What Next?

For those who were with us last night, we continued on our series in Stewardship by dealing with arguably the most important thing we steward: wealth. The reason it is so important isn't because of intrinsic value of dyed paper, pressed metals, etc., but because of how indicative our wealth is of where our treasure is and thus where our heart is.

If you missed it, then please make sure to check out the podcast and catch up. I really can't stress how important last week's message was for us as a church and for all of us as individual believers.

One of the things that I unfortunately couldn't get to (there were a lot of things, actually) was the what happens next. We've discussed a lot of the biblical underpinnings regarding stewarding our money well, but what do I do now? After seeing some of these truths in Scripture, what steps should I take to help foster a lifestyle of good stewardship? That's exactly what this blog post is about.

For Starters

The first place to start, probably, is to simply get these things we discussed deep into your heart. If an emotional response causes you to give above and beyond for a night, a week, or a month, then really nothing has happened of any value. The reason Scripture talks about money as it does and the reason we discussed it like we did last night wasn't so that our giving box would be overflowing (funny side note, we had the lowest giving we've had in months last night), but so that your heart would be in the proper place when it does give.

So, make certain you understand the why of giving. Giving naturally flows out of gratitude; it is a bi-product of grace. So the first real question isn't "how much do you give" but "how much have you been given?" If you don't get that far you won't go anywhere near being truly generous.

Big Hearts Can Start Small

Again, we don't want an overreaction that is based on emotions. You can let your heart swell big and large from reflections on what God has given you and still start off small with your giving. Whatever your current giving is, just step it up a little bit. If you give sporadically, start making it a priority to give weekly (or bi-monthly, monthly, etc., whatever works best in relation to your pay days). If you give 5% regularly, shoot for 8-10%. If you're already giving 10%, then that's great, but as we spoke of last night, the tithe is no more biblical for the Christian than is the slaughtering of a ram to atone for you sins. It's simply not a proper response for someone rescued from the law by grace. So, if you can afford to give more than 10% then it's time to push forward beyond the tithe.

The Ground Matters

Giving of your wealth is compared to sowing seed (see 2 Cor. 9). As such, you can't just throw it anywhere and expect it to sprout and bring fruit. To do so would be to be a big giver and a big failure at stewarding all at the same time. You need to know where you're putting this stuff. Perhaps it seems partial, but this would be, in my estimation, a great template to go by or at least start with: aim to work up to 10% going to your local church since, after all, you probably are there because it's worth sowing your life into and as such will provide a great plot to plant your monetary seeds as well. As you work to give beyond the tithe, branch out prayerfully. Adopt a kid in Uganda or sponsor a child through agencies like Compassion International or World Vision. Have a 'free fund' that allows you to distribute $xx.xx every month to random people. It could be a person at Starbucks that runs out of money after ordering, a friend's meal after church, paying for gas for someone at the gas station 'just because', etc. Supporting ministries that you are receiving much help from is another great place to give since they, unlike churches, don't have regular membership or attendees (e.g., Desiring God Ministries if you listen to lots of their podcasts, get their online books for free, etc).

But, all of this is just a template. It's actually a template from my own life. We give 10% to Living Hope and then on top of that support several children, give to Desiring God, and try to bless people throughout our days wherever and however we feel led. The point is that you need to pray through your giving. Don't just squander your seed. At the same time, don't make this an overly spiritual thing. Don't get me wrong, the way you spend your money is more spiritual than you or I normally realize; it is nothing less than worship! However, it is spiritual and worshipful to do an everyday thing like take a friend to lunch. Don't limit yourself to whatever your idea of spiritual and extravagant may be.

Transparency Triumphs

Finally, all of this is pointless if you have no one that you are accountable to. We love our money. It is one of the most obvious effects of the fall; so much so, in fact, that money is the thing that Jesus pits against God in matters of receiving our worship (Lk. 16). If left to ourselves, even the best plans and most prayerful intentions will go awry before very long. We will forget, we will forge, we will compromise, we will fail. That's all there is to it.

Families, be transparent with one another. Husbands and wives need to know the finances backwards and forwards, both spouses being a part of the process of praying and deciding on things. Fathers, share with your children what's going on and why; teach your children how to be generous and you'll leave a legacy few men in the world have. If you're a single person, grab a friend and work through things together. You don't have to share every detail, every debt, every income or anything like that, but make sure that they know they have the right to pry into your life in this very sensitive area. Don't keep guards up against them asking and poking into your life. Invite them and encourage them to do so. What you need to guard is not your friends but your heart from the deceitfulness of riches (Mk. 4.19).

True Treasure

The last word is that Jesus is our only true Treasure. He is the only one that is worth us spending our lives to have. He is the only one that is fit for us, actually. We are eternal beings and thus are in need of having a Treasure that will outlast this lifetime. Anything less will only leave us wanting. Jesus, on the other hand, will be a Treasure that we can never exhaust throughout all the ages of eternity to come.

Are you ready to live for true riches?