In the last lesson I taught you about the tithe and how as a new covenant priesthood joined to Christ our high priest, we are no longer subservient to the Torah law. I clearly showed you the tithe was for the sons of Israel in the promised land supporting the Levitical priesthood, temple, sacrifice system and a social safety net for the unfortunate. The new covenant believer is not required to follow the law of the tithe. Now does this mean we are not to give? No, giving is a part of being a new covenant priest.
Does this mean if I want to give 10% of my income that I can’t? Absolutely not. However, we are not under a mandatory giving system.
The IRS demands a portion of your income in paying your taxes to support the government and if you refuse you are punished.
God, unlike the IRS, is not going to punish you if you don’t give. You will miss out on the blessings of God in your life if you restrict your heart and refuse to give, but you are not under some legal penalty if you don’t give.
Paul saw giving as a pleasing sacrifice unto God and a sacrifice is willingly given.
Our lives are a sacrifice and everything that we do is to be done by faith working through love living the cruciform life of Christ in us. We are called to freedom, but we are not called to a free for all. We are to live lives tethered to the cross, serving and helping others. It’s what being a part of the royal priesthood is all about. Fulfilling the command of Christ to love God with all of our hearts and souls then to love others as ourselves.
In commenting about the financial gift that he received from the church in Philippi he said that it was, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice and well-pleasing to God that’s in Philippians chapter 4 verse 18. Do you notice how Paul uses terminology that describes the sacrifice system that was used under the Mosaic law in the Temple?
Paul saw giving as part of offering up our spiritual sacrifices to God just as the priest had done in the Temple when it was standing.
The first New Testament priestly sacrifice we discussed in this course was the sacrifice of our bodies. Now if Jesus is Lord of our bodies, then he is Lord of all that we have and we are simply stewards of the good things God has given to us. As stewards we are called to be faithful over the things God has given into our hands. Giving is very much part of the New Testament. Jesus had much to say about money and giving so let's take a look at some of those teachings first.
One of the main things that Jesus taught was about priorities and perspective when it came to possessions, money and giving.
Jesus said, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?
Jesus taught the cruciform life. He demonstrated the way of the cross through his lifestyle and told us that it’s the only way to follow him which is complete surrender. He said, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.
Jesus never said don’t have money, but he did say don’t let money have you.
He was telling us that our priorities need to be following him first because if money is our first priority, then all of our decisions will follow what we have put first. It’s what he was saying to the rich young ruler as recorded in Matthew chapter 19 verses 23 thru 26. Jesus said to his disciples, truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Let’s take a look at the full context of this story and see what lesson Jesus is trying to teach us about money and giving. Before Jesus makes this statement to the rich man, the rich man asked Jesus about eternal life. Remember Jesus was a Jew and he was speaking to a Jewish audience living under the Torah law.
The rich man asks Jesus what good deed must I do to have eternal life? Jesus said to him, why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I want to stop here and go off on a side note about the law.
Jesus never taught against the moral law of Moses or as we call them the 10 commandments as recorded in Exodus chapter 20 verses 2 thru 17, but he along with the apostolic writers reinforced their continuity.
If you have not listened to Lesson 5 in this school, Why the law? please do so. Jesus and the apostolic writers upheld the moral standards of the Torah. However, they taught it's only through the gift of Christ that we can uphold these moral standards by allowing the free gift of Christ to live in us.
The rich young man was confident in his adherence to keep the law in his own strength and merit. He replied to Jesus, all these laws have I kept. What do I still lack? Jesus said to him, if you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Jesus as always was dealing with the motives of the heart because the real issue was the young man’s heart in regard to money and possessions. The one thing in his life keeping him from his steadfast love for God was his possessions, so Jesus tells him to give them up. He invites him to embrace the cruciform way of life. Many things in this world hinder people from fully committing to God and wealth was the idol in this rich young man’s life that he could not forsake. For some, it's a person, a pleasure or a career that has captivated their hearts.
Whatever person, place, or thing one allows to have first priority and influence in their life above God will keep them from being a faithful disciple of Christ.
The issue was the man’s heart and changing the heart is something only God can do. It’s change from the inside out. It’s why Jesus said, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Jesus was telling this young rich ruler that he needed an inward transformation because his possessions were an idol in his heart.
Let’s take a look at another one of Jesus' teachings when a Pharisee asked him to dine with him. The Pharisee was astonished to see that Jesus did not first ceremonially wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart, but his stomach and is expelled? Thus, he declared all foods clean.
I want to read that in light of the last lesson that I taught because there are a lot of teachings out there about following the Torah law in regard to food, drink, the doctrine of the tithe and all kinds of legalistic teachings.
Jesus declared all food clean. It doesn’t mean all foods are good for you, but neither do they spiritually defile us.
We don’t live under Jewish dietary laws which may be healthy, but have nothing to do with godliness and walking in the Spirit. Jesus then said: What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and they defile a person.
Jesus came to change our hearts and that’s why we need change from the inside out through the power of the Spirit. The apostles validated this same teaching. What I want to look at in regard to the sacrifice of giving is how covetousness is at the root of the problem when it comes to restricting the heart in freely giving. We are going to look at Ephesians, Colossians, I Timothy and the book of Hebrews which all teach exactly the same thing that Jesus taught.
Ephesians chapter 5 verses 1 thru 5 say therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Do you notice the same terminology used in the Temple sacrifices? But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous, that is, an idolater has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Then Colossians chapter 3 verse 5 says put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry. The Greek word for covetousness is pleonexia. It’s defined as the desire for having more than what you have. It’s at the root of the works of the flesh. It is the longing of the creature which has forsaken God or put God aside for the moment to fill itself with lower objects of nature. Paul equates covetousness as being the exact same expression as bowing down and worshiping an idol. It’s something that we all struggle with because it's part of being human made from the dust of the ground. If you have not listened to Lesson 10 Part I and Part II: A Lifestyle of Repentance, then I encourage you to do that.
We have equated worship with a service where music is played, but worship could more simply be defined as whatever has control over your thoughts and hearts.
Worshiping idols is allowing your heart to be taken away from Christ as the center. It’s whatever we give our time, money and heart to. I am not saying you shouldn't buy nice things, enjoy this life, live in a nice house, drive a nice car and have a large bank account. I am saying we can look around American society and possibly our own lives, to see that we have been worn out by the attractions and excesses of a culture focused on material wealth and the carnal pleasures of food, sports, entertainment and a focus on sexual gratification. We have a lot in common with the Romans at the end of their empire and all empires that have collapsed from the corruption within. Material possessions or physical enjoyments are not evil, but we must make sure we apply self-control. It’s wise to look at our culture and realize that our definition of moderation in the West is excess to ninety percent of the rest of the world.
I am asking you if Christ is at the center of your heart and decision making when it comes to money? I am asking you if you are spending time being transformed by the word and Spirit of Christ or is the surrounding culture around you molding you?
Culture affects the way we live, think and act. However, the commerce generated by the 'spirit of Babylon' is corrupt and corrupting, characterized by materialism without morality, pleasure without purity, wealth without wisdom, lust without covenant love. It is a culture of corruption, however the smile of the harlot is peculiarly appropriate, giving anyone what they want in exchange for money. It’s what John called the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life that’s in John chapter 2 verse 1 thru 7. John was talking about the love of money, sexual immorality and arrogance which is all about covetousness leading to idolatry.
In looking at the materialism promoted in Western culture, it would be hard to ignore at least a link to the influence of the 'spirit of Babylon’. Where do we get the tremendous drive-in modern culture towards materialism, hedonism and pursuing a life of ease with pleasure? It would be hard not to see a connection to the 'Babylon' spoken of in Revelation. In Revelation 18:3 we are told the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality. Wealth is the Greek word dunamis, a noun, which means power, strength and ability. In this text it refers to the power and strength of Babylon to seduce the nations of the earth.
Sensuality is a Greek word meaning arrogant or unrestrained luxury.
The spirit of Babylon, with its worship of money and power, will promote and push unrestrained luxury, sensuality and pleasure designed to develop an all-consuming power over the masses via their uncontrolled lust patterns. It promotes the false idea that our significance, security and fulfillment are attained by the abundance of the things we possess in luxury, comfort and pleasure.
It is an all-consuming culture of covetousness organized in opposition to God.
If you are like me, then you sometimes maybe more often than not feel overwhelmed by the system we live in. We have numerous payments just to make it through the month, then we contemplate saving for retirement, college for kids or for ourselves, the occasional car breakdown or problem with the house. All I will say is that a simple life based on godliness and contentment is better than the slavery of debt. I know it is not popular, but Paul did say that we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we should be content that’s in I Timothy chapter 6 verse 7 and 8. In Luke 12:15 Jesus said, take heed and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of things which he possesses. I am not advocating taking a vow of poverty to demonstrate your godliness. Humility of heart, not lack of finances is a kingdom attribute and it is learning the place of contentment in our covetous culture that helps our hearts become free.
Contentment helps keep us from being taken over with covetousness. Contentment actually means to be satisfied.
It is the language that Jesus used when speaking about how the Father will provide for His children. In Matthew chapter 6 verses 24 thru 27 he is telling us that we don't have to worry and toil, but we also may not get everything we want. A little Rolling Stones wisdom applies here in the lyric, 'You can't always get what you want, but you might find sometimes you get what you need.'
If we don't learn the power of contentment, then we are never going to have the true financial blessing the Father intends for our lives: finances that bless our lives without corrupting our hearts. It is important that we don't twist the teaching on prosperity, or the blessing of God into an idol that takes possession of our hearts.
The reason I’ve gone into such a long discussion about covetousness is because giving is not a pathway to becoming rich as some have taught. Giving is a sacrifice from a pure heart and it’s all about worship. Nothing affects our hearts as much as our money. As a matter of fact, how we use money is a barometer of who or what has our hearts.
Our motives for giving must be pure and unselfish.
Let’s take a look at Acts chapter 8 verses 18 thru 20 in regard to Simon the sorcerer. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given to people through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, may your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
Simon displayed a wrong motive for giving. His motive for giving was trying to buy the gift of God. We cannot buy salvation or any gift from God because the gifts of God are given to whom He desires and cannot be purchased. What Simon was really wanting was power over people. As a sorcerer Simon had power over people and possibly, he thought that if he had apostolic power, he could make a living using it.
Simon's motives were selfish and needed to change.
It’s a sad testimony on some parts of the church, but I have seen some who use the pulpit for power and money. The youtuber who started the YouTube page Preachers and Sneakers became a phenomenon showing the ridiculous amounts of money some tv preachers are spending on shoes and clothes demonstrating the excesses of the spirit of Babylon. It became a phenomenon because it’s funny and it’s a demonstration of how greed and stardom has affected some parts of the body of Christ.
I’m not saying we can’t wear nice clothes nor be popular, but the excess among some popular preachers is a sad testimony. Paul in1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 5 talks of people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. We don’t give to get rich and ministers are not to use the gospel as a means of extorting money from people with false promises of prosperity.
Jesus also taught us that we don’t give to be recognized, esteemed and seen by men, but it’s to be a sacrifice to God.
Matthew chapter 6 verses 1 thru 4 Jesus said, beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. God will reward us for our giving, but we should never be looking for man’s applause.
I’ve seen more than one person who has a lot of money try to control a group of believers through their giving.
If you are giving so you can have a place in ministry, then it’s my opinion you have no place in ministry until your heart is changed. One of the qualifications for leadership in the church is that we should not be a lover of money, that’s in 1 Timothy chapter 3 verse 3. If you are willing to give so you will have power over people, then you are not a servant and you will eventually abuse people when you’re in a place of leadership. In addition, if you are giving so you can be esteemed and recognized for your giving then Jesus said that’s all you’re going to get from your giving. I’ve seen people give just so they can get a tax write off. If your motive for giving is a tax write off then that’s probably your reward.
I have clearly shown you that the New Testament teaches that we have all been placed into Christ as a multifaceted royal priesthood. We have all been given the one gift of Christ for redemption placed on one foundation, but we also have each been uniquely gifted to carry out our individual calling. It’s one body with different parts that function in their own particular way working together for the furtherance of the gospel.
The New Testament does not support a two-tiered system of clergy and laity like the Torah did under the Mosaic law. We don’t have a priest class who are the special chosen ministers then a laity class that supports their service.
We have one high priest seated in the heavenly temple and his royal priesthood here on earth representing Him. We have one head of the church seated in the heavenlies at the right hand of the Father and his many faceted body representing him in the earth. We are all priests offering up sacrifices to God and everyone has a gift to use in fulfilling their particular calling.
Now in saying that there are those who have leadership gifts among the body of believers along with organizational structure. In the next section of this discipleship school, I will fully cover those gifts along with how they function in an organizational structure.
In this lesson we are talking about giving and Paul clearly taught that we need to give. We give to support the local body of believers with whom we assemble, the ministry gifts that teach the word of God, we give to help those in a time of need and support the poor for the furtherance of the gospel. Let’s be practical because it takes money to spread the message of the gospel.
Jesus' last command to his newly formed body before he ascended to the right hand of the Father as our high priest was to take his message to all people groups.
Paul in defending his apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church makes a passionate argument in I Corinthians chapter 9 that those who teach and preach the word of God deserve to get compensated for their hard work. In this chapter Paul clearly says the community of the faithful should give of their substance to support the ministry gifts that serve them and labor for their benefit. 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 6 thru 14, says is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
Paul had a right to receive financial provision for teaching the word of God to the Corinthian church. However, it was Paul’s tradition to set an example to gentile believers that hard work was a part of being a believer in Christ.
In II Thessalonians chapter 3 verses 7 thru 9 he said to them that you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. Paul wanted to set an example of laboring with his hands to set an example. However, he lays out a clear argument for those who teach the word to make a living with that gifting.
He goes on to say, 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.
Just as a computer programmer or a plumber gets his provision through his God given talents, so those who teach the word of God and equip the body of believers should receive compensation for their labor of love.
I spent 15 years as a missionary, traveling teacher and local pastor getting provided for through teaching the word. The last 20 years I’ve worked in a corporate setting. As I said in previous lessons my primary gifting is that of an apostolic teacher laying foundations. Peter in his first letter talked about qualities of those leading and managing the church. 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 2 thru 3 says leaders should shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly, not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
I hope to live my life as an example of hard work and contentment. I left church ministry because I just could not fit into the boxes that people tried to fit me into and the provision to do ministry in the way I felt God wanted me to do it was just not coming in. So, I went back to school at the age of 34 and got a business degree and started working in the corporate world.
I’ve always lived by the principle that where God guides, he provides. God directed me through the desires of my heart and his provision for my life.
Working in the corporate world for the last 20 years has caused me to grow in ways I never would have grown otherwise taking this path. I realize now that it was the hand of God leading me, prospering me and preparing me for what I’m doing today. Am I rich? Well 90 % of the rest of the world would consider me filthy rich. I have a modest home that’s mortgage free. I have a 2016 Toyota Corolla with 120,000 miles on it. I could go buy a car with cash, but it’s a great car and runs well so I’m very content with it. I have plenty of food, I am able to give to others helping them and I’m able to save money. I’m very blessed, but it took hard work and wise living to get me to this position.
I’ve put this discipleship school together because after the COVID crises of 2020 I saw a time coming when the church as we have known it in America could radically change. I never expected the American public and most parts of the church to give into fear, manipulation and government control so easily. It woke me up to the realization that the church in America is not ready to experience persecution. I’m not making any predictions, I'm just looking at trends and they show the possibility of big changes coming to the American way of life as we’ve known it.
What is the organized church going to do if the United States implements a Central Bank Digital Currency and threatens to restrict the church’s bank accounts if they don’t follow their guidelines? If it’s anything like how the church reacted to COVID it’s not going to be pretty and will definitely thin the herd of organized Christianity.
Did you know in certain provinces in China that you have to use a QR code to get approval to go to a church service and it’s one that’s government approved. The church as we know it, which is free from governmental influence, is not allowed in China.
The free church in China is underground, meeting from house to house secretly.
I am going to do a lesson on Civil Authority and how we relate with the government because it’s very important to understand. It’s one of the reasons I believe the Spirit awakened me to put this discipleship course together.
I do think it’s important that we find simpler ways of doing church where we are not working to support buildings that are going to perish and programs that wear everyone out working for God. Simple church is learning to live this life of faith together with leaders who are simply examples to the flock and reaching this world with an example of a living day by day faith.
Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verses 1 thru 2 says now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper. Our giving is to be presented as a sacrifice unto God, but we give it to the people who have stewardship in the community of the faithful over the finances. We always need to have transparency and accountability in handling the finances we are receiving.
As new covenant priests we are stewards of all that God has given us and we are to use it to bless others through giving. We are blessed so that we may be a blessing. However, giving under our high priest Christ is not based on a legal requirement, but a generous heart.
In II Corinthians chapter 8 verses 8 thru 9 Paul says that giving is not a command, but in following our Lord Jesus Christ's example we should freely give. Giving offerings should be done according to our ability to give. God does not expect us to go broke by giving. Jesus taught us that it’s not the amount of our giving that matters, but a heart of sacrifice. We need to remember the story of the widow woman who gave little with a surrendered heart.
I love the fact that Scripture teaches proportionate giving. It tells us that we don’t have to be wealthy and give away large sums of money for our giving to matter and to be noticed by Jesus. But it also challenges those who have been blessed with extraordinary resources to be extraordinarily generous.
Proportionate giving provides a place and gives value to the full spectrum of giving. That spectrum begins with the widow’s mite and extends all the way to whom much is given, much is required. There is a place for everyone.
Every genuine, authentic offering is noticed and valued. Giving is an act of worship. It’s literally a sacrifice. He may at times have you take a step of faith and give all that you have, but this would not be a common practice. Whether you have much or little you should give within your standard of living. We should not give grudgingly, or under some sort of a demand, but from a heart of faith working through love demonstrating the cruciform life.
Primarily our giving should go to support the community of believers that we assemble together with on a regular basis. However, there are a variety of ways we can be a blessing to others. Supporting various ministries. Giving to the poor. Helping a Christian in a time of need. Always remember that when giving you are giving in faith and you are planting seed that will bring a harvest.
When you present your giving to the Lord, make it a time of worship as a covenant commitment to God because he is our financial partner.
God has placed certain natural laws in the universe. Gravity is a natural law and if you jump out of a window it is going to hurt or maybe kill you. However, if we did not have the law of gravity we could not even walk. When it comes to giving, God uses the law of sowing and reaping. In the book of Proverbs 11:24 it says that there is one who scatters yet increases all the more and there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. We can be blessed by the law of sowing and reaping, or miss the benefits God wants to bless us with through our obedient giving.
In Galatians 6:6 Paul was giving instruction about giving support to those who teach us the word of God. Then he says, do not be deceived, God is not mocked for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Whatever includes our finances and resources. When we sow, we sow in faith and we should expect a harvest. If we sow much, we can expect a big harvest, if we sow little, we will reap a small harvest, however large and small giving is within the context of our ability to give. I’ve seen this happen in my life.
I don’t adhere to many tenets of the prosperity message that is promulgated in the prosperity movement. I do wholeheartedly believe that God wants us to prosper.
The Greek word for prosper is euodoo and its meaning is to help on one’s way or journey. God desires to prosper us, but biblical prosperity can be taught on any continent and in any nation on the face of the earth. I define prosperity as having enough to accomplish the will of God. You need prosperity to have success on your journey. Yes, this means you will need money, but prosperity is more than money.
Prosperity includes everything you will need to help you fulfill the purpose of God for your life and have a successful journey while in this body.
Sowing financial seeds into the local church, ministries, the poor and people in need makes its way back to us. God will lay it on people's hearts to give into our lives so that our every need will be met.
The scripture I opened this lesson up on where Paul said our giving is a well pleasing sacrifice to God ends with Paul saying, my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus that’s in Philippians chapter 4 verse 19.
The normal way that God is going to prosper you is through the work of your hands.
He has created us to work and it’s through the avenue of work that prosperity comes into our lives. You might get a raise on your job or a good deal on a car by which you need to get to work. If you own your own business, you might see an increase in business activity. As a teacher of the word of God, someone may give you a free computer to help you reach others for the gospel. Let me give you a couple of examples of God prospering me along my journey.
In 1995 at the age of 24 I served as a missionary in several countries. I had just spent 6 months in Zambia, an extremely poor country just north of South Africa. I did not have a lot, but the little bit of nice clothes I had I gave to some brothers in the church where I had been serving. I had a backpack on, no money and was wearing some traditional African clothing the pastor’s wife had made for me.
I got on the train going South through Zimbabwe headed to South Africa and was going too fast without food on the 2-day trip because I had no money. The rail car I was in had 2 bunk beds, so I got on the top one and below me was an African gentleman. I started talking to him and he was a Christian businessman headed to the capital of Zimbabwe on a business trip. As we talked, he felt led to give me some money. It was enough money for me to eat on my way to South Africa until I met my next contact. Remember prosperity is having enough to accomplish the will of God and all of us can prosper no matter our circumstances in life.
Let me give you one more example. Now before I left the country as a missionary, I was a youth pastor and teaching at a discipleship school in Upstate New York. I had a two door Honda Civic that I had bought and before I left, I gave it to one of the pastors of the church who needed a vehicle. A few years later I married my first wife who was Canadian and we moved to Canada. When we arrived, we had no money and only the clothes in our suitcases. In a short time, the Lord opened a door for us to be the leaders of a small church. One of the big problems we had was that we had no vehicle. As my ex-wife and I were praying during this time the Holy Spirit told her to put an ad in the Thrifty-Nickel for a car. She told me what the Lord directed her to do and I skeptically said to obey the leading of the Lord.
She put an ad stating a couple needing someone to sow a car into our ministry. Saturday came and no call, Sunday and then Monday the phone rang. I answered the phone and a Filipino man said, I am calling concerning your ad in the paper. Tell me about the ad. I did. Then he said that his job was transferring him to Michigan in one week and he with his wife had been praying about what to do with an extra car they had. They had been praying about giving it to a ministry, but didn't know where.
He said he saw the ad in the paper and it just lit up. Well, he gave us the car before he left for Michigan. This was not a Cadillac, but a Toyota. However, it was prosperity for us. It was a car that ran well and we could afford the insurance. I reaped what I had sowed several years earlier. I could give you other stories of how this has happened in my life, but the most common way that God prospers us is by the work of our hands which I will cover in the next lesson.
Let’s finish this lesson up, discussing helping out the unfortunate. We need to be willing to help out people who are having a hard time. If we neglect doing good and sharing with others what we have been given by God, then others may suffer because of our disobedience.
Hebrews chapter 13 verse 16 says do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
All of the apostles were in agreement about giving to the poor. Jesus said we would have the poor with us always and we need to help those in true need. We need to especially help the older poor, children and disabled because they cannot help themselves. There are times when unfortunate circumstances happen to people and they need the help of others. This might be a natural disaster, accident or job loss. This is seasonal help until they can get on their feet.
We are to especially help our Christian brothers and sisters in their times of need. Galatians chapter 6 verses 9 thru 10 says let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone and especially to those who are of the household of faith. If we are only concerned about our own needs and allow greed to rule our hearts, then the people of God and others will suffer.
Giving is not just sowing seeds that will grow so that we can partake of the blessing in this life, but it is also storing up treasures in heaven.
Jesus told us to lay up our treasures in heaven. It is important to remember that our giving will not only affect us in this life, but also in the life to come. Paul encourages those who have a surplus in money to give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others " for in doing this they are storing up their treasure...for the future, that’s in I Timothy chapter 6 verses 18 thru 19. As God's dear children we should use the laws of increase that He has given us. Let us give as we have opportunity and ability to help those in need and spread the gospel. If we will follow His ways, then we will walk in His blessing. It is God's desire to bless us and others through our lives, but we have to be willing to give of our substance. The world says keep it all to yourselves, but God has created us as a holy priesthood to offer up the spiritual sacrifice of giving.
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Next Lesson: Lesson 32 - Working Unto The Lord
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