The heart of the matter!

Over the past few weeks, I have seen a variety of reactions from many different people over one specific topic.  This one thing has stirred emotions in people more than any other “one thing” discussed among friends, family members, fellow brother’s and sister’s in Christ, and complete strangers.  All I have had to do is get this conversation started, and like a forest fire, the different ranges of emotions erupt into flames.  You might be wondering what this “one thing” could be that is so controversial?  The answer is simple:  Money!

I have had the privilege to be involved in a men’s Bible study each Thursday evening.  We meet for an hour or so and discuss different topics that pertain to the Christian walk.  We have covered sexual immorality, over indulgence (food and alcohol), self control, our language, and many other topics over the past few months.  Of all of the ones we have discussed, the one topic that brought on the largest emotional response was “generosity”.  This alarmed me!

This Sunday (at my church) we had a guest Pastor speak on tithing and financially giving back to God.  As I began to speak with different friends of mine after the sermon, I was surprised to see the wide range of emotions and opinions among different Christians.  One person said to me “Tithing isn’t even in the Bible!”  Another person told me “I didn’t like that sermon!  He was bragging on himself and how much he gives!”  These folks are people whom I consider Christ followers, and close personal friends.  So I began to ask myself “Why does money/tithing/giving attract such an emotional response?”

The answer can be found in the Gospel.  While Jesus lived here on earth, He covered a wide variety of things to teach to the people of Israel.  The one thing that He warned us about (some say more than anything) was our love for money.  In Matthew 6:24 we see Jesus draw a line in the sand.  He makes no apologies when He says “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”  That is plain as day. 

In Matthew 19, Jesus is speaking with His disciples and a rich young man came up to Him and said “What must I do to follow you?”  Christ answers “Sell all you own, give it to the poor and follow me!”  The young man walked away and hung his head in shame, because He couldn’t do it.  Jesus told His disciples in verse 24 “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  That is a sobering thought.

Money is a security blanket for all of us.  It provides comfort, security, assurance, and gives us something to fall back on in times of trouble.  God doesn’t want us to rely on money; He wants us to rely on Him.

Here are a few points I would like to address:

• God owns it all.  Many people brag about being “Self made men”.  There is no such thing!  God created you, He gave you everything you own (Your job, house, money, family, health, etc.)  It all belongs to Him, and anything you own can be added to or taken away at a moments notice. 
• A tenth is only a start!  God requires us to give 10% of our first fruits.  (Read Malachi 3)  That is only the minimum.  If you think about all the things that God has given you, that's a small price to pay.  Most folks don’t flinch when paying 20% tax to our local, state and federal governments but balk when the church preaches on tithing.
• Giving and tithing are two totally separate things.  If you are a Christ follower, then tithing is paying 10% back to your local church.  Giving is listening to the Holy Spirit and obeying Him when He lays it on your heart to help someone out (either individually of through organizations such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters, etc.)  In my own experience, sometimes this is a small amount, sometimes it is a large amount.  EVERYTIME God has given back this to me and usually doubles and triples the amount that our family was told to give.  That’s not bragging; that is just a fact.  God rewards His people who are obedient.
• God doesn’t need your money!  You are cutting your own throat if you aren’t tithing and giving to God.  He has blessings in store for you.  He desires to build your faith through giving.  If you want a front row seat to God’s ballgame, start giving.  If you don’t, then the only one that stands to lose out is you.  God will move in a different way to funnel His money through someone else if you say no.
• You cannot take it with you.  Your money doesn’t impress God.  Bragging about how much you make or have is ridiculous.  God wants your heart.  If your heart is set on “earthly things” (Colossians 3:2) then your mind isn’t focused on Jesus Christ.  That’s just a fact.
• We will be rewarded in heaven for what we do here on earth.  All throughout the Bible we see that God has a reward in heaven waiting for us.  Some folks don’t agree with that statement but it is true!  We don’t know what that reward is, but I think it’s fair to say that if you decide to be greedy here on earth, your reward in heaven is probably going to be slim pickings!
• Don’t kill the messenger.  If you swell up and pout the next time your Pastor preaches on the blessings received from living an obedient life of tithing and giving, chances are that you have a heart problem.  Grow up, be mature in the Lord and start obeying God with your wallet.

How dare we hold back from God after all He has done for us!  He gave us His only Son to save us from our filthy lives.  How can we hold anything back from Him in return?