If Money Could Talk

Speaker: Pastor Darin Browne

Mark 12:41-44
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

This story is a wonderful parable which illustrates a simple principle. It’s not how much you give; it’s how you give. The problem for many of us is not that we have money, it’s that money has us!

Everyone is worried when the pastor mentions money. So today we look at this command of Christ, but I’m going to let money do the talking! Show me the money!

IF MONEY COULD TALK

Jesus spoke more about money than He spoke about faith, and prayer. Given that eleven of the forty or so parables speak use money to convey a Biblical truth, I think we need to nail this!

GOD DOESN’T WANT YOUR MONEY, HE WANTS YOUR HEART

Let’s get this straight, God does not want or need your money. He owns everything and is creator of all. He owns the cattle in a thousand Hills, so what can you give Him in return? A miking machine? God doesn’t want your money, but He does want your heart, and if you have faith to ask Jesus into your life, can you also have faith to trust Him to care for you, whatever life throws at you.

Heard about a guy who earned just $300 dollars a week, and he felt he had to tithe, that is give 10%. Later he came to the pastor saying he can’t keep it up, because he was so successful that he now earned $2000 a week, and $200 for God was just too much. The pastor bowed his head and prayed. The man asked, are you praying to get me out of this tithing thing? The pastor replied, no, I’m asking the Lord to drop your income back to $300 so you can tithe without complaining.

If money could talk, it would say this to us today (if it were honest, which it isn’t).

1: YOU DON’T OWN ME, I AM ONLY LOANED TO YOU

I took the kids out one day to Maccas and bought them a happy meal. I reached over a pinched a chip, and my daughter said, “You can’t do that dad, that’s my chip!” I bought it, but she was claiming full ownership. That’s how we are with God’s money!

Let’s get this straight from the outset…you don’t own your money, either God owns it, or it owns you! It is not my money, or your money, it’s all God’s money. You might say, yeah, but I earned this money. I worked for it and I deserve it. But money would say, “I actually belong to God.”

Deuteronomy 8:18
You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

God gives you the power to make wealth, so be careful thinking you do it all yourself. I am an optometrist, but I could be the best practitioner, have the best gear, best lenses, best diagnostic skills, but God brings patients into my practice. Same with Ignite. This church is successful, financial, has influence, but it’s not me or my team, it is 100% God, glory to Him alone! Ignite is loaned to us, but it is all about Jesus.

John 3:27
John (the Baptist) answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

Let’s get this idea out of our heads that this is my money and God is trying to steal it. He doesn’t need your money, and it’s not yours, it’s all His. We are simply stewards of His money, and we get to give a small part back to Him while we enjoy the rest.

2: I AM AN UNFAITHFUL LOVER…IF YOU LOVE ME, I WILL BETRAY YOU

If money could talk, and if it was honest, it would confess that it is an unfaithful lover. If you love it, if you pursue it, if you give yourself over to it, it will ultimately betray you. J.D. Rockefeller when asked how much money is enough money said, “Just a little bit more.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Money is not the root of all evil, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Many in church today are like the rich young ruler, who say they want to serve the Lord at any cost, until the Lord highlights money, and it turns out they love money more than serving and loving Jesus.

It’s not wrong to have money, but it is wrong for money to have you! Does your money control you? Here’s a hint…what do you think about most in the quiet of your heart? Is it serving the Lord? Family? His Word? Or is it money?

Why is money so alluring, so powerful and so controlling? It’s not actually about the money, the credit card, the property portfolio at all or the spirit behind it. It’s the love of money that is the root, and this love is a demonic Spirit is called Mammon.

3: MY REAL NAME IS MAMMON

Mammon was an ancient Babylonian God, seen as the source of wealth and happiness. It literally means treasure. Let’s be clear, it is an ancient God and a demonic Spirit and is therefore directly opposed to Jesus Christ. Jesus said…

Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

The question is, what do you treasure most? Your lifestyle, your money, your comforts, or serving Jesus? God has given me some money to steward, but my focus is serving Jesus, not my own ends. I’m not aiming to retire and live a self-indulgent lifestyle; I am going to serve Jesus until He returns or I die. I refuse to live under the influence of some ancient demonic deity.

It doesn’t mean I don’t have fun, travel a lot, buy lots of cool stuff, or not pay my taxes. But it does mean that I won’t let the love of money control me, I instead choose to let Jesus and His message of hope control me!

4: I DON’T BRING YOU JOY

If money was being honest, it would also say this. Most people think if they just got enough money, they’d be happy. That’s a lie. Rich people are just as miserable as poor, because joy us not tied to getting money. I recently returned from the island of Nauru and saw many very poor but very happy people. The average Aussie is in the top 5% of income earners worldwide, yet we are all so miserable!

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Money doesn’t bring you joy, God does. And giving money generously captures God’s attention, so that He not only provides for you financially, but He gives you joy.

Mark 12:43-44
“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The size of the gift is irrelevant, the Spirit behind it is what’s important. I aim to be the most generous guy in the room. If you are tight for money, try being generous, it’s amazing! I’m not going to tell you need to give to Ignite, and I’m not going to beg you to give. We have a First Fruits offering, and I see it as an opportunity to bless, and to show God that Mammon doesn’t control you!

5: MY POWER CAN BE BROKEN

Money doesn’t want to say this, but if it was being honest, it would say that the power of Mammon can be broken. You don’t have to be a slave to the love of and the Spirit of money. And it’s not just rich people, plenty of poor people I know are driven by a love of money, money they haven’t got and they desperately want. Remember, money is not evil, it’s neutral. But the Spirit behind money is very evil indeed!

God has given us the means to break the power of Mammon or the love of money right off us, and it starts with a concept called tithing. Abraham kicked this off. He chose to give 10% to the King of Salem, Melchizedek, in Genesis 14. Jacob did it, Moses included it in the Torah…

Leviticus 27:30
“Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’S; it is holy to the LORD.

Nehemiah and others tithed, but tithing was never specifically endorsed in the New Testament. It is an Old Testament law. Ah, there for it doesn,t apply to us, right? Now the bad news…generous giving, certainly beyond 10% was definitely endorsed by Jesus and by Paul. I’m not going to tell you that you must tithe, because you don’t have to do anything except accept Jesus as Lord. But if tithing breaks a demonic power in your life, that’s controlling your life, I reckon it’s a great Idea. Personally, I choose to give way beyond my tithe.

TITHING CAN BE POWERFUL

Here’s where tithing becomes amazingly powerful. The Bible says we are never to test God, except one area where God challenges us to test Him.

Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Why this area? Because tithing, committing to honour the Lord by giving 10% of your income, breaks the power of Mammon in your life. If you want to be truly set free from the love of money, giving what is God’s anyway back to Him will break the demonic power of the Spirit of Mammon. People ask, is that 10% before or after tax? That’s the wrong question. You are only asking that to minimise what you feel obliged to give. Who cares if it’s before or after tax? I believe it should be before everything, but when you give beyond the tithe, the question is rendered meaningless.

6: I’M A BOOMERANG…GIVING DOES NOT DEPLETE YOUR RESOURCES

As counter intuitive as it may be, money would reluctantly admit that giving does NOT deplete your resources. I have proven this time and again in my own life and giving. God is more generous than you, and you can’t out give God.

I heard about a woman who gave a lot to the church, and her husband said, “Stop giving to church, or we will finish up on the streets.” So, the woman went to the streets and interviewed every person she could and could not find a single person was on the streets because of giving too much to the church!

Proverbs 11:24-25
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

You cannot out give God. Some say they are strapped for cash, so they cannot afford to tithe. When Fiona and I lost everything including our family home, we couldn’t afford to not tithe! We never stopped giving. If you are strapped for cash, you cannot afford not to tithe!

I don’t believe in the give to get thing. Call our 1800 number and give, cos I need a new Lear jet and God will give you a new Tesla. I do believe the give to trust thing, and I always give generously because I know God will take care of my needs.

7: WHAT YOU PUT FIRST SHOWS YOUR HEART

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honour the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

This refers to the practice of giving for God’s use the first and best portion of the harvest (Deuteronomy 26:9-11). Many people give God their leftovers. If they can afford to donate anything after the bills are paid and their wants are met, they do so. You might genuinely want to bless God, but you’ve got it backwards.

To give God the first part of our income shows that he has first place in our lives and that our resources belong to him. We are only managers of God’s resources. Giving to God first helps us conquer greed, prioritises our role in contributing to God’s Kingdom work in the world, and opens us up to receive the special blessings he promises to those who put him and his purposes above all else.

When Fiona and I lost everything 15 years ago, including our family home, we could have finished up Lily House, but we decided to keep giving, even in our poverty. We kept being generous, and God has blessed us ever since. We have seen millions of dollars come into this church and Lily House, and we still have a mortgage, but I trust God for His provision. Our infinitely generous God steps in and supplies all our needs. Don’t believe me? Try it and see for yourself.

8: I AM A GREAT TEST OF CHARACTER AND SPIRITUALITY

Money says, I am a test of character, and many fail the test, including leaders. That’s why here at Ignite, we have open books for anyone to see if they want, because we are committed to integrity in handling finances.

Luke 16:10-11
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

You might think money is just a little portion of life, but if you want to serve the Lord, grow spiritually and impact this world for Christ, be faithful in the little area of money.

Let me share the…

WEALTH CREATION STRATEGY MONEY DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT

I am not a financial consultant, but I want to share my own, personal wealth creation strategy. If money talked, it would not want to reveal this method, because this strategy will change your financial life. If we want money to shut up, we must listen to Jesus.

Mark 12:17
Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

That’s it. That’s the strategy. I build a hierarchy of finances. God first, then bills, including taxes, then savings, even if it is only 10%, then my needs, followed by my wants.

Most people do the opposite. Spending on what they need and want first, then they pay bills, so there is nothing left for savings, and God is a distant last. We think we are condemned to this cycle, and some of you are saying, I can’t even meet my basic needs, but that is not true. Who buys a daily coffee? Who heads to the RSL or a restaurant at times?

GOD’S WEALTH CREATION STRATEGY

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honour the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

If you put God first, starting with your bank account, my testimony is that He will never let you down.

Psalms 37:25
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

Even in our darkest days, we have trusted God and He comes through! My secret wealth creation strategy is this. Give first, give generously, give often and give more than is comfortable, then trust God for the results.

When I first became pastor of this church, we had less than forty people and had to raise one quarter of a million dollars in nine months to save the church. An impossible task in the natural. I shared the need, and we all trusted God. The first offering, Fiona and I gave generously, very generously. The second offering, God spoke to me and asked me to double it. It hurt the first time; it was agony the second. The third offering, He said double it again…four times what we had previously hurt to give. But I drew down and borrowed to be obedient. And God did it! I know He will do it again in this pending offering, and I know if you trust Him, He will come through for you too!

TIPPING, TITHING OR TRUSTING?

Let me finish with this…are you tipping, tithing or trusting?

Many people tip God. Well done, I’ve had a good week, Lord, here’s a few bucks. Some tithe. I don’t really want to give away MY hard-earned money, but the church says I should give 10%, so I’d better do it, lest God zap me and take all my money.

Tipping, tithing or trusting. Trusting says I’m going to give generously, no matter what, and trust God for all my life, even money. This is not a give to get, prosperity doctrine, it is spirit led giving, and trusting, and you will be blessed beyond measure if you do this.

Luke 6:38
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Pressed down, shaken together, running over, I’m up for that! But how are you measuring your giving. Jesus said, with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. So how are you prepared to give? A teaspoon? A tablespoon? Maybe a coffee cup, or even a bucket? Will you give in a barrel, so blessing gets barrelled back to you? I want to be the guy who gives with a dump truck!

FIRST FRUITS OFFERING

If money could talk it would admit it secretly wants to control you. If money could listen, I would tell it to shut up and fall in line with the Word and promises of God, especially that one. So, if you are broke, if you’re tight, if you are doing it tough, get excited, because you have the chance to not just tip God, or tithe, but demonstrate your trust in Him fully. God said test Him, and you have the opportunity to do this. If you have money, you have an opportunity to make sure money doesn’t have you!

Our first fruits offering is in July…the first fruits of the new financial year. I’m going to ask you to pray about how much God wants you to give. I don’t check…I just want you to experience the joy of sowing into good soil here at Ignite. And then, as you test Him in this, I am going to believe with you that God will abundantly and lavishly honour your trust in Him by supernaturally providing for you.

If you are facing a financial challenge right now, I am going to pray and believe for God to deliver you and bless you, so you can triumph in that challenge. God has done it to us so often, He has restored and prospered us time and again, and we are going to give not just generously but lavishly, because God loves a cheerful and generous giver.