At church we have been doing a series of talks on Money (in the run up to our gift day) and this morning it was my turn to preach. The title was ‘money and giving’. Lovely title (not) and not all that easy to preach on, but if you are interested this is something like what I said…. (oh and the passage was Luke 6:27-38)
‘Money and Giving’. It’s the
kind of talk that you know before it starts you are going to come out of
feeling guilty and that you need to give more to the church, right?
Well,
no! I hope not, This is not just going to be a plea
for more of your hard earned cash… I recognize that this is a really difficult subject for some. Some
of you here are facing real financial hardship and the last thing you need is
someone asking you to give more. And hey God isn’t going to love you any more
or any less whether you give money the church or not – we cannot buy his love.
no! I hope not, This is not just going to be a plea
for more of your hard earned cash… I recognize that this is a really difficult subject for some. Some
of you here are facing real financial hardship and the last thing you need is
someone asking you to give more. And hey God isn’t going to love you any more
or any less whether you give money the church or not – we cannot buy his love.
BUT
what this talk will do, I hope, is encourage
you to look at your giving as part of your walk with Jesus. I want to look
at giving as part of a Christian life that is guided by God in all aspects of
it.
what this talk will do, I hope, is encourage
you to look at your giving as part of your walk with Jesus. I want to look
at giving as part of a Christian life that is guided by God in all aspects of
it.
So for example, I’m not going to ask for a
show of hands but I wonder how many of you actually
pray about what money you give away – whether to the church or charity or
other causes? I mean how often do you get a begging
letter through the door and either a) chuck a tenner in and send it back or b)
throw it in the bin, without much thought in either case?
show of hands but I wonder how many of you actually
pray about what money you give away – whether to the church or charity or
other causes? I mean how often do you get a begging
letter through the door and either a) chuck a tenner in and send it back or b)
throw it in the bin, without much thought in either case?
My
Dad, from about September onwards makes a big
pile of the charity letters that come through the door and then at Christmas he
goes through them and decides who to donate to. I used to love being able to be
part of that.
We
can’t get away from it. As Christians we are
called to give. The bible talks about tithing, it talks about looking after the
poor, it talks of helping our neighbour. It is something we are called to do.
But for most of us there is probably a big discrepancy between what we want to
give and perhaps what God wants us to give. Deut says this:
can’t get away from it. As Christians we are
called to give. The bible talks about tithing, it talks about looking after the
poor, it talks of helping our neighbour. It is something we are called to do.
But for most of us there is probably a big discrepancy between what we want to
give and perhaps what God wants us to give. Deut says this:
Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your
God which he has given you.
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your
God which he has given you.
We are all able to give but in different measures according to
what God has given us…
what God has given us…
But lots of people give – why is it different
for us as Christians? Because as Christians we have a responsibility to give as
a representation of our relationship with our heavenly father.
for us as Christians? Because as Christians we have a responsibility to give as
a representation of our relationship with our heavenly father.
And obviously the focus this morning is
money but giving is not just about money
is it? It’s about what we give in
love, in effort, and in our time. I was thinking the other day, what do you
think is the most precious thing we have? The most precious thing that could be
given to God. In terms of commodity it used to be gold. Not so any more, there isn’t a consensus, but things like ink,
Rhodium, (metal), saffron (spice),
now looking at things less tangible – data,
companies talk of how valuable their data is to their business, anti
matter (prices at $62.5 trillion per gram!!!), but do you know what I think is the most valuable, and is irreplaceable
– time! How many of us wish that we could add another hour each day..? we
live such crazy busy lives, we always say I am short of time etc… So when we
talk of giving perhaps time is the most precious thing we can give to God… so
although I am talking really about money today do bear that in mind…
So what does todays passage say:
it really gives us a lesson in how different God sees things than us. This
is like a lesson in how to bring a little
bit more of Gods kingdom on earth – and it really does show the parallels
between this world and His. And it’s pretty controversial really isn’t it? I
mean if we really look at it, it a tough
ask actually.
is like a lesson in how to bring a little
bit more of Gods kingdom on earth – and it really does show the parallels
between this world and His. And it’s pretty controversial really isn’t it? I
mean if we really look at it, it a tough
ask actually.
Love your enemies
Do good to those who hate you
If someone hits you, let them do it again…
That would not be classed as normal behavior round here would it?!
What’s the normal or earthly reaction to be slapped or hit in the face? Hit
back maybe!? Run away? Report them to the police?, but not in Gods Kingdom…
What’s the normal or earthly reaction to be slapped or hit in the face? Hit
back maybe!? Run away? Report them to the police?, but not in Gods Kingdom…
Have you ever been hit in the face?… what
would your reaction be?
would your reaction be?
I
was once hit in the face. At uni, I was in a queue
for a gig, with my ticket in my hand, a girl walked past and grabbed the ticket
out of my hand. My gut reaction was ‘hey’ and I turned to take it back and she
hit me in the face. On the cheek actually! Well thankfully my reaction was not to hit
her but my goodness was I cross. It was out of nowhere, totally unprovoked. What does the bible say I should do here? Well
probably willingly giver my her ticket, wish her well and the same time offer another
cheek!
was once hit in the face. At uni, I was in a queue
for a gig, with my ticket in my hand, a girl walked past and grabbed the ticket
out of my hand. My gut reaction was ‘hey’ and I turned to take it back and she
hit me in the face. On the cheek actually! Well thankfully my reaction was not to hit
her but my goodness was I cross. It was out of nowhere, totally unprovoked. What does the bible say I should do here? Well
probably willingly giver my her ticket, wish her well and the same time offer another
cheek!
What else does Jesus have to say in this
speech?
speech?
Has anyone ever stolen your clothes? Jesus
says let them… And give them more! The MSG version says this:
says let them… And give them more! The MSG version says this:
‘If
someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it…’
someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it…’
Well an ex boyfriend once ‘borrowed’ my favourite U2 t shirt that I bought
at one of their gigs at Wembley. I loved that T shirt. Loved it. And when we
split up, he didn’t give it back. Did I gift wrap another one and send it over
to him…? Not exactly…
at one of their gigs at Wembley. I loved that T shirt. Loved it. And when we
split up, he didn’t give it back. Did I gift wrap another one and send it over
to him…? Not exactly…
I was angry. I was irritated. and… I
mourned that T shirt! Understandable of
course…. to us –
mourned that T shirt! Understandable of
course…. to us –
The thing is, my natural earthly reactions
to things are not what God wants to see. His
way is so different to our ways.
This whole passage is about giving. Giving
away our possessions, giving love to our enemies, giving good things to those
who hate us. Even giving our lives… and giving
without expecting anything in return…. Giving in absolute abundance – That’s giving
in a Godly way!
away our possessions, giving love to our enemies, giving good things to those
who hate us. Even giving our lives… and giving
without expecting anything in return…. Giving in absolute abundance – That’s giving
in a Godly way!
Giving
in a godly way: thinking about what that means…
in a godly way: thinking about what that means…
Three
things I think are important when we are thinking about our own giving. We
should do it:
things I think are important when we are thinking about our own giving. We
should do it:
Be
prayerful
prayerful
Give
By Faith
By Faith
And
when we give, it should be Honouring to God
when we give, it should be Honouring to God
So I want to look at these three in a bit
more detail.
more detail.
GIVE PRAYERFULLY:
We all have different things we can give, from talents and time to our
finances. But all those things come from God. When we tithe or give, we are
really just giving back to him. So surely that should be done with thought and prayer?
finances. But all those things come from God. When we tithe or give, we are
really just giving back to him. So surely that should be done with thought and prayer?
There
are so many things that we can spend our money on aren’t there?
From buying our food and paying our bills, to things for the kids, family days
out, football clubs, ballet, music lessons, toddler groups, a pint or two at
the pub… and that’s before we even think about the ‘worthy causes’. We can’t possibly help them all, can we? But is it
just assuaging our own guilt, if you
like, by making a quick donation here or there?
are so many things that we can spend our money on aren’t there?
From buying our food and paying our bills, to things for the kids, family days
out, football clubs, ballet, music lessons, toddler groups, a pint or two at
the pub… and that’s before we even think about the ‘worthy causes’. We can’t possibly help them all, can we? But is it
just assuaging our own guilt, if you
like, by making a quick donation here or there?
It is worthy of God, if we just
thoughtlessly write out a cheque in response to an email and throw it in the
post? Does it ease our own consciences?
thoughtlessly write out a cheque in response to an email and throw it in the
post? Does it ease our own consciences?
When
you are faced with a request for a donation what do you do?
You get a letter in the post, there is a picture on the front of a starving child in Africa, swollen
belly, flies around them. What do you do? My usual response I think is: look at
it, spend 1 min thinking how awful it is, then think, ah but it’s so far away,
feel a bit guilty so I might write out a cheque for a few pounds and chuck it
in the post and forget about it. Or perhaps the opposite, perhaps look at it
but immediately think I have no spare money and so chuck it away.
you are faced with a request for a donation what do you do?
You get a letter in the post, there is a picture on the front of a starving child in Africa, swollen
belly, flies around them. What do you do? My usual response I think is: look at
it, spend 1 min thinking how awful it is, then think, ah but it’s so far away,
feel a bit guilty so I might write out a cheque for a few pounds and chuck it
in the post and forget about it. Or perhaps the opposite, perhaps look at it
but immediately think I have no spare money and so chuck it away.
Or how many of us have responded to an
email of a friend or relative doing a challenge for charity – marathon/cycling
etc, do we ignore it or perhaps make a quick with just a click of a button online? I’m not sure either of those are Godly are they?
email of a friend or relative doing a challenge for charity – marathon/cycling
etc, do we ignore it or perhaps make a quick with just a click of a button online? I’m not sure either of those are Godly are they?
How
often do we actually seek God for these decisions?
often do we actually seek God for these decisions?
Please hear me!! I’m not saying don’t send
money or make a donation, or do when you can’t afford it. But I’m asking you to
think about how or why you make those decisions. I’m saying ask God first!!
money or make a donation, or do when you can’t afford it. But I’m asking you to
think about how or why you make those decisions. I’m saying ask God first!!
You know, there are statistics that say there should be no poverty in this
world that between us all we have enough money, enough food, enough water to
live well. I wonder if everyone prayed about what they should give and to who how
much impact that would make on the worlds poor?
world that between us all we have enough money, enough food, enough water to
live well. I wonder if everyone prayed about what they should give and to who how
much impact that would make on the worlds poor?
And
for us at church – as Will said we have gift day coming up.
So let’s be honest, how many of you have already thought, we might give church
a miss that day…?
for us at church – as Will said we have gift day coming up.
So let’s be honest, how many of you have already thought, we might give church
a miss that day…?
Come on be honest… I’m sure it’s crossed
some of your minds…! You know traditionally for many churches its often the lowest attended service… But do let me
say, please don’t let that be the case here. If you can’t or don’t want to make
a donation on gift day, please don’t stay at home just to avoid it, we do
church together to meet Jesus together,
so please don’t be put off coming!
some of your minds…! You know traditionally for many churches its often the lowest attended service… But do let me
say, please don’t let that be the case here. If you can’t or don’t want to make
a donation on gift day, please don’t stay at home just to avoid it, we do
church together to meet Jesus together,
so please don’t be put off coming!
But by the same token… Don’t just ignore gift day, don’t just think, well we give money
already we don’t have to do anything, this is a real opportunity to seek God and ask him. Praying with faith and
trusting God is scary sometimes especially where money is concerned but it’s
exciting too! It’s an opportunity for
him to use you… and it’s up to you whether you want to take it…
already we don’t have to do anything, this is a real opportunity to seek God and ask him. Praying with faith and
trusting God is scary sometimes especially where money is concerned but it’s
exciting too! It’s an opportunity for
him to use you… and it’s up to you whether you want to take it…
And being prayerful about what to give also
means praying with faith and then acting on it – the second of my three points,
giving in faith.
means praying with faith and then acting on it – the second of my three points,
giving in faith.
If we pray and feel that God is asking us
to give something that is out of our means, or something that would be tough,
we just have to trust Him. Giving as
an act of faith is also an act of risk! Of self sacrifice….
to give something that is out of our means, or something that would be tough,
we just have to trust Him. Giving as
an act of faith is also an act of risk! Of self sacrifice….
The
bible has several examples of people giving what
they can’t afford to and yet they are blessed in return and I want to tell you
a modern day example:
bible has several examples of people giving what
they can’t afford to and yet they are blessed in return and I want to tell you
a modern day example:
I have a friend who is going on a mission
trip in January to Haiti. She is
married with 3 kids and they do not have much money, they make ends meet but
that’s about it. Anything extra takes a long to save for. So you can imagine finding money for an OS
trip is not easy at all. Over the last year she had managed to save up just a
few hundred pounds towards her ticket, not much but an inroad in to the ticket
cost. 2 weeks ago she felt God telling her to give this money to a friend in
need. She wasn’t exactly happy…!. It had taken her a long time to save this up
and there was no way she was going to raise the £1000 she needed to get out to
Haiti in time. But she was faithful, she knew this was of God. And the friend
that she gave it to was so blessed by it. I can’t tell you all, but just that
few hundred pounds completed a chain that enabled her to change her life
totally. Wonderful. I know my friend felt so blessed by that.
trip in January to Haiti. She is
married with 3 kids and they do not have much money, they make ends meet but
that’s about it. Anything extra takes a long to save for. So you can imagine finding money for an OS
trip is not easy at all. Over the last year she had managed to save up just a
few hundred pounds towards her ticket, not much but an inroad in to the ticket
cost. 2 weeks ago she felt God telling her to give this money to a friend in
need. She wasn’t exactly happy…!. It had taken her a long time to save this up
and there was no way she was going to raise the £1000 she needed to get out to
Haiti in time. But she was faithful, she knew this was of God. And the friend
that she gave it to was so blessed by it. I can’t tell you all, but just that
few hundred pounds completed a chain that enabled her to change her life
totally. Wonderful. I know my friend felt so blessed by that.
But that isn’t the end of the story. Less
than a week later someone knocked on my friends door and said they felt that
God had told them to give her £1000…
than a week later someone knocked on my friends door and said they felt that
God had told them to give her £1000…
That
is the power and the generosity of our amazing
God J
My friend had little, but she trusted God, she stepped out, did what he was
asking and was abundantly blessed in return. Which is exactly what it says in
todays passage.
is the power and the generosity of our amazing
God J
My friend had little, but she trusted God, she stepped out, did what he was
asking and was abundantly blessed in return. Which is exactly what it says in
todays passage.
‘Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you’.
shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you’.
Explain:
lovely description – a ref to how grain
was sold – filling the gaps.
lovely description – a ref to how grain
was sold – filling the gaps.
Like saying – if you give, give with your whole self, not leaving any gaps, or
any grain behind, but as much as you can – abundantly….
The same will be given to you…
any grain behind, but as much as you can – abundantly….
The same will be given to you…
Now we don’t do things or give things away
in order to be blessed, that would not be in the right spirit, but when God asks us to do something that’s
different. When we respond to his instruction, and we do that knowing that we
can trust him, and that he always has a plan, we do it in complete faith. He
won’t abandon us.
in order to be blessed, that would not be in the right spirit, but when God asks us to do something that’s
different. When we respond to his instruction, and we do that knowing that we
can trust him, and that he always has a plan, we do it in complete faith. He
won’t abandon us.
Of course for many of us the decision about
what to give and who to and how much is not
entirely our own – if you are married for example, then often it’s not just
your own decision and different people manage money in very different ways,
even in a relationship. And of course for some of you your partner might not be
walking with God which means a prayerful approach together isn’t going to be so
easy! But at the same time, don’t ignore it! Talk about it together, it might
actually be a great opportunity to talk about your faith!
what to give and who to and how much is not
entirely our own – if you are married for example, then often it’s not just
your own decision and different people manage money in very different ways,
even in a relationship. And of course for some of you your partner might not be
walking with God which means a prayerful approach together isn’t going to be so
easy! But at the same time, don’t ignore it! Talk about it together, it might
actually be a great opportunity to talk about your faith!
In
our home, Phil handles the finances, (after all he
does work for a bank!) not from a traditional point of view but just because I
am totally rubbish with money. I just hate to think about it. My mum budgets
everything. If I ever owed her money as
a kid I had to pay her back exactly on the nose, even to the last ½ penny! She gave
me a budget book at age 9 and tried to
encourage me to budget my 50p pocket money. You’d think that might have helped.
It didn’t, the thought of writing down how many penny sweets I had bought that
week or in fact to remember how many
as they were usually gone by the time I got home! So I guess her tactics didn’t
work – I went the other way! Thankfully Phil is more organized about it all
otherwise we’d probably be living off baked beans in a camper van somewhere. As
the main bread winner, Phil takes an approach that he feels God has blessed him in his work and therefore it is his responsibility
to use that money wisely and in a way that honours to God.
our home, Phil handles the finances, (after all he
does work for a bank!) not from a traditional point of view but just because I
am totally rubbish with money. I just hate to think about it. My mum budgets
everything. If I ever owed her money as
a kid I had to pay her back exactly on the nose, even to the last ½ penny! She gave
me a budget book at age 9 and tried to
encourage me to budget my 50p pocket money. You’d think that might have helped.
It didn’t, the thought of writing down how many penny sweets I had bought that
week or in fact to remember how many
as they were usually gone by the time I got home! So I guess her tactics didn’t
work – I went the other way! Thankfully Phil is more organized about it all
otherwise we’d probably be living off baked beans in a camper van somewhere. As
the main bread winner, Phil takes an approach that he feels God has blessed him in his work and therefore it is his responsibility
to use that money wisely and in a way that honours to God.
And so lastly: it should be Honouring to God
We should be good stewards of our money,
the bible tells us. What we have is his blessing upon our lives. All good
things come from him.
the bible tells us. What we have is his blessing upon our lives. All good
things come from him.
Yes you might work hard for your money. You
might work long hours. But do you work harder than someone else? How did you
get your job? What got you to that place? I don’t believe for any of us that it
was completely of our own merits. Our background, our schooling, our life
experiences shape who we are, and where we end up. So much of which has nothing
to do with what we choose to do. God’s
grace is upon us all. I know for myself I feel so blessed. I have a
wonderful husband and 3 amazing kids, I have a nice house, we have work. But
that wasn’t always the case. I know there are times in my life that things
could have been so different, just by one little decision, or leaving an event
a little later, or anything, it’s by Gods grace that we are all where we are. It’s
down to him that we have what we do and to spend it thrivolously or to make snap
decisions about it seems dishonouring to he who has put us here.
might work long hours. But do you work harder than someone else? How did you
get your job? What got you to that place? I don’t believe for any of us that it
was completely of our own merits. Our background, our schooling, our life
experiences shape who we are, and where we end up. So much of which has nothing
to do with what we choose to do. God’s
grace is upon us all. I know for myself I feel so blessed. I have a
wonderful husband and 3 amazing kids, I have a nice house, we have work. But
that wasn’t always the case. I know there are times in my life that things
could have been so different, just by one little decision, or leaving an event
a little later, or anything, it’s by Gods grace that we are all where we are. It’s
down to him that we have what we do and to spend it thrivolously or to make snap
decisions about it seems dishonouring to he who has put us here.
…steward it well…
Being
honouring to God also means Giving unselfishly and generously:
honouring to God also means Giving unselfishly and generously:
The MSG: (vs 35/36)
‘Live out this God created identity the way our Father lives
toward us, generously and graciously, even when we are at our worst. Our Father
is Kind; You be kind.’
toward us, generously and graciously, even when we are at our worst. Our Father
is Kind; You be kind.’
When God calls us to be generous, his gauge is different to ours.
Remember his examples
Remember his examples
I
mean giving away your best coat to someone who has pinched your shirt, and not
just that but gift wrapping it?
mean giving away your best coat to someone who has pinched your shirt, and not
just that but gift wrapping it?
We can never match his generosity, after all He gave his life for
us. How’s that for generosity?
us. How’s that for generosity?
But we can try… and we can do it graciously…
It is by Gods grace that we can give, so let’s
do it with grace in our hearts. Give in
love, give with no strings or
expectations (as it says in the passage) and with joy. Don’t begrudge it. For some of us giving
might mean one less night out or one less treat at the Supermarket, for others
of us it could mean real hardship. But
if we seek God and trust in him then we can give joyfully knowing that we are
honouring Him and doing his will.
do it with grace in our hearts. Give in
love, give with no strings or
expectations (as it says in the passage) and with joy. Don’t begrudge it. For some of us giving
might mean one less night out or one less treat at the Supermarket, for others
of us it could mean real hardship. But
if we seek God and trust in him then we can give joyfully knowing that we are
honouring Him and doing his will.
Give, knowing that we are giving to our
heavenly father. …
heavenly father. …
So as I draw to a close, I want to encourage you – before gift
day in a few weeks time, spend some time seeking God, praying about your
giving. Don’t just make a snap decision, don’t rule anything out or in for that
matter! just seek Him, ask Him and then faithfully act on what he tells you.
day in a few weeks time, spend some time seeking God, praying about your
giving. Don’t just make a snap decision, don’t rule anything out or in for that
matter! just seek Him, ask Him and then faithfully act on what he tells you.
If
you feel it’s not right for you to give anything extra on gift day, that’s absolutely
fine, I just encourage you to make the decision with God at the centre and remember
these three:
you feel it’s not right for you to give anything extra on gift day, that’s absolutely
fine, I just encourage you to make the decision with God at the centre and remember
these three:
Give prayerfully, give in faith and give in a way that
is honouring to God…then have courage, and trust him, his plans for you are
good.
is honouring to God…then have courage, and trust him, his plans for you are
good.
2 Comments
Anita @ dreamingbeneaththespires
October 16, 2012 at 5:20 pmOooh, love that Haiti story. I've often felt God convict me to give money away (interestingly, heard him most at the times when money was not plentiful, or even scarce) and I think giving did turn things around for me, financially.
Jules, I have finally moved to wordpress. Please would you be able to update your blogroll with my new URL
http://anitamathias.com/
You are on my blogroll (see tab up there) too.
Thanks much,
Anita
Jules
October 21, 2012 at 4:19 pmHi Anita, how you doing? thanks for the comment. yes of course, I had just noticed the change over, will change the link…
much love xx