Having a Biblical Worldview: "Giving, Possessions, and Money"
Luke 12:16-21 (MSG)
16 Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop.
17He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.'
18Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods,
19and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'
20"Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barn full of goods-who gets it?'
21"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."
This might sound counter-cultural, but we will enjoy life much more when we give of what we have rather than stockpile it up for ourselves. Each time we share the gospel, every dollar that we invest in spiritual things; every prayer prayed and all service to God and His kingdom purposes will result in having treasure in heaven. You will not regret giving to God here on Earth and you surely won't regret it when He returns for you.
We have all heard the statement of how money is not immoral, but rather a moral. In other words, there is absolutely no evil associated to wealth just as there is no good in it either. The problem's of wealth is not in having it...but it's when it has you! We could say it this way...Its how we get it, guard it, and how we use it that determines what wealth can do, good or bad in this life. The comedian George Carlin once said, "The reason we buy a house is so we have somewhere to put all of our stuff."
We are in an age where the average person has a lot of stuff. However, the amazing part of all of this is how a Christian genuinely believes what they have is really theirs. Howbeit, the Word is very clear as to the real truth on this matter. We are only stewards of these things and they are to be used at His discretion rather than our own. As a matter of fact, we are taught in Scripture that we don't even belong to ourselves anymore. Yet, I assure you that this is rarely seen in most believers by the way they hold on to everything.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
19 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Therefore, if we belong to Jesus Christ then it stands to reason that all that we currently have in possession belongs to Him as well. Even if it is the result of hard work on your part, which I am sure it is...yet the Bible teaches that it has been given to us by the Lord. Someone might say wait a minute it has been through my strategic planning and sound investments that I have accumulated this wealth.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (AMP)
18 But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Nothing good ever manifests in this world outside of God being its sole provision to be here on Earth for the good of everyone.
James 1:17 (Phillips NT)
17 But every good endowment that we possess and every complete gift that we have received must come from above, from the Father of all lights, with whom there is never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency. By his own wish he made us his own sons through the Word of truth that we might be, so to speak, the first specimens of his new creation.
Again someone may say, well you are obviously not talking to me because I have very little and therefore, I am far from the status of being considered a rich person. Is that right? Well, then let me pose this question to you this way. Who are you comparing yourself to? An editor doing an article on wealth is quoted from the financial world: "If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change somewhere in a dish at home you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy." Well, that changes things doesn't it? In fact, probably most reading this periodical is among the worlds wealthiest especially when compared to someone in the third world.
If you have possessions you have a certain degree of wealth. Are there people who have more in this world than you? Of course! Are there people who have less than you? Absolutely! So, that's not the issue. The issue is that you have stuff. Perhaps you will have more or less in the future. But here is what you need to think about. How am I to live in relationship to all of this stuff I possess or will possess? Or what is the motive of my sharing of these possessions? What does the Bible have to say about all of this? Jesus preached a Sermon on the Mount that covered this very topic of what's the proper way to give of the things that we have possession of.
Matthew 6:1-4 (MSG)
1 "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding.
2 "When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure-'play-actors' I call them-treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get.
3 When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks.
4 Just do it-quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way you're God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.
Jesus has been dealing with the very heart of these religious Pharisees in His Sermon on the Mount; but now He starts dealing with their love to make a show of their giving for their own reputation or benefit. The Bible is clear on not to give in such a way that others can see it. Don't do it in a way that draws attention to your giving. Your Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly. God watches everything we do.
Therefore, for those who "give" for the applause of men; those who give for the attention; or tell everyone they meet how much they have done for the kingdom of God...Jesus says, they have already been paid in full. Their reward has been fully paid and receipted by man. So, Jesus tells us to give in a way that it does not draw attention to us, but rather glorifies God and He will remember our good deeds and reward us accordingly. God will not ever be your debtor to anyone. He pays everything in full according to one's motive of giving.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NLT)
6 Remember this-a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
9 As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever."
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Here is three quick things we learn from all of this:
#1 God Loves a Cheerful Giver
There was a wealthy guy who talked God into allowing him to bring some of his riches to heaven. God told him you can bring one suitcase only. When this man arrived at the pearly gates of heaven he was met by none other than St. Peter. When Peter inquired what the man had in his hand the guy replied its a suitcase to which God gave clearance for him to bring. Once St. Peter validated that this was the truth he asked the man can I see what you have in it. To which the man smiled and said of course.
When he opened up the suitcase it was filled full of solid gold bars. At this St. Peter snickered uncontrollably. The man asked what is so funny? St. Peter said I have never seen anyone bring pavement to heaven. The point is: what seems valuable on Earth may actually be just pavement in heaven. Therefore, be a cheerful giver with all you have. Make it a way of life.
#2 It's a Blessing to Give
There are many believers that have not fully discovered this incredible blessing in their life.
2 Corinthians 8:4-5 (NLT)
4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
#3 When we give to God...He always gives more back...
Every farmer knows if you sow a little seed, you're going to get a little crop. The greater the amount of seed form that is planted...the greater the amount of what will be harvested.
Proverbs 23:5 (NLT)
5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
Jesus does not teach that worldly wealth might be lost...He is teaches adamantly that wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we live; or we leave it when we die. When Rockefeller one of the wealthiest men that ever lived had died his accountant was asked how much did Mr. Rockefeller leave? To which the accountant replied, "All of it!" You see, we are going to leave this Earth and all the stuff that seems so important to people is going to go to someone else; and possibly to someone that you might despise the thought of them having what was once yours.
A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth and not have a rich relationship with God. Jesus summed it up like this: real life is not how much we own...real life is what we do with what God has given to us to manage. This means everything: money, your gifts, your time, everything! We belong to God and what He has placed in our possession for the moment is to be used for the good of all.
