Why do we worry about Money?

We could say that there are a lot of reasons. I would like to focus on one for today. I think the reason we worry about money is because God provides for us in a way contrary to how we want God to provide for us. When was the last time you pulled the string on why you worry about money?
Certainly you know the scriptures that discuss worry and others that discuss God’s promises. If we believed the Bible for what it said would we worry about money? I think we would seek first the Kingdom and expect God to do the rest. I also believe we would be willing to allow God to provide to the level He wants and in the avenue He wants. The problem that missionaries face when they raise support is the very act of humbling themselves to receive the gifts. Why is it ok for them to humble themselves so much when requesting support but not for us when we approach God? Is it because we believe we earn it through our job? Probably.
The deeper heart issue here is the way that God provides and trusting that God will provide. It’s much easier to say God provides when your bank account has a couple of extra digits than the average man. Since we have not witnessed it with our eyes and in our own lives we doubt it. But we are also not surrendered to allow God to provide it the way He desires to provide it.
I believe that giving sacrificially brings us into that realm of feeling the pressure of seeing God provide. When we give sacrificially with joy I believe God is glorified and He promises to provide. It gets sticky when we start looking at the Josephs and Jobs of the Bible. What if God called you to that?
My hope is that when or if He does that we will remember the simple truth that God is working all things together for good and we do not live on bread (or money) alone but by every word that is God’s. My hope is that we will be willing to surrender our own will to His will even in the context of our finances, particularly when they are tight.

The International Aid Example

In the Old Testament, God took no pleasure with the Israelites for offering blemished lambs as their offerings and today we offer the leftover items in our house when the opportunity presents itself to give. I recently visited Global Aid Network, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, and while being pleased with their operation, was also surprised by what I saw there. In the very front of the warehouse are bins for clothes and shoes individuals gave to be sent to people who are in need worldwide. I looked in the bin and saw shoes that were worn through the sole and into the thin lining inside the shoe. I looked into another bin and saw a shirt that had multiple grease marks and a tear around the armpit. Originally I was shocked that GAIN would deliver these clothes and before I could even bring up the question the guide told me that over half of what is donated has to be thrown out because it is not worthy to send.
Why would we give these things? When I began to pull the string I became even more upset. We buy nice things for ourselves and give what we have worn out. Imagine meeting the person who received your old shoes. Could you look confidently and feel proud of yourself when they try to put on your leftovers? Now turn the table and you will see why it means so much that God gave us His precious son and maybe more so why he would get so upset when the sacrifices the Israelites performed that were a foreshadowing of The Sacrifice to come were of their second best.

Estate Planning – is it giving?

There are multiple decisions wealthy men and women who love the Lord have to make as they plan for the end of their lives. One of the first questions is: will I leave an inheritance to my children or give to charity through estate planning? While this is a rather new question, our culture has for at least a generation stressed that it was normal to live all that you had to your children. Is that really the best idea?
Randy Alcorn in The Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books)argues that leaving an inheritance to your children is potentially a bad idea. The children could be poor stewards or even simply not have the same attitude toward giving as the parents. Unlike biblical times, most children are near financial stability at middle age and are not reliant upon their parents’ inheritance. The result then is the option to give to charity through the estate.
While this may be an improvement from the traditional inheritance model, there are other concerns associated with estate planning. First, giving is really a joy and letting the opportunity pass to be blessed by giving is a mistake. Second, in your life you have the opportunity to be a blessing, example, and leader to others, particularly to the community, your children, and your church. Third, why wait for the one who received the gift to want to know who has decided to bless them just for them to find out that the giver died.
Isn’t it better to give during your lifetime? Instead of giving through your estate, consider allowing the natural mentoring and relationship form between the giver and the receiver and let God receive the glory.