I came across this post regarding objections to giving to the poor.

Giving to the poor always seems to be one of those sticky issues that polarize, but that needn’t be the case.

Giving, especially to the poor, when rightly filtered through the lens of the Gospel, is a great way to glorify God and show others the love of Christ.

Consciously or subconsciously, we each have objections to giving to the poor that we must recognize.  When we see exactly what our issues are with giving, we can rightly correct our view.

Below is B. B. Warfield‘s response to three common objections to giving to the poor as quoted in the great book by Tim Keller, Ministries of Mercy:

Objection 1. “My money is my own.”

Answer: Christ might have said, “my blood is my own, my life is my own.” Then where should we have been?

Objection 2. “The poor are undeserving.”

Answer: Christ might have said, “They are wicked rebels . . . shall I lay down my life for these? I will give to the good angels.” But no, he left the ninety-nine, and came after the lost. He gave his blood for the undeserving.

Objection 3. “The poor may abuse it.”

Answer: Christ might have said the same; yea, with far greater truth. Christ knew that thousands would trample his blood under their feet; that most would despise it; that many would make it an excuse for sinning more; yet he gave his own blood.

Oh, my dear Christians! If you would be like Christ, give much, give often, give freely, to the vile and poor, the thankless and the undeserving. Christ is glorious and happy and so will you be. It is not your money I want, but your happiness. Remember his own word, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Other Posts About Giving and Generosity

• What Jonathan Edwards Teaches Us About Giving to the Poor – Part 1
• What Jonathan Edwards Teaches Us About Giving to the Poor – Part 2
• How Should We Help the Poor?
• 3 Powerful Things John Wesley Teaches Us About Money
• 5 Reasons You’re (Probably) Not as Generous as You Should Be
• Should You Give Money to a Homeless Person?
• Should You Wait to Give Until You Have Enough Money?
• What Does It Mean to Store Up Treasure in Heaven?
• 10 Things Christians Must Do With Their Money

John Wesley was an 18th century English preacher who focused on the justification by faith as well as social issues like prison reform and slavery abolition.  He began small groups of believers throughout England that focused not only on gaining scriptural knowledge, but also personal holiness and discipleship.

He and his brother Charles were instrumental in beginning the Methodist denomination. But John Wesley also gives us an insight into how we should handle our money.

Here are three things John Wesley teaches us about money from his sermon, The Use of Money:

1. Gain All You Can

I love that Wesley doesn’t condemn making money.  In fact, he suggests we gain all we can.  But, he does provide some caveats, which are very useful in determining how we should go about making money:

1. Don’t gain money at the expense of your health.  Essentially Wesley says we shouldn’t work til we drop just to make more money. We need to learn when to rest.
2. Don’t gain money at the expense of your soul.  In other words, don’t engage in activities that are not pleasing to God and may cause damage to your soul. For example, a sales job where the company requires you to lie about a product or competitor to get ahead.
3. Don’t gain money at the expense of your neighbor. Don’t take advantage of others in order to get ahead.  In today’s society, it’s customary to view others as stepping stones to our fortune. Wesley warns against such thoughts.

Wesley goes on to say that we should always seek to improve upon the ways we make our money – to get better at it.

Gain all you can, by common sense, by using in your business all the understanding which God has given you. It is amazing to observe, how few do this; how men run on in the same dull track with their forefathers. You should be continually learning, from the experience of others, or from your own experience, reading, and reflection, to do everything you have to do better to-day than you did yesterday.

2. Save All You Can

After having gained all we can, we should save. Wesley warns against throwing it away toward frivolous niceties and fanciful pleasures. He suggests avoiding excessive spending so we can save money not to hoard, but so we can put it to good use.

Do not throw it away in idle expenses, which is just the same as throwing it into the sea. Expend no part of it merely to gratify the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, or the pride of life.

3. Give All You Can

Wesley says,

But let not any man imagine that he has done anything, barely by going thus far, by “gaining and saving all he can,” if he were to stop here. All this is nothing, if a man go not forward, if he does not point all this at a farther end.

Nor, indeed, can a man properly be said to save anything, if he only lays it up. You may as well throw your money into the sea, as bury it in the earth. And you may as well bury it in the earth, as in your chest, or in the Bank of England.

Not to use, is effectually to throw it away. If, therefore, you would indeed “make yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness,” add the Third rule to the two preceding. Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then “give all you can.”

What a challenge! If you don’t give, you are essentially throwing your money into the sea!  Those are strong and challenging words from Wesley.

How Are You Doing With Gaining, Saving, & Giving?

Here are some resources to help you:

Gain All You Can

• How to make money with a blog
• 20 Income Generating Ideas
• 24 Home-Based Business Ideas

Save All You Can

• 10 Money Saving Tips to Help You Stash $10,000
• 3 Simple Steps to Build Wealth
• 4 Ways to Trick Yourself into Saving Money

Give All You Can

• How to Build Generosity into Your Budget
• Radical Generosity in a Sea of Stinginess
• The Great Paradox of Generosity (And Why It’s So Hard to Believe)
• 5 Ways You Can Become More Generous
• How Much Should a Christian Give?

Let’s get the conversation going, how are you doing with these three things? Which one is most difficult for you?

Just about every Friday, I meet with a friend for prayer, accountability, and fellowship.  We talk about our struggles and take our spiritual temperatures every week.  I leave encouraged and challenged to live more like Christ.

Today I want to help us think about temptation in our own lives regarding money, and how to overcome temptation to keep more of what we make, rather than live with radical generosity.  Hopefully you will be encouraged and challenged to live more like Christ.

It’s easy to think since we worked hard for our money that we can do what we please.  It’s much more difficult to live with open hearts and open hands.

Malachi 3:8-9 says,

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
(Malachi 3:8-9 ESV)

So how can we avoid temptation to rob God?

Go Back to Your First Love

This morning I came to the realization that much of my struggle with sin is a result of me not loving Christ the way that I should.  Jesus addresses this when he talks to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:

I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil…But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

This church lived the Christian life well by doing good things, however, they forgot their first love.  They forgot about Christ. 

Remember that we are freed to be radically generous because of Jesus’ costly sacrfice for us.

Make Giving a Priority

Verse 10 in Malachi 3 gives us a tip on how to avoid temptation to rob God:

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

You can avoid robbing God by giving radically.  Make giving a priority in your budget.

Set Up Your Giving Systematically

My wife and I recently set up our giving on a systematic basis.  We would often forget to write a check.  It’s not that we didn’t want to give or didn’t view it as a priority, we simply would forget.

Setting up our giving on a systematic basis was a key for us, and can be key for you to avoid temptation to not write the check.

Tell Someone Your Plan to Give

If you plan to avoid temptation and overcome struggles, you cannot do it alone.  The Christian life is meant to live in community and fellowship.  We need each other.

If you plan to change, then tell someone you trust your giving plans. 

“Information with application through community leads to transformation” – Mark Driscoll.

What are Your Thoughts?

Share below how you have removed the temptation to rob God.

We think we’re pretty good people for the most part, don’t we?

After all, we haven’t killed anyone; we don’t lie – at least not to purposely hurt someone; and we certainly wouldn’t steal anything.  OK, maybe once – when we were little (you remember that pack of gum from the grocery store?).

Perhaps a closer evaluation would reveal that we aren’t as great as we think; in fact, maybe we’re a bunch of thieves!! 

And perhaps an even closer evaluation would reveal we are the worst kind - ones who steal from the church, and ultimately from God!

I’m not talking about pulling a twenty out of the collection plate on Sunday morning, or even taking the pencils from the pew – you know the ones that visitors are supposed to use to give all their personal information to the church?

No, I’m talking about something far, far worse.

Let me explain through some scripture.

Malachi 3:7-10 ESV

From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’  Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me.

But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.  You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.  Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

 Are You Robbing God?

Before you say, “Yeah, but that was Old Testament stuff” – ask yourself if you are guilty of robbing God.

Whether you agree that a “tithe” is for today or not, you must agree that we are to be giving something to the Lord.  The New Testament advocates Grace Giving, which means we give generously.

Are you stingy toward God?  Are you holding back?  Are you setting aside as much money as you could or should each week for Kingdom work? 

If not, then let the truth of Malachi 3 sink in.

If you need more proof that you should be giving generously, consider these 10 things that Christians MUST do with their money.

Let’s face it.  If you live in America, you are rich.  

Sure, there are exceptions like those who can’t afford food or shelter, but generally speaking, if you compare yourself to others around the world, you are filthy rich.

American Christians are among the wealthiest believers to have ever lived!

There’s nothing wrong with being rich, but to whom much is given, much is required.  And God has some very specific things to say to us rich Christians. 

In 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Paul tells Timothy to give Christians an admonition.  

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
(1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV)

So let’s take a look at 10 things God wants us rich Christians to do:

1. Don’t Be Haughty

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty,

Haughtiness is defined by Merriam Webster as blatantly and disdainfully proud.  It essentially points to a stereotypical rich snob, who feels they have more self worth than others because they have more net worth than others.

Paul says, don’t be arrogant because you have assets!

2. Don’t Put Your Hope in Money

nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches,

It’s funny how we feel more comfortable and at ease when our bank account is full, and much less comfortable when our bank account is empty.

Those are natural feelings, but where do they come from?  Many times it’s because money is our idol and we put our hope and trust in our cash instead of the Sovereign Creator of all things. 

3. Put Your Trust in God

but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

God is the One who promises to take care of His children.  Everything we have ever earned, received, or worked for is a direct gift from Him.

He is the One we look to for our hope, faith, and trust – not wealth.

4. Enjoy Your Money

who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

God created us to glorify and worship Him by enjoying Him forever.  We enjoy Him by enjoying the things He has given us.

If you eat a great, perfectly seasoned and grilled steak, and you thank Him for giving you the taste buds to enjoy the flavors – that is worship!

God gives us money to enjoy as well.  Use it to glorify Him by enjoying what He’s given you, and always remember Him as the source!

5. Do Good

They are to do good…

Use your money for good things, like helping others and giving to the poor.  Dont’ just spend lavishly on yourself.

6. Be Wealthy With Good Works

…to be rich in good works,

Instead of constantly trying to dream of ways to build wealth with your business or work, dream about how to build wealth in terms of your good works towards others.

7. Be Generous

…to be generous,

Generosity should be the mark of every Christian, especially rich Christians.  After all, Christ gave up all the riches of heaven to become poor so that we (through his life, death, and resurrection) might become eternally rich!

8. Be Ready to Share

…and ready to share,

You become ready to share by getting rid of generosity killers like debt, greed, pride and busyness! 

9. Store Up Treasure in Heaven

thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future,

What does it mean to store up treasure in heaven?  Back in those days, Jews would’ve understood treasure in heaven to mean deeds of mercy and deeds of kindness to those in need.

We build great wealth in heaven by eagerly helping the poor, needy, and distressed of this world.

10. Hold Firmly to True Life

take hold of that which is truly life.

True and lasting life is an eternity spent with your heavenly Father who loves you and sent His Son to die for you. 

Jesus lived the perfect life that you and I never could to make atonement for sins we have committed. 

He died a gruesome and horrendous death on a cross – one that you and I deserved to die.  And yet, He laid his life down willingly.  For the joy that was set before Him, he endured the beatings.  He scorned the shame of a Roman cross – for you.  He went to that hill to die and all the while He whispered that He loves you.

That is what we cling to, not our wealth.  Not our money-making plans, or our business ventures.  Those things aren’t wrong, but they aren’t true life!  Look to Him.  Look to Jesus – He is the source of True Life!

This was a post I originally did for ChristianPF.com, you can check out the original here.

You’re out to eat for a nice meal and you strike up a conversation with the server.  You come to find out she’s a single mom, works two jobs to make ends meet, and is going to school to get ahead.

Your heart goes out to her, but what do you do?

You’d love to help, but your budget is so tight that you can’t afford to.  You leave the restaurant hoping that she “makes it”.

Now imagine if you had $25, $50, or even $100 extra for the month set aside specifically for times just like this, where you spot a need and would like to help financially.

Imagine the feeling you’d get when you plop down an extra $25 for the tip with a note that says, “We’re praying for you!”

Doesn’t that sound exciting?  It does to me.  It sounds like True Wealth.

But how do you do that without going further into debt or taking an IRA withdrawal to make that happen!?

So here are a few things to think about when building generosity into your budget.

Build a Budget First!

Do I need to expand here?  In order to have generosity in your budget, you would first need to make a budget!

Planned Giving

This is the equivalent of your “tithe”.  The reason I’m not calling it a tithe is because I don’t want to receive a ton of emails arguing that the tithe isn’t biblical anymore. 

The point is not that you must give 10% of your money - the point is that you plan out a specific percentage to give to your local church first. 

How much should you tithe or give?  Now, that’s a good question.

More importantly, planned giving means you’re doing this regularly and faithfully.

This is also helpful with the budget because you know exactly what’s going out for your giving every month.  You can count it in the budget.

Above and Beyond

So you have a planned amount you are giving to your church, now it’s time to work generosity money into the budget.

What this means is you have an amount each month that allows you to be a blessing to others from a financial standpoint.

It doesn’t have to be a large amount.  The challenge is finding that figure and sticking to it.  This money should be a non-negotiable (just like you’d treat your savings).

If you hear of a coworker struggling to meet bills this month because of some unforeseen circumstances, now you’re able to help. 

Get a card, write a quick note – leave it anonomous if you want and slip the card on their desk.

Agree on the Details

This is extremely important.  If you’re married, you should work out the details with your spouse.  Both of you should be on the same page.

If you’re not, then one of you will end up being upset that money that should go towards goals, savings, debt etc is being used for others when you “just don’t have the money”.

It doens’t have to be a lot.  Just make sure you set the rules.  Here are some guidelines my wife and I follow:

• Set amount – we decided on an amount up front and both of us get the same amount.
• Used in that month – the money must be used in that particular month (this keeps us active in looking for opportunities)
• Autonomy – we are not allowed to tell each other whom to give to or what to use the money for - we each make our own decisions.

The Benefits Far Outweigh the “Cost”

My wife and I have found a tremendous amount of joy in doing our giving this way. 

The feeling you get when you’ve helped someone, or given them a gift unexpectedly is a great feeling!  Plus, I believe that you are storing up Treasure in Heaven when you do these types of things.

Generous Budget Ideas

Here are a few examples of things you can do:

• Grocery gift cards for a family who just lost their jobs
• Gas cards for single mom who is trying to make ends meet
• Leave an extra tip for a server
• Support local charities that are doing good things in the community

Now it’s your turn…what are some things you have done or would like to do with your budgeted generosity money?

This was a post I originally did for Christian PF – you can see the original post here.

Lately I’ve been reflecting on giving and our heart motivation behind it. 

I’ve had the great opportunity to teach a money class the last couple weeks to a Young Marrieds group at church and It’s been a great experienc for me, because I’ve had to spend some time digging in to Scripture to get me prepared to talk about money and theology.

In general, most people know we should give, but what is our motivation behind our giving – in other words, why give?

Here’s a look at a few reasons to the question of:

Why Do People Give Their Money?

We’ll talke a look at a few not-so-good reasons and then a couple really good reasons.

To Earn God’s Favor

One group might settle in on this side of the room.  These folks think that by giving money to the church or giving money to a homeless person that somehow God will smile on them and be pleased. 

On the flip side, they may also think that if they don’t give, then God will be mad at them!  So, to appease a cranky and crotchety old god they need to just give!

To Get a Blessing

They give because they want to get an abundance.  This seems to be prevalent.  I recently received a direct message on Twitter from someone talking about God’s abundance being poured out on me!

I think there is some confusion in this camp and hopefully I can clear it up:

We don’t give to GET a blessing – we give to BE a blessing!

To Get Rid of Guilt

Others give because they want to rid themselves of guilt.  Maybe they feel guilty for being “blessed” while others suffer in need; or they feel guilty because they think that in order to be a “good person” they need to give.  The thought of not being a “good person” kills them.

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To Garner the Praise of Men

Some of us like to give because we want others to know and think that we are very generous!  Remember the pharisees in the New Testament that would throw their coins in to the offering to make a loud clang so everyone could hear?  That’s some of us.  We give to get noticed or to “be somebody”.

To Get a Good Feeling

There is a good feeling we all get when we give.  We feel like we were part of something bigger or that we made a difference in someone’s life when we give. 

Those are great feelings!  I love feeling that way after I give, but is it our sole motivation in giving?  Is it just to make us feel good?

To Get a Tax Deduction

As a finance guy, I love tax deductions!  Who doesn’t – am I right?  But, there are plenty of folks out there who only give because they can write it off on their taxes. 

Are you one of the one scrambling on December 31st to find a charity and donate money so you can write that off?

To Glean Meaning or Purpose from Life

Oh, meaning and purpose – everyone’s quest in life.  Some say there is none – other’s know exactly why we are here.  Those trying to find meaning and purpose, trying to be a part of something beyond themselves may give just to feel like they are accomplishing a mission.

Again, nothing wrong with finding meaning – but are we grasping at finding purpose through our giving or do we find our purpose in Christ himself?

What Should Our Motivation Be?

Notice that each of those motivations above are self-focused – We get something in return.  It really becomes all about us! 

So why should we give?

Because We Want to Help

I think many of us have a really sincere desire to help people.  That’s great!  We should desire to come alongside others, meet needs and to defend social justice because we value others and truly want to help them!

For some reason, it seems like in America we’ve lost a sense of “being a neighbor” to others.  On the block I grew up on there was always someone watching out for us, conversations between neighbors going on and a willingness to go and help each other.

I think we need (myself included) to get back to being a good neighbor.

Because Jesus Demonstrated It Best

Take a look at 2 Corinthians 8:9:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Jesus had everything in heaven – He was rich.  Yet He gave all that up to come to a lowly stable, to be the son of a poor Jewish couple – why?  So that we who embrace Him as Savior might become rich (all the glorious riches and benefits of spending eternity with God in heaven!)

He did it for you!  He gave up everything, to the point of a scandalous and shamed death on a Roman cross so we might have life!

even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  Matthew 20:28

Let’s reorient ourselves back to the great Gospel and realize that because Christ gave up everything for us we are freed to go and serve others for His sake!

These two terms belong together don’t they - Wealth and Happiness?  Do you remember a time in your life where you weren’t making much money?  You probably weren’t very happy.

Maybe it was during college, or when you first started a business – perhaps it’s now and you’ve lost your job recently.  One thing that often goes through our minds if we were honest with ourselves is this:

If only I had a bit more money, then I wouldn’t be so strapped and could actually enjoy life!

What’s ironic is that not only do many poor people feel this way, but what I’ve often noticed is that many wealthy people feel this way too!

John D. Rockefeller famously answered, “Just a little bit more” when asked the question how much money is enough.

I went to a business planning session yesterday with a group of advisors and one gentlemen mentioned how America is the richest nation in the world - yet the most depressed! 

How could this be?  The answer is clearly that wealth does not equal happiness!

After you arrive at a certain standard of living that affords you the basics - house, food, clothing etc. – any correlation between happiness and money is short lived! 

Think about it, all those things you thought would make you happy didn’t really bring you happiness.  Be honest.  How long after you achieved that goal or that wealth did you say to yourself:

Is that it?  What can I accomplish now?

1 Timothy 6:17-19 offers a little perspective about the rich and their attitude towards money:

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and  ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

What’s interesting about this passage is that the Apostle Paul tells us that in order to enjoy our wealth and our lives our hope should be set on God.

He also tells us that the rich should be generous, ready to share, doing good and their wealth shouldn’t define them, but rather their good works (rich in good works).

Now, some of you might say, but I’m not rich.  I dare you to go to the Global Rich List - type in your annual income and compare yourself to the rest of the world!  Then let me know what percentile you are in! 

You are wealthier than you think – and that wealth won’t bring you ultimate happiness.  You want true happiness?  Put your hope in God, through Jesus Christ and be generous!