Your Spiritual Life comes down to how you deal with money!!!

I have been writing about money for the last 15 years with much frustration and disgust.  It is not most people’s favorite topic especially when it is linked to their personal giving.  People, especially rich Christians, would rather discuss anything but sacrificial giving that actually hurts. Recently, I have never seen a brother get so excited about making money on stock trades.  Total elation to the point of bragging and boasting to his wife.  Taking a mission trip to meet and smell and give cash to the poorest of poor?  Not so much!! 

Of course, I have strong opinions on the love of money and I risk the mistake of scaring the hell out of folks so much that they refuse to read this 5 part series on Money.  Old friends aren’t friends so much anymore because they are sick of my message.  I also run the risk of being so negative I send a hopeless message.  Should I hold back and be apathetic?  Just not in my DNA and many people dislike or even despise that about me.  But unfortunately, I have so many negative experiences and stories regarding money that are present and real with Jesus followers.  And you do too because in this day and age it really is “All about the Money”.

The worship of money is seldom discussed in churches or bible studies or conversations among Jesus followers.  Prayer, holy living, serving, preferring others, purity, loving your wife, the second coming, school prayer, politics, homosexuality……….. all discussed often by Fundamentalists.  But prayer is only mentioned 600 times; money…….. well over 2000 times.  Money is not a popular topic.  Especially with church attenders who have it and think about it every moment of their lives.  Even dream about it.  The Bible is simple and straight forward on money.  Sinful men and women are NOT!  We add tons of complexity, diversions, falsities, dishonesties and lies to how we deal with money. 

But I feel compelled to share these issues of the church because they dominate our lives and steal our joy.  Remember, the Heathen know not, but the Elect of God, know better.

Here is a partial list:

• Sitting on a mission board and deciding where money should go but giving absolutely nothing to the cause of your own mission.  All talk, no action of giving.

• Spending $3.2 Million on a building annex that is seldom used versus increasing the mission budget in the Phillipines and Cuba to serve the poorest of poor.

• Paving a church parking lot for $50,000 and purchasing $35,000 for electronic equipment while carrying a large mortgage to serve 75 church goers and 8 children while giving little to missions.

• Teaching and bragging falsely to thousands of people that the Bible teaches 10% tithing while hoarding a net worth of $200 million. 

• Living in a $10 Million house while shutting down your church building to flood victims and dodging the sins of homosexuality. 

• Receiving thousands of dollars from your own US Christian ministry to fund an apartment in Bangkok for multiple adulterous relationships while celebrating 48 years of marriage.

• Missionaries continuing to take in more and more donations way over and above what they need, building large retirement homes and giving little to the poor.

• US Missionaries living overseas receiving large monthly donations while spending 90 percent of their time building their own custom mansion retirement home.

• Young couple pretending to be interested in missions to receive a free mission trip overseas only to vacation and return with zero interest in missions.

All sad examples of greed and stinginess!  Justification of sin because everyone else is doing it and our church totally accepts us as we are.  Living for this short life of 85 years with little investment in eternity.  It’s all about living for now and what I can get!!  Not what I can give.  Paul warns about it in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 ……. “Do not be deceived: nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards ……….. will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you …………..”  The greedy are everywhere especially in the church of Jesus.

But I have also witnessed incredible acts of giving and sacrifice for the Kingdom: 

• A missionary refusing to stay in a 3 star hotel paid for by the government because of the appearance of wealthand waste of money.

• Living in a shack for 35 years in a Third World country and never asking for a dime to serve the Least every day, giving to them from utter poverty owning absolutely the clothes on his back plus nothing.  Serving on the mission field til the day he died at 96 years old.

• A pastor who is disgusted with his monthly $11,000 building maintenance costs and encourages his flock to sell the building and give the $9000 monthly savings to missions.  Then move to a gym down the street.

• A elderly brother who receives a large inheritance only to give away piles of cash weekly to over 100 people who attend a Tuesday night bible study.

Wonderful acts of sacrifice and selflessness! Encouraging and an example of Jesus when he says:

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his own soul?”
Matthew 16: 26

Unfortunately today I see many Jesus followers seeking to gain the world.  They are consumed with it and are no different than atheists or agnostics.  Their lives are about taking and getting and giving is an after thought.  In this 5 part series, I will address the root causes of loving money (ie. Fear and Insecurity), the lies of Christian Frugality, Biblical facts and patterns on money and Biblical answers to address this idolatry and disregard for the 10th Commandment.

I will not make friends with writing this series and most people will not read it.  I have already experienced this for 15 years.  My flesh hates what Jesus said in parables about the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price, but I want to be useful in the Kingdom.  Matthew 14: 44 - 46.

Swallow your fear and take a risk.  You may change your mind and your life concerning the love of money