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Money Still Talks!

As the above title suggests, money still talks — let’s listen to it speak! A well-to-do brother in Christ leaves his $500,000 house on Sunday morning, drives to the church building in his new Gallardo Lamborghini, brushes his $1,500.00 Gucci suit, and with a grand flourish, drops in his dollar bill into the collection plate, loudly proclaiming, “This is how I’ve been prospered, Lord.”

Folks, do we remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira? What a clutter of corpses would result in this day and age from such a selfish and self-centered mindset! (Acts 5:4-10).

Our gift that we give to the Lord each Lord’s Day speaks, saying:

“This is what I think of the blessings I have received this week from the Lord.“

A new groom asks what he owes the preacher for his services. The preacher responds, “Oh, whatever it was worth to get her.” In jest, the young man offers a quarter. With tongue-in-cheek, the preacher responds with, “Wait — I will get you your change!”

Some members of the church would like the Lord to set a fixed amount instead of the “Give according to what you think your blessings are worth” amount (1 Corinthians 16:2).

Each Lord’s Day, the total amount an individual gives, speaks volumes of his estimate of material blessings, forgiveness from the Lord, the right to pray, the fellowship of saints, and all spiritual blessings received from the Lord.

In our giving, our contribution should say, “This is what I really want to give back to the Lord.” A hand exposing a diamond-studded watch is raised — “How much do I have to give, Lord?”

The question is asked because the individual wants to give as little as possible. If he thinks he can get to heaven on .50 cents, he wants to get change for his dollar! Doubtless, some give a dollar bill only because it does not “clink” when it hits the offering plate. But let’s remember that God knows what we really want to give — and our motive for giving it (Hebrews 4:12-13).

In contrast, many in Jerusalem abundantly gave — not because they had to, but because they wanted to (cf. Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-35).

The Macedonian brethren “abounded in the riches of their liberality” as they were “imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:2-4).

They did not want to be left out of the giving process — so much so, that they even begged to give. Gifts given with that mindset are always enough in the Lord’s eyes (2 Corinthians 9:6-7; cf. Mark 12:41-44).

Again, our giving says, “This is the true measure of my love for Christ and the church.” Giving is really the test of our “professed” love. Many say, “I love the lost” or “I love the brethren” — well, let’s see to what extent they love — by putting them to the acid test.

For example, brethren are destitute of food and clothing. Their needs are made known to members of the church. That well-dressed brother squirms and impatiently buttons his Gucci coat over a bulging waistline. He scowls, drums his fingers on a songbook, thinking, “I will give my dollar bill if the preacher will just hush and let us go home.”

Brethren, let’s be sure and read 1 John 3:15-17 where it states:

“How does the love of God abide in him?“

Paul was given the acid test more than once. Even his sincere efforts to save men were sometimes maligned (Philippians 1:15-16; cf. Philippians 2:3-4). Yet he offered all and reserved nothing for himself (Philippians 4:9-13).

He stated:

“And I will gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved” (2 Corinthians 12:15).

Even by those folks who were unlovable, Paul was moved to preach and teach the saving gospel of Christ (Romans 10:1). We see this same attitude revealed in God’s gift of His Son for rebellious man (Romans 5:6-8; cf. John 3:16-17).

As followers of Christ, are we willing to sacrificially give ourselves to the extent the Apostle Paul did on behalf of a lost and dying world? What do the monies we give each Lord’s day truly “say” about our attitude towards giving back to the Lord and His cause?

Remember, money still talks!