Commit to the Church: Give Generously

I recently began a new sermon series called Commit at my church on what biblically committed church membership looks like. This post is based off of the seventh sermon in that series, which was not recorded due to technical difficulties.

“There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way.”

Warren Buffet

Those are the words of billionaire Warren Buffett, after pledging to give at least 1.5 billion dollars per year to the Gates Foundation

With respect to Mr. Buffett, there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim 2:5). No amount of philanthropic giving will get you to heaven, but the way we handle money is an indication of what is most important to us.

Before we get to our sermon text in Matthew 6 I want to quickly look again at Acts 2. We’re currently in the middle of a sermon series on biblical church membership which is based on the pattern we see in Acts 2:41-47.

Acts 2:41 summarizes the response to Peter’s preaching on the Day of Pentecost. Those who were converted to Christ were baptized and added to the church. Acts 2:42-47 summarizes the commitment of these early believers. Not only were they committed to Christ, but they were committed to one another.

In our last three posts, we’ve looked how to be faithful church members. So far, we’ve looked at the importance of regular attendance, being submitted to God’s Word, and fervent prayer. Today, we are going to look at the importance of generous giving.

As we get started today, let’s quickly look at Acts 2:44-45.

Acts 2:44-45

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

These early Christians cared for one another to the extent that they were selling their possessions and belongings to care for the poor among them. In other words, they gave generously to one another.

For many, money is a very sensitive subject in the church today. There are many people outside the church who think that churches are all about money. Certainly, there is no shortage of false teachers that love money instead of Christ. However, most of the pastors I know love Christ and the churches they serve.

Just because there are false teachers that love money does not mean that we as a church shouldn’t talk about money. The Bible is full of teaching on money and Jesus spoke on it often. Howard Dayton, the founder of Crown Financial, once cataloged every Bible verse dealing with money. He says there are 2350 verses in the Bible that deal with money (or about 1 out of every 13 verses).

Why does the Bible say so much about money? The reason is that God knows that our attitude towards money is an indication of where our heart is with God. Before giving you the reasons for giving generously to the local church, I want us first to get to the heart of the matter. I say this, because I fear that some Christians have the wrong idea about why we give to the church (out of obligation or guilt) or what our attitude should be.

Our attitude towards money is an indication of where our heart is with God.

With that in mind, let’s turn to Matthew 6.

Matthew 6 is part of what’s known as the Sermon on the Mount, which is found in Matthew 5-7. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is teaching his disciples as well as the crowds that were present how to live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is telling his audience that if you want to follow him and live in his kingdom for eternity, then you need to live as a kingdom citizen even while you’re here on earth. In Matt 6 Jesus speaks of the genuineness of kingdom citizens. He draws a contrast between those in the kingdom with the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees. The scribes and Pharisees had an external righteousness. They lived for the applause of men, whereas those who belong to Christ care more about true righteousness–they live for heavenly rewards given by their heavenly Father.

This is summarized in Matthew 6:1.

Matthew 6:1

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.

With that in mind, let’s read Matthew 6:19-24.

Sermon Text: Matthew 6:19-24

BIG IDEA: Our attitude toward money and giving reflects the condition of our hearts.

Our attitude toward money and giving reflects the condition of our hearts.

Be careful where you lay up treasures (19-21)

19

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal…

First, Jesus gives a warning to his listeners. He says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” (v. 19).

For many of us, we immediately wonder, what does it mean to lay up treasure on earth? It may be helpful if we first establish what Jesus didn’t mean. In Scripture, we read that it is fine to have possessions and to own property. In fact, two of the ten commandments assume that people will own possessions and property. The eighth commandment says, “Do not steal” (Ex 20:15). The tenth commandment says, “Do not covet” (Ex 20:17). If the Jewish people and later Christians were not allowed to own anything these commandments wouldn’t make any sense.

In addition, having savings, or what we might call an emergency fund is also encouraged in Scripture. In Proverbs we’re told to look to the ant who saves food for the winter (Prov 6:6-11). This could also take the form of a life insurance policy for our families.

Finally, we are encouraged in Ecclesiastes to enjoy the gifts of God. It’s okay to enjoy a ribeye steak or filet mignon on occasion. As Christians, we may have possessions. We may own property. We can run a business. We may prudently save for the future. We can enjoy God’s gifts.

What then, does Jesus mean when he says to not lay up treasures on earth? The answer is hidden in plain sight. Jesus says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.” Jesus is telling his audience that they are not to spend their lives laying up treasures for themselves. In other words, don’t accumulate possessions that you are not using for God’s kingdom work.

For example, when you are building or buying a house, the question you should ask is not simply, “What’s the biggest, nicest, house I can afford?” Instead, we should ask questions like these:

• What is the best way for me to be a good steward of the resources God has entrusted to me?
• How can this house be used for the kingdom of God through hospitality toward both other Christians and unbelievers?
• Will the size of this house prevent me from giving generously to God’s kingdom work?

So, Jesus warns us to not lay up for ourselves treasures on earth. Then he tells us why – “Moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal.”

First, Jesus warns about moths. In our day, we typically don’t buy super nice clothes. I know I don’t. I buy almost all of my clothes at Kohl’s. However, in ancient times, clothing was a significant part of someone’s wealth. Nice clothes were a considerable investment because they were handmade instead of mass-produced. Wealthy people would have golden threads woven into their clothing to display their wealth.^[1]John MacArthur, Matthew (vol. 1), 411. These fine clothes were made of wool, and moths loved to eat it. Jesus warns about laying up treasures that can be eaten by moths.

Second, Jesus warns that earthly treasures can be destroyed by rust. Rust could destroy the value of coins and precious metals just as inflation destroys the purchasing power of our dollars.

Third, Jesus warns that earthly treasures can be stolen by thieves. The phrase “break in” literally means to dig through. Thieves could dig through the mud walls of a house. Today, we know that thieves are still a threat to break into our homes and steal our treasures.

We could sum it up this way: don’t lay up for yourselves treasures on earth because they don’t last! The same is true today. Houses perish due to tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires. Vehicles break down. Our things are susceptible to theft, depreciation, and destruction.

Don’t lay up for yourselves treasures on earth because they don’t last!

A summary of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:19

20

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Instead of laying up treasures on earth, Jesus says, “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

What does that look like? To lay up treasure in heaven is to do good works on earth. When Christians do good works on earth, we are laying up heavenly treasures. If you read the Sermon on the Mount, you’ll see that there is an emphasis on heavenly rewards. The Pharisees were living for earthly rewards – material prosperity and the praises of men. In contrast, Jesus says to those listening: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Any good work done by Christians leads to heavenly rewards. But in context (Matt 6:1-4, 25-34), Jesus probably means that we’re to store up treasures in heaven by using our earthly resources to bless other people. Like Abraham in Genesis 12, we are blessed to be a blessing. Randy Alcorn says, “God prospers me not to raise my standard of living but to raise my standard of giving.” This means that we are to use all our resources for the glory of God because we recognize they’re not really ours at all (Ps 24:1). Everything we have belongs to God and comes down from his loving hands (Jam 1:17).

Here’s the good news about heavenly treasure – it’s not susceptible to moths, rust, or thieves. Treasure in heaven is incorruptible (1 Pet 1:4)! The vaults are secure. The banker is altogether reliable. So, Jesus says, “Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven.”

Like Abraham in Genesis 12, we are blessed to be a blessing.

21

Then, in verse 21, Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our treasures are the things that receive the focus of our thoughts and time. And Jesus says that our hearts belong to what our hearts most treasure.

My oldest son, Joseph, is three years old. The last few days, he has been carrying around a little shoe box full of his most treasured possessions. He guards it with his life. The things in this box get much of Joseph’s attention.

Here’s my question for you: What’s in your box?

• What do you think about most?
• Where do you focus your time and attention?
• What is something you cannot live without?
• On what do you spend your money?

Answer those questions and you’ll know what your heart treasures.

• Your treasure may be money and the focus of your life is making more of it.
• Your treasure may be beauty and you spend your time and money trying to be beautiful.
• Your treasure may be video games and you play them endlessly.
• Your treasure may be sexual pleasure.
• Your treasure may be athletics or academics.
• Your treasure may be your children. Perhaps you can’t give to God’s kingdom work because you’re spending extravagantly on your children’s birthday presents, Christmas presents, and extracurricular activities.

What are the things you cannot live without? What are the things that give your life meaning and purpose? Those are the things that your heart most treasures.

The things you cannot live without and the things that give your life meaning and purpose are the things that your heart most treasures.

So, we’re to be careful where we lay up treasures. We’re also to be careful to have the right perspective.

Be careful to have the right perspective (22-23)

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body.” The purpose of a lamp is to emit light. A lamp emits light so that our feet can stay on the path, as Psalm 119:105 says. The prevailing thought in Jesus’ day was that light was emitted from the eye and this enabled them to see.

So, Jesus says, “if your eye is healthy, then your whole body will be full of light.” In the ESV, it says a “healthy eye.” In the KJV, it says a “single eye.” In Scripture and Jewish writings, having a single eye means that a person gives to others generously (Prov 22:9).

Prov 22:9

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

So, the person with a single (or healthy) eye is open-handed rather than close-handed with his money and possessions.

The opposite of someone with a single (or healthy) eye is someone that has a bad eye. In Scripture, a person that has a bad (or evil) eye is someone who has a bad heart and is selfishly indulgent. He is like Ebenezer Scrooge, holding tightly to his possessions and saying, “Bah, humbug! To hell with anyone else’s needs.” I saw this with my three year-old just this week. He was given a little John Deere tractor by a couple at our previous church. A few days ago, I heard him crying in the backyard because the girls were playing on the tractor. I said, “Son, can you let the girls have turn on your tractor?” He replied “No, it’s MINE!”

The person with a bad eye, like Ebenezer Scrooge gripping his moneybag or a young child holding tightly to his toy, is full of darkness. Jesus continues, “If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Here, Jesus uses irony to say that those who are in darkness think they have light. Thus, those with a bad eye think they have light, but they are full of darkness, and this darkness is even worse for those who fail to recognize it.

It’s kind of like someone that’s crazy. There are some people who call themselves crazy, but they’re not actually the crazy ones. The truly crazy people are those who think they’re fine, but everyone else knows they’re crazy. That’s what Jesus is saying here.

The people who are truly full of darkness are those who fail to even realize it. Consider again Ebenezer Scrooge–everyone around him feared him and even resented him because of his stinginess. And yet, Scrooge thought himself to be wealthy and prudent until the ghosts of Christmas convinced him otherwise.

That’s what Jesus is doing here. Like the ghosts of Christmas, He warns us that we need to have a healthy eye. We should lay up treasures in heaven by having generous hearts, especially when it comes to money and possessions.

As I read this passage this week, I couldn’t help but think about the importance of discipleship. Some of us are prone to think much too highly of ourselves. We think we’re generous when everyone around us knows us to be greedy and stingy. I know someone that is very active in church and was even a deacon in his church for many years. He gives only a very small fraction of his income to the church despite the urging of his wife to give much more.

Friends, Jesus gives us a sober warning here. The way we look at and use our money is a sure measure of our true spiritual condition.^[2]MacArthur, Matthew (vol. 1), 413-14. Thus, we need to be careful to have the right perspective. And finally, we need to be careful to serve the right master.

Be careful to serve the right master (24)

Jesus sums up this section of his teaching in v. 24. He says,

“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 [some translations = mammon].”

Jesus, the master teacher, once again uses a word picture to make his point. This time, he speaks of a slave with two masters. By definition, a slave was to be totally dedicated to his owner. There is no such thing as a part-time slave or a partial obligation. A slave is to be totally committed to his owner and no one else.

It’s not just difficult but it is actually impossible for a slave to faithfully serve two masters. Remember Jesus’ words – “He will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” We are all faced with a choice about which master we will serve. We can serve ourselves by pursuing money and possessions, or we can serve God with our money and possessions. Mammon is a word that means more than money – it refers to everything a person owns.

Jesus doesn’t just want your money. He wants your heart. He wants you to have a healthy eye. He demands that you serve him with your whole life – with all your heart, all your mind, with, with all your strength, and with all your soul.

Friends, we cannot do this in our own power. We are all born with a sin nature. We sin because we are sinners. We have selfish desires because we are selfish. We love money because we love the selfish pleasures it can bring us.

It is okay for a Christian to have money and possessions, but friends, be careful that they do not possess you. During his ministry, Jesus once encountered a rich young man (Mark 10:17-31). Here’s how it went: The rich young man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Jesus knew that this man loved his money and possessions. Jesus said to the young man, sell all you have and give it to the poor (Mark 10:21). The Bible then says that the young man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).

Jesus’ disciples were amazed, and asked Jesus how anyone could be saved. They assumed that if someone was rich, he must be blessed of God. Jesus replied, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27). Through Jesus, even selfish people can be saved. Even those with a bad eye can be saved because of the work of Christ.

I know this sermon is part of our sermon series on church membership. I want to very quickly tell you how generous giving relates to church membership.

Why give to the church and God’s kingdom work?^[3]These were taken from Spiritual Disciplines within the Church by Donald Whitney, pages 117-33.

1. We give as an expression of our love and gratitude for Jesus Christ (2 Cor 8:9).
2. We give to help build Jesus’ church, the only eternal institution (Matt 16:18).
3. We give to help fulfill the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20).
4. We give as an act of worship (Phil 4:18).
5. We give to help others in the church (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37).
6. We give to support the church by supporting its pastors who minister to us (1 Cor 9:6-14; Gal 6:6; 1 Tim 5:17).

There is much more we could say about giving. We could talk about whether or not tithing is required of New Testament Christians.^[4]See this video for one perspective. But here’s the thing, if you have been saved by Jesus, you will value eternal treasure more than earthly treasure. I’m not concerned about the percentage of your giving. I’m concerned about the state of your heart and the condition of your soul.

Conclusion

Your treasure is either on earth or in heaven. Where are you laying up treasures?

Your eye is either healthy or bad. What is your perspective on money and possessions?

You will serve God or money. What master are you serving?