Sunday 12/06/15
Series: Living in the Kingdom VII
Message – The Economy of the Kingdom VII
ALMS in the NT is being continued from Wednesday’s message about Living in the Kingdom.
Who do I give to Lord?
Today we are going to look at what is perhaps one of the MOST overlooked and excused away statement that Jesus EVER made!
Have you ever passed by a person standing in an intersection holding a sign, “Homeless – need money for…”? What is your first reaction?…go ahead, be honest! I know what mine used to be, I would turn to my wife and start talking as if all of the sudden I had something very important to discuss with her to avoid their gaze as they walked near the car and was deeply relieved when the light would turn green! I know no one else has ever felt that way before…but I have!
Have you ever thought any of these statements…
- “Why aren’t they putting that same effort into looking for a job? Most stores would at least pay a poor or homeless person to take out the trash, or clean the restroom or pick up trash outside of their store.”
- “They just want a hand out!”
- “They just need to get a job!”
- “They just want beer money!”
- “Most of these people are just scammers – they probably make more money than I do!”
or my personal favorite…
- “I’d give to them, but if I do I feel as if I am simply enabling them instead of encouraging them to find work.”
That last one is perhaps the MOST insidious because it is wrapped up in a nice little package of “I care too much to give”, which sells real well among the “religious”, but have you ever bothered to look up what Jesus said about giving?
What if Jesus NEVER told us to worry what that person was going to do with the money?
What if Jesus never told us to pray before giving to the poor?
What if Jesus, never told us to be concerned that by giving we may be enabling bad behavior?
Hold on to your socks because this one may just blow you away!
Mat 5:40-48,
“(40) If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
(41) And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
(42) GIVE TO HIM THAT ASKS YOU, AND FROM HIM WHO WANTS TO BORROW FROM YOU DO NOT TURN AWAY.
(43) “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ (44) But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
(46) For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
(47) And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
(48) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
What does Jesus say to do for those who ask something from you?
He does NOT say,
- Pray about it
- Make sure you are not enabling them
- Make sure they are not going to spend it on alcohol
- Make sure they are trying to find work and better themselves
No…He says GIVE! Plain and simple!
One day upon seeing someone at an intersection, I finally said to my wife Teri what I had been thinking. “What if Jesus never asked us to worry about the implications of giving? What if He just told us to give? I need to look that passage up, but I’m pretty certain He said, “Give to them that ask you.” I do not remember any qualifiers!
So we looked it up and sure enough…NO QUALIFIERS – NONE AT ALL!!! Now, Teri and I are not wealthy people. many of our “date nights” consist of going to Wal-mart to get groceries and sometimes we even stop and get an affordable dinner somewhere – but that last part is actually pretty rare! So, we asked the Lord, “How can we give to people when we barely have enough ourselves?” The answer did not come in words but in a thought! Crackers! We may not have money, but we can buy some of those prepackaged crackers and cookies and keep them in the pocket of our car doors to hand out when we see the homeless and the poor! They only cost about $5.00 for a big package of them, so it was something we could afford! So, we did it!
Funny thing is that among the first times we ever went to buy crackers, we ran into a homeless mother who had a very young baby in her arms. I knew that it was very possibly a scam, since in our area, I’d seen several men sitting in cars watching their wives and children hustle people out of money in grocery store parking lots. However, this time I felt completely liberated to give without fear that I was being taken advantage of! My Lord had said, “If they ask…GIVE!” Who am I to argue with Him? So, we went inside and bought pre-made formula, water, baby food, a baby spoon and some other things for the woman herself. She was very grateful and I found in my heart that this new found freedom also freed me from caring if she was appreciative or not! It made no difference if she had treated it lightly…I was obeying my Lord and that was reward enough.
The one thing we are careful to do is tell the poor to receive the food in the name of the Lord Jesus. Yes, I know that they may have NO idea why you are saying that, but again…it makes no difference. The point is that Jesus is being credited with the reason for our charity and that is enough!
Stewardship in giving linked to righteousness & moral cleanliness
Heb. 10:32-39,
“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: (33) partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; (34) for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. (35) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. (36) For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: (37) “FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME AND WILL NOT TARRY. (38) NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.” (39) But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
1Pet. 4:12-19,
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; (13) but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (14) If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. (15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. (16) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. (17) For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (18) Now “IF THE RIGHTEOUS ONE IS SCARCELY SAVED, WHERE WILL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?” (19) Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
Obligation to family
Mark 7:9-13,
“He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (10) For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.’ (11) But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), (12) then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, (13) making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
1Tim. 5:3-16,
“Honor widows who are really widows. (4) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. (5) Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. (6) But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. (7) And these things command, that they may be blameless. (8) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (9) Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, (10) well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. (11) But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, (12) having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. (13) And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. (14) Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. (15) For some have already turned aside after Satan. (16) If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.”
James 1:27,
“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
That is all for today, but we will pick up here on Wednesday – studying to show ourselves as approved in regards to money, possessions and giving in the Kingdom.
Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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Blessings!
