Category: Disciple and Money

Going Deeper into New Covenant Giving

Giving is part of God’s loving nature. Perhaps the best known Bible verse in the world is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave…” He gave his best. He gave sacrificially. He gave with no strings attached. He gave knowing that what was sown would return again many times over. Jesus’ solitary, surrendered life has produced an ongoing harvest of millions of lives, who have been born from above into God’s New Covenant family. It is Jesus who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

The kind of love that originates in God is called agape. It is selfless and focuses on others. Jesus was and is the perfect example of agape love. He freely gave his life away to provide salvation for those who were God’s enemies.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:1-7 (NLT)

To those who trust in Christ, God has given his Holy Spirit, who lives within and develops in each follower of Christ the giving nature of God. Our giving becomes an overflow, an expression of, and a response to God’s love.

Since our giving is motivated and sourced from the Lord himself, New Covenant giving is meant to be free, exorbitant, generous, joyful, and sacrificial.

It is intended to mirror Christ’s gift of himself to us. As Paul wrote: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” (2 Cor. 9:15)

Stinginess among followers of Christ should be as rare as McDonald’s running out of French fries. Miserliness is incongruous with a life liberated by the free gift of God. Unfortunately, just as those who have received mercy are sometimes unmerciful to others, giving among Christians as a group in the United States, as a percentage of income, is under 3%. This amount reflects poorly on the Gospel and the transforming power of God’s Spirit. That percentage is not enough to properly underwrite the work of God’s kingdom, which includes caring for the poor.

Early Christians were famous for their love and care for the poor and the oppressed in the Roman Empire. We do not know if they gave a tenth of their income, but we do have the following record from the time of Justin Martyr, an early Christian apologist who lived from 100-165 AD. When followers of Christ shared the Lord’s Supper, they would also give to support the poor.

…those who are well off and who are willing, each according to his own choice, give what they want, and that which is collected is put aside by the leader. And he himself helps the orphans and widows, and those who are in want because of sickness or for some other reason, and those who are in bonds, and the sojourning strangers, and, in a word, he is guardian for all who are in need. (First Apology, 675b-6)

It is common knowledge that the poor use their limited means to take better care of their needy neighbors than do many of those who have more wealth. The greater the amount of wealth we accumulate, the more dependent upon it we tend to become and the more we tend to hoard what we have. According to the Bible, the love of money is a root of many evils. (1 Tim. 6:10) We think that we possess money and goods, but they may actually possess us. (Luke 12:15-21) Jesus warned his followers to hold loosely to their possessions, even asking some to sell everything and come follow him.

As did the rich young ruler of old, today many of us sadly turn away from this calling to radical trust in God because we love money and the supposed security it provides more than we love God.

Old Covenant Giving

Under the Old Covenant, God commanded the Israelites to give a tenth (a tithe) to the Lord from their agricultural produce and from the offspring of their herds. The tithe was connected to the things that only God could increase, which came from life itself. There were three separate tithes, which, if taken together, mandated that the Israelite would contribute 23.3% per year from their produce and herds. The tithe was used for the maintenance of the priests and Levites, for the poor, and to provide food for annual festivals.

It is important for us to see the heart of God in the purpose of the tithe. It was instituted to provide for the ministers and service of worship and for the needs of the poor and those who could not supply for themselves.

The tithe in the Law of Moses had antecedents in pre-law passages in Genesis, when Abraham tithed to Melchizedek and when Jacob promised to tithe to God, if the Lord came through on his promises to him. Because of this, many expositors of the Bible believe that the tithe is an eternal principle, which over-arches the covenants and is still in effect in the New Covenant; while others believe that the tithe was strictly an Old Covenant institution.

Regardless, of which position you may take, I hope we can agree that Old Covenant laws contained eternal principles, which go forward by grace in the new age of the Spirit.

Certainly, in light of how Jesus always “raised the bar” when translating Old Covenant laws into New Covenant principles and practices, we would expect that New Covenant giving would be elevated and deepened as we move forward from a Law mandated adherence to tithing. For example, under the Old Covenant, the Jews offered sacrifices consisting of animals and the produce from the ground. Under the New Covenant, we offer ourselves as the primary sacrifice. In addition, giving, worship, and hospitality are acceptable sacrifices for us who live in the age of the Spirit. (Hebrews 13:15-16, Romans 12:1-2) Sacrifice remains as an important principle, even though the way it was carried out in the Old Covenant has changed dramatically in our post-Calvary world.

The tithe also is significant as a benchmark against which to measure our giving today. The important question for us is, “How does Christ’s coming show us how the eternal principles found in the tithe are to be applied in the New Covenant?”

Jesus, the Law, and Giving

Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and come follow him. (Matthew 19:21) This elevated the principle of tithing to a whole new level. When Jesus told his interrogators to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar and to God what belonged to God (Matthew 22:21), he affirmed that governments which coin money may properly demand a payment of that money in the form of taxes, but everything we are and all we have belongs first and foremost to God, the creator and sustainer of all things. That young man was shocked and saddened by Jesus’ call to extravagant, sacrificial giving, not understanding that what Jesus offered him in return was incalculably valuable.

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 (ESV)

Whereas adherence to the principle of tithing might tempt us to think that 10% belongs to God and 90% is ours, Jesus clearly taught that 100% belongs to God.

If God owns it all, he can ask for it all, which Jesus actually did in the case of the rich young ruler. Christ’s followers’ grasp on their money and possessions should be extremely loose, since the Master may require it at any time. Not everyone is asked to part with all of their capital, but we all should be willing to let it go. Such radical obedience carries its own reward and opens the door to experiencing God as our provider on an entirely new level.

Jesus addressed tithing, at least indirectly, in the following verse.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matthew 23:23 (ESV)

Proponents of New Covenant tithing believe that Jesus established the ongoing principle of tithing for his followers in this verse. Opponents of New Covenant tithing believe this was spoken to Old Covenant people who were still under the Law, and it has nothing to do with New Covenant giving. No matter which side we take at the moment, I hope we can agree that, in the above verse, Jesus addressed the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders who scrupulously tithed but failed to embrace the deeper meaning or intent of the Law – the pursuit of justice, mercy, and faith.

Under the Old Covenant, tithing gave stability to the community by providing for:

  • Those whose work was caring for the temple and its service,
  • The poor and those who had no means to support themselves, and
  • Those who participated in the worship connected with the annual festivals.

We can deduce from Jesus’ remarks that it is quite possible to fastidiously tithe without having a proper heart attitude, which renders the practice somewhat worthless in God’s eyes, at least in terms of heavenly reward.

If love for God and people is not behind our giving, it is worthless from an eternal perspective.

The apostle Paul wrote:

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3 (ESV)

The Law is a set of rules which regulates behavior, defines sin, helps us understand God’s holiness, and makes it apparent that we are in desperate need of a savior.

The New Covenant is based on a relationship with God rather than on a obeying a set of rules. The practice of tithing misses God’s intent in the New Covenant when it is viewed merely as a rule. Our giving should never take the place of our relationship with God’s Spirit in the giving process.

Under the New Covenant, God expects his people to relate to him and communicate with him as they give. Relationships depend on communication; so, it would be reasonable to think that we should communicate with God about how much we should give, rather than automatically calculating a tenth.

Many New Covenant tithers automatically give a the tenth and then ask God whether they should give anything more as an “offering.” This certainly fits the New Covenant paradigm.

However we may arrive at our giving amount, Jesus wants us to focus on the more important matters associated with our giving. Is my faith engaged in my giving? Whom do I love more, God or my money? Do I love people enough to part with my cash to assist them? Am I more like a Pharisee, scrupulously giving a tenth, or the poor widow, who gave all she had? Is the work of God’s kingdom being advanced by my generosity? Do those whose work is the full-time ministry have enough? Are the poor being cared for adequately? Is God’s generous nature reflected in how I give?

If we look at the body of Christ’s teachings on giving, we can make the following list of important points.

  • Give and it will be given back to you. (Luke 6:38)
  • It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)
  • A person’s wealth does not consist of his possessions. (Luke 12:15)
  • Beware of the sin of covetousness. (Luke 12:15)
  • When you tithe, keep in focus justice, mercy, and faith. (Matthew 23:23)
  • Seeking first God’s kingdom guarantees that God will supply our every need. (Matthew 6:33)

Sometimes God wants us to give in a way which defies logic and what we might consider to be prudent or wise. Some are called to sell all that they have and give to the poor. (Matthew 19:21) The poor widow was commended for giving all she had to live on. (Mark 12:41-44) This kind of giving opens the door to heavenly riches and a deeper relationship with God.

Paul’s Principles for New Covenant Giving

Paul extensively addresses giving in 2 Corinthians 8-9. Before reading any further, I suggest you take a few minutes to read these two chapters, which can be accessed by clicking on the link in this paragraph. We can derive several New Covenant giving principles from these passages, which are in agreement with the deeper purposes of Old Covenant tithing – justice, mercy, and faith.

  • When we share, God will supply our every need according to his riches in Christ.
  • Generosity comes from a heart set free which trusts in God.
  • New Covenant giving is purposeful and marked by joy and eagerness.
  • Generosity does not depend on our circumstances.
  • Giving is a ministry that starts with the giving of ourselves to God.
  • Giving is directly connected to relationships. We are to support and bless those whom we love and who have needs.
  • God wants us to excel in the ministry of giving.
  • Through giving we diminish our surplus to meet genuine needs of those who have too little.

This is what Jesus and the Macedonians did. However, we are not told to give to the point where we then need assistance. Giving beyond our natural ability should only be done at the leading of God’s Spirit, who will resupply us after our act of obedience.

In an age when we are taught to save for the future (retirement), it may be challenging to give what we have now so that the needs of others can be satisfied now. Such a mentality requires us to believe that God will take care of us in our own time of need, which is exactly what the Bible teaches.

  • We are to give proportionately in relationship to our ability. Proportional giving means that those who have more will give proportionately more, but it will always be a free-will gift and not conscripted, as when the government redistributes wealth through taxation. New Testament giving is not governmental socialism. It is sharing because of love for others and is not run by a bureaucracy that enriches itself on the backs of the proletariat.
  • Giving demonstrates God’s love to the receiver and to those who observe, resulting in thanksgiving to God and an affirmation of the gospel. The world is looking for reasons to dismiss the claims of Christ, and when they see Christians amassing personal wealth and disregarding the poor, it give them the excuse they are looking for. But when we demonstrate Christian generosity it is a strong witness to the gospel message.
  • Giving should be done regularly.
  • Giving follows the principle of sowing and reaping. Generosity begets abundance; whereas, miserliness begets lack.
  • Grudging obedience is better than rebellious disobedience, but resentful giving is not the fruit of the Spirit’s work inside us. God judges the motives of the heart as well as our outward compliance. Joyful eager giving is what God is looking for in his people and is that which will earn eternal reward.
  • Giving proves the reality of Christ’s work in our lives.

From these general points, Reggie Kidd, in his contribution to Perspectives on Tithing – 4 Views, has proposed the following points. I have added my own thoughts to the mix.

  • Giving is relationally driven. (2 Corinthians 8:5) The Macedonians gave themselves first to God and then to Paul. Because they loved and valued God and Paul and the work of God’s kingdom, they were willing to give. The New Covenant is based on Christ’s relationship with his Abba Father which has been transferred to us through the miracle of identification. Since the Spirit of Christ dwells within each believer, we have Jesus’ relationship with the Father and the benefits of his perfectly obedient life. Those who put their faith in Christ and his finished work on Calvary have been forgiven and restored to an intimate relationship with Father God. We love God because he first loved us, and we give because God first gave to us.

Now here is something to think about for a while. Jesus did not die for an unknown group of people, whose identities would be known only much later. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus died for the church (Ephesians 5:25), those individuals whom the Father foreknew and chose before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6). In other words, when Jesus hung on the cross, God knew by name each person who would benefit.

One of the problems with contributing to a general benevolence fund is that the anonymity works against the joy of relationship-based giving and is actually demotivating to the giver. People are far more willing to give sacrificially when they know they are helping specific individuals with specific needs.

This is why various world relief agencies use photos of individuals whom a giver can adopt and with whom they can relate at some level. We are motivated to share with other human beings because of the love relationship we have with them. Churches and individuals have special relationships with those who labor in the gospel in their midst and in far away places, as well as for those with physical needs due to poverty and other hardships.

Our love for God must necessarily evidence itself in our support for what is paramount in his heart – his worldwide cause, the Great Commission.

Whereas a tithe is a simple mathematical calculation, relational giving springs from the heart.

We ask God what he wants us to give and to whom. We examine our hearts to see what we desire to give. We open ourselves to sacrificially sharing what we have to please God and bless people, knowing that God is in relationship with us and will supply our need.

  • Giving is grace driven. (2 Corinthians 8:7) Grace is God’s free gift to us of himself and all he has through his Son via the Holy Spirit. It is unmerited and unearned. Our giving is meant to spring out of a heart that is willing as the result of a response to God’s gift to us, not out of fear of punishment or a mere sense of duty.
  • Giving is love driven. (2 Corinthians 8:8-9) This principle is a restatement of the first two. Giving is a grace that springs from loving relationships. Without love, our giving is worthless from an eternal perspective. We learn to give by meditating on and responding to Christ’s gift of himself at the cross. This kind of love produces generous and sacrificial giving.
Putting It All Together: The Basis of New Covenant Giving

What principles can we establish based on everything I have covered so far? New Covenant giving is based on the following principles. It is:

  • From the Heart. (2 Corinthians 9:7) The tithe was a proscription by law which carried a blessing and a curse. Those who tithed were blessed financially, and those who robbed God by withholding the tithe suffered in the financial realm as a consequence. (Malachi 3:6-12 and Haggai 1:6)

At Calvary, Jesus became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13-14); so that, in the New Covenant, we can move beyond condemnation as a motivator and learn to live by the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1-2) Whenever we allow God’s Spirit to inspire and empower us to live out the eternal essence of the Law, it is called grace.

God’s Spirit never leads us into sin, lawlessness, or selfishness. He shows us what has been freely given to us by God (1 Corinthians 2:12), so that we can learn to freely give. (Matthew 10:8) The blessings of obedience come to those who live by the power of grace, and the consequences (not condemnation) of disobedience come to those who live by the power of the “flesh”. (Galatians 5:16-25)

God is a giver, and all who live by God’s Spirit will be extraordinary givers as well and will experience the amazing blessings attached to generosity.

We should also properly fear the consequences of failing to be generous, which are clearly delineated in Proverbs and other places and will also result is our having less blessings than God would desire for us.

  • Income Based. (1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:3 and 12) The Bible teaches wealthier followers of Christ to give proportionately more because they can, but it is always a matter of choice. Discipleship always results from the choice to follow Jesus. This is where the New Covenant grace version of giving goes beyond the minimums of the tithing law.

As a general rule, Jesus never reduced the level of the bar set by the Law. Instead he extracted the eternal principle and applied it in a deeper and more challenging way that can only be obeyed with the Spirit’s enabling.

Jesus took the commandment against adultery and enlarged it to include lust in the heart. Likewise, Jesus widened and deepened the law of the tithe when he asked the the rich young ruler to give all he had to the poor. He commended the poor widow for giving all she had to live on. He asks every disciple to give up his rights to every possession, including his own life.

Rather than merely moving the decimal point one place to left to calculate our giving, Jesus wants us to release all our possessions to him in our hearts and be open to the Spirit’s guidance as to what is an appropriate amount for us to give at any specific moment.

Our mindset should never be to pay the bare minimum. Those who live within their means will be able to give even more when their income goes up. This is the opposite mentality that is taught by our consumer culture, which encourages everyone to spend more than they make.

  • Needs Based. (1 Corinthians 9:1-14, 2 Corinthians 8:13-14, 2 Corinthians 9:12)

When we are linked relationally to others, their needs become our opportunity for generosity.

The needs of the poor and of those whose living comes by the gospel with whom we are relationally connected should help determine our level of giving.

  • Generous. (2 Corinthians 8:2-3, 13; Philippians 4:17-18) God is not stingy nor limited in resources.

Because we are his children, who are filled with his Spirit and who rely upon his provision, we can also be generous.

The Macedonian believers were sacrificially generous, giving, as Paul put it, “beyond their means.” God wants our abundance to provide for others’ lack. How much we give depends on our own willingness and faith. As a general rule, we should not give to the point where we put our own position in jeopardy, unless directed by the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

Jesus categorically stated that it is impossible to remain ambivalent toward money. Either it or God will be our Lord, and we must make a choice and do so repeatedly over the course of our lives.

Mammon is the name Jesus gave to the spirit behind the love of money, which is a root of all sorts of evil.

Money represents us. We trade our lives for it whenever we work. How we use it reflects what is most important to us.

The old saying is that people should “put their money where their mouth is;” which means that, talk is cheap, but money tells it like it is. When it comes to God’s kingdom and the church, where we put our money says a lot about what we truly value and our priorities. Haggai the prophet warned the Jews that having wrong priorities with money is a losing proposition.

Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Haggai 1:4-9 (ESV)

Jesus promised us that God will abundantly supply those who are generous. (Luke 6:38) The converse principle is that God’s provision will be withheld from those who withhold from others. This is a matter of reaping and sowing.

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV) 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (ESV)

Even though Paul stresses the blessing of being generous, we cannot undo the reaping connected with miserliness. No one is under compulsion to be generous, but failing to be so carries its own “reward.”

We learn many things when we reap the consequences of our behavior. God is most concerned about the condition of our hearts. Money is really no object to him, but he uses money in a powerful way in our lives. Paul does not limit the sowing and reaping to money. He wrote: “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11) Our generosity will produce thanksgiving in the hearts of the recipients and bring honor to God. Miserliness produces the exact opposite.

How we give reflects what we believe about God.

Reluctant giving declares that we serve a less than generous God. Generosity properly mirrors God’s heart to both the recipient and any onlookers.

The fact that those who call themselves Christians give less than 3% of their income means that many Christians have a low view of God, lack faith that God will provide for them, and/or are not very committed to the work of the kingdom. In other words, we are more committed to other things. It is difficult to come to any other conclusion.

It is a general rule of thumb that people who are disengaging from a church often start by withholding their giving. A corollary to that is that people who do not give are not engaged. It is nearly impossible to be truly supportive of a ministry without it involving finances.

Of course, there are exceptions, as when people have little or no income with which to work.

God commanded the Israelites to give 10% (at least) of their produce to the work of God and the poor. The tithe belonged to God and was to be used for what God determined – the support of the Levites and priests, the poor, widows, and orphans, and for festival celebrations. Over the centuries, views on the applicability of the tithe for Christians has been debated. Some have rigorously insisted that Christians are bound under the threat of a “curse” to give 10% to the local church; whereas, others have believed and taught that tithing faded away with the introduction of the New Covenant. The latter teach that believers today are to be “grace givers,” giving according to the New Covenant standards mentioned previously, and not bound by a strict 10%.

Those who hold that the tithe is no longer in effect usually think that, once freed from the 10% mindset, believers will actually give more than the tithe by their own inner motivation. Those who believe the tithe is still in effect fear that people will stop giving if they don’t have the principle of the tithe to guide them regarding a base level of giving.

Giving to the church has gone up and down during different historical periods. For the last century or so, there has been a resurgence of belief in the principle of New Covenant tithing of our general income. As a result, many followers of Christ have used this as their norm for giving, and pastors have taught them to do so. Over the years, many churches have adopted the concept that a tenth should be given to the local church as the “tithe,” and anything above the tenth is considered an “offering,” which can be directed wherever the giver so chooses.

It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to “prove” this position from Scripture, but the tithe has served as a benchmark or principle for giving for many. Making a commitment to give 10 percent of our income is no small thing. In many cases it requires the giver to trust God to make up for what they give to the church.

The overwhelming testimony of tithers is that God blesses them when they tithe. This is highly significant. When we tithe, we place ourselves in a position in which we must depend on him to supply our needs.

Reggie Kidd, one of the authors who contributed to Perspectives on Tithing: 4 Views, wrote:

I submit that from Jesus’ denunciation of the Pharisees we are not to tithe the way so many of us pay our taxes – making sure to give as much as required but no more. In this regard, one concern of the anti-tithe or post-tithe voices is laudable. Securing autonomy over the other 90 percent by relinquishing claim on 10 percent is the economy of the devil. It is to turn God’s economy on its head. As clear as Jesus was that we are not to neglect “the others” (Matthew 23:23), a reference to the tithe, he did not say much about how to do that. He did not say much about whether and how to bridge the gap between Israel’s agricultural tithe and other economies; that is, he did not say what artisans or bankers are obligated to do with the tithe principle. He gave us no calculus to determine with certainty what the original Mosaic formula was, much less what it was in his day, or how to reconfigure it for modern Western democracies. He did not say whether to tithe from the gross or the net, or whether to tithe from stock dividends or tax refunds, or whether the idea of “proportionality” in giving is simply a heart thing, or a community-derived thing, or whether it’s our church’s business or ours personally to decide, or whether it’s supposed to go to officially-constituted churches or para-church ministries. I believe Jesus expects us to discern and to exercise wisdom in dependence on the Holy Spirit. The Bible is not a rule book for tithing. I think the Bible invites us to delve into a story and listen for where its plot line takes us. I think the Bible invites us to immerse ourselves in baptismal reality and bring our wallets with us. Thus I think there are some answers that are given only to the worshiper and only in the act of worship… [As an act of worship] we are compelled “to do good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.” (Hebrews 13:10, 15-16) (quoted from pp. 116-117)

New Covenant giving builds upon the rich history of giving in the Old Covenant, which includes Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek, his offering of Isaac, the Israelites exuberant giving for the tabernacle in the wilderness (So much was given that Moses had to ask them to stop!), King David’s amazing stockpile of wealth and supplies to build Solomon’s temple, the tithes given to support the Levites and priests, and God’s giving of his Son without reservation to purchase our salvation.

New Covenant giving is a reflection of God’s indescribable gift of his Son and is a response of hearts which have been set free from bondage to material wealth.

My conclusion is that giving in the New Covenant is a critical part of our spiritual life and accurately reflects our inner condition. Miserliness indicates that a person is ungrateful and lacks faith in God and his ability to provide. Conversely, generosity reflects the character of God in a person’s life.

God has given us the Old Covenant principle of the tithe as a benchmark for giving. Otherwise, we would be left completely in the dark as to where to begin. Giving should be an act of faith. Giving a tenth develops in the giver a dependence upon God and a commitment to the work of God’s kingdom.

Tithing, as is generally practiced, a giving of a tenth of our income to the church, equips a person to go even further in giving. Once the principle of giving at least a tenth is established, one should rely upon the Holy Spirit to instruct him or her as to how much to give beyond that.

It is conceivable that the Spirit would say to give less than the tithe, but is more probable, in my opinion, that he would tell us to give more, if we have the resources and ability to do so. In the case of those who are struggling to make ends meet, sacrificial giving could be the way out of financial bondage. The tithe is a goal to shoot for, but I believe it is important to start at the point at which we have faith and where we sense that God is challenging us.

For those who discover the joy of sacrificial giving, no further inducement is necessary. Such giving carries its own reward. For those who have never given as much as a tenth, I encourage you to consider trying. For those who have been stuck at the 10% mark for a long time, I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit how much to give and follow his leading.

I do not believe there is a “curse” attached to not tithing, but I do believe that there is a consequence for not being generous and giving according to our ability to the work of God’s kingdom and to the poor. Jesus took the curse of disobedience upon himself, but we must still bear the natural consequences of our behavior. If we have a garden but do not plant any seed, we will get no harvest. Likewise, if we fail to give, we will not reap the blessings attached to being generous.

I believe we should use the tithe as a biblical principle to guide our giving without being locked into it as the maximum or minimum. As John Piper has written, it is probably “robbing God” for affluent Western believers to only give a tenth of their income to the Lord’s work. It is a matter to be resolved between God’s people and the Holy Spirit.

As for me, I have been “tithing” for years and would not feel right at all with giving less. Doing this study on the topic has inspired me to give more. I have come to realize that I was approaching things too rigidly by simply moving the decimal point to the left to arrive at a figure. As I have sought to respond to the Spirit, my wife and I have increased our giving as a act of worship and submission to God and as an overflow of our gratefulness for all his blessings to us. I encourage you to ask the Lord what he wants you to give and do it. It will be an adventure of faith.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Is it ever okay to splurge?

Splurge is an interesting word. It means to spend money freely or extravagantly.

The basic premise of this series on how disciples should properly handle money is that we are accountable to God for what we do with the finances he puts into our hands.

I have emphasized prioritizing how we spend our money, being careful not to overspend, being generous, and tithing. All of this lends itself to thinking that any sort of purchase that is in any way extravagant or not strictly needed might be at least suspect or even wasteful and wrong.

Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son is a story of how a son wasted his inheritance in an immoral and unwise spending spree that left him impoverished. A revealing element of the story is the way his father welcomed him home. He basically threw out the red carpet, treating him as if he had never violated his family’s trust, welcoming him back from his long self-imposed absence. The son left without so much as a “thank you” and returned in disgrace, but his dad did not hold that against him. He splurged on his son by throwing him a feast and restoring to him his rights and privileges as a son. This act of merciful kindness irritated and offended the elder son, who did not understand this type of extravagance.

God is very much like the father in the parable. He splurged on us by sending his only begotten Son to die on behalf of his enemies.

God could not have given a more expensive gift to a more undeserving and ungrateful people!

God’s nature is that he chooses to splurge on his loved ones.

Would you be surprised if God gave you something extravagant? Not I.

Some disciples live a very basic lifestyle so they can give extravagantly to others, especially to God’s ongoing work of worldwide kingdom expansion. God wants us to keep the fires of extravagant giving alive in our hearts, because that is who he is. That is who he wants us to be, too. And if he wants to splurge on us, we should not be surprised, taken aback, or refuse the gift.

It is our Lord’s delight many times to give us the desire of our hearts.

Such gifts may come from others, but sometimes he might prompt us to spend extravagantly on ourselves. It always comes down to what is in our hearts and God’s.

How can we tell when splurging is simply wasteful and when it brings joy to God’s heart? I do not think it will always be apparent, especially not to others. The recipient of such a gift may understand that God is fulfilling some deep longing of the heart, but outsiders may think that it is wasteful. The prodigal son’s elder brother did not get it. He judged his father’s extravagance to be improper because he did not understand God’s nature. We must not fall into the same trap.

If we routinely spend extravagantly or even wastefully, it is probable we are not in line with God’s heart. However, if we try rule out all expressions of “splurging,” we may miss out on God’s best gifts.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Where do I begin?

Many of us need to make changes in how we spend money, but where do we begin? Many have little or no “wiggle room” because of debt and and commitments made to acquire things we may not really need. Let me suggest some helpful (but not painless) tips.

  1. Stop spending more than we make. That’s pretty simple, but not commonly practiced. Thanks to our profligate government’s example, the incessant pull of clever advertising, and because we imitate others, many, if not most of us, compulsively spend. We cannot dig out of debt without curtailing what is going out. This usually means we must take a hard look at the things on which we spend our money. Look for luxuries (sand and water items).  The first thing to go should probably be eating out. The second thing – that’s for you to decide. Be courageous and ruthless. Your financial future is at stake.
  2. Make a commitment to give to God. Most of us realize that we need God’s help to get out of the mess we created. What better way to demonstrate our faith in God’s ability to help us than to give to his kingdom work and to those in need? Giving does not depend on our having a lot. Jesus commended the widow who gave what little she had. (Mark 12:41-44) Paul commended the Macedonians who gave “out of their poverty.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-3) If we do not prioritize giving, we have yet to surrender our finances to God.
  3. Make a commitment to save. Everyone routinely faces big ticket expenses, whether they are medical costs, car repairs, appliance replacements, or home upkeep expenses, not to mention education expenses for our children. Unless we have set aside money to cover these things, every time these expenses arise, we will go further into debt to cover them. Start small if you have to, but over time try to set aside a greater percentage of your income for savings, long and short term. Who knows? You might even be able to take a vacation!
  4. Make a commitment to get out of debt. Now that’s a thought! Americans are taught to stay in debt in order to accumulate all the “stuff” they want. God desires for us to be out of debt, except perhaps for the most necessary items, such as homes, cars, and businesses. A college education that actually equips a person to earn a good living might justify an accumulation of debt, as well, but too many graduates take with them massive indebtedness. This is to be avoided. In every case, however, we must carefully weigh the risks of indebtedness versus the benefits. Debt makes us a “slave” to the lender. It can rob us of having other options later. Unwise debt can lead to financial ruin. Getting out of debt will make a huge difference in your liquidity and financial freedom. By all means, the first debt that needs to go is credit card and other high interest debt. Once that is removed, start on whatever else on on the list. It is usually a good idea to eliminate the smaller debts first, which will give you more money later to tackle the larger ones. To get out of debt, you might have to eliminate some larger items from your jar. Maybe you can sell the house that is too big and expensive and acquire one that you can better afford. Perhaps you need to dispose of a car that costs more than you can afford and buy a more economical one. Getting out of debt is usually a long-term affair that requires sacrifice and commitment, but it will be well worth it.
  5. Live as simply as possible. This one will make you feel as if you are swimming against the tide of consumerism and culture. Simple living results from eliminating the things we don’t really need in order to free up more time and finances for the Lord. Simplicity comes from making a firm commitment to put God and his kingdom first. May God help us all to simplify! When we live this way, we will be able to reduce the number of things that fill our jar, making room for a big priority – the kingdom of God.

Well, there you have it. If we are discouraged by our current situation, whatever that may be, God is able to help us climb out of any financial pit we have dug for ourselves! He is the forgiver of debts and our Provider.

The Lord is more than able to help us to become more than conquerors when it comes to financial freedom. But we have to begin somewhere.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Whose Money Is It?

The first and most important question that we must ask and answer, if we want to have a right relationship with our money with regard to the Lord, is “Whose money is it?”

  1. Is it all mine?
  2. Is 90% of it mine, after I give the Lord his 10%, or
  3. Does it all belong to the Lord?
  4. And, of course, the final choice – “I don’t know.”

Judging by the giving habits of many church goers, the answer is #1. Among those who have discovered the blessings associated with giving back to God, many accept the Old Covenant tithe (10%) as the normative level for their giving. But what about that other 90%? Is that mine to do with as I please, or is it God’s for me to manage as he pleases? Many have discovered the liberating truth that all our money and everything else we have, including life itself, is on loan to us from God. It all belongs to him, and we are assigned to manage it well.

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:33 (NLT)

A disciple is someone who lets go of everything for the Lord’s sake. When God puts something in our hands to steward, we are tempted to think of it as our own. Think Gollum in Lord of the Rings – “my precious.” We forget from whom it came and to whom it ultimately belongs. When we die, we take nothing with us. It is wise to hold on to what God has given us with an open hand. Be ready to let it go.

I am reminded of when my children were small, and we would go to McDonald’s to eat. I would pay for their meals and later ask if I could have a french fry – just one. Sometimes the answer was “no.” They did not want to share what had been given to them with the one who gave it. That’s how we are with money quite often because we just don’t understand.

Pure selfishness might be the motivator, but often fear is behind our refusal to release ownership of our money. We doubt that we will have enough for ourselves; so, we hold tightly to what is “ours.” The only problem is that it’s not really ours. It’s God’s to be used as he sees fit. What if we handled all of our money as if it were God’s? Would it make a difference in how we spend, save, or give it away? Most likely. But if we treat our finances as if we are accountable only to ourselves, we might easily miss out on God’s best, or, worse, end up handling it very poorly.

The first step in gaining financial freedom is to recognize that all of our money belongs to God and act accordingly.

We will see what this looks like in coming articles. Until then, why not tell God that now that you realize that of your money, all of it, and everything else you have, belong to him, and he can do with it as he sees fit? Sounds scary? Only because we don’t trust him or realize how loving and generous he is. It’s time for us to let go of our wallets and exchange fear for faith in God’s faithfulness.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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The Ten Principles of Tithing

So far in this series I have looked at the disciple’s relationship to money from a number of angles. Now it’s time to consider tithing, which simply means giving a tenth of our income to God and his kingdom work.

Tithing Is an Acknowledgement of God’s Authority over our Lives and Wealth

Tithing is a practice that goes all the way back to Genesis, which is first mentioned when Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, a priest-king of Jerusalem, who many believe was at least a type of Christ. With God’s help, Abraham had just defeated a coalition of pagan kings to rescue his nephew, Lot, and his family.

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19  and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20  And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV)

Tithing was a common practice in that day and long predated the giving of the Law to Moses, at which time tithing became part of the legal code of Israel. In Abraham’s case, he was tithing to a person, who was greater than he, as a way of acknowledging that he was under his authority and blessing, which brings us to our first tithing principles.

Principle One: Tithing shows that we acknowledge God’s authority over our lives and finances.

Principle Two: Tithing reveals that we believe that God is our Provider. It is from him all blessings flow, and to him we return a tenth.

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)

If we accept that the tithe belongs to God, then those who withhold giving the tithe are actually robbing God, keeping for themselves what is rightfully God’s.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9  You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Malachi 3:8-9 (NIV)

Those who robbed God in this manner brought upon themselves a curse or judgment. Instead of experiencing God’s supernatural provision, they would experience being robbed themselves by the “devourer.”

A Gateway to Blessing
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:10-11 (NIV)

Principle Three: Giving to God what is his already opens the door to God’s returning immense blessings to us. It is an amazing thing that God rewards us for doing our duty.

It is not that we give to get. Rather, we give because we believe that God, our Provider, will supply well beyond our needs as we sacrificially give to him and his kingdom. Tithing often takes money that we feel we need. When we choose to give it to God, he knows what we need and makes provision for his people. There are countless stories of people who began to tithe by faith, only to see God surprise them with unexpected and unforeseen provisions. God delights in honoring the faith of his people in this way.

A Means of Provision for those who Serve on a Full-time Basis
I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting. Numbers 18:21 (NIV)

Under the Law of Moses, the tithe supported God’s appointed representatives, the Levites and priests, who served God in the stead of the entire nation. The tithe enabled them to serve undistractedly, without worry of how they would be able to provide for their own families. If the people of Israel tithed, the priests and Levites were able to perform their assigned duties. If the people failed to tithe, the work of God suffered because the workers had to use other means to stay alive and make ends meet.

I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. Nehemiah 13:10 (NIV)

Principle Four: Today, when people tithe to the local church (the New Covenant version of the Old Covenant “storehouse”), it enables called servants of God to serve without encumbrance in their ministry to the Lord.

Secular jobs take enormous amounts of time, which subtract from what is available for the Lord’s work of study, prayer, counseling, visitation, sharing the Gospel, disciple making, and whatever else might present itself during a day to a pastor or other full-time church leader. It is my conviction that the number one priority for church spending is to support the five-fold ministry – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, because the work of the kingdom depends on their having the means and ability to serve. Providing for those in need is second. Buildings and such come in a distant third.

A Provision for the Poor and the Marginalized

Every three years a special tithe was collected in Israel, which was specifically used for helping not only the Levites, but also foreigners, widows, and orphans – the poor who cannot provide adequately for themselves.

Principle Five: Local churches are able to help the poor and those facing unexpected hardships by using the tithe in conjunction with other special offerings.

When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Deuteronomy 26:12 (NIV)
The Tithe in the New Covenant
Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. Luke 11:42 (NIV)

There is not a lot written about the tithe in the New Testament. Jesus told the Pharisees that they were both to tithe and keep the more important aspects of the Law. This would have been the perfect place for him to throw out the tithe, as he did with ceremonial washing and other dietary laws, but he did not.

Principle Six: The tithe is outside the jurisdiction of the Law and is actually built into the framework of humanity, going back to Genesis and creation itself.

The only other place tithing is mentioned in the New Testament is in the the Letter to the Hebrews, where the author makes a case for Jesus’ superiority over the Aaronic priesthood.

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5  And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6  But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7  It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8  In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9  One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10  for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Hebrews 7:4-10 (ESV)

In this case, the tithe once again shows how the lesser supports the greater. It’s a matter of authority and blessing and recognizing the need to support the five-fold ministry.

Some argue that the tithe is “legalistic” and was done away with in the New Covenant. To these, I point out that Jesus never did away with God’s authority over and ownership of our finances. He clearly stated that a true disciple is one who serves God, not money. In fact, our Lord said that a disciple is one who gives up everything for the sake of the kingdom of God.

So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Luke 14:33 (NASB)

The rich young ruler was offered the opportunity to sell all and become part of Jesus’ traveling band of disciples. What an opportunity and honor! Jesus still holds the power to call each and everyone of his followers to the same high standard with regard to money.

Principle Seven: If God required at least a tenth from his Old Covenant saints, is it probable, or even conceivable, that he would ask less of us? The only legitimate way to do away with the tithe is to move up to the New Covenant standard of giving everything.

A Matter of the Heart

Over the years, I have known some who objected to tithing because they were selfish and wanted to hold on to their finances for themselves. Others refuse to be limited by the tithe and give much more. Ultimately tithing and all giving is a matter of the heart. If it is not done willingly, it is not worth a whole lot, at least in terms of heavenly reward.

Principle Eight: Tithing should not be approached legalistically. It is something we do by faith because we believe it is the right thing to do and because we trust that God is our provider. If we give willingly and cheerfully, God will see it and return a blessing.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)
Conclusion

God asks some disciples to give all their money and resources to him, as he did with the rich young ruler. For the rest of us, as we consider how God would want us to give toward his kingdom, ten percent is a great place to start.

Principle Nine: I believe we should consider the tithe a minimum automatic category in our budget. Giving beyond the tithe is an opportunity to listen to the Spirit of God for his direction in our giving. This kind of giving is sometimes called making “offerings.” It is an act of obedience to the Spirit , a spiritual sacrifice that pleases God, and is a function of our faith in God and the generosity of our hearts. We learn the art of generous giving by starting with the tithe and progressing beyond.

I have tithed for years out of conviction and faith. I cannot imagine doing otherwise. I know many others who have done the same. In fact, I know of no one who has tithed regularly who does not agree that God abundantly supplies all our needs. The work of the kingdom somewhat depends on the generosity of the people of God. Let’s be faithful in giving.

If you have never tithed, give it a try. God promises to faithfully bless you.

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Malachi 3:8-10 (NLT)

Imagine! God wants us to test him in this matter! Have you exercised your faith by giving to God money you think you need to make ends meet, because you acknowledge that he is your supplier and can somehow make up the difference and more? It’s time to get started. You may be cheating yourself out of an amazing blessing!

Principle Ten: Once you find out that tithing opens up blessings, you will be ready to ask God, “How much do you want me to give beyond the tithe?” Then you will be ready for a really exciting ride!

One thing is for sure, if we give little, we will reap a small blessing. If that is what you want, have at it. I rather think we all want more than that. Try tithing. You’ll like it.

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. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Where does faith intersect with my budget?

Anyone who seeks to gain control over his or her spending usually tries to follow a budget of some sort. Budgets have to be realistic, or they will end up being useless. They are designed to help us stay on track with what we decide are our spending priorities. Usually people who are self-disciplined do better with budgeting. Some of us can be very relentless in setting spending boundaries and staying within them. Others of us have a great deal of difficulty with budgeting and get frustrated with the attempt. If we are not careful, we can fall into one of two traps. We can strictly budget and make ourselves captives to our own self-imposed spending constraints, which can actually hinder our operating in faith to be generous. The other trap is to fail to bring our spending under some form of discipline, which can result in wasting money for things that don’t truly matter.

It is important for us to be disciplined with our finances while staying open to God’s call to give generously outside of or beyond our budget. This means we have to learn to live in a dynamic tension between self-control and being Spirit directed.

If we have to choose between one or the other, which should come out the winner? Your answer to this question will reveal whether or not you operate by faith or human reasoning. If we can deny ourselves while being generous to others, we probably have become true disciples in the area of money.

Those who believe that tithing (giving 10% to the church where they are committed) is a priority, build that into the budget. Most who successfully tithe make that their first priority and use the remaining 90% for their personal budget. As we covered in a previous installment of this series, the remaining 90% still belongs to the Lord, even though it is still in our hands. 

We are “stewards” or managers of God’s money and are to use it as he sees fit.

If we are going to learn to give generously, it is important to constantly remind ourselves of this fact. Otherwise, we start seeing our money as our own.

If the tithe belongs to the Lord (Lev. 27:30) and is a non-negotiable, offerings are made out of the generosity of our hearts on a free will basis.

There are no “rules” for being generous.

It is based upon our being free in our hearts to respond generously to the Holy Spirit’s nudges and to genuine needs. This is where love, faith, and good stewardship intersect. Love and faith take us on a journey beyond the confines of what might be considered prudent budgeting into the seemingly risky realm of obedience to the Lord our Provider.

The Macedonians in Acts pleaded for the privilege of taking this journey. Consider what Paul wrote about the churches in Macedonia.

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (ESV)

It is important to note that their generosity was not prompted by wondering what to do with their excess finances. Quite the opposite, it sprouted in the soil of affliction and extreme poverty. These were people who were not restricted in their giving by their situation. Their faith, coupled with an earnest desire to help others, prompted their generosity, which, according to Paul, proved that they had surrendered everything to Jesus.

I am sure they were not able to give a lot of money, but they gave what they could and beyond. It was truly another example of the “widow’s mite.” (Mark 12:41-44) I wonder how God supplied their need afterward. I cannot imagine that the story ended there. The Lord our Provider probably made some amazing provisions for them in response to their faith!

When we turn over our finances to the Lord, he may ask us to do some things that do not make sense to us if we still tightly control the purse strings.

Yet we still must acknowledge that God wants us to be wise stewards; so, how do we maintain financial prudence while seeking to be led by God’s spirit into generous giving? How do we do both? Depending on your “bent,” one or the other likely will be more of a challenge to you. If you are more of the generous type, you might find it easy to give but difficult to otherwise restrain your spending. If you are naturally self-controlled, you might find it easier to reign in your spending, but very difficult to let go of the money that God wants you to give.

We need God’s help to be faithful in both self-control and generosity.

A good first step is to pray  and be open to God’s showing us the truth about our relationship with money. Are we hoarders, spendthrifts, wise managers, generous givers, or somewhere in the middle? We can ask God what steps we need to take to become a surrendered steward of the finances he has put in our hands. We may want others to take a look at our spending and savings in order to offer advice and insights that we might be missing. Unless our finances are in great disarray, (e.g. bankruptcy, huge credit card debt, upside down investments), it is likely we can sort things out ourselves. If we are in trouble, we probably need outside help. Regardless, the first step is turning to God in prayer and doing what he shows us.

If we have never been a giver, we can ask the Holy Spirit to teach us.

We should listen to his promptings, without making a religion of rules out of it. Our giving must stay within the realm of our faith and be prompted by our love for God and others, or it will be worthless. (1 Corinthians 13:3) Giving should be freely and joyfully done, not a  mere duty.

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. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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Stones, pebbles, sand, and water – working toward biblical priorities for spending

When it comes to spending money, some common sense should guide us: income should exceed outflow. Simple, yet profound. Obvious, yet commonly ignored. Not following this simple logic is a recipe for economic disaster. Our nation refuses to live by this sound bit of wisdom and seems to get away with it, since it can print its own money, but a day of reckoning is coming. People cannot long continue to spend more than they make without going bust.

People in America are taught from a very young age to go into debt, something our forefathers would have avoided like the plague. They knew better. Why do we do it? Most of the time we choose to go into debt because we want something immediately and refuse to wait until we can save enough to cover it. At times this kind of reasoning makes  good sense, such as when purchasing something that appreciates in value, such as a home. It can also be a good idea for a business to purchase equipment that can be used immediately to make money and paid for with the  money earned. In our nation, most people legitimately need to borrow money to purchase their cars, which are needed to get to work.

Going into debt for anything that is not a necessity will likely lead to some sort of  financial bondage.

It’s easy and fun to get into debt, but extremely difficult to get out. This is because, not only do we have to pay off what we borrowed, but we also have to cover the accumulated interest, all the while continuing to fund our other everyday expenses.

Sometimes people place themselves in a position to go into debt because they fail to create any sort of margin to protect themselves from unexpected or even expected expenses. We cram our “budget” so full that there is no ability to save for emergencies.

What fills our jars?

We all have a “budget,” whether or not we consciously and intentionally follow it. In other words, we all have a certain amount of spendable income and we make decisions on how to spend it.

Disciples are responsible to God for how we use our money.

We should also want to use as much wisdom as possible for our own sake, since we and those under our care will be immediate beneficiaries of our having a sound monetary policy.

Imagine three different sizes of mason jars, which will represent three sizes of budgets. Obviously, the larger jar (budget) will have a lot more room in it for extras. People with very small jars, many single moms for example, will not even have enough room for some important priorities.  Middle class people will have room for most financial priorities, but will not have a lot of extra. Big jar people can get away with having no budget, which might lead them to fritter away money that could be better used elsewhere. Small jar people might feel that budgeting is a hopeless endeavor, which can lead to foolishly spending what we do have. Medium jar people often feel the greatest need and satisfaction from having a budget.

In this illustration, we will fill our jars with four things – stones, pebbles, sand, and water. The stones will represent necessities and large high priority budget items. Pebbles will represent the next level of expense items. Sand will represent what we might call luxury items, and water, which uses up all the remaining space in our budget, can represent “throw away” cash.

If we take our jar and fill it with stones, it will appear to be full. However, if we then take very small pebbles and add it to the mixture, we will watch it begin to fill in the spaces between the stones. Now the jar is more full, but there is still some room. Then we add sand and observe it squeezing into the spaces between the stones and pebbles. Now, surely, the jar is full. How could we get anything else in there? However, if we then pour water into the jar, we will see it fill in around the sand. Once the water level reaches the top of the jar, it is indeed full. What does this teach us?

The wise person  makes sure there is room in his jar for all the high priority items, even if it means eliminating less important things from the budget.

The smaller the jar, the more cutting has to be made, even to the point of cutting some pretty big things. It’s unavoidable.

Thinking through our priorities

What do we consider to be the necessities of life? The Bible lists food and clothing.

But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV)

Most of us would add shelter, and if a person has a serious medical problem, healthcare is a necessity, too. It is important to mention at this point that serious disciples will also add giving (tithing and other freewill offerings) to the list of necessities, driving up our number of stones to four or possibly five. So all of us should have three to five stones in our jar. Here is where you should start feeling some sympathy for the single moms out there whose jar cannot even hold these stones.

Beyond these absolute necessities, we have what seem to be necessities in today’s world – transportation, cell phone costs, car insurance, life insurance, and emergency savings. Pebbles represent this level of spending. Depending on our level of conviction about giving to God, some would add tithing and charitable giving here rather than at the stone level. We will address this in more detail later. These are the expenses that should be next highest level on our priority list. They generally carry high price tags and take up the most space in our budgets.

Sand represents the third level of expenses – optional items, such as entertainment (cable TV), lawn service, Netflix, and vacations. These are things we can live without, but would rather not. They are luxuries. The water stands for the little niceties that make life more enjoyable, such as a cappuccino at Starbucks or eating out. Obviously there is not a lot of difference philosophically between sand and water.

How will we fill our jars from now on?

Many people unwisely pour a lot of water and sand into their jars before adding stones and pebbles. They spend money for bottom tier items first, which prohibits their being able to afford higher priority items. How we spend our money is a deeply personal choice, which no one can force upon us; that is, until we get ourselves into financial trouble. Then we may find the bank or our creditors controlling how we spend. Anytime we borrow money, we give someone else the ability to rule over our spending to some degree.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)

If we are continually short on cash and building credit card debt, we should rethink how we are spending our money.

Do we have too many sand and water items that can be removed to give us more space for saving and essentials? Do we need to eliminate eating out so we can afford to save? Do we need to cut the cord on cable TV, so we can make ends meet? Each person has to evaluate what is individually important to him or her, have the courage to admit when something has to go, and take action.

The problem with many of us is that we have never learned to say “no” to our desires. American culture is geared to making us think that happiness depends on consuming, but wisdom teaches us otherwise.

As you likely have already figured out, another option is to enlarge our jars by getting a better job.

I have not yet really covered giving to God and generosity to others yet. That is one of the most important things that should be in everyone’s budget. Where will we get the money for that? How important is giving to God’s kingdom? Is it a stone item or water or somewhere in between? What about faith? Where does that fit into the picture? We will cover those things in coming articles. For now, I encourage you to start evaluating your spending priorities and make some hard choices, if necessary. It may hurt at first, but in the long term you will be glad.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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How We Handle Money Says a Lot about Us

Jesus taught his disciples a lot about money. The subject comes up in sixteen of his thirty-eight parables. This is remarkable since Jesus seemed to be unconcerned about his personal finances and wealth. He taught his followers not to worry about money, but to simply trust God to supply our needs. He gave generously to the poor, and encouraged his followers to do the same.

Money tries to make a claim upon our lives, and, if we do not resist its pull, we may end up following its dictates instead of obeying Jesus.

Our Lord also said that the way we handle our finances reflects our inner condition.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12  And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? 13  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:10-13 (NLT)

From this micro teaching on money, we can extract the following principles.

  • Money is a “little thing” in God’s eyes. This means we must guard against it becoming a “big thing” to us.
  • Unfaithfulness and dishonesty with regard to money reveals an inner heart condition that will affect every area of our lives.
  • God will entrust us more and more with those things which are truly valuable in his kingdom, when we prove faithful with handling money.
  • Money pulls at us so strongly that God requires us to “hate” it. In other words, we must consciously put God and his will above the pull of wealth and the desire for the comforts, security, and prestige it offers.

The condition of our souls is reflected in the way we handle money. If our finances are in disarray from God’s perspective, something is amiss in our relationship with money.

The key areas we will look at in articles following in this series will be:

  1. What does money represent?
  2. Whose money is it, mine or God’s?
  3. What are my spending priorities and do they line up with what the Bible teaches? In other words, am I being faithful and wise with money?
  4. Am I obeying God when it comes to tithing and being generous?

If we are handling money unwisely, it is sometimes the result of a lack of self-control. We use money to satisfy our greed and lusts, instead of using it wisely. Sometimes we lack wisdom and foresight, failing to understand that we must live within our means and give ourselves some “margin” so that we have something extra set aside for unforeseen or unexpected expenses. Maybe we do not make enough money to meet our legitimate needs. That is another problem. Many times people fail to prioritize what they do with their money, failing to give a proper amount to God and his kingdom work. This leads to all sorts of problems. God wants us to be generous to the poor and those in need, too. Generosity is perhaps one of the greatest secrets to having all that we need.

The crux of the matter is this: how we spend our money reveals what we truly value in life.

What comes first – God, our car, our home, clothes, food, entertainment, vacation? If we place anything in front of God, we are heading for trouble! Are we generous or hoarders? Are we savers or spenders? Are we free or fearful? Are we content or never quite have enough? The answers to these questions reveal a lot about us and our relationship to God. If you suspect that something is out of kilter and you need help with handling your finances, you will want to read the next several articles. Even if you handle money well, the following articles in this series may help you.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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The Math of Generosity

How we handle money reveals a lot about us, especially when it comes to giving. Those of us who have difficulty with generously giving to God’s church and kingdom work and to others who are in need quite often have more problems than merely financial ones. God’s call to give generously tests our hearts and our faith. Do we really see that God is our Provider whose assets are limitless, or are we bound by only working with what we already have? Those who pass this test find out that generosity opens a floodgate of blessings.

When we cling to what is “ours,” we may end up losing it.

That’s one of the paradoxical principles of God’s money system. However, when we give in faith and obedience to the Spirit’s promptings, we may see God work in unexpected ways.

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV)

It takes faith to give away what it seems that we need for ourselves. God promises to supply our needs, if we trust him as our Provider. Our choice to give generously is evidence that we truly believe this promise. When we give away what we need, it shows that we trust God to replace it and give us even more. The key is faith. God wants us to trust him with all our hearts.

The math of generosity is not limited to a “closed” system. In a “zero sum” world, there is a limited supply of resources. If we give away what we have, we will have less. But in God’s kingdom, we are not so limited. In fact, the more generous we are, the more we will be blessed.

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Some people have a true gift of giving. They are internally motivated to be generous. Others of us must choose to be generous, especially if we learned to hold on to what is “ours.”

Over a Barrel

One way to estimate how generous we are is to look at how in debt we are. Indebtedness can come from various reasons. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, but mostly we get into debt by purchasing beyond our income. We are all prone to this, but some make a lifestyle of spending beyond their means. This is a form of greed and eliminates our ability to give generously. Sometimes the only way to break free into generous giving is to eliminate debt first.

Generosity from Poor People

Surprisingly, perhaps, being poor does not limit our ability to be generous. It is really a matter of the heart. The Macedonian church was very poor, but became a biblical model of what it means to be generous. Doesn’t that sound like God?

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4  they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5  And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6  So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7  But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:2-7 (NIV)

The only way we can give “beyond our ability” is by faith. It means we disregard our current circumstances in order to be generous to others, trusting that God will meet our needs. Giving by faith starts with first surrendering ourselves, which includes our finances, to God. Once that is done, God can direct how we use our money as he sees fit. Until that happens, we will self-direct our finances. Paul calls this a “grace of giving.” We should all aspire to excelling in this.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

The math of generosity is simple: the more we give, the more we receive.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. A corollary truth is that only cheerful giving counts for much. No one should try to force someone else to be “generous.” That is a contradiction of terms. Our generosity must be a freewill offering to God, or we are missing the point. Even if we believe that God requires us to give, we should ask his help to be joyfully generous and go beyond what is merely required.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…  11  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11 (NIV)

The math of generosity teaches us that God increases what the generous giver has so that he will have enough to meet all his own needs plus continue to be generous to others.

In other words, he gives us more than we need as we continue to be generous.

Where Do I Begin?

You may ask, where do I begin?  Do I give to the poor first? Do I give to the church? The Bible exhorts us to be generous to the poor, which includes the promise that the Lord will care for those who care for those who have not.

If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you! Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)

In my next article, I will look at the principle of the tithe. Many believe that this is where we should begin. The important thing is that we ask the Spirit and the Word of God to guide us. The Bible has much to say about giving to God’s kingdom work being carried out by the church. More on that next time.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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