Rock Solid: Giving
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Rock Solid: Giving
January 28, 2024
~ 15% of Jesus’ words dealt with money one way or another. (Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions and Eternity)
Question: Why does God spend that kind of time and energy in asset discussions?
Answer: He lived in our world and in our skin and knows our lives are foundationally impacted by what we believe about money.
~What we believe about money impacts how money makes us feel.
~What you believe about money impacts how we make and use money.
Matthew 6:19-24 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “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.
Key Money Precepts
Earthly stored treasures erode. Heavenly stored treasures are eternal. (19-20)
Our heart abides where our treasure resides. (21)
Healthy “seeing” results in light living. Unhealthy “seeing” results in living in the dark. (22-23)
Both Money and God are masters. You can’t split your heart. (24)
“Money makes a great tool but a lossy boss. God makes a great boss but a lossy tool.” What we do with our money is a big deal to God. Not because He needs it, but because our lives are significantly impacted by where our hearts reside.
Matthew 6:25-34. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Key Money Precepts
When we fixate our eyes on life’s needs our worry goes up and our value goes down. When we fix our eyes on God our worry goes down and our value goes up. (25-26)
Worry has zero ability to impact outcomes. (27)
Replace worry with trust. God is a better provider than we are. (28-30)
Pagans chase provision. Christ Followers chase God. Faithful chasing gives us one less thing to worry about. (31-34)
Simply put, Matthew 6:19-34 tells us 3 things not to do with money.
Don’t worry about it. Trust God.
Don’t worship it. Worship God.
Don’t serve it. Serve God.
Financial provision and security are not built on assets but on the firm foundation of hearing and obeying Jesus in all matters of life – especially money.
4 Money To Do’s
1. Diligently work for it. Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV) Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest 11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
2. Don’t waste it. Proverbs 21:5 (NIV) The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage,
But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.
3. Wisely steward it. 1 Chronicles 29:11-15 (NIV) 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
4. Generously Give it. Luke 6:38 (NIV) 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Why did I think that people don’t tithe?
1. Too Little Effective Teaching.
2. Too Easy Debt.
3. Too Much Fear.
Natural Math 100-10=90 and 90<100
Supernatural Math 100-10=90 and 90>100
The only way to eliminate fear is faith.