"Let's Talk about money Part 1"

Let’s Be Clear About Money

2 Corinthians 9:6-12 (NLT)

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.  7  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  9  As the Scriptures say,

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

10  For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11  Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.  12  So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. Money is on almost everyone’s mind today

We wonder whether we’ll have enough to make ends meet each week, to pay for our children’s education, to support our retirement, or to get out of debt. There’s nothing wrong or evil about having or using money. Where we sometimes go astray is in how we use it or why it’s so important to us. Since handling money is a necessary and important part of life, we need to develop a personal conviction about it, based on God’s Word. Only then can we live wisely and please Him in all our ways.

The Lord often speaks about money in Scripture 

In fact, there are more verses about this subject than there are about prayer or heaven and hell. Over half of Jesus’ parables dealt with financial situations. We’ll never go wrong by heeding Scripture’s instructions because it’s our best guide for personal financial management.

The World’s Viewpoint About Money

The key word that describes the world’s perspective is accumulation. It’s all about receiving. The goal is to get as much as we can and keep as much as possible for the future. The primary focus is self-interest—personal desires, needs, pleasures, and security. And once a sufficient amount is obtained and kept, the next task is to protect it.

This world view promises happiness and financial security for those who accumulate an abundance, but these are empty promises. Some of the richest people in the world are the most miserable, and there is no guarantee that their wealth won’t be lost tomorrow.

God’s Viewpoint About Money

What we believe always influences how we handle money. That’s why it’s important to let our convictions be shaped by what the Lord says.

 God owns it all – According to Psalm 24:1 (NLT), “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” This is the first and primary truth we must understand. Everything we consider to be ours is really His.

 We are stewards of God’s money – If the Lord owns it all, then we are the stewards or managers of His possessions. Everything He entrusts to us is to be used as He directs.

 The Lord’s key word is distribute – Unlike the world’s view, which emphasizes accumulation, God wants us to distribute what He gives us. Instead of working only to receive all we can, we need to become people who work to give all we can.

Two Aspects of Giving

 God’s Encouragement – When Christ talked about generosity, He encouraged His followers saying, “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). What we do with our money determines what we receive. Either we rely upon ourselves to get whatever we can, or we give as God directs and receive what He generously provides. The Lord not only owns everything, but He also has complete control of it and can direct it to us if He chooses. If we give to Him as He desires, He will reward us for our obedience.

 God’s Warning. “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.  10  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10 NLT). Money can be a dangerous item when it’s not under God’s control and in keeping with His will and purpose. Instead of longing for riches and falling into temptations and snares, the Lord says, “So run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness” (v. 11 NLT).

The Choice

After hearing God’s encouragement and warning, we must each make a choice. One option is to be obedient to the Lord in our giving and trust Him to keep His promise to provide for us. The other alternative is to seek full financial blessings through accumulation, even if it requires going into debt. The second method never leads to happiness, because that is only found in a right relationship with God and obedience to His will.

God’s Master Financial Plan

2 Corinthians 9 is written to the Christians in Corinth, but the principles found in this passage still apply to God’s people today.

 The Lord requires us to be a cheerful giver – Paul wanted to make sure they were ready to give. He wanted to remind them of their promise.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)

“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.”

 If we understand that everything belongs to God, we’ll acknowledge that it’s the spirit of giving that counts

 Our giving should spring from a willing heart and mind

 It begins with our motives since all giving should be determined on “why” we give

 Believers are called to live under Christ’s lordship and be motivated by his love

 Such bountiful giving is a mark of true grace

 We have received his unmerited favor in salvation

 We get to give; not give to get

 God promises overflow when we give  

2 Corinthians 9:8-9 (NLT)

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  9  As the Scriptures say,

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

 When we obey the Lord regarding our finances, His blessings don’t just trickle in, they overflow generously.

 True giving is a joy; in contrast to grudging gifts

 There is joy in sowing seed and there is joy in sharing with others in need

 God invites us to test Him in the area of giving – Knowing that we may doubt, He challenges us to test Him and see that He will indeed keep His promise.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NLT)

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11  Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 

 Our generosity would be matched by God’s generosity; you can’t beat Gods giving

 Christian giving is marked by generosity and may entail sacrifice

 God receives the glory

2 Corinthians 9:12 (NLT)

So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

 Christian living is marked by a generous concern for those in need

 Paul calls believers to please God, not themselves

 Although it may seem risky to follow God’s instructions, obedience actually places us and our possessions under His care and protection. A Matter of Obedience

The Lord isn’t asking for money because He needs something from us. He already owns it all. What He wants is our obedience, and if we love Him, our desire will be to follow His instructions. God knows all our present circumstances and will show Himself strong and faithful to meet all our needs if we simply trust Him and obey.