One of the lies of the world is that money, if I had it, then I would be really, really happy. God calls us to some backwards thinking. He says, that’s a lie of the world. Wealth does not bring happiness.
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT).
Jesus is not against storing up wealth. He’s just taking issue with where we do it. He’s just making a very logical argument. He’s saying storing up treasure here isn’t wrong. It’s just stupid because it’s not going to last. If you want to store up treasure anywhere, store up treasure in heaven where you’re going to spend more than 70, 80, 90 years. You’re going to spend all of eternity. You store up treasure in heaven by being generous with what you do today.
One of the most powerful ways to store up treasure is to give. To share. To be generous.
“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35 NLT).
Most of us would think it’s better to receive. Jesus says, no, I’m going to turn everything upside down. I’m going to face it a different way. We’re going to go backwards. What’s another word for “blessed?” Happy. Joy filled. It is better to give than to receive.
How many of you have given something away and you felt really good about it? Anybody experience that? Why? Because you were created in the image of God, and so when you gave, you were actually doing what God created you to do. God so loved the world that he gave. Gave. You’re never more like God than when you give. Remember, for God so loved the world that he GAVE…
God created something for those of us who are followers of Jesus; we could practice giving every week. From the very beginning of the Bible to the end of the Bible it talks about giving back of our resources or finances. Maybe some of you have heard it before that when you come to church, you give an offering, it’s called a tithe. A tithe is a fancy word for “a 10th.”
God says, “I’m going to give you opportunity, every time you go to the temple every time you go to a house of worship that you would bring a tithe, that you would bring a 10th of your income and you would give that as an act of worship.”
Some of you go, “That band! They have great worship!” Worship is more than singing. The Bible says this, that when you set right now and you listen to God’s Word being taught to you, that’s an act of worship. That when you walk out of here if you were to give an offering, put an offering in the basket, that is an act of worship. God says I’m going to give you Christ-followers an opportunity to worship me every week and give back and give a 10th.
At life4youth ministries, we have chosen to support a missionary to New York City, Chris Mills. Chris was the ministry site director at our Mission Trip to Philadelphia in the summer of 2009. Chris is at it again, trveling to the city of New York and following God’s call. We wish to partner with Chris as he follows God’s calling in his life. We believe in Chris’ mission, but we also want to use this opportunity to give as an opportunity to learn about tithing and trusting in the Lord. Each week, at Sundays@six, baskets are placed on our tables to collect anything that our students wish to bring to give to the Lord and support ChrisGo!
Chris gives us monthly updates about what God is doing in his life through his mission to New York. You can read these updates at Chris’ Blog. To check it out, CLICK HERE.