“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” Luke 12:48
“Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38
It appears today that people are coming to Christianity for “what they can get” materially or relationally…not to build a relationship or thankful response to Jesus for the sacrifice he made for us in his suffering and dying on the cross for our sins.
The “Prosperity Gospel” is a very powerful tool to manipulate and control the poor in mind, spirit, and means. A majority of Christian television programs of the past decades have been full of a false gospel that if you come to Jesus and give to these ministries all that you can that somehow you will miraculously gain many times back what you gave. There is no greater fallacy being purported by false ministers and prophets today than this bastardized version of the Gospel of Christ.
Does God want to bless those who believe in him? Of course! Scripture is full of passages that encourage us to ask him for all our needs as “…my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phillipians 4:19).
The problem comes from the attitude of our hearts and minds along with how submissive we are to the will of God in our lives. The reason we give…our motivations…are more important than how much or how little. To give in order to receive is really nowhere I can find in the Bible. We give out of the abundance we have received and because we love God and know that everything we have is from him and because of him.
God loves us unconditionally. “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50). He doesn’t need anything from us. He gives and takes as he will. He has never promised to make his followers rich and prosperous. In fact, he has warned us over and over not to seek riches in this world but to seek first the Kingdom of God. THEN…”all these things will be added to us” (Matthew 6:33).
The principle of tithing throughout the Bible was about giving God the “first fruits” of all that we receive in this life as we acknowledge that ALL things are his. It is our reasonable worship and sacrifice if we understand his principles of living in this world.
Yes, we are to be generous with our things…because they aren’t OUR things. ALL belongs to God and is given to us for our needs and management for his purposes. Yes, it takes money to support and spread the Gospel or support the needy among us…and this is the main reason we need to give abundantly of what God has given us.
The problem comes when we think we own our lives and the stuff we have, including money. If we are truly followers of Christ, we have yielded ALL we have for his purposes.
Remember the “Rich Young Ruler”? He loved Jesus and wanted to follow him…and Jesus loved him. But, he knew that this young man loved his riches more than the cause of Christ. Though the man obeyed all the laws and commandments, Jesus called him out on his holdings and possessions. Jesus challenged him with “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy” (Luke 18:22-23).
It is clear to me that prosperous people find it very difficult to follow Christ unconditionally. Believers want the blessings, but don’t want to hear of sacrifice. Our Western Christian civilization has somehow morphed into a church that hordes worldly profits, thrives on their edifice complexes which in many instances can be based on “pride”, and misses the true calling of the church to feed the poor, take care of widows and orphans, and focus on love and relationship building. Instead so many seem focused on their wasteful architecture and self-serving approach to blessings. God is building his church in people…not buildings or tapestries.
The day of judgment is coming and “it begins with the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17). As global persecutions of true Christian faith rears its ugly head in these times, the Bible has clearly warned us that the end times will be difficult for believers when it comes to freedom, money, and possessions. God has promised to provide for all our needs, but he has NOT promised riches or prosperity in this world. We are to live for that crown of glory that awaits the martyrs, the humble and poor in spirit, and for the woman who gave her last penny. That parable does not say she gave in order to get something back in this world. She gave all that she had because of her recognition that all was God’s to begin with.
We are challenged today to not let possessions and money control us. Money is not the root of all evil, but the LOVE of money is. Having possessions is not a sin, but allowing them to keep us from obeying what God calls us to do is.
The bottom line is, enjoy your blessings…but value most the blessings of health, love of family and friends, and freedom to do ministry and share the Gospel. Money is a very tempting mistress to control our lives in this world. It can be a form of addiction and your identity and meaning in life are not to be based on such things. It is impossible to serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).
Be blessed but not controlled by your blessings. Be ready to sacrifice and give all for the cause of Christ. That is your reasonable service after all he has done for you, and sooner or later it may be required of you.
As Paul wrote “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)