The following is an excerpt from Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), by Pastor Mark and Dr. Gerry Breshears.
To help you grow as a worshiper with wealth rather than as a worshiper of wealth,
five principles are helpful.
Jesus is your treasure.
As Christians, we cannot too often or too deeply consider that God has given himself to us as a gift to receive and enjoy. As we see and savor Jesus as our treasure, our hearts are guarded against the idolatrous pursuit of lesser created things, and we are satisfied in the wonder of God’s loving generosity.
More stuff won’t make you happier.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity." Despite all the advertising and marketing to the contrary, true, deep enduring joy does not come from what we possess. Why? Because our idols fail us by falling apart, becoming outdated, underperforming, and ultimately revealing themselves as liars.
There's a reason Scrooge was miserable.
Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Indeed, if you reflect on the most joy you have had from your wealth, you will surely realize that your best memories are connected to your generous giving to others rather than to your receiving of generous gifts. This explains why generous people are more joyful than greedy, stingy people and also why God, who is the most generous, is also the happiest.
Generosity comes out of maturity.
We should aspire to grow in our financial giving to our church, as well as to other ministries, as part of our spiritual maturation. Second Corinthians 8:7 says, "But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also." Too often the church is guilty of encouraging growth in all the spiritual disciplines and gifts other than giving. Of course, some churches emphasize giving at the expense of being Christ-centered, but it is vital nonetheless that Christians be exhorted and instructed in everything from biblical preaching to budgeting and investment training on how to seek to increase their giving every year and grow as godly financial stewards.
We give time, talent, and treasure.
Indeed, Jesus was correct to say that where our treasure is, our heart ultimately is (Mt 6:19–21). Therefore, those who struggle to be generously wise stewards would be well served to simply start being obedient with their finances. As they are, their heart will follow their treasure. Such people will soon find not only their money going to their church but also their time, prayer, and service. They will stop treating their church like a hotel and start treating it like their home.
The following is an excerpt from Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), by Pastor Mark and Dr. Gerry Breshears.
To help you grow as a worshiper with wealth rather than as a worshiper of wealth, five principles are helpful.
