A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF MONEY  

- LUKE 21:  1-4

One poor farmer had a lifelong wish of owning land.  Driven by his obsession, he was finally able to own a plot of land, albeit small.  However, the farmer's desire did not stop there; trying to fulfill his desire of owning a greater plot of land, the farmer sold off all his holdings, and with his family in tow, began moving to different regions in search of land.  After moving a few times, the farmer was able to own a greater plot of land and accumulate a signifiant amount of wealth.

One day, the farmer heard a rumor that by paying 1000 rubles, in Russian currency, he can claim as much land as he could cover on foot in one day in undeveloped territorial regions.  The only stipulation was that he had to return to his starting point before the sunset in order to legally claim the land as his own.  This farmer, unable to suppress his excitement, began his quest to cover as much land as possible once the sun rose.  Claiming his stake to the land every so often, and under the great excitement that all this vast land was to become his, he walked and walked, not feeling even a hint of fatigue.  

Rather than walking, he actually ran.  By mid afternoon, when the farmer looked back, he discovered that he covered a great distance.  The farmer turned around, to make it back to the starting point before sunset.  However, because he covered such a great distance on his way out, the farmer realized that it may be impossible for him to make it back to the starting point before sunset.  But with the thought that all will be for naught if he doesn't make it back to the starting point, the farmer refused to waste even a second in making his way back, falling, stumbling, and being drenched in sweat.  When the sun was about to disappear under the horizon, the farmer was able to make it back to the starting point; however, due to great fatigue, he collapsed.  

Not having a chance to rejoice in the fact that all that land now belonged to him, the farmer, as a result of his efforts, coughed up blood and died on the spot where he had collapsed.  This story has the following conclusion.  "The servant lifted up the hoe and dug a six-feet long ditch, the same distance that extended between his head and toe, to use as his grave.  And he buried him in that ditch."  This story is a short story from one of Leo Tolstoy's works, called "How much land does a man need."  

How nice will it be, if man understood that he was born into this world empty handed--as a clump of red flesh and tissues--and be able to abate the amount of greed that he harbors in his heart?  But man's greed is like a bottomless urn; gaining more only exacerbates the desire to gain even more.  One subject that most young pastors would like to avoid as a topic of sermon is offering, or about money.  However, since money is such an overrulingly important thing for people, a proper education regarding money is paramount in avoiding all problems associated with money; therefore, I would like to talk about how we, as Christians, should view money and resources during the course of our lives.

It is inherently difficult to earn and spend money in a proper manner in this world.  The way I look at it, it is much more difficult to spend money properly than it is earning it.  There is a common saying regarding money:  "Earn money like a slave and spend it like a noble."  If we harbor the attitude that no matter how ignoble or lowly the work is, no matter how immoral our earning activity looks in the eyes of others, as long as we earn money--through whichever means available--that everything is all right, then that is a great tragedy.  

If we earn money to satisfy the sole purpose of spending it--driving nice cars, wearing expensive clothes, eating gourmet food, and living in big houses--that is one of the most fool hardy things we can do.  It may be important to become rich; however, it is much more important to earn money so that it may be used for righteous purposes.
In First Book of Timothy, chapter 6, Paul states "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."  Jesus, in Matthew 6, verses 19-21, tells us "do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."  Further, Jesus states in Matthew 6, verse 24, "no one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon."  

Laying up treasures on earth means concentrating on secular activities for the sole sake of oneself and one's family; laying treasures in heaven means making offering for God's glory and using money and resources for the sake of one's neighbors and society.
In reading many books regarding offering, I discovered that great pastors make it a point to correctly teach their congregation about the right attitude regarding offering.  This is because the right offering attitude becomes the starting point of spiritual well-being and the path to true blessing.  A pastor named Haesoo Cho points out the five incorrect offering attitudes.  First, there is "reluctant offering."  

These offerings are made reluctantly, often contrary to one's true desire.  We can find two types of Christians; one type is "pump Christians" and the other is "spring Christians."   Pump Christians are those who have abundance of wealth in their reservoir, but need constant pumping and stimulus to make an offering; spring Christians are like natural wells, who need no reminder nor prodding to make an offering.  Pump Christians reluctantly make offering, while spring Christians do it out of happiness and joy, and make offerings voluntarily.  In Second Book of Corinthians, chapter 9, verse 7, Paul states "so let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."  

Second, there is "spontaneous offering," made according to one's mood at the time.  This type of offering is not prepared in advance; rather, when the time of offering comes, one sticks his hands in his pocket to figure out how much money he has, and makes an offering based on his mood at the time.  Should there be a selfish motivation, one makes a bigger offering than usual; however, should one be in a foul mood, he does not give much at all.  This type of behavior is not for the spiritually healthy.
Third, there is "complaining offering."  

As a pastor, I see one thing in common among almost all churches.  Those who tend to make big offerings do not complain about financial policies and activities of the church.  Most complaints come from people who tend to be stingy with their offerings.  This is particularly important, for Jesus has stated that one cannot serve God and money together; therefore, those who hold God as precious in their hearts put forth the effort in making offerings.  Those who are good with their offerings do not have a reason to complain.  

I wish that whenever possible, all of us can participate in making offerings to God.  A healthy ministry does not depend on few people to burden the church's entire budget.  Regardless of the amount, if all members of the congregation participate in giving to God, we can truly become a healthy, righteous ministry.  The important thing to remember is that unless one tithes, one cannot assume ownership of the ministry.  One becomes a mere visitor to the church.  I believe that if you give something to God that you hold precious, your faith will grow and your lives will become richer and fuller.

Fourth, there is "leftover offering."  This type of offering is similar to the leftovers, or scraps, that one often leaves for their pets at the end of the meal.  This offering is made after one makes car payments, house payments, educational expenses, clothing expenses, monthly payments, card payments, etc.  It is like giving God leftovers.  Reverend Cho flatly states that this type of offering, made in a similar manner as feeding our dogs with leftovers, cannot make our spirits mature and holier.
Fifth, there is "perfunctory offering."  It is not proper to make offerings based on what others gave.  We need to make offerings based on our own abilities and free will; we must not look at others and give offerings based on how much he or she gave.  

It is important to make offerings based on our beliefs and faith, to give to God out of our own free will.
In reading all these books regarding offering, I came to understand the importance of proper attitudes regarding offering.  And I have come to vow that when the time comes, I will properly teach the members of this ministry the correct attitude regarding offering.  We make offerings to God not to earn salvation, to earn blessing, to show off to others, nor to honor ourselves.  Just because we make big offerings, we do not gain salvation, receive greater blessing, nor honor ourselves in front of others.  We make offerings as symbols of our deep gratitude for the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for our salvation.  

The offerings that you make every week go towards running this church, improving this church, supporting missionaries, supporting evangelism, maintaining this ministry, supporting social volunteer programs, and other such worthy causes.  Since I have become the pastor of this church, I have worked hard to ensure that every cent that comes from you does not get wasted nor spent unwisely.  Because every cent that comes from you must be used to construct God's kingdom, to glorify God and realizing God's will here on earth.  

John Rockefeller, the American millionaire, having been taught by his mother since age eight, became a lifelong tither.  William Colgate, the founder of Colgate toothpaste, and steel king Andrew Carnegie were all tithers, who through tithing, was able to lead frugal financial habits and accumulate great wealth and success.  
In today's scripture, a rich man and a widow make offerings; Jesus compliments on the widow's small offering.  Mites was a unit of currency, and among copper coins, it had the least value.  In value, it is similar to today's penny.  Then why did Jesus consider this paltry offering from a widow much more valuable than the exorbitant offering made by a rich man?  The answer lies in the fourth verse.  

"For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty has put in all the livelihood that she had."  Genuine heart must follow offerings.  We must remember that God is not interested in the amount we offer, but that he watches us to see how we make our offerings--out of happiness, out of genuine gratitude for the blessing and grace of God.
Making offerings is the second fundamental of Christian faith.  Keeping Lord's day is the first fundamental that we must always keep; through keeping this second fundamental, I hope that in the name of our Lord, our faith will grow anew.