Money and Wealth (Part 17) - Giving (Part C) - God's Money Fund, Generosity

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Money and Wealth (Part 17) - Giving (Part C) - God's Money Fund, Generosity 1. Setting up a “God’s Money” fund A. A "God's money" fund is a separate account (or box, envelope, etc.) which is set aside specifically and solely for the things which the Bible says we are required to support financially, such as the ministry (1Co 9:14; Gal 6:6; 1Ti 5:17-18), church needs (2Ki 12:4-11; 1Ti 5:3-4, 9, 16; 1Co 16:1-3), and the poor (Gal 2:10; Pro 19:17). i. I recommend that church members each purpose in their hearts what percentage of their income they are going to give to the Lord (2Co 9:7) and then lay by themselves that amount (1Co 16:1-2) into a separate account, box, etc. every time they get paid or receive money. ii. The money in that account, box, etc. then becomes "God's money" to be used for supporting the aforesaid things which God requires us to. iii. This is what I have done myself since I was converted. iv. Some companies allow their employees to have more than one Direct Deposit set up for their paycheck. (i) If your company offers this, you could have whatever percentage you choose automatically deposited into your “God’s Money” account. (ii) This will save you time and effort. (iii)I have a friend who does this. (iv) I would have definitely done so when I was an employee if it was an option. B. How each person divides up “God’s money” for the things listed above (the ministry, church, and poor) is up to him. i. I recommend (and do so myself) keeping back a little bit of that money every month and letting it accumulate in one's "God's money" account until there is a sufficient amount of money available to meet an emergency or pressing needs within the church or in the lives of other people who are truly in need. ii. That way, if a need arises, we all have some money saved up in our "God's money" account to give. iii. Of course, we can give to needs out of our own money as well if we decide to. C. I think this is a much better system than giving all of one's “tithe” to the church fund. i. I cannot find a scriptural command nor example in the NT of church members giving all of their “tithes” and offerings to the church to be distributed to the pastor, church needs, and the poor. ii. This is why we have no "church box," nor do we take up an offering for the church on a regular basis (or ever, so far). iii. This way, each person/family is in control of their own "God's money" and can give to godly causes as they see fit. iv. When there is a need within the church (or in another church, or even outside the church) which would scripturally qualify for our support, I bring it before the church, and anyone who chooses to can give towards it from their "God's money."  v. If a person doesn't think it's a valid cause, then he doesn't have to give. vi. This limits disputes about what particular causes should be supported with "God's money" and what shouldn't be. vii. On the other hand, if all the church members gave their Lord's money to a church fund, and then out of it the pastor was paid, church needs were covered, and the poor were helped, then the church would collectively have to decide how much should be given to each thing, which could cause strife because different people would have different preferences. D. Using this method, each church member/family decides how much of, and to whom, their Lord's money will be given, and they are accountable only to God for their decision. 2. Generosity A. The most exciting and rewarding thing about making money for a Christian should be the opportunity to give generously to the Lord and to others (Act 20:35). i. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. ii. Don’t ever refuse a gift, because in so doing, you are depriving the giver, as well as yourself, of a blessing. iii. Don’t block a blessing. B. If we view our money as all belonging to God, giving becomes easy. i. All that we have belongs to God (Psa 24:1; 1Ch 29:11). ii. What we give to God and others is only giving back to God what He first gave to us (1Ch 29:12-14). iii. “It’s always easier to give someone else’s money away, because we feel no attachment to it. “The Bible says, ‘The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof.’ You know what that means? God is the owner. He owns it all―not a tithe, not a love offering, not our leftovers; He owns it all. When we view our wealth like that, then suddenly, giving becomes easy because we’re not giving our money away at all. We’re just asset managers for the Lord, doing what the owner (God) tells us to do with the money.” (Dave Ramsey, Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money, pp. 308-309) C. Being generous towards others is putting your wealth to good use. i. "Money is like manure, good for nothing if it be not spread." (Matthew Henry, Job 27:11-23) ii. “Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in the use made of them.” (Napoleon Bonaparte) iii. “Don’t admire people for their wealth but for the creative and generous ways they put it to use.” (H. Jackson Brown Jr., The Complete Life’s Little Instruction Book, #556) iv. “If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That’s wealth’s greatest satisfaction.” (H. Jackson Brown Jr., The Complete Life’s Little Instruction Book, #890) v. “It’s more important to make a difference than a fortune.” (C. E. Wagner) D. Being generous teaches others to be generous. i. People oftentimes do not become givers until they are first given to. ii. Oftentimes after a person has been the object others’ charity and generosity, he is motivated to do likewise to others. iii. Don’t let the chain of love end with you. E. Being generous not only gives one a feeling of gratification, but it will also increase one’s wealth through the blessing of God. i. The liberal soul shall be made fat (Pro 11:25a). a. Liberal adj. – 2. a. Free in bestowing; bountiful, generous, open- hearted. b. Fat adj. – III. With reference to the amount of produce or supply. 9. Yielding or capable of yielding excellent and abundant returns. 10. Well supplied with what is needful or desirable. a. Of a person: Affluent, wealthy. c. In other words, the man who is free in bestowing gifts to others and is bountiful, generous, and open-hearted shall be well supplied, affluent, and wealthy. d. Those who scatter their wealth to others will increase (Pro 11:24). e. He that gives to the poor will not lack (Pro 28:27). f. He that sows bountifully shall reap bountifully (2Co 9:6-11). ii. He that waters shall be watered himself (Pro 11:25b). a. The man that furnishes others with needful things when they need them will be treated the same way when he needs something. b. He who gives to others will have others give to him when his time of need comes (Luk 6:38). c. He that gives to the poor lends to the Lord who will repay him (Pro 19:17). d. Those who are generous towards others will find themselves blessed by others and by God who sees all and rewards every man according to his works, either in this life or the next (Luk 14:14). e. “If I clench my fist around that $1,000, none of it will leave; but at the same time, my hand’s not open to receive any more. I’ve put up a wall that keeps my money from getting away and keeps more money from coming in.” (Dave Ramsey, Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money, p. 307) iii. Those who are greedy and do not give will end up losing what they have (Pro 11:24b). a. An analogy might help to illustrate the point. b. My bidet was leaking water from the connection at the handle. It did not come with the correct o-ring, so I had to improvise and use a couple of rubber washers. When it began to leak, I tightened it up a little, but it didn’t stop leaking. So I tightened it up more, and the more I tightened it, the worse it leaked. c. I then tore it apart, cleaned the washers, put it back together, and tightened it just snuggly. It stopped leaking.  d. The same is true with money, the more tightly you hold onto it, the more quickly it will slip through your fingers. F. Create a generosity fund. i. Similar to how Christians should lay up money by them in store for giving to the Lord’s work and helping the brethren in need (1Co 16:1-2), I recommend setting up a generosity fund. ii. Put a certain amount or percentage of your income in the generosity fund each pay period, and then use that money to bless others. iii. Tell the story of the man who started the generosity fund when he started his business. iv. The generosity fund is not for things you would use God’s money for (supporting the minister and the church, helping those in genuine need, etc.). v. It’s for things like: (i) doing nice things for others that you are under no obligation to do. (ii) giving gifts. (iii)random acts of kindness. (iv) supporting organizations that you believe in. vi. Having a generosity fund will help people who are not naturally generous to be generous, and it will help those who are too generous from being irresponsible with their money.