Today we begin a new sermon series called: Money Matters. Perhaps you already took note of the bulletin cover with the Bible and money stuck in its pages. In the next three weeks we want to talk bluntly about money. Money is a gift of God that he gives to us through work, inheritance or gifts from people. God gives us the intelligence and the abilities to earn money and to use it wisely and according to God’s will. The Lord also direct us use money to glorify him. We don’t only want to remember that Lord is the source of all that we have.

We want to remember how he directs us to use the precious gifts he gives to us. We also want to be reminded of the pitfalls of the love for money.  Why is the subject of giving money for the Lord’s work so filled with emotion? Having money in our possession gives us power. Money gives us the power to have certain comforts. Money gives us the power to make choices about where we live and how we live. Parting with our money or giving our money away to someone in need or to the work of the Lord means giving up our right to make some of those choices.

Money can be a great tool through which we can do great good. Money can also become our master that we end up serving as our lord and our god. In Luke 12:15 Jesus says to his listeners: "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15) ." What is greed ? Jesus in the surrounding passages of Luke 11 and 12, Jesus warned people about worrying over their possessions. For Jesus greed is not only the love of money, but excessive anxiety about it. He lays out the reason our emotions are so powerfully controlled by our bank account – “ a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” To “consist” of your possessions is to be defined by what you own and consume. The term describes a a personal identity based on money . It refers to people, who , if they lose their wealth, do not have a “self” left, for their personal worth is based on their financial worth. Later Jesus comes right out and calls this what it is. “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." ¹⁴ The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. ¹⁵ He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight (Luke 16:13-15).”

The Apostle Paul uses the example of the people living in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea that is the Macedonian congregations as an example of this grace of giving. “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  ⁴ Entirely on their own they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. ⁵ And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. ⁶ So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷ But just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” Paul calls giving “grace”, not a burden, obligation, or necessary evil. Being generous is a “grace” given by God. Later in verse 6 he tells us giving to others is an act of “grace” (v.6) and it’s called the “grace of giving” in verse 7.

Paul used the physically poor believers living in the area of Macedonia as examples; we often think of the rich older people who support the ministry; Paul points us elsewhere for inspiration and example. Paul tells us they gave “entirely on their own.” (v.3) They didn’t need to be asked; they longed to give! What would “severe” trial and “extreme poverty” mean today? Could that not apply to someone who is jobless, savings-less, and  homeless? Paul wasn’t afraid to use real life people as examples. He wasn’t scared to say, “ Joe Smith  is a great example of giving. Be like him or her!”

 

Why did the Macedonian’s plead for the privilege to give while others did not? They hadn’t won the lottery and obviously weren’t well off? What made them different? What attitude or insight about wealth did they have that others did not? “They gave themselves first to the Lord” (v.5). That’s one of the principles of stewardship throughout the Scriptures. Priority giving means that God comes first in our budget. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness all these things will be given to you as well (Mt. 6:33).”  Paul encourages us to excel in our generosity (v.7). We often have goals for how much money we want to earn or what degree we want to obtain or what team we want to make; What about having a goal of how much we are going to give? In the Newsletter and in the letter that was made to each member we are sharing some of the many blessings that are happening here through our ministry in our church and school. We see those blessings in the people we have been able to share the gospel with in our pre-school and school and out reach activities like our June Jumble Days and Summer Soccer Bible Camp. We can carry out that ministry here at Eastside and as a Synod throughout the world and at Lakeside because you take the time to pray and consider how God has blessed you and to give of your money to generously and cheerfully support the work of the Lord through your regular offerings. These offerings bless others, not just those who ask for them! Pastors’ and teachers’ salaries don’t jump 10% if offerings do.

 

God’s undeserved love in Christ Jesus is what changes our attitude toward all the blessings that God gives us. In fact it is by God’s grace that we are able to recognize all that we have as a gift from the Lord. May we continue to come back to the scene of our forgiveness as we excel in the grace of giving of ourselves and our possessions. Give cheerfully! Give generously! Give regularly so the love of Christ might be proclaimed and the lost know about the Savior who died for them. This act is indeed the Grace of Giving.