Christian Spending & Giving

Scripture: l Corinthians 16:2

Sermon preached at Gospel Light Christian Church, Singapore
by Pastor Dr Paul Choo
on 22 September 2002

Introduction: The fastest growing segment in Christendom is that which preaches the "health and wealth" gospel - promising believers that God blesses Christians with material blessings. And the better a Christian is, the richer he will be. Since the pastor is the "best" Christian, therefore, he should be the richest! Generally, the "health and wealth" gospel is closely linked with the "tongues movement" and "easy believism" which readily admits members and teaches tithing - and promises a good "return of investment" for money given to the church. The resultant atmosphere is one of worldliness and materialism - which has caused many sincere Christians to reject much teaching on the topic of money, even if it is biblical. This is unfortunate because there is much teaching in the Bible on this vital topic. The ministry of giving is as spiritual as the so-called spiritual ministries of praying and preaching - and involves every Christian.

The basic truth in Christianity is love - and love gives (John 3:16). A Christian has tasted Christ's sacrificial love and is led by the indwelling Holy Spirit to give sacrificially. Since Satan cannot remove this Spirit-led desire, he influences Christian to spend unwisely so that they have nothing left to give. Therefore, any teaching about Christian giving is incomplete without first teaching about Christian spending.

Christian spending: Evolutionary humanistic philosophy glorifies the "self-made" man. Materialism teaches that the main objective in life is to possess more because this brings security and happiness. Most of us are addicts of materialism without realizing it. Therefore, the average man believes that he has a right to spend money as he desires, since he earned it. The average Christian believes that he has a right to spend his money, after giving his tithes to the church, as he desires. However the Bible teaches us that we "are not our own. For we are bought with a price: therefore, (we should) glorify God in our body, and in our spirit, which are God's" (I Corinthians 6:20). In other words, the Bible teaches us that everything that we are and have is God's. They are all on loan from Him. A Christian's possessions, are like an "expense account" given to an executive sent on a business trip - to be used carefully for "board and lodging" (I Timothy 6:8 "having food and raiment let us be therewith content") and other reasonable expenses necessary to promote the business. Like a business executive we have to give an account of how we spent the money to our Lord. Let as consider several common errors in the subject of spending:

1. Tendency to ignore a sermon on spending because we do not consider ourselves to be rich and therefore the teaching does not concern us.

2. Tendency to increase our spending proportionately as income increases, by considering former luxuries as present necessities. In spite of markedly increase incomes, most Christians are still struggling to "make ends meet."

3. Tendency to invest expendable income so that assets are continually "frozen."

4. Tendency to believe that missionaries should financially live by faith but we are not expected to do likewise. When we give ourselves to God (Romans 12:1). giving of our possessions is not difficult because they were not ours in the first place.

Christian giving: The principles of Christian giving are taught in I Corinthians 16:2

1. Every Christian should give ("let…every one of you…").

2. Christians should give according to their means ("...as God hath prospered him "), motivated by love for Christ (2 Corinthians 9:7) rather than by greed of getting a "good return on our investment",

3. Giving should be done regularly on the first day of the week (" Upon the first day of the a eek..."). Do not fall into the trap of postponing giving so that you may give more when you have more.

4. The funds should be stored ("...lay by him in store...") and available for giving as led by the Holy Spirit. Christians should be informed of needs, given time to pray about the matter and then be led by the Holy Spirit to give accordingly.

Conclusion: A miserly person is generally a miserable person, more so a miserly Christian. Furthermore, the cause of missions suffers from lack of funds. "That now at this time, your abundance may be a supply for their want" (2Corinthians 8:14). "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (I John 3:17).

God-centered, Christ-preaching, Spirit-dependent