As a financial planner, I help my clients make wise decisions with their personal finances. This includes saving for the future, but as a Christian, how do we balance saving for our personal future and choosing to give generously to those in need? When does God ask us to stop planning and trust in His sovereignty and provision for us? When does “dying to ourselves” begin to include the way we steward our finances? In this two-part blog post, we will explore the topics of Biblical stewardship and radical generosity as well as put forth practical steps to pursue God’s intention for our pocketbooks and the tremendous joy and blessing that follows our obedience. Although it is easier to read a blog or listen to a sermon titled, “10 Steps to X” or “5 Ways to Achieve Y,” the answer, I believe, is not that simple. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus continually takes the focus off of the law/rules and places it back on the intentions of the heart. God calls us not to a formula to make our finances please Him but rather a heart that treasures Him above all else. This leads to a kind of radical generosity that reflects a counter-cultural self-denial, causing the world to look on in confused wonder. When our eyes gaze at Jesus and not our wallets, our wallets suddenly begin to fall in place and our hearts embrace radical generosity rather than begrudge it. The Pursuit of Wealth Everyone seems to be pursuing money, and sometimes, it seems that if we step out of the pursuit we might miss out on something incredibly significant. So, we keep chasing because maybe, just around the corner, we will find enough to be happy. Evidence in the field of behavioral finance suggests that people never reach a feeling of having “enough.” One particular study found that a group of millionaires saw $2 million dollars as “enough,” the five-millionaires stated that $10 million would be enough, etc. The stunning truth in this study tells us that regardless of immense wealth, not a single millionaire in the study stated that what they currently had was “enough.” Perhaps wealth does not satisfy our deepest longings and is meant to be used as a means to an end, not just an end. "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity." Ecclesiastes 5:10 Another explanation for our insatiable desire for “more” is Charles Darwin’s theory on resource scarcity. He states that because there are only so many resources (money, food, shelter), our natural instincts tell us to hoard as much as possible in order to survive. The Sermon on the Mount (seems to be the answer to a lot of things) flips this type of economy on its head, calling us to entrust our needs to the Lord who clothes the lilies of the fields and cares deeply about His children. A third reason we might cherish our money and hold it with such a tight fist is simply that we work so hard for it. We spend approximately one-third of our waking hours working. Our minds naturally connect this significant portion of our time with the compensation we receive for it—our time has a value. To give radically and generously is not only to give of monetary resources but also to give of our time. There was a reason that Jesus said our hearts are revealed in our bank statements (definitely a paraphrase). Giving is a sacrifice. Giving is dying to self. Giving is a way we carry our cross. Riches Found in Christ As believers, we have an inheritance that is “undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for you.” We are already undeniably rich! God, Himself took great pleasure in adopting us as sons and daughters giving us new hope, a new identity, and a new purpose. The difficult question we need to ask ourselves is, “Where is my treasure?” What do my decisions reflect about my priorities? Am I holding my finances with a tight fist or an open hand, ready to see what God would have me do with it? We are adopted into the King’s family through Jesus. There are so many beautiful implications in this truth. In 2nd Samuel, King David paints a picture of this kind of life-transforming adoption. He adopts Mephibosheth, a member of King Saul’s family, into his own royal family. The tradition called for Mephibosheth and all other members of Saul’s family to be put to death. But David pulls him from death to life, despair to hope, and purposelessness to significance. This is our story for those have accepted Christ as Savior. "And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always. Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.” 2 Samuel 9:6-11 As children of the King, we eat at His table, share His inheritance, and, perhaps most stunning, we have the King’s ear. The king, who has all the riches in the world, listens to our requests. Not only does He listen, He answers. And this makes us undeniably rich. We can approach the throne of grace with confidence. “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9-11 "And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." Luke 15:31 The riches we have in the mercies of Christ are new every morning. We have an inheritance that is undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for us. The words of Scripture beautifully reveal the glory of our hidden treasure in Christ. "To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory." Ephesians 3: 8-13 The promises of God give us abundant life on earth as well as infinite riches in heaven. The emptiness people attempt to fill with money is only filled with the presence and glory of God Himself, and as believers, we are filled with Him. Riches unimaginable. Earthly Riches I believe we need to clarify that having earthly riches is by no means wrong. The Bible is filled with godly men and women who had earthly riches, and He invites to enjoy these blessings with the open hand of a generous heart. The key is in asking our hearts good questions. Would we be content if God took it all away? Are we willing to give it away to those in need? Do we think about our money in light of the Gospel? Is Jesus alone enough for us? "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity." Ecclesiastes 5:10 “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 Saved Through Grace As we dive into concepts of Biblical generosity, it should be clear that we are saved through grace by faith. Tithing or not tithing is not an issue of salvation but rather, how to live an abundant life, enjoy God, and walk in obedience. The Lord overwhelms us in the richness of his unconditional love and grace, and this character of God will never change based upon your behavior. For those of you reading this blog post and feeling inadequate, please know that “all have fallen short.” If we hadn’t we wouldn’t need a Savior. The Gospel gives you a place at God’s table in the midst of your inadequacy, and as you gaze on the beauty of the King, He will transform you more into His image. The more we see the generosity of our Father towards us, the more our hearts pursue that kind of generosity toward others. We are imitators of God BECAUSE we are dearly loved children. Generosity is not behavior modification. It is a response to love that we did not deserve. Regardless of where you find your heart lining up against the Word of God in this area, you are loved, cherished, pursued, and redeemed by the King of glory. And because of that, you are rich beyond measure. This post is a bird’s eye view of Biblical generosity and addresses the heart and soul behind our generosity. Part Two of this blog takes a deeper dive into the practical steps of what biblical generosity looks like. Like this blog post? Check out these pages...Comments are closed.
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