A number of topics abound in Christian conversation that are readily welcomed by the masses. One such topic is the crucifixion of Christ and the accompanied forgiveness that it brings. This is a hallmark of Christianity, and rightfully so; people should love to talk about this subject. Another is the comfort of the Holy Spirit. This type of conversation may come in different shapes and sizes. When someone is troubled, he looks to God as his source of comfort. When counseling another person, the discussion may turn toward God as a source of refuge in the midst of a storm. Regardless of how the topic is approached, one of the matters that will be present is the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
But then Christian conversation has a tendency to get a little trickier. One such topic is that of repentance. Many people love to talk about faith and forgiveness. But some do not like that there is a need for them to repent, as well. Another subject that some do not like to discuss is the topic of sin. Sin is confrontational; it approaches every person in a congregation. While some are masters in the art of deflection, it nevertheless is something all people deal with. Preaching on sin wars against pride, arouses anger, and crushes self-confidence. Discussing the topic of hell has often made people get up and leave a room.
This brings us to another topic that the Christian must learn to embrace. The Christian must learn to honor the Lord with his wealth. The Bible is very clear on this matter, but many people love to dodge this biblical truth. People may say, “Well, I must save up to give an inheritance for my children.” While the Bible speaks of this as something that a person must do, it is not all that the Bible has to say. A person may also hide behind the seemingly justifiable thought of having a savings account in the case of emergency. While this could also be wise, it does not negate the fact that the Christian is called to be a cheerful giver.
The Christian will find himself pitting Scripture against Scripture to fit what is actually a fleshly desire. This will happen in many areas of his life, and he needs to be on guard against such a tendency. The legalist will say that he must obey the commands of God. He will go out and seek to do them in his own strength and make very little of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. On the other hand, there are those who forgo their God-given responsibility, sit back and twiddle their thumbs, and expect God to do all the work. The legalist looks at his responsibility too heavily and trusts in self too much. The one who abuses the grace of God thinks that if God wants him to do certain things, then God will need to bring it all about. Thus, the latter individual sees the commands of Scripture and is not much concerned about them.
All of that to say that, while there are Scriptures that speak of saving for one’s children, and there are Scriptures that speak of approaching finances with wisdom, there are also Scriptures that speak of the needed generosity of the Christianity. These are not meant to offset one another but rather to give a full orbed view of how the Christian must steward over his finances.
Scripture says, “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Prov. 3:9-10).
Honor the Lord with your wealth
Proverbs 3:9-10 actually makes it clear that it is with the firstfruits that one is to honor the Lord. This means that giving is actually meant to come first. The firstfruits were the first of the crops that the people would have gathered. Thus, it is with the first of a person’s wealth that he should honor the Lord.
The reality of the matter is that there is an element of faith that often the Christian does not have. It is important to know that there is a great difference between giving of the first of one’s wealth and what Jesus told the rich young ruler that he must do to inherit the kingdom of God.
The rich young ruler believed that he was doing a lot of things correctly. He wanted to enter into the kingdom of God and thus inherit eternal life. The problem for this young ruler was that he had developed a love for money. It was an idol that was deeply rooted in his heart. For this man to enter into the kingdom of God would mean that the idol would need to be removed.
Jesus challenged this man in a unique way that is not meant to be a direct command for the Christian. Jesus told him to sell all that he had and distribute it among the poor. But eternal life was not more important to this man than his wealth. In essence, Jesus was not more important to this man than his wealth was. This challenge would have confronted this man personally at the front door of his heart. He did not want to allow Jesus in, and thus, he did not inherit the kingdom of God.
The Christian is not commanded to sell all that he has and give to the poor. But the Christian is commanded to give of his wealth. The Christian should even first be thinking of how he can give rather than how he can save.
Matthew speaks a great word over this topic. Scripture says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:19-21). Did you catch the last part of that verse?
Matthew tells us that when the Christian gives to the Lord, it actually does something to his heart. It has been said that, “The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.” If one thing needs to change within a man, it is his heart.
Matthew says something amazing in that, when a person gives to the Lord and honors God with his wealth, it is actually good for his heart. This type of habitual giving will bring about a disposition of the heart that is for God, for His kingdom, and filled with faith. This type of man trusts in the Lord rather than his wealth. He will find that he will escape the snare that money may bring.
Scripture says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some have coveted after have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (2 Tim. 6:10). Paul ventures to say that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” This is a bold statement that must not be winked at. Paul says, “all evil”; thus, many of the sins that many people find themselves dealing with and struggling through actually find their root in a love of money. Their heart is wrapped around their wealth like a clinched fist, never willing to let it depart, as can be seen in the case of the rich young ruler.
The remedy is simple. Honor the Lord with your wealth. Matthew tells us that when someone gives to the Lord and for the Lord’s sake, his heart will be turned to the Lord. He will actually be making the greatest investment that he has ever made.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You that You have invested in me. I pray that You would show me ways that I can invest in You. Give me wisdom to be able to see how I can both give and save in a way that is pleasing in your sight. Thank You for giving Your Son. Teach me, Lord, to give for Your cause, as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.