Beloved...
Our stand in life has to be, if it is clear in the Word of God & there are enough passages that confirm a matter, then that's what we do, no matter if the whole world is doing something else or if they are against it.
So concerning giving money & other goods to the Body of Christ, represented in different Churches, communities, the poor, or men of God, this is what I read in the Bible. I welcome you to bring Scriptures that will shed more light in this matter, if you think differently.
Some people have the liberty to invest their resources in different ways. Some also give away from what they have to those around them, those to whom they desire to give to.
Usually people invest their money with the idea of increasing their wealth, with business in mind, not with the intentions of throwing it away, but to make their money produce more money.
Many give to what they consider righteous causes, & that giving is to them also an investment.
Now concerning the reading of the Scriptures, I recommend to my friends that when they read a Scripture, whenever possible; to read it out loud & to think about the meaning of what they have just read. This helps us a lot to better understand what we read.
In the Gospels, Jesus taught...
Mat 6:19-21 “Don’t layup treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The question is: How do we lay up treasures in Heaven? Well, Jesus also told us how, He said that whatever you give to those in need, or to his disciples here on Earth, you would be investing it into the Kingdom of Heaven, Luke 12:33-34 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 10:41-42 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever because he is a disciple, gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water; truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
Mat 25:34-40 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.
That is clear enough, right?
Some people may argue: I can't give any of my money away, because I need it, I just make enough to get by. Well, that may be true, but there is a Godly principle that teaches that when we give to others, we are in fact also giving to ourselves.
Luk 6:38 “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”
Many times I have given whatever I had in my pocket to someone in need, to find out later on, that someone else was waiting to give me even more than what I gave away.
But this concept of giving away to receive back, is broaden even more if we see it from Jesus’ perspective.
The following passage Jesus said...
Luke 14:33 So therefore, any one of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.
That passage is not the most popular in the Bible, since most people don’t want to obey it, but mainly because they can’t see the implications of what Jesus is saying.
If you could understand that everything you think you have here is only temporal, or that you could lose it the next day, you should try to understand what Jesus meant.
Let’s say you actually sell everything you have, give it to the poor & follow Christ; that would require faith that God will eventually take care of you, so that you never lack anything & that you will see everything you gave away sometime in the future either here on Earth, or when you get to Heaven.
So we find this passage in the Bible where this case is presented where Jesus asked a young rich man to give away everything he had & then to come & follow him. Mar 10:17-30
Mar 10:22 But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
Well, this rich man thought he would lose it all if he would obey Jesus, but what actually happened to him was exactly the opposite, he kept all his riches, but lost it all, as even if he kept his riches until the day he died, he lost it all right the day he died. He would not only have become a man of renown, as we don’t even know what his name was, but would have become truly rich, with true eternal riches, as we see was the case with the other disciples who did forsook it all…
Mar 10:28-30 Then Peter began to say to Him, Lo, we have left all and have followed You. And Jesus answered and said, Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospel's sake, but he shall receive a hundredfold NOW IN THIS TIME, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life.
It is my belief that Heaven offers a much better deal than the banks here on Earth. Millions of people have lost money in the banks of this world. But no one that has put his money in Heaven, has lost a dime. Some one could say: But there is not going to be money in Heaven, & I will not need it there, I need it now. Well as you just read, Jesus said... treasure in the heavens that does not fail. How is that going to work? Well, for sure we'll find out more when we get there. You may think: I need my money now, if I put it in Heaven I'll have to wait until I go there. Says who? Reading from the Scriptures I just copied, but he shall receive a hundredfold now in THIS TIME. The question may be: how do you withdraw money from Heaven once you gave it away. Well, all I can think is: The easiest way may be asking God to give us money for whatever it is we need or want.
Mat 7:7 Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him?
How did the Early Church managed the money issue?
Act 2:44-45 And all who believed were together and had all things common. And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. Act 4:33-35 And the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. And great grace was on them all. For neither was anyone needy among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and they laid them down at the apostles' feet. And distribution was made to every man according as he had need.
We may think: you know that that is impossible today, we have become much greedier, skeptical, & we are not communist, besides who can trust these greedy pastors who are seeking their own benefit. Well, it is true that there are quite a few "religious pastors" who make money, deceiving God's people.
But just remember, they will eventually have to face God & receive his discipline. God foretold us in His Word that this would happen in quite a few places, 2Pe 2:3, to name one, for example. Now Ezekiel 34 is a wonderful chapter, where God deals with this issue with many details, & where God says He will deliver his people out of their hands, love them up, restore them & chastise those greedy pastors. 34:22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no more be a prey. And I will judge between lamb and lamb. Please read the whole chapter to get the full picture.
Nevertheless that doesn't mean that there are not true men of God nowadays who are serving the Lord for the right reasons & with a clean heart, God's heart & they are wealthy men.
This is what was done within the Churches in the times of the Apostles.
1 Corinthians 9:7-14 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Okay, how difficult is it to see, that the Spirit of the Lord says in this passage is: Pastor get your needs from the flock. If your pastor is sowing spiritual things among you, is it too much if he reaps material things from you?
2Corinthians 9:1-7 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints, and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
In other words: Please Corinthians see how much the Churches of Macedonia have given, even all they had, see that you also EXCEL in this act of sacrificial giving. Then...
8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack." So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
In other words, your financial giving will prove that your love is genuine. Or not? Please don't say that I am interpreting the Scriptures. If you read something else, please let me know what.
2Corinthians 9: 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
In other words get your money together before we get there, to not be humiliated. If you sow sparingly, you will also reap sparingly, if you sow bountifully, you will also reap bountifully. Clear enough?
Now if you do give, then...
8-14 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
God will see to it that you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous in every way!
Paul to the Philippians...
4:10-16 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has flourished again; wherein you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. However you have well done, that you did communicate with my affliction. Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but only you. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again for my necessities.
In other words, you in Philippi received information about my needs & you sent money to cover them up & helped me in my trouble, you sent me help for my needs once and again. More...
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
In other words: Paul is saying: It is not that I am seeking your financial gifts, but I know that your giving is fruit that increases to your credit. Where do you suppose that that credit goes to? I can think no other place than the blessings of God here & in Heaven too. What do you think? Well read what Paul says now...
18-20 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Because of your partnership with me in the Gospel... no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but only you, my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory. & as we know Paul's ministry
Rom 15:17-19 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
And all the way to Rome, Paul fully preached & the Philippians had partnership into that with their gifts plus whatever other churches or people joined in their ministry.
Remember the parable in Luke 19:20-26
And another came, saying, Lord, behold your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared you, because you are an austere man: you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow. And he said to him, Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow: Wherefore, why did not you give my money to the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And He said to them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that has ten pounds. (And they said to him, Lord, he already has ten pounds.) For I say to you, That to everyone which has shall be given; and from him that has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
Interesting, no? God's servants, we, will give an account of how have we invested our “talents” as it reads in Matthew 25, or “pounds” as written in Luke, better yet said God's money as He said … why did not you give my money to the bank... As we realize, the Lord is not talking about giving his money to the banks of this world. What can the meaning of this “bank” mean? You can say that this one now is “my interpretation”... I believe I invest my money into God's banks when I give it to Churches & men of God & people who are doing God's work of taking the Gospel to the world, blessing the poor, & when I give to them, I become a partner with them in their ministry. I believe I take part in all souls & people reached through their ministry, so that the Lord may “require his own with usury”.
Now, let's talk about money.
1Ti 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. (Nothing material, as it is stated before, but as stated above, we can send our treasures to Heaven) But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Just in case: It is the love of money, not the money, but the love for money. Because as we see in the same chapter, now Paul addresses the brethren who are rich in the Church & have money;
17-19 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
In other words, make sure the rich brethren set their hope in God, & that they give generously in order to store treasures in Heaven.
If money was evil, then why did Yahweh offered the Israelis to bless them with lots of it if they kept the Law, back in the Old Covenant? Deuteronomy 28:10-13. Remember, many of God's men in the Old Testament were rich, Job, Joseph, David, Solomon, they were the richest men on Earth in their times, also Abraham, Isaac, & many other kings in Israel & Judah were very rich. In the Old Testament these men of God were not filled with the Spirit of God as we are today, even though they were Sons of God, just as we are, but the Holy Spirit was not given yet until Jesus rose from the dead, Jn 7:39 & yet money didn't pervert them, as they kept their hearts right towards God. Why should we think, that New Creatures, filled with the Spirit of God will get polluted by money if God sees fit to give it to us?
So, if you are in a Church, make sure you are in one where Jesus is King & Lord, & the authority is God's Word, & where the true Gospel is being preached, & where love is manifested within the brethren. Then you can be reassured that your money is being wisely invested. & if you are member of a church & you are giving money to that church, then you have a right to know how that money is spent & even a say so in how should it be spent.
It is kind of like picking a bank where to put your money. You look for one that looks trustworthy right? Even though nowadays all bankers are thieves, maybe not the little bank managers at the root level, but the big owners.
In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelis to bring the 10% of their income to His Temple, & promised to bless them mightily... Mal 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough for.
Now under the New Testament there are no specific Scriptures requiring the “Tithe”, or 10% of your income. And where pastors preach this as a commandment under the New Pact, they can’t show one Scripture that can back that up, but maybe Heb 7:8 Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives. But the “he lives” some translations are referring to Melchizedek the priest & not Jesus. So that is quite a weak argument. But also if these pastors want to impose the “Tithing” as a law, then they need to accept the whole Law. Jas 2:10-11 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Those of us, Children of God by faith in Jesus are not under the Law… Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The Scriptures we read just now on giving; emphasize more your willing & loving desire to give as a response to God's love & grace.
Passages such as Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”
1Co 16:2 On the first day of every week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections are made when I come.
Act 20:35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Eph 6:7-8 with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord;
Those passages give us a Godly admonition as to give, but not only 10%, which many members of churches use as a cheap way to help themselves think they are okay just giving 10% & think: Oh, I paid God, or I have paid my dues! Whereas what the Scripture is telling us is: Give according as you are being prospered, which could mean more than 10%, & maybe during some hard difficult economic situation less than 10%.
There maybe times in some cases, when giving what we do have, may be what we need to receive the miracle we need to get out of debt.
We have to be led by the Spirit of the Lord. Remember...
Luke 21:14 He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury. He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them, for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”
Pay attention that the poor widow was giving all that she had to the treasury of the rich golden temple of the Jews, run by thieves, in Jesus' words, Mar 11:17, but she was not giving it to the Jewish temple, in her heart she was giving it to Yahweh, God, & Jesus commended her for it. Now if you think that after that, the “poor widow” went back home with nothing to eat because she gave it all at the temple, then I think that your idea of God is very poor. It is my belief that the “poor widow” became a “rich widow” for as Jesus said... this poor widow put in more than all the rich guys. So now she had more than them. I imagine that Jesus made sure she would go back home with plenty for her & her kids back home if she had any.
Last for now, Paul writes in
1Co 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
How much do you want to give to the Lord? He gave His All for you, till the last drop of blood.
There is nothing more thrilling for me than to give my all to Him. I feel I am at the beginning of this race, but beloved, His Word tells me... Jn 15:8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.
By no means think that I am ahead of you. I am also running, but if you don't start running I'll leave you behind.
Be ye doers of the Word, & not hearers only. James 1:22
God bless You mightily as you put His word in actions in Jesus Name... Amen
Blessings… Alejandro
Written Sept, 2018
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