Living by God’s Economic Plan (Part VII)

Session 7: Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

Today we are continuing a series that I am calling “Living by God’s Economic Plan (a Christian Response to the Global Economic “Crisis”)”. We are discussing the foundational truths of the Economic Plan that God has established and documented in His instruction manual, the Bible. We will be looking at what we see out in the world, and comparing it to what we see in God’s Word, and then putting into action the steps that God gives us to establish a sound fiscal policy within our own lives. Our last lesson was called When You Do Your Alms, and we discussed three key points:

1. Jesus says WHEN you do alms, not IF!
2. Give alms to those who CAN’T, not those who WON’T!
3. Do not fear being taken advantage of!

So, if I were to summarize the previous sessions I would say they were presenting the heart of God’s Economic Plan – trusting God, living by faith, and giving cheerfully and generously. Starting with today’s lesson, I am going to start addressing specific economic topics that we deal with day in and day out. And in our present day world what better issue to address than credit?

Actually, credit isn’t the problem – being credit worthy is a good thing. It means we have demonstrated faithfulness in paying our bills. The problem occurs when we use our credit to go into debt. Our present day society encourages us to use credit to get everything we want now - don’t waste your time saving up for what you want, just put it on the credit card, or use the installment plan to pay it off a little at a time for the rest of your life. And by doing so we build up debt to the point that we suddenly find ourselves paying interest on the interest, and fees on top of fees, to the point that we find ourselves drowning in debt. Is this God’s plan? Let’s see what He says in The Bible:

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

Let me make a quick observation here, since some Christians believe otherwise: God does NOT say that going into debt is a sin. There are a lot of verses defining guidelines and rules about borrowing and lending, and if it was simply a sin to borrow, The Bible wouldn’t waste time talking about the guidelines. In Proverbs 22, the comment explains the change in relationship as one party borrows from another – the borrower becomes servant to the lender. The lender is placed in a position of calling the shots, and the borrower becomes subservient.

Let’s take a look at another set of verses that provides some more detail on borrowing:

At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lends anything unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release. Of a foreigner you may exact it again: but that which is yours with your brother your hand shall release; Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it: Only if you carefully listen unto the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command you this day. For the LORD your God blesses you, as he promised you: and you shall lend unto many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you. If there be among you a poor man of one of your brethren within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother: But you shall open your hand wide unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he lacks. Beware that there be not a thought in your wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry unto the LORD against you, and it be sin unto you. You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give unto him: because that for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide unto your brother, to your poor, and to your needy, in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:1-11)

Here we see a lot of the guidelines that God gives regarding borrowing. The first thing I want to point out is that God’s guidelines would limit borrowing to a maximum of seven years. Long term debt results in very high costs over the life of the loan. If everyone followed this guideline, we would have much more manageable debt, and would save a ton of money from interest charges.

The second thing that I want to point out is that when God is blessing us, we will be lending, NOT borrowing. We will be ruling, not being ruled. And again we see that we are to be willing to give, even when the seventh year is at hand. Lending is one more way in which we bless our brothers and sisters that are in need. And while we are on the topic, let’s look at one more set of verses on this:

If you lend money to any of my people that is poor by you, you shall not be to him as a creditor, neither shall you charge him interest. If you at all take your neighbor's cloak to pledge, you shall deliver it unto him by that the sun goes down: For that is his covering only, it is his cloak for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he cries unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. (Exodus 22:25-27)

When we loan to other believers that are in need, we should not be charging them interest. And as we look at verses 26 & 27 we see that we should not be taking advantage of people as we lend to them. Do you perhaps see a reason that banks and credit card companies are struggling these days? They have been taking advantage of their borrowers for years, through high interest and high fees. Now that the borrowers are so deep in debt that they are declaring bankruptcy, the leeches - oops, I mean the lenders - are reaping what they have sown (but I digress…).

So, here is today’s Key Point Number 1: It’s better to be a Lender than a Borrower.

And I am going to immediately follow it up with Key Point Number 2: Borrowing isn’t always Wrong, but it often isn’t Wise.

I am going to share four rules about borrowing from Ron Blue, from his book Faith-Based Family Finances:

Rule 1: Common Sense – The economic return must be greater than the economic cost. Put another way, when we borrow money, the thing that is purchased needs to grow in value or pay an economic return greater than the interest and fees we pay on the loan. Following this rule in itself would cause us not to put anything on a credit card that we can’t pay off when the bill comes – it’s pretty much impossible to get a 15% to 25% return on anything, unless YOU are the credit card company.

Rule 2: A guaranteed way to repay – Let’s take a look at Psalms 37:21:

The wicked borrows, and pays not again: but the righteous shows mercy, and gives. (Psalms 37:21)

The main thing we need to remember is that even though the bankruptcy laws in this country might make it legal to not pay back our loans, God expects us to pay them all back. So rule number two says that we do not borrow if we cannot guarantee paying it back. Using a credit card is perfectly fine if you have enough money in your checking and/or savings account to pay the bill when it arrives. A home mortgage is a bit trickier – if you follow the conventional worldly wisdom that says finance it to the max, having no equity built up in it, you had better have a lot of savings available in case you loose your job, are unable to make payments, and are unable to sell it for more than you owe on it.

Rule 3: Peace of heart and mind – This is where you examine your motives. Ask yourself these three questions:

1. Why am I doing this?
2. Am I violating any ethical or spiritual principles?
3. Do I have peace in my heart and spirit about this?

Too often we get caught up the emotion, the “but I want it now”, and can find ourselves buying things that we don’t need with money that we don’t have to impress people we don’t even know. A good way to keep yourself honest is to explain what you are doing to your spouse or a trusted friend, someone who loves you enough to be totally honest with you.

Rule 4: Unity – If your spouse does not understand what you are doing, or if they are not in agreement with doing it, DON’T.

And let me now share today’s Key Point Number 3: Borrowing can deny the opportunity to see God’s Provision. You’ll notice that I have no verses to provide for this last point. The reason is that you would be hard pressed to see a Biblical example of God arranging a loan for anyone as His means of provision. The closest would be the Exodus, where God tells the Israelites to borrow from the Egyptians, but that was more likely payment for 430 years of slavery than a true loan.

On the other hand, we see numerous examples of God’s miraculous provision. Let’s consider Jesus feeding the multitude – if this happened in our current day, ask yourself what you would have done if Jesus asked you where to get bread to feed the people? Most people in the United States would run to the store and put it on the credit card. But where is the miracle in that? We need to show enough patience and trust to receive God’s provision.

Similarly, taking out a loan because you believe that God will provide really isn’t stepping out in faith. Actually, it is tempting God. If you are taking out a loan with no guarantee to pay it back, your creditors are the ones living by faith, not you. Likewise, if you are not making payments on your debt, but you continue to give tithes and offerings expecting God to bless you, I would suggest that you are NOT living by faith, your creditors are. And I would suggest that you will not be blessed for your giving - God doesn’t bless us when we are giving other people’s money.

So, let’s make sure that if we borrow that we are doing it for the right reasons and that we can guarantee repayment. And better yet, let’s get ourselves into position to be the lender and NOT the borrower. That is where we are when we are living in God’s blessing, by God’s Economic Plan.

If you have been blessed by this lesson, and would like to sow where you have been fed, you can make a tax deductible donation to Cornerstone Church using any of these methods:

1. To make a one time donation through PayPal, click here.
2. To Partner with us through a regular $25/month subscription through PayPal, click here.
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Cornerstone Church
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Visit our main site at http://www.sharethelemonade.net/

The Halls Of Power

Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

For the past several weeks we’ve been talking about God’s Economic Plan, partly because of the current economic condition, but primarily because Jesus referred to how we use money, the “unrighteous mammon”, as being the “least” area of living by faith. That is the starting point. We will be going back to continue the series next week, but today I want to take a step up the ladder in living by faith.

We often hear the phrase “the Halls of Power” referring to government – the White House, the Congress, the leaders of the nation, those who shape policy and the direction of a nation. Today I want us to take a look at the true “Halls of Power”. To do this, we are going to take a look at two Greek words from the New Testament most often translated as the English word “power”. First, “exousia”:

1849 exousia ex-oo-see’-ah
AV-power 69, authority 29, right 2, liberty 1, jurisdiction 1, strength 1; 103
1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases, leave or permission

This word was translated as “power” 69 times, and as “authority” 29 times. It refers to having permission or authorization to do something, what I’ll refer to as “delegated power” or “authority”. To illustrate, here are a few of the verses using this word:

For I am a man under authority[1849 delegated power/authority], having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. (Matthew 8:9)

The Roman Centurion whose servant was ill and then healed helps us understand this word – he was under authority, delegating power to those under him in rank, and having delegated power from those above him in rank. He tells someone to do something, and that soldier or servant has not only the authority to do it, but also the responsibility to do it. So as we look at this word exousia, let’s remember two words: authority and responsibility.

For he taught them as one having authority[1849 delegated power/authority], and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:29)

This same word exousia is used to describe the manner in which Jesus taught, which was markedly different than the normal teachers of His day.

And the devil said unto him, All this power[1849 delegated power/authority] will I give you, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. (Luke 4:6)

We see this type of power is not only used to describe God; the devil also offered to give Jesus this form of power (although as we will see later, he really had NOTHING to offer Jesus…).

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power[1849 delegated power/authority] of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18)

Here we see Jesus telling Saul/Paul what his mission is to be, taking people out of Satan’s power/authority and turning them to be under God’s power/authority!

So I hope you understand this form of power. Now we will look at another Greek word, this one “dunamis”:

1411 dunamis doo’-nam-is
AV-power 77, mighty work 11, strength 7, miracle 7, might 4, virtue 3, mighty 2
1) strength power, ability, inherent power, power for performing miracles, moral power

This word was translated as “power” 77 times, and as “mighty work” 11 times. It refers to having the inherent ability to do something, and quite often it refers to supernatural or miraculous power. Here are a few of the verses using this word:

Jesus answered and said unto them, You do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power[1411 inherent/miraculous power] of God. (Matthew 22:29)

Jesus answers the Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection after death, that they do not know the inherent and miraculous power of God to raise the dead.

And Jesus returned in the power[1411 inherent/miraculous power] of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. (Luke 4:14)

And Jesus, after spending forty days in the wilderness being tempted of the devil, returns in the inherent and miraculous power of God’s Holy Spirit.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue[1411 inherent/miraculous power] had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? (Mark 5:30)

And he did not many mighty works[1411 inherent/miraculous power] there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:58)

And in these two verses we see this same word “dunamis” referring specifically to the miracle producing power that surrounded Jesus as he went about His life on this Earth.

So, we see these two aspects of power: the delegated power or authority; and the inherent ability and miraculous power. Which leads me into today’s Key Point Number 1: ALL power comes from God! (which is why I said the devil had NOTHING to offer Jesus – Jesus already had ALL power)

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom, and the power[1411 inherent/miraculous power], and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13)

“THE power” is God’s.

And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power[1849 delegated power/authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)

“ALL power” has been given to Jesus in heaven AND in earth, following His death & resurrection.

Then says Pilate unto him, Do you not speak unto me? Do you not know that I have power[1849 delegated power/authority] to crucify you, and have power[1849 delegated power/authority] to release you? Jesus answered, You could have no power[1849 delegated power/authority] at all against me, except it were given you from above: therefore he that delivered me unto you has the greater sin. (John 19:10-11)

And here we see Jesus specifically speaking to Pilate, that the ONLY authority given comes from God above! And to reinforce this perspective on the source of power, let’s read from the book of Romans:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers[1849 delegated power/authority]. For there is no power[1849 delegated power/authority] but of God: the powers[1849 delegated power/authority] that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power[1849 delegated power/authority], resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power[1849 delegated power/authority]? do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: (Romans 13:1-3)

And why am I spending all of this time on these two types of power? When we want to enter in to the true Halls of Power, we need to realize today’s Key Point Number 2: God has given us BOTH! Both His delegated authority (and the corresponding responsibility) and His inherent miraculous power:

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power[1411 inherent power] and authority[1849 delegated power/authority] over all devils, and to cure diseases. (Luke 9:1)

Behold, I give unto you power[1849 delegated power/authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power[1411 inherent power] of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power[1849 delegated power/authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power[1411 inherent/miraculous power] from on high. (Luke 24:49)

I especially want you to notice those last two verses, as they apply to all who have received Jesus and His Holy Spirit! So, since God has given us His power, it is time for today’s Key Point Number 3: Let’s ACT on the Authority and Power that He has given us!

Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)

And what are some of those “works” that Jesus was referring to?

And they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority[1849 delegated power/authority]and power[1411 inherent/miraculous power] he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out. (Luke 4:36)

Behold, I give unto you power[1849 delegated power/authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power[1411 inherent power] of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)

So, although we need to be diligent and active in all that is going on in our Government, let’s not be fearful! Let’s realize that the true Halls of Power originate in the Spiritual realm with God our Father! And let’s be diligent in applying His power as He directs through His Holy Spirit:

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power[1411 inherent/miraculous power] toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power[1849 delegated power/authority], and might[1411 inherent/miraculous power], and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:19-23)

Today’s lesson has really just been an introduction. We will be coming back to discuss it in more detail in the near future.

Join us next week we as we return to our series on Living by God’s Economic Plan, in a lesson titled Giving Credit Where Credit is Due.

If you have been blessed by this lesson, and would like to sow where you have been fed, you can make a tax deductible donation to Cornerstone Church using any of these methods:

1. To make a one time donation through PayPal, click here.
2. To Partner with us through a regular $25/month subscription through PayPal, click here.
3. To send a donation by check, mail it to:

Cornerstone Church
1433 N. Main Street
Naperville, IL 60563

Visit our main site at http://www.sharethelemonade.net/

Living by God’s Economic Plan (Part VI)

Session 6: When You Do Your Alms

Today we are continuing a series that I am calling “Living by God’s Economic Plan (a Christian Response to the Global Economic “Crisis”)”. We are discussing the foundational truths of the Economic Plan that God has established and documented in His instruction manual, the Bible. We will be looking at what we see out in the world, and comparing it to what we see in God’s Word, and then putting into action the steps that God gives us to establish a sound fiscal policy within our own lives. Our last lesson was called Where to Sow, and we discussed three key points:

1. We sow where we are fed!


2. We sow in fertile (i.e., Godly) soil!


3. Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing!

Last week we talked about two methods of giving, tithes and offerings. This week we are going to talk about giving alms. Let’s start in Matthew chapter 6:

Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Truly I say unto you, They have their reward. But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does: That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly. (Matthew 6:1-4)

Let’s start today with our Key Point Number 1: Jesus says WHEN you do alms, not IF!

And notice that like we’ve said before, motive is everything – we do alms not to be seen of men, not to receive glory from men, but instead we do them quietly and secretly. So, what exactly is Jesus talking about by “alms”? Let’s take a look at the word from the original Greek:

1654: eleemosune el-eh-ay-mos-oo’-nay
1) mercy, pity
1a) esp. as exhibited in giving alms, charity
2) the benefaction itself, a donation to the poor, alms

Alms giving is taking pity on or showing mercy to someone – what I like to call “purely charitable” giving. Tithes and offerings are means of sowing seed into Godly ministries, used to provide meat for God’s house, where we can directly benefit from the fruit. We see the results as the ministry grows. Alms giving produces fruit that is often less visible. When we give quietly and secretly to provide a charitable gift to someone in need, any reward is going to have to come from God directly – the beneficiary will not be able to give back to us in any natural way. And that is why God promises His supernatural reward, and why alms giving is special. Let’s read more from Jesus on giving alms:

And seek not what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things. But rather seek the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither does moth corrupt. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:29-34)

We have referred to the “seek first the kingdom of God” verses several times in our study of God’s Economic Plan, but I want us to see how these verses connect our trusting God for our provision to our alms giving. Most people quoting from this passage stop after verse 32, stopping before they read “Sell what you have, and give alms”. But in the complete context, Jesus reveals that our giving of alms is an indicator of the state of our heart – where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. So God expects us to be giving alms, where only God can repay us. But like we saw with tithes and offerings, we again need to be cautious not to just throw our giving anywhere or any way:

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But you, brethren, be not weary in well doing. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13)

Here’s today’s Key Point Number 2: Give alms to those who CAN’T, not those who WON’T!

Giving to someone who can’t work is one thing, but Paul commands us not to be giving to people that won’t work, those that are looking for handouts instead of looking for a “hand up”. One of the shortcomings of welfare systems is that they can have the effect of encouraging recipients not to work, making people slaves to the system. They become fearful that if they do find a job, they will lose their handout and they might not have enough. God never intended for alms giving to put people into this type of bondage.

But this point has another danger – the danger that the fear of giving to the wrong person paralyzes people into not giving alms at all. I’ve heard many people make statements (or excuses) like “oh, if I give them something they’ll just spend it on alcohol”, or something similar. Yet, what does the Bible say about seeing people in need and doing nothing? Let’s read:

What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and has not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit? Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:14-18)

Just saying “I’ll pray for you, Brother”, and not helping to provide things that are needful, is dead faith. Our faith becomes alive when we back it up with good works. I learned about a church this week that has really gone to the next level when it comes to giving alms. Waterfront Community Church (www.Waterfrontcc.com) in Schaumburg, Illinois actually has structured their church in such a way that they take 100% of their offerings and give it away to someone in need. They are getting the attention of the people who have been turned off by ministers living millionaire lifestyles. They do it wisely, making sure that they are blessing people in need and not contributing to bad lifestyles. And I find this intentionally setting up a church to be able to minister in this manner incredibly intriguing.

Now, getting back to our verses from James, we see that he specifically refers to “a brother or sister” in need. But do we only help other Christians? Allow me to answer that – No!. Let’s read what Jesus taught:

Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again. And as you would that men should do to you, do also to them likewise. For if you love them which love you, what thank have you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them which do good to you, what thank have you? for sinners also do even the same. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thank have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:30-38)

Jesus says give to every man, not just your brothers and sisters. Jesus says give to every man, including your enemies. So, as we give to every man, is it possible that we will be taken advantage of? Of course! But Jesus says “love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

So here is today’s Key Point Number 3: Do not fear being taken advantage of!

A friend of mine related a story of how a single mother of two young children started coming to his church. She was about to be kicked out of her apartment for not paying the rent, so he paid the rent for her. And that was the last time that he saw her. He asked the question “was I wrong”? This is the question that got me to thinking about all of the verses that we discussed today. And after spending some time studying this I answered my friend that I don’t think that he was wrong. Providing a month’s shelter for a single mom is not wrong. Giving to others as you would have men should do to you is not wrong. Giving to others, hoping for nothing again, is not wrong. Jesus promises that his reward shall be great.

I can better relate to this young mother, having recently gone through a difficult period where I was the recipient of others giving alms to support me and my family. It was a blessing, but it also hurt to be in that position. I now have a powerful revelation on Jesus’ statement that “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. I don’t know the motives of the young mother, or what her actual feelings were, but I do know that she could have been feeling a certain amount of guilt or embarrassment. And let’s face it, if her motive was purely to take advantage of my friend, she wouldn’t have had any problem with continuing to come to the church for her next month’s rent.

So, let’s do our alms, let’s help people unable to help themselves, and let’s not be paralyzed into inaction by fear of being taken advantage of. God promises to bless:

He that gives unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse. (Proverbs 28:27)

Next week we will be taking a brief break from our series on Living by God’s Economic Plan. Instead we will take a look at The Halls of Power.

If you have been blessed by this lesson, and would like to sow where you have been fed, you can make a tax deductible donation to Cornerstone Church using any of these methods:

1. To make a one time donation through PayPal, click here.
2. To Partner with us through a regular $25/month subscription through PayPal, click here.
3. To send a donation by check, mail it to:

Cornerstone Church
1433 N. Main Street
Naperville, IL 60563

Visit our main site at http://www.sharethelemonade.net/

Living by God’s Economic Plan (Part V)

Session 5: Where to Sow

Today we are continuing a series that I am calling “Living by God’s Economic Plan (a Christian Response to the Global Economic “Crisis”)”. We are discussing the foundational truths of the Economic Plan that God has established and documented in His instruction manual, the Bible. We will be looking at what we see out in the world, and comparing it to what we see in God’s Word, and then putting into action the steps that God gives us to establish a sound fiscal policy within our own lives. Our last lesson was called The J.O.B., and we discussed three key points:

1, 2 & 3: Our J.O.B. is our Joy-filled Opportunity to Bless!

As we discussed, we labor in order to be able to provide for the needs of others. So, how do we go about doing that? As in all things, there tend to be right ways and wrong ways, and we take our direction from God’s instruction manual, the Bible. Where exactly do we sow our seed? Let’s start in the Old Testament:

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:8-12)

We discussed last week how God blesses us, and we bless others. Here we see two means of blessing others: tithes and offerings. Tithes refer to 10 percent of our income given to the work of God, and offerings are additional gifts given for God’s work (and a third means, giving alms, we will discuss next week).

We touched on tithing a couple of weeks ago, and let’s go into a little more detail here. As a reminder, as New Testament Christians we are no longer under the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), but we continue to tithe as God still promises his blessing as we do so. So, do we just sow our seed anywhere? What do we see in Malachi, when it comes to our tithes? It says “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house”. A storehouse is a place for building up a stockpile, and in this case it is a stockpile of “meat” for “God’s house”. I’d like to summarize this thought in today’s Key Point Number 1: We sow where we are fed!

I believe that this is critical, because God doesn’t just hand out cash. He encourages us to bless those that bless us, to supply for the physical needs of those that feed us spiritually. And we need to realize that if we are simply consuming, letting people feed us without giving back, what is going to happen when the storehouse is empty? We give our tithes to replenish the storehouse!

Let me elaborate on where the tithe should go. In the ideal world, this should be your local church. In the ideal world, why would you attend any local church that isn’t feeding you spiritually? Allow me to be blunt: if the church that you are attending is NOT feeding you spiritually, I strongly encourage you to move to one that will! And as you are being fed, make sure that you are sowing into that church, so that they continue to have “meat” for God’s house. But if for some reason you are attending a church that is NOT feeding you spiritually, one that is not fulfilling its role in God’s kingdom, I would encourage you not to support it. Why would I say that? To answer that, I’m going to share a little bit of a Greek word study, starting in Galatians chapter 6:

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teaches in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:6-10)

The first verse here talks about those who are taught “communicate” to him that teaches, and the remaining verses discuss sowing and reaping. These verses taken together are discussing giving, in response to being taught. I want to focus on the word “communicate” from verse 6. The New Testament was originally written in Greek, so using the concordance (reference to original language) from my Bible software, this is the Greek word “koinoneo”. The definition refers to “sharing in” with, or “partnering” with someone.

2841: koinoneo koy-no-neh’-o
be partaker, communicate, distribute;
1) to come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner
2) to enter into fellowship, join one’s self to an associate, make one’s self a sharer or partner

So we see that Galatians 6:6 is specifically teaching that those who are being taught in the word of God should be partnering/sharing with those that teach. So we see that God is once again focused on relationship, in this case a partnering relationship between those that teach and those who are taught.

What did Jesus teach about partnering?

He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, truly I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:41-42)

Here’s today’s Key Point Number 2: We sow in fertile (i.e., Godly) soil! When we give to Godly ministries, ministries that are producing fruit, we become partners with them and share in their reward! We can’t just sow seed into any old soil – that would be wasteful, that would be poor stewardship. So we want to find Godly ministries that are producing fruit, and join in with them through giving of our money, our time, and our support. As we are partnering with them, we are sharing in their reward.

I want us to continue looking at verses that use this Greek word “koinoneo”. In the next four sets of verses, the bolded word(s) is actually this same word “koinoneo”.

Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. (Philippians 4:15-17)

Paul tells the Philippians that because they are partnering with Paul, fruit will abound to their account. Do you want fruit to abound to your account? Find Godly ministries to partner with, and as God blesses them God also blesses you! Sow your seed in fertile ground, and watch the fruit come into your life!

But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It has pleased them truly; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. (Romans 15:25-27)

So again we see Paul teaching of partnering and sharing, giving of our carnal things in return for receiving spiritual things.

But why did I say DON’T sow into a church that is not feeding you, that is not fulfilling its role in the kingdom? Partnering does not only apply to Godly pursuits. Let’s look at two more verses that use this same Greek word “koinoneo”.

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5:22)

Did you know that by providing support to those involved in ungodly pursuits, you are entering into their “reward” as well? Here’s another verse using “koinoneo”:

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 1:10-11)

You can be partaking of the evil deeds of another, when you support unGodly ministries. Do you recognize the phrase “giving aid and comfort to the enemy”? What about “aiding and abetting a crime”? We recognize that you can be an accomplice to a crime, and face prosecution, when you support another person in a criminal act. And yet how often to Christians give to an unGodly ministry without thinking, just because they get a letter in the mail begging for money, or see a tearful appeal on TV?

Here’s today’s Key Point Number 3. Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing!

You may not realize it, but Christians seem to be an easy mark for unscrupulous con men and women. All someone needs to do is put together a letter or an email, add some images of starving children, address it personally using the recipient’s name, state that God gave them the name in a dream, and people start shedding tears and reaching for their wallet! Let’s face it, Christians are taught to be giving, even as we’ve taught in the previous sessions. But we need to be wise, sowing seed strategically, as God leads us, into fertile soil, into Godly ministries, and not be reacting to all of the emotional and manipulative attempts that the enemy uses to steal our seed.

Money can be your most important vote! Where you spend your money helps determine what industries survive and thrive. If people stopped buying drugs, the drug industry would disappear. If people stopped buying pornography, the porn industry would disappear. Every time that you reach into your wallet or write a check, you need to realize that you are casting a vote for the type of world that you want to live in! So let’s stop supporting any and all unGodly businesses. One last verse:

Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Let’s bring all of our tithes into the storehouse, supporting our local, Godly church, so that there is “meat” available to feed us and our families. Let’s sow our seed in fertile ground, partnering with fruitful, Godly ministries. Let’s watch out for and avoid the wolves, protecting our seed from theft. And let’s remember that every dollar that we spend is a vote cast for the type of world that we want to live in.

Join us for our next step in Living by God’s Economic Plan: When You do Your Alms

If you have been blessed by this lesson, and would like to sow where you have been fed, you can make a tax deductible donation to Cornerstone Church using any of these methods:

1. To make a one time donation through PayPal, click here.


2. To Partner with us through a regular $25/month subscription through PayPal, click here.


3. To send a donation by check, mail it to:

Cornerstone Church
1433 N. Main Street
Naperville, IL 60563

Visit our main site at http://www.sharethelemonade.net/

Living by God’s Economic Plan (Part IV)

Session 4: The J.O.B.

Today we are continuing a series that I am calling “Living by God’s Economic Plan (a Christian Response to the Global Economic “Crisis”)”. We are discussing the foundational truths of the Economic Plan that God has established and documented in His instruction manual, the Bible. We will be looking at what we see out in the world, and comparing it to what we see in God’s Word, and then putting into action the steps that God gives us to establish a sound fiscal policy within our own lives. Our last lesson was called Sow, Now What?, and we discussed three key points:

1. God gives to Givers!


2. Motive is Everything!


3. God is enough, and more than enough!

Well, let’s move on to today’s lesson – The J.O.B. So, if God wants to be our supplier for everything, why are we supposed to work? Haven’t we all been taught that we need to work to make a living for ourselves? And haven’t we all heard things like “work is a four letter word”? How often do we hear people exclaim “TGIF – Thank God It’s Friday” as they look forward to being away from their jobs for two whole days? And how often have we heard people say (or perhaps we say it ourselves) “I hate my job”, and then they explain that they only work because they need the money? Is this really the way God wants it to be? Let’s take a look at the first job ever given:

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. (Genesis 2:15)

What do we see here? We see that after God made man, even before He created Eve, God gave Adam a job – to dress and keep the garden of Eden. And here’s the really important point – this was before Adam and Eve sinned and brought on the curse! So anyone who thinks that work itself is a curse, a result of living in this sinful world, is missing something important here from the very beginning of mankind. Let’s take a quick look at the curse that came in Genesis chapter 3:

And unto Adam he said, Because you have hearkened unto the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return unto the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return. (Genesis 3:17-19)

After Adam and Eve sinned, the resulting curse wasn’t that Adam now had to work. The result of the sin was that his work was going to be more difficult because the ground was cursed – the earth had been corrupted by sin. So the first thing I want us to note is that work was given to man while he was still in his perfect, innocent state in the garden of Eden! We also want to remember that as Christians we are no longer under the curse (Galatians 3:13 - Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us), so we don’t even have to accept that our work needs to be difficult! OK then, what exactly should be our attitude regarding our jobs? Let’s look at what Solomon wrote:

He has made every thing beautiful in his time: also he has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13)

And again:

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answers him in the joy of his heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

So, the first thing I want us all to consider is that God wants us to be rejoicing in our work, in our jobs! He has established that man needs to have something to do, something he can rejoice in. I would like to suggest that if you are one of those people that is NOT rejoicing at your job, if you can’t wait for the end of the workday, you are probably in the wrong job. But then you’ll probably want to point out that you need the job to provide for your needs. In response to that, I want to look at the second thing that I want us to consider:

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. (Ephesians 4:28)

What? Am I reading this correctly? Haven’t we all been told most of our lives that we work a job in order to provide for our own needs? But this verse is saying that we are supposed to labor so that we can give to others that have needs!?

The Bible is perfectly consistent – it only appears to be contradictory when we fail to understand it, or when we fail to accept it. We have been discussing for several weeks now that when we give, when we seek first the kingdom of God, when we trust in Him, then He promises to supply our needs. Let’s review:

Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:31-33)

So, why would we think that we need a job to supply our needs? If we accept that God is supplying our needs, and wants us to be motivated to be givers, why wouldn’t we be working in order to be a blessing to others? As a matter of fact, isn’t being a blessing what your job is all about? If you are not being a blessing to your employer, or to your customers, they will quickly find someone else who is!

Today I am rolling into one all Three Key Points: Our J.O.B. is our Joy-filled Opportunity to Bless!

We need to get out of our self-centered mindset, thinking that “I have to supply my need”, that “my job is all about me”. God put us on this earth to bless, and to be blessed. Living a life of faith, living by God’s Economic Plan, is all about blessing – let’s look at Abraham, our father of faith:

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, unto a land that I will show to you: And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curse you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3)

God promised to bless Abraham, and he instructed Abraham that he was to be a blessing to others – as a matter of fact, ALL the families of the earth have been blessed through him!

So, if you have been thinking of your job as your chore that you have to do to put food on your table, to provide for your needs, you are missing out on one of God’s gifts to you! Your job should be filling you with joy! Your job should be giving you opportunities to bless – to bless your employer and/or customers through the excellent work that you do, and to be able to bless others through your giving! And who will take care of your needs if you aren’t “taking care of number one”? God will! And that is another blessing that you get to enjoy as you take on the Joy-filled Opportunity to Bless that God has given you!

I would like to share how God has impressed this lesson on me. When I was a sophomore in high school, about sixteen years before I became a Christian, I decided I was going to become an “Architect”. I liked drafting house plans, and I liked the sound of the title – “Architect”! So, after completing high school I spent eight years in college getting my Master’s degree, and I then took a job at an architectural firm. I spent several more years preparing for and ultimately passing the licensing exam to finally officially become an “Architect”. I had achieved my goal! There was only one problem – I didn’t enjoy architecture! What I really loved doing was computer programming. My first experience with computer programming had come during my freshman year in college, as I took the required introductory course in programming. This skill perfectly matched how I was wired, and I loved the challenge of getting the programs to work, and I was quite good at it. But my goal was to become an “Architect”, and I was either too focused, or too stubborn, or too dumb to face the facts. I kept taking programming courses because I enjoyed them, and they helped my grade point average, but I was dead set determined on becoming an “Architect”.

So, not too long after I became a Christian, God was able to get me to be honest enough with myself that I decided to drop the charade of being an “Architect”, and to focus on computer programming. But then I allowed myself to be pushed up the corporate ladder, first becoming a supervisor, then a manager, and then the director of the IT department. It again sounded great – Director of IT, but again there was a problem – I hated going to work each day! I hated dealing with budgets, with meetings, with personnel issues. What I loved to do was computer programming!

So once again God had to convince me to be honest enough with myself to admit I wasn’t being blessed by my job and I couldn’t be a great blessing to my employer if I hated going to work each day. And I knew that I would be happiest if I worked as a computer programmer. But again I let my natural mind get in the way, saying that a computer programming job would be far too big of a pay cut for me to support my family, so instead I embarked on starting my own consulting business. Once again, I was doing work that I hated doing in order to feed my family, and now it wasn’t even doing that – the business was at best treading water, paying for its own bills with nothing available to pay its sole employee, me. I was working very long hours for very little income, and hating every minute of it.

So finally I allowed God to direct my steps, and to take a computer programming job. And do you know what? I am thrilled to get up every morning at 4:10 am to get to work by 6:00 (the job is about an hour’s drive from home). I am blessed that I get paid to do what I love to do every day! And my employer is blessed that I am there every day, doing what I am skilled at and doing what I love to do, to help the company to be a blessing to its customers!

So, let’s start looking at our job as our Joy-filled Opportunity to Bless! It may require us to rethink our careers, but that’s ok – it will be worth whatever it takes to be in a position where we love what we are doing. After all, that is the way God intends it to be!

Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? (Ecclesiastes 3:22)

Join us for our next step in Living by God’s Economic Plan: Where to Sow

If you have been blessed by this lesson, and would like to sow where you have been fed, you can make a tax deductible donation to Cornerstone Church using any of these methods:

1. To make a one time donation through PayPal, click here.


2. To Partner with us through a regular $25/month subscription through PayPal, click here.


3. To send a donation by check, mail it to:

Cornerstone Church
1433 N. Main Street
Naperville, IL 60563

Visit our main site at http://www.sharethelemonade.net/