Basis for Giving

(One of the major causes of division in the church today is the use of money. I would therefore like to start series dealing with this issue.)

Who do we belong to? The common modern concept is we belong to ourselves. But this is not the Scriptural position. It says that we were created by God (Psalms 139:13-16; Acts 17:24-28; Genesis 2:7). Also, if we have trusted Christ for our salvation (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:4,5; John 3:16-18), we belong to Him as having been redeemed by Him (1 Corinthians 6:19,20; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9). But if we are able to trust God with our eternal destiny, why is it sometimes so difficult to trust Him with the money for the electric bill? (I am preaching to myself here.) And why is it that no matter how many times God comes through, I doubt Him the next time? God has given us a promise to supply our needs (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:25-34; Psalms 127:1,2), but we struggle to believe it. Perhaps part of this is that God provides in His own way on His own timetable. But I suspect another reason is that we see our things as belonging to ourselves. I also suspect that one thing that reinforces this is a refusal to give to help others. Dave Ramsey says that God wants us to give, not because He needs something (Psalms 50:7-15), but because it makes us into the kind of people He wants us to be. God is the ultimate giver, and as His children we are to reflect who He is (1 John 4:7-21). But if you are like me and have Lincoln thumbs from pinching too many pennies, how do we become people like that? 

There are some things I have found helpful in putting this in perspective. (Again, I am preaching to myself as much as anyone else.) I need to remember what Christ has done for me, in comparison to which anything I might do for Him is minuscule (2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15). Also, I need to realize I am not my own person, but God is in control of my life and will guide it where He wants it to go (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 8:28; 2 Timothy 2:4). I also need to see that all my present struggles are temporary and will all look minor in the light of eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17,18; Romans 8:18; Revelation 21:4). But the bottom line is, as C. S. Lewis points out in Mere Christianity, that we tend to treat God as we treat the taxman. We try to figure out what is the minimum we can get away with giving Him and hope when it’s over we will have something left over for ourselves. God rather asks us to give everything to Him (Romans 12:1,2), and He will take over and rearrange our entire life after His pattern. For it is only then that we can become the cheerful givers God wants us to be (2 Corinthians 9:7).

The Production of Fruit

It is natural for a tree to produce fruit. I am convinced this is one reason God uses this analogy to describe a Christian’s good works (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Titus 2:11-14). The fruit is the natural product of the tree. You do not get lemon trees from orange  trees by hanging oranges on them. Therefore, growth in Christ is more like gardening than construction. In gardening the growth comes from the life in the plant. No amount of gardening can make a dead plant grow. But it is the job of the gardener to give the plant the right environment in which to grow and to protect it from things that hinder growth.

Now it is clear from Scripture that salvation is by grace through faith (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:4,5), apart from anything we can do to earn it (Galatians 2:21; Titus 3:5,6; Romans 11:6). But the result of this is God’s power working in us to change us (2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 1:3; Colossians 1:29). We have become, by grace, the kind of tree that produces good fruit. But we have a choice whether to cultivate or resist God’s work in us (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18; Romans 16:12-14). Also, there exist things that oppose  this work (Galatians 5:17; 1 John 2:15-17; Ephesians 6:10-13). Therefore, growth in Christ is a process that takes place over time and requires our effort (Philippians 3:12-16; Hebrews 12:1,2; 1 Timothy 4:7,8). We need to remember that, as in the garden, the real power is not from us, but is given to us (John 15:5; Romans 8:3,4; 2 Corinthians 3:5,6). But if we nurture it, it will produce the qualities of real obedience in our lives (Galatians 5:22.23; 2 Peter 1:4-11; Colossians 3:10-17). However, we need to do so trusting in God’s power and not in our own ability (Psalms 127:1,2; Proverbs 3:5,6; Isaiah 40:31). 

And this fruit will be an evidence to others that we are followers of Christ (Matthew 7:15-23; 13:18-23; James 2:14-26). The issue is not our working to be saved, but salvation resulting in a transformation of our life. Good works show others that God is at work in us. And good works are the natural result of real faith in Christ. Where, then, do we draw the line? Do we conclude someone is not a Christian if they do not live a totally spotless life? In this, I think it is helpful to look at the example of Lot. Lot in the Old Testament did some clearly  sinful things (Genesis 13:5-13; 19:1-38). But Peter calls him a just man, meaning he was saved (2 Peter 2:7,8). Peter also says that Lot was tormented inside over the sin he observed in Sodom. Lot could make sinful choices, but he could not be at home in sin. But we need to recognize that salvation has not set us free to live in sin, but to serve Christ (Galatians 5:13,14; Romans 6:15-18; 12:1,2).    

Carnality in Perspective

The Corinthians have a reputation. They have become almost synonymous with carnality. Yet it is interesting how they are described at the beginning of 1 Corinthians. They are described as saints, people not lacking in any gift, and objects of God’s faithfulness (1 Corinthians 1:1-9). This is said in spite of their behavior as chronicled in the rest of the book. We see divisions, lawsuits, sexual immorality, and fighting over things of a marginal nature. Yet it is despite these things that the Corinthians are so described. Now I do not want to deny that God is at work in us to change our behavior patterns (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:10). Also, it is clear Paul wants to encourage the Corinthians to grow up spiritually so that they might not continue behaving as they have been (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; 5:6-8; 6:19,20). But that does not change how Paul addresses them. 

 

To see the basis for this, we have to start with the fact that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:4,5; Philippians 3:9), based on what Christ has done (Colossians 2:13,14; 1 Peter 2:24,25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). But salvation should not be seen as a door we enter, with everything after that based on our performance. Rather, we always stand before God on the basis of grace (Romans 8:31-39; 5:1,2; Galatians 5:1). Therefore, we are to regard ourselves as completely supplied in Him with what we need to live for Him (Colossians 2:10; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 3:5,6). Nor do we approach Him with fear, but with confidence that we are His children (Romans 8:15; 1 John 4:15-18; Hebrews 4:16).

Why then should we live for God, rather than simply indulging our own desires? The answer is because we love God in response to what He has done for us (1 John 4:19; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Romans 12:1). In this, it is helpful to remember a person cannot scam God. This is because God knows the heart (Romans 2:16; 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 21:2). The individual with genuine faith will not simply continue on in their old manner of life (James 2:14-26; 2 Peter 2:7,8; 1:9). But the new life is not a life of drudgery, but a celebration of what God has done for us (Romans 14:17; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Philippians 4:4). Because who we are in Christ does not depend on what we do, but on what He has done.