The Scriptures on Finances

This week we continue to look at material from the book "Managing God's Money" by Randy Alcorn.

James 5:1-5 Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Here the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven's Armies. You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.

I love the practicality of James. It has been one of my favorite books of the Bible for decades. I am part way through chapter four in my preaching on this book. For a long time I have been doing topical teachings based on James 4:5 which states, "Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?" The verse before this states, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

James has a way of getting right to the point. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between people who go to church and those who have never attended a regular service. I want to be a friend of God - not an enemy. He has given us all things to enjoy but sometimes we love the gifts more than the Giver of the gifts.

Matthew 6:33 states, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." God blesses us in order that we might be a blessing. He meets all of our needs and sometimes some of our wants. He wants us to freely give because we have freely received. He loves a happy, hilarious, generous, and cheerful giver. God tells us that it is better to give than to receive. If God cannot tell a lie then why do we struggle so much in our relationship with money and the world? I believe it is because we often seek things before we seek a deeper relationship with God. It is our actions and not our intentions that define whether or not we are givers.

Randy Alcorn describes one of my favorite movie endings this way: "At the conclusion of the movie 'Schindler's List,' there's a heart-wrenching scene in which Oskar Schindler-who saved many Jews from the Nazis-looks at his car and his gold pin and regrets that he didn't give up more of his money and possessions to save more lives. Schindler had used his opportunity far better than most. But in the end, he longed for a chance to go back and choose human lives over material possessions. Just as unbelievers have no second chance to relive their lives, this time choosing Christ, Christians get no second chance to live life over, the second time doing more to help the needy and invest in God's Kingdom. We have one brief opportunity - a lifetime on Earth - to use our resources to make a difference."

When I was ordained, my oldest son was in the third grade. He sang a song that stated: I dreamed I went to heaven. You were there with me. We walked upon the streets of gold beside the crystal sea. We heard the angels singing; then someone called your name. You turned and saw this young man and he was smiling as he came. And he said, "Friend you may not know me now" and then he said, "But wait, you used to teach my Sunday school, I was only 8. Every week you would say a prayer before the class would start. One day when you said that prayer I asked Jesus in my heart." Thank you for giving to the Lord I am a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord I am so glad you gave. Then another man stood before you. He said, "Remember the time a missionary came to your church? His pictures made you cry. You didn't have much money but you gave it any way. Jesus took the gift you gave and that's why I'm here today." One by one they came far as the eye could see. Each life somehow touched by your generosity. Little things that you had done, sacrifices made, unnoticed on the earth in Heaven now proclaimed. I know up in Heaven you're not supposed to cry but I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes. As Jesus took your hand you stood before the Lord. He said, "My child look around you, for great is your reward."

May God bless you big.

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This is the 27th column in a series by Kevin Barsotti, pastor at Ark Church in Havre, about financial matters and their treatment in the Christian faith.