Abiding in Biblical Prosperity Session 5 | Stewarding Treasure | Tithe, Offering, Alms Part 2 Big Ideas: • Some thoughts about financial generosity “If it is more blessed to give than to receive, then most of us are content to let the other fellow have the greater blessing.” - Shailer Matthews “There are three conversions a person must experience: the conversion of the head, the conversion of the heart, and the conversion of the pocketbook.” —Martin Luther • The percentage of American Protestants’ Income Given to the Church by Year averaged between 2-3% • People making 30K-150K per year were under 2%, while those under 30K were closer to 3%. In another survey: • Americans, wealthy Americans, and self-proclaimed Christians give less than 3% away. • Churchgoing Christian Americans give 5-8% away. • Wealthy, devoted Christians, more than 10%. • All in all, it’s a small percentage of church members that give the most to support the mission of that local church. 3 Buckets we can put our money into. • Consume • Give • Save or invest (what are we saving for?) (this will end up in one of the other two buckets) Our giving should honor God Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; 11 10So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. • Our giving should be of free volition (not compulsory) (2 Corinthians 8:3 and 9:7) • Our giving should be generous (2 Corinthians 8:2-3 and Philippians 4:17-18) • Our giving should be attached to faithfulness toward God • Our giving should be sacrificial. Hebrews 13:16 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices, God is well pleased. Equal sacrifice, not equal amounts Mark 12:41-44 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” How much should I give vs. How much do I need to keep? What is God asking of me, not looking to what others are giving. “Before the judgment seat of Christ, my service will be judged not by how much I have done, but by how much I could have done.” - A. W. Tozer Our giving should be cheerful. Second Corinthians 9:7 Our giving should support local ministers (Second Corinthians 8:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 9:3-14 teach that giving should support local ministers. Acts 20:35 and Matthew 25:31-45,) Our giving should support the poor and needy in our communities Many other passages state that giving must support the poor and needy in our communities. These traits of our giving—voluntary, generous (even sacrificial), cheerful, and supportive of local ministers and the poor—all reflect God Himself in His generous giving (James 1:17-18). Rather than following strict laws, the mode of giving outlined in the The Bible includes approximately 500 verses on both prayer and faith, but more than 2000 verses on money. Money is the subject of nearly 40% of Jesus’ parables. • “In my search for truth, I counted 545 verses in the New Testament that directly pertain to money and giving. • Of these verses, 119 deal with general stewardship principles and do not discuss specific purposes for giving. The remaining 426 verses do reveal God’s purposes for our giving, and the resulting list of purposes is surprisingly simple. It includes only three categories of beneficiaries for biblical giving: • 281 verses (66 percent) are specifically related to financially supporting poor, suffering and persecuted Christians—that is, our brothers and sisters in the Lord, not “the needy” in general. • 88 verses (21 percent) pertain to financially supporting “the poor” without distinction between Christians and non-Christians. • 57 verses (13 percent) specifically apply to financially supporting missionaries and other gospel workers, such as church pastors and elders.” Reference: Sputo, Dominic. Heirloom Love: Authentic Christianity for this Age of Persecution. “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” Elizabeth Elliot (prosperity) James 4:1-4 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. • Although they were then facing a severe ordeal involving persecution (cf. 1 Th 1:6; 2:14), the Macedonian churches, such as those at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, had contributed generously. As Paul expresses it, their “rich generosity” was the overflow of “overflowing joy” and “extreme poverty” (v. 2). Their poverty no more impeded their generosity than their tribulation diminished their joy. This liberal giving by destitute Christians to fellow believers not personally known to them Paul traces to the influence of God’s “grace” and not some psychological manipulation. (v. 1; cf. 9:14); • 8:1 Paul wanted the believers to know the very unusual way in which the grace of God had manifested itself among the Christians in the churches of Macedonia (northern Greece). Philippi and Thessalonica were two of the cities where churches had been planted. • The particular way in which these Macedonians showed that they had received the grace of God was by their generosity. • 8:2 These Christians had been going through a great trial of affliction. Ordinarily, people thus tested would seek to save their money to provide for their future. And especially so if they were not very prosperous, as was the case with the Macedonians. They did not have very much money at all. Yet their Christian joy was so overflowing that when the need of the saints in Jerusalem was presented to them, they reversed all ordinary behavior and gave in a most liberal manner. They were able to combine affliction, joy, poverty, and liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. • They gave more generously than their meager circumstances would assume. • They were excited and passionate about giving and pleaded with Paul to allow them to partner even when Paul was reluctant because of their poor state. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. • Paul noted they abounded in faith and yet their circumstances left them poor and suffering. 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. • Many use this verse out of context to say that God wants us to be rich. What was meant by Jesus being rich was His heavenly eternal richness, not earthly goods. We see in other places of scripture that Jesus was not earthly rich. Even if he was rich in earthly things, this verse is speaking of something much greater than earthly riches. (In other words, Jesus demonstrated God's grace by willingly becoming poor so the Corinthian Christians could become rich forever. Now the Corinthians had an opportunity to perform an act of grace themselves that would follow the example of Jesus' own sacrifice.) 10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” Exodus 16:15-21 And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ” 17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. 19 And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” 20 Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted. 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Sowing Seed for my Harvest? Matthew 13 parable of sower. (Ground matters, What we do with the word matters) What You Sow is what You Grow/Reap (proportional giving/proportional blessing) Galatians 6:6-10 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. • If you don’t sow, you won’t grow. • He supplies seed. If you eat your seed you will not partake of the harvest. • Cultivate the seed God gives you. Ear of corn analogy- • An average stalk of corn will produce 2 ears of corn. • Average size of an ear= 504 kernels of corn. • So if a person were to take one kernel and plant it, they should receive an average of one stalk with 2 ears of corn, producing 1000 kernels of corn. • If that person took 10% (100 kernels) and planted them, they should have 200 ears of corn, (100,000 kernels) of corn. • How many people or times could a person eat corn with 200 ears of corn? Don’t eat your seed. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Take Away: Ask the Lord to examine your heat on the topic of generosity so that you can be a faithful steward in the area of treasure.