Do you put off financial and spiritual decisions in order to keep your options open? What would happen if you obeyed God in these areas quickly and in faith? Today, on Turning Point, Dr. David Jeremiah says, when we fully commit our life and finances to God, He builds our faith muscles. If you're ready for a more powerful faith, listen as David shares his message.
Hiding in all the wrong places. Today we're going to talk about some of the things that we use to justify Not doing what God calls us to do. We all are very good at this. We rationalize the things that we're told to do. The Bible gives us some good illustrations of this, and we're going to look at them in just a few moments.
Once again, from 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. I hope you are growing in understanding of stewardship as we've shared these principles during this month. These messages haven't really been about money, they've been about our relationship with God and how we allow that relationship to take control of our lives. Every time we have a series like this at church, it's almost like a revival. We used to have many people who join our congregation during those days, and many who get baptized and follow the Lord and become Christians.
So it's a really powerful thing. when you allow God to Speak honestly to you about what you do with your resources. Things begin to change, and God gets the glory, and you get the growth and the benefit from all of it. That's why we do this, and that's why we're teaching this. on Turning Point Radio during this month.
During this time, we have published a brand new book called What God Promises You: Seven Truths That Will Change the Way You Live. It is 208 pages in a beautiful hardback gift format. That you will treasure. You will read these promises over and over again because they're the stuff of life. They will help you, they will encourage you, they will strengthen your faith and give you momentum as you go into this new year.
Please allow us to send this to you. Send a gift of any size to Turning Point during the month of January, and be sure to ask for the book, what God promises you, and it will be on its way to you before you know it. Let's get started with today's lesson, Hiding in All the Wrong Places. God has a plan for his economy. A plan that makes sense and that should be followed.
And wherever God's people meet and follow the Word of God, they follow the principles of tithing or proportionate giving. Tithing is God's way of perpetuating His program. It's how He ministers and keeps people ministering. Number two, tithing is God's way of pointing out our priorities so we ourselves are forced to deal with what we believe in. Number three, Tithing is God's way of proving His promises.
He has promised to supply us what we need, and when we test Him, He does that. Number four, tithing is God's way of promoting our faith. It's how we grow. When we step out in the unknown and do something God has asked us to do that may seem hard to us, that's how we build our faith muscles for the future. And number five, tithing is God's way of providing for our needs.
If we have needs in our life, God will meet those needs through the principles of His Word. Having said all of that, it is interesting to me to understand the answer to this question. Why is it that some people do not give to God? There are many hundreds of people who come to church every week. Who enjoy the ministry of the Word of God and the ministry of music, who, for one reason or another, never seem to invest back into the church from which they receive their blessing.
And the question that I have asked on occasion is: why is it that it is that way? Why is it that some people do not give to God? And I'd like to give you some of the reasons that I have come up with. And these are not totally out of the air. These are some of the things that I have heard people say, or they have written to me in letters, or we've interacted about it.
And in order to Deal with the questions, we're going to have to look at the scripture because all of these questions are somewhat in the backdrop of 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. Reason number one is that Some people do not give to God because they are not concerned about God's work.
Now that seems a rather stark thing to say, but it is true. They're concerned about themselves. They're concerned about their own life. They're concerned about their family. They're concerned about the things that are going on in their world.
They like coming to church. It's a comfortable thing. But our generation has chosen to be self-centered rather than God-centered. It's a part of our culture. We value ourselves above all.
Our happiness, our pleasures, and our whole lifestyle takes precedence over everything else. And if you look at culture in its worst picture, you discover that child abuse occurs because we no longer value children. And marriages break up and families crumble because we no longer value marriage in the family. God is not central to our lives, and decisions we make don't include Him. Even though we are Christians, we can go through life making decisions that are centered upon ourselves.
So it's possible, I think, to be a Christian, not a spirit-filled one, but to be a Christian, and not really have any concern about the things of God. And yet, here in the book of 2 Corinthians in chapter 8, We are constantly confronted with the importance of the ministry to the saints. In chapter 8 and verse 4, we read, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. That was a very high priority with Paul. It shows up again in verse 9 in the 8th chapter.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you, through his poverty, might become rich. Here is the whole idea of the enrichment of God's people through the ministry of Jesus Christ. Again, in verse 16, we read it: Thanks be to God who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. Here is Titus caring for the saints. And in 9:12, we see the same thing.
For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but is abundant through many thanksgiving. You see, in the whole context of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Underlying the whole purpose of the offering was the ministering to the saints. the importance of the saints. being ministered to.
So, if you don't have a concern about God's work, and that's why you don't seem to be motivated to give, first of all, take God at His word and be obedient, and then investigate what God is doing, and I promise you, He will begin to burden you for ministry after ministry. Secondly, some people do not give to God because they are not convinced that they are responsible to do so. You know, some people say, well, I don't know where it says you have to do this, you can't go to heaven. No, it doesn't say that. It doesn't say if you don't give to God, you won't go to heaven.
You can't buy your way into heaven. There's a room outside of heaven, I am told, right in the vestibule, where everybody puts down all their status symbols. Everybody lays all their portfolios. And nobody goes into heaven with anything at all. And whatever you get in heaven is a reward for what you've done on this earth, but you get it after, not before.
And the Bible says that We are to give And it is very clear to us, and here is Paul teaching this to these wonderful believers, many of whom were poor. And I want you to notice just two or three verses. If you don't believe you're responsible before God to be giving to the Lord, listen to someone who's a better preacher than I am. Listen to Paul as he instructs these believers, beginning in chapter 8, verses 6 and 7.
So we urged Titus that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us, here's his message: see that you abound in this grace also. You know, I've just been learning and trusting God to help me do this and grow in this. I want to abound in giving. I want to be an abundant giver.
Paul said, You folks in the church in Corinth, you are abounding in faith and in speech and in knowledge and in diligence and you abound in your love for us. But he said, Go a step further, abound in giving. It's a wonderful thing to be an abundant giver. That's Paul's message. Look at chapter 8, verses 10 and 11.
He says, and in this I give advice. It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago, and Paul's just laying it on the line to him, but now you also must complete the doing of it, that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion of what you have. Paul says, carry it all the way through. Don't just desire to do it. Don't just talk about doing it.
His message is very pointed. His invitation is clear. Take what you said you were going to do and you desire to do and follow all the way through and do it.
Some of you have been hearing stewardship messages now for years, and you keep thinking, you know, one of these years I'm going to get things settled so we can do this. No, you never will. What you need to do is hear Paul's message. Paul says, do it. If you have the desire put in you by God, then you follow that desire and you say, today's the day, and you begin.
And God will care for you. Chapter 9, verses 4 and 5, he keeps on preaching. He says, lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared. Should be ashamed of this confident boasting. Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go ahead of time and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it might be ready.
Here is Paul saying, I'm going to take care of this thing. I'm going to go ahead and get it ready. I want you to follow through and do what it is that God has called you to do. We have been called of God. To be a part of the financing of his work.
If you are not convinced that you are responsible before God, then you have not been listening to what God is saying to you.
Some of you say, well, I don't believe it. Let me remind you again, that doesn't make any difference. Because just because you don't believe it doesn't make it untrue. It is true whether you believe it or not. This is God's plan.
Number three.
Some people do not give to God because they cannot commit themselves to do it. This is a really strange thing that's going on in our culture today. We live in a day now where people are more willing to give than they are to commit to give. Let me explain what I mean. In years past, we used to take up commitments.
for a church project or for our stewardship emphasis. And we would always take all those commitments and add them all up. And those who told us how this all worked would say, now you need to discount the number you got when you total them all up because 20% of those commitments won't come in.
Now everything is reversed. First of all, we can hardly get anybody to commit to do anything. but what they won't commit to do, they do. You say, well, Pastor Jeremiah, what's that all about? I'm going to tell you what it's all about, and we're all guilty.
We modern Americans, whatever generation we are, We want to keep our options open as long as we can.
So we won't commit to anything that might put us behind any kind of pressure. While we certainly intend to give, we're not going to make any commitment to do it because what if? And then if the what if comes, we'll feel obligated.
So we leave our options open as long as we can. Don't look at me like I don't know what I'm talking about. You know exactly what I'm talking about. That's the way this culture is, isn't it? And when you finally get in tune with that, you say, well, I'll tell you one thing: if we got the commitments, we can be sure the money will be there because when people commit, they always give more than what they've committed to give.
But let me tell you something. Is it right? to go through life without a commitment. I don't think your banker's going to let you do that with your new house. How much would you like to pay?
For your house?
Well, I'm not sure.
Well, when would you like to pay?
Well, I don't want to nail myself down to any one date of the month. No, we don't work that way. There's some people that make us step up to the line and deal with life as it really is. And I want you to notice in the eighth and ninth chapters of 2 Corinthians, How often this commitment sensation is there. For instance, chapter 8 and verse 3.
For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing. They were willing to do this. Notice verse 11. And now also must complete the doing of it. That as there was a readiness to desire it, there was the commitment.
So there also may be a completion of it out of what you have. Verse 12. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what has and not according to what one does not have. 9.2 has the same thought. For I know your willingness about which I boast of you to the Macedonians.
9.5 has the same thing. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go ahead of time and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised. What does that sound like, class? That was a commitment. That was a promise that they were going to do this, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity.
And just as a reminder of chapter 9, verse 7, so let each of us give as he purposes in his heart. That's a primary previous commitment, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. You can't ever say honestly before God, well, God, I know the truth, but I'm just not going to do it. Without getting in a lot of trouble. In fact, did you know when you come to church, you put yourself in a great deal of jeopardy?
Did you know that? Because not to know the truth And not to do it doesn't get you clear off the hook because you're still responsible. But to know the truth and not do the truth is a very awesome thing for you to think about. If this is truly God's way and God's plan and God's word, then I must take it seriously. And I can no longer say, well, I'm just not committed.
Number four, sometimes people do not give to God because they are not courageous enough to trust Him. And that's really a nice and gracious way to say what I think the Word of God says. God says If you will do what he says, he will take care of you. How many of you have seen God take care of you? I'm not just talking about, you know, unusual ways.
God takes care of his own. He provides for you. He protects you. He cares for you. Give you illustration after illustration.
as to how God does that. If you trust him for eternity. Why not give him a trust for next week? He said, I'm going to heaven. How do you know?
Because of Jesus Christ. You put your trust in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Well, I want you to trust God now and tithe and see if He won't take care of you next month. What do you mean, next month? You'll trust him for eternity, but you won't trust him for next month. Isn't that something?
Well, let's look at what God has promised by way of His provision in chapter 9 and verse 6. He says, but this I say, if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. But if you sow bountifully, you will what, class? You will reap bountifully. Whatsoever you sow, that's what you get.
If you don't put anything in, you don't get anything out. You don't put any seeds in the ground, nothing grows. I'm not into all the seed faith thing that you see so abused and misused on television these days, but I am here to tell you what God says: whatever you sow, you will reap. And God is the husbandman, He is the one who makes it happen.
Some may sow, others water, but God gives the increase. Notice chapter 9, verses 10 and 11.
Now, may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for the food supply and multiply the seed you have sown. and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality which causes thanksgivings through us to God. Man, you have to read that word slowly because increase and abundance and supply and all of that's in there everywhere you look. I have never known anybody who took God at his word, who came back and said, I'm sorry. I wish I'd never done that.
God let me down.
Okay. Then we come to this great verse in the eighth verse of the ninth chapter. This is a great, wonderful promise. Let's read it out loud together, class. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you.
That you always, having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. I don't know. How much You got from that verse when you read it. Let me read it again out loud. God is able to make all grace abound toward you.
So that you always having all sufficiency. In all things, may have an abundance for every good work. When you stand up on that promise, There isn't any crack for you to fall through. There's no weak place in that verse. God has promised that when you trust him with your finances and you do what God has called you to do, he will meet your need.
Do you remember the story in the Old Testament of the widow of Zarepheth? She said that she hadn't just enough oil and just enough meal to make some food for her son and herself. They were going to eat that food and then die. And the preacher came along. And Elijah said, Don't fear.
1 Kings 17, 13. Don't fear. Woman. Go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from this meal first. And bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.
And I see this widow of Zareph standing there with this little bit of provision, and she was already figuring out how there was going to be enough for her to share with her little boy. And remember now, they were just going to eat this one little last meal, and then they were going to die. Here comes the preacher along, and he says, What I want you to do. Is you go take this same amount and you make a cake for me first and then take care of yourself. And I'm sure she's thinking, where did this guy come from?
I mean, does he see what I see? Does he understand that I don't have enough to go around already and he's asking me to take the first of it and give it to God? You gotta be kidding me. But there was something about Elijah. That had God all over it.
And this widow figurin' This man must have come from God. She did what he said. And we read just a few verses later in verses 15 and 16. And she went away, and she did according to the word of Elijah. And she and he and her household ate for many days.
The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry. According to the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. Isn't that a great truth? Every morning. the widow went back out to the cupboard.
And she looked in that little cruise of oil. And there was the same amount in there that there was the day before, but she had poured it out the day before. She shook her head. She'd go over to the vat where the flower was, and I don't have any sense that it was full. but the same amount was there that was there the day before.
And so she'd take the oil and she'd take the meal and she'd make what she needed. for herself and her son and for Elijah. And I wonder If she ever wondered. What would have happened? Had she just gone and taken care of herself, and not done what God wanted her to do.
My friend, that's where a lot of you folks are. You don't want to trust God. You're afraid to put your stuff in His hands.
So, you keep trying to do your own thing. And it's not that you can't do it probably and make it work. But the problem is, you're missing out on what God wants to do for you. I am here to tell you that if you will put your finances in His control, if you will be faithful to Him for the portion He has asked you to give, He will take the barrel. And make it last longer, and the crews of oil and make it last longer.
He'll keep your young kids from falling down and tearing out the knee of their pants. I don't know all that he does. But I know that when you trust God, in a wonderful way. He cares for you. You can trust him.
If you're not going to give, find a better reason. Don't use this one. Don't use, I just don't want to trust God because that one is a hard one to deal with.
Some people do not give to God because They are not careful about life's priorities. Did you know that sometimes you can just get so careless about life that what you think you're doing, you're not doing? How many of you get to the end of the year and you get your giving statement, you think, oh, I thought I gave more than that. How many of you get to the end of the year and you review what you've done for the Lord and you realize you didn't do what you thought you were going to do or even what you started out to do? If you go through this section, you'll discover over and over again verses that talk about.
predetermination. Sitting down and purposing in one's heart, making sure that you make this a part of your priority in life. People make commitments to the Lord. The commitment's not to us, it's to Almighty God. This is the whole purpose to make us faithful stewards of God, careful stewards.
Finally, maybe a reason that might be yours today is that you don't give to God because you're not a Christian. You say, well, Pastor, that's a terrible thing to say.
Well, and I didn't say if you don't give, you're not a Christian. I did not say that. But I did say that the reason some people don't give is that they're not Christians. My friends, if I weren't a Christian, I wouldn't give money to the church like I do. I'm a Christian first.
It says here that the Macedonians first gave themselves to God and then to the offering.
So let me just. Conclude my talk with you in this way by saying. The first gift you need to give to God before you give Him anything else is the gift of your heart. He who was rich became poor. that you through his poverty might be made rich.
Almighty God came to this earth through His Son Jesus Christ to give you life everlasting.
Now, let me tell you something, a Christian's not somebody who goes to church a lot. A religion We are not. Religion's only found in the Bible four times, as far as I know, and three of the four times it's in a bad context. We are not a religion. We are a group of believers who have a relationship with Almighty God.
And if you are not a part of that relationship, you can be because a person becomes a Christian by putting their trust in Jesus Christ and in Him alone for eternal life. If there's never been a moment in your life when you have prayed and said, God, I know I'm a sinner, and apart from you, I don't have any hope or any help. I want you to be my Savior. I want to accept you and your forgiveness of my sin. If you've never done that, that's the starting place.
Give the Lord Jesus Christ your heart. Tell him today, I want to be a Christian. I want to go to heaven when I die. I want to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Lord Jesus, come and live within me now.
And he will do it. He's never turned anybody away. If you come honestly, sincerely, he will hear you and you can become a Christian. Give him your heart, and the rest will take care of everything. in the days ahead.
Just like the people we studied. They gave themselves to God first and then willingly of their substance. Follow that procedure and it will happen to you. We are in the midst of a study. That we have called investing for eternity: lessons from the Bible on how to use the resources that God entrusts to us.
One of the basic lessons we have to acknowledge is that this is not our money. These things belong to God. He's given them to us to steward for Him, to manage for Him. And how we do that is really important as we are learning. When we get together tomorrow, we're going to be in two days of study on five pictures of God's provision.
We've talked a lot about what God wants us to do, but we're going to major on what God wants to do for us when we give to Him as He's instructed us to do. Tomorrow and Thursday, five pictures of God's provision. You don't want to miss these days. It'll be an encouragement to you and a blessing to you and a motivation to you. I'm David Jeremiah.
Thank you for listening. We'll see you next time. For more information on Dr. Jeremiah's series, Investing for Eternity, please visit our website where we also offer two free ways to help you stay connected, our monthly Turning Points magazine and our daily email devotional. Sign up today at davidjeremiah.org slash radio.
That's davidjeremiah.org slash radio. Or call us at 800-947-1993. Ask for your copy of David's new book, What God Promises You: Seven Truths That Will Change the Way You Live. It's yours for a gift of any amount. You can also purchase the Jeremiah Study Bible in the English Standard, New International, and New King James Versions, available in your choice of attractive and durable cover options.
Get all the details when you visit our website davidjeremiah.org/slash radio. This is David Michael Jeremiah. Join us tomorrow as we continue the series Investing for Eternity on Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah.
