Have you ever heard someone say, “Nobody is going to tell me how I spend my money?” Of course, you have, and if you haven’t heard such words, you see people living by such a false standard, but God says, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:8) and “He giveth thee power to get wealth.” (Deut. 8:18). Furthermore, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1) and “If we’re hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine, and all its fullness” and “I own the cattle on a thousands hills.” (Psalm 50:10,12).
We see from the above Scriptures that we do not own one penny but have been entrusted with material things to be used absolutely for His glory and our own good. “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” (Churchill)
What are the Enemies of Giving Money God’s Way?
Selfishness – “It’s my money, I earned it, nobody’s going to tell me how to spend it.” When in fact, we have already been told by God how to spend it.
- Greed – “I will use my money for what I want. And why should I give to someone else? No one ever gave me anything,” when we have nothing that we did not receive from others, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7 ). Absolutely nothing.
- Worry – “I’m afraid if I give to God I can’t pay my bills.” When in fact, no one who ever gave willingly and worthily ever missed what he gave.
- Indebtedness – “I’m too far in debt to give.” When in fact, if one does not give as God commands, he will never get out of debt.
- Unbelief – Persons who do not tithe and give in other ways simply do not believe God’s promise of blessings, found in Mal. 3:8-10; 2 Cor. 9:6-11; Luke 6:38.
14 Ways to Use Money God’s Way
Transfer ownership of all your money and possessions over to God. Doris and I did this many years ago and put our commitment in writing and filed it with our important papers.
- Remember that your giving is a matter of faith and obedience, not about money per se. The most generous, consistent givers I ever knew as a pastor were people whose income was very limited.
- Ask yourself this question often: “Have I put my money and what it can buy before God?” If so, you are an idolater as clearly as the heathen who worships carved images, etc.
- Understand that a miser is miserable. Miser is the root word from which miserable is taken.
- Remember that depending upon money to make you happy is like a thirsty person drinking salt water to quench his thirst. The more he drinks, the thirstier he becomes. When asked, “How much money does it take to satisfy,” J. D. Rockefeller, the richest man on earth, replied, “Just a little bit more.”
- Giving 10% of your income, the tithe, is the minimum basis for biblical giving. Tithing preceded the Old Testament law by 500 years (Gen. 14:20). Grace giving goes beyond tithing.
- Don’t make the mistake of giving for pay. The generous philanthropist , LeTourneau, said, “If you give for pay, it won’t pay.; but if you give unto the Lord, it will pay.”
- Don’t practice “Slot Machine Religion.” The “Name and Claim” people are practicing “Slot Machine religion,” “You put so much in, you’ll get so much out,” which is foreign to God’s plan of grace giving. (2 Cor. 9:6-11).
- Give offerings above the tithe to support other ministries (1 Cor. 16:2).
- Have a goal of saving 10% of your check. Planning for the future is a biblical principle.
- Be passionately committed to paying your debts on time, including your tithe ( 13:7; Prov. 6:6-8)).
- Never forget this truth, “A man is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” (Matt. 6:19ff).
- Prioritize things which money cannot buy: Love, friends, health, prayer, God’s Word, family, children, reputation, etc.
- Ponder: If you income increases it is not for you to keep raising your standard of living but to give more to God and others.
- Remember: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Jesus – Acts 20:35).