If you are traveling down the road and see a rich man standing by a limousine with a flat tire, he is a man in need.  

Notice the definitive scripture on the supposed Christian dilemma:

Matthew 25:34-36
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  

Every phrase in these three verses denote fact: you know he is hungry, you know he is thirsty, you know he needs shelter, you know he is in need of clothing, you know he is sick and you know he is in prison.

If you can give of your substance, give that.  If you can render comfort, give that.  If you can have compassion and pray for him, give that.  If you can communicate with him, give that.  Give what you can and give all you can.  Continually look for opportunities to give.

The purpose of this series of sermons is to bring the finances of our lives under God’s authority.  In doing so, you will create the opportunities to give.

Bring your finances under God’s authority.

In 2 Corinthians 6:1, it says, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”  Now go to verse 10:

2 Corinthians 6:10 
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Notice that phrase, “as poor, yet making many rich.”   The word, “poor” here has the meaning of being without worldly wealth, but full of the riches of Christ. In Barnes Notes, they define, “yet making many rich” as, “instruments of conferring durable and most valuable possessions on many persons.”  How do we do this?  We have talked about this many times.  You, as firstfruits, are continually immersed in the Word of God and therefore rich in His truth, laws, principles and precepts.  You are, with great zeal, looking for any opportunity to give these riches to others in so many ways.  Greet people with a positive attitude and outlook.  Demonstrate friendship, empathy, appreciation, warmth, responsiveness, compassion, sympathy and rapport.

Do we have a duty to the fatherless and widows?
James 1:27 
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

[see this verse discussed in sermon, “Affinity” and in, “‘How To’ Instructions in Righteousness” on James 1:27]

We had much discussion on widows in our Bible study series in 1 Timothy and chapter 5.

Does God say anything to those who have riches about giving?
1 Timothy 6:17-19  [see Lessons on verses 17, 18 and 19]
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

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