Romans 13:5-7 – Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to … Read more
This video is part of a special edition of Pastor Mark & Grace’s XO Real marriage podcast. When each spouse is spending at the holidays and has different ideas of what to spend money on or who should receive a gift, it can cause conflict. With Black Friday coming up this weekend and the official … Read more
[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/471778196″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]This “from the vault” sermon from Pastor Rick Warren on generosity appeared on the Real Faith Live show on Oct. 24-25, 2020.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
A husband wrote in saying that he wants his wife to work but she would like to stay home with their kids. In this week’s video, Pastor Mark and Grace answer this question and give helpful, practical advice for the couple.
Have a question you’d like answered in a potential future Ask Pastor Mark video? Send an email to [email protected].
As the ministry of The Trinity Church increases and moves temporarily online, Pastor Mark, Grace, and family will be releasing a special series of “Ask Pastor Mark” videos each week to help answer pertinent questions during this time! This question is about how to prepare financially for the future, especially as a young person.
Proverbs 3:9 – Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all…
The Bible has a lot to say to and about “the rich”. Living amidst the greatest era of wealth and highest standard of living in world history, we can overlook the fact that, when compared to others, historically and globally, we are the rich. Most everyone who reads this daily devotion owns a car, lives in a safe and comfortable home with electricity, has a fridge with food, and a pantry with more food. Perhaps no one who reads this has a bucket that they use to go fetch water from to bring to their home.
When the Bible asks to honor the Lord with our wealth, that includes the money we make, possessions we have, and the combined total of all resources under our oversight. How we spend our money and use our possessions reveals our heart. Here are three perspectives on possessions:
1. “What’s mine is mine” is selfish. Selfish people hoard what they have, have a miserly mindset, and are not generous in their giving and sharing of what they have.
2. “What’s yours is mine” leads to stealing. This mentality leads to a sense of entitlement where you are owed something and therefore can steal it, demand it, or pressure someone else to provide it.
3. “What’s mine is His” results in stewarding. Stewardship begins by seeing God as the owner of all things, and yourself as the manager. The result is a contentment and thankfulness for God’s provision and a willingness to give and share what God has given you with God and others.
Which of these best describes you? If married, which best describes your spouse?
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) – Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Even people who do not know the Bible know that to understand anyone or anything you need to get to the heart of the matter. According to Proverbs, the internal life of our heart is like a compass that directs our external life. Knowing what is in our heart can be quite difficult to accurately determine. Perhaps nothing so clearly reveals our heart as much as how we view money and wealth.
1. The Hoarder – money gives me security so the more I have the safer I feel
2. The Spender – money gives me rewards to splurge on myself because I deserve it
3. The Avoider – money and bills stress me out so I try and ignore financial matters
4. The Hater – money is evil and dangerous and therefore should be given away and not kept
5. The Manipulator – money buys me influence/control over other people so that I can get them to benefit me in some way
6. The Show-Off – money gives me status through possessions that I can flaunt to other people so that they are impressed by me
7. The Giver – money is how I show people love because I do not love money and use people, but I do love God and people and use money to show my love
Which of these best describes you? If married, which one best describes your spouse?
In today’s time, people seem to be more in debt than ever before. In this sermon from the book of Proverbs, Pastor Mark teaches on how to love God and others by responsibly using the money God has entrusted you with.
As we head into an election cycle in the States, the battle between the rich and poor gets pushed to the forefront of cultural conversation. Those on the political right tend to see wealth as something earned by decent people. Those on the political left tend to see wealth as something stolen by greedy people.
As a Christian, we need to think biblically and not culturally. Biblically, especially throughout Proverbs, which is about wisdom, there are not two kinds of people (rich and poor), but rather four kinds of people (ungodly poor, godly poor, ungodly rich, godly rich). Today, we will study the two kinds of rich people.
1. The ungodly rich. These people love money more than God. So, they use people to make more money rather than using money to love more people. Throughout Proverbs these people are referred to as “the rich”, “ruthless men”, “the wicked”, and the “greedy”. Proverbs 10:2 warns the ungodly rich saying, “Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death”. Proverbs 23:4 says, “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.” Proverbs 28:8 warns, “He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.”
2. The godly rich. These people love God and God entrusts to them wealth because they are good stewards. In Proverbs, these people are called “the righteous”, “generous”, and those who “honor the Lord”. Proverbs 15:6 says, “The house of the righteous contains great treasure…” Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” Proverbs 11:24-25 says, “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” And, Proverbs 3:9-10 teaches, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
The issue is not whether you, or anyone else, is rich or poor. The issue is whether or not you, or anyone else, is godly with the resources God has entrusted to you. The example for this is Jesus Christ who was godly and rich in heaven, godly and poor on earth, and is today godly and rich in heaven.
Which of the four categories best describes you?
Most Christian teaching leans toward either poverty theology or prosperity theology. Poverty theology gives the impression that poor people are the godly people blessed by God with contentment. Prosperity theology gives the impression that rich people are the godly people blessed by God with wealth.
Sadly, these two categories are only half of what the Bible says about the rich and poor and therefore, if they are all you consider, you will miss God’s perspective on poverty and riches. There are not just two kinds of people (rich and poor), but four kinds of people (godly rich, ungodly rich, godly poor, ungodly poor). Today, we will study the two kinds of poor people.
1. Ungodly poor. In our study of Proverbs, these people are referred to as “lazy”, “the one who chases fantasies”, and the “sluggard”. Their poverty is because of ungodly decisions they make, which hinder their ability to pay their bills and meet their needs.
2. The godly poor. These people love and serve the Lord and live a life of minimal means. Sometimes these people are poor because they have been oppressed by the ungodly rich. Contrasting the godly poor and ungodly rich, Proverbs 16:8 says, “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. And Proverbs 28:6 says, “Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.”
Who do you know that fits into these categories?
Malachi 3:8-12: “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.”
At the end of the Old Testament is a strong word from God about the importance of tithing the full amount that is owed to God. But, this raises an important question about whether or not this command carries over to the New Covenant.
For starters, much of the Old Covenant was about law and what God demands of us and much of the New Covenant is about grace and what God does for us. Romans 6:14 is clear that today, “you are not under law but under grace”.
In the Old Covenant, believers were required to give of their first fruits meaning the first and best portion of your wealth went to God before anyone or anything else. Tithe literally means 10 percent and this was the amount to fund the ministry of the priests, which are the pastors in the Old Covenant (Numbers 18:21-29, 27:30). In addition to the 10 percent, there were various holiday festivals that needed to be funded, along with special offerings, and mercy ministry to the poor. Altogether, most scholars will estimate that 20-25 percent of one’s gross income was given back to the Lord.
In the New Covenant, the only real mention of tithing is on the lips of Jesus in Luke 11:42, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
Did you catch Jesus’ words? He rebuked them for only giving their wealth without giving their works to help those in need. Jesus said that they should keep tithing and add to it relational ministry for the poor and powerless.
In the longest section on New Covenant giving (2 Corinthians 8-9), there are four principles for generosity. One, giving should be cheerful from someone who loves God and loves to give back to the God who gives generously. Two, giving should be sacrificial meaning it varies according to income. Three, giving should be regular in that it is planned out and not just occasionally in response to an appeal. Four, giving should be proportional so that as God increases someone’s standard of living, they should increase their standard of giving.
The New Testament never commands a believer to tithe. But, the New Testament repeatedly calls New Covenant believers to a higher standard than Old Covenant believers. We who live in the wake of the resurrection with the fullness of the Holy Spirit are called to a higher lifestyle. This explains why, for example, the Old Covenant forbids adultery of the hands and the New Covenant also forbids adultery of the heart. Similarly, the Old Covenant forbids murder and the New Covenant forbids murdering someone’s reputation with the words we speak about them. Therefore, God wants each of His people to meet with Him, search our own heart, make our own budget, and give whatever we believe is right for us in the sight of God while using the Old Covenant as a floor and not a ceiling.
If you are not familiar with the ministry of Dave Ramsey on faithful financial planning, it would be good for you to do so.
Malachi 3:8-12: “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.”
Tucked away at the end of the Old Testament is the book of Malachi. Most Christians are likely only familiar with one section of the book – the part about giving money. This section of Scripture is sometimes treated like the password to unlock access to God’s bank account. Among prosperity teachers, this verse is beaten like a piñata on Cinco De Mayo.
For starters, context matters. Like any conversation, if you don’t know the people talking with one another and only pull a few statements out of the middle of their interaction, you can easily rush to wrong conclusions about what was said.
Throughout the book, God reveals Himself as a Father having a conversation with His rebellious kids. The context is a bit like a family meeting between an awesome dad and His awful kids. The people were frustrated with God because they felt like He should give them more money, make their lives easier, and make their problems go away. They were saying awful things about God, and protesting by failing to worship, pray, give, or serve. Making matters worse, the spiritual leaders were siding with the people and standing against the Lord.
Jesus was clear that where our treasure is, our heart is (Matthew 6:21). Knowing the connection between our heart and our wallet, God is seeking to open both.
God does something unprecedented in asking His people to test Him. This is the only place I can find that God invites someone to test Him. Jesus said this is not something we should do, rebuking Satan by saying, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” in Luke 4:12.
Some things that happen in the Bible are one-time commands and some things are all-time commands. When Moses had a staff turn into a snake and turned river water into blood, that is not intended to be departments at a seminary, teaching others how to do the same with Snakes 101 and Blood 202 as classes. When Jesus spit on the ground and put mud in a guy’s eyes, for example, to heal his blindness, He did not command us to excel at spitting in the eyes of blind guys. So, the command from God to test Him seems to be most likely a one-time command to a group of people and not an all-time command to all people. Behind this, however, is a principle that giving is an act of faith as God wants to give through you and not just to you.
In what specific ways was God generous toward you in this past year?