The Stewardship of Money

II CORINTHIANS 9:6-8

TO ISRAEL God said, “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.” (Psa. 50:12) From this it is clear that Paul’s statement, “God loveth a cheerful giver,” is not intended to imply that our Heavenly Father needs anything that we can give him. The context of our lesson indicates that the apostle’s remarks on the subject of giving were related to the needs of the brethren in Jerusalem and vicinity, that he was collecting, money for them. Their need had arisen from circumstances over which they had no control, and it was the privilege of the brethren at Corinth and other places to render assistance.

Just as God would not need to tell his people if he were hungry, he could just as easily provide for them without the necessity of their doing anything about it. He is the great Provider, and all the material wealth any of us possesses came to us because of his love. God’s arrangement for his people to give of their substance for the benefit of others is in order that they may learn to be like him, filled with his spirit of love, a love which gives that others might be blessed.

A true consecration of one’s life to God is the presenting of our all to him, including whatever material possessions we may have of land, or goods, or money. God, in turn, makes us stewards of what we have given to him, and looks to us to use it in his service and on behalf of his people—not recklessly, but wisely, and as his providences indicate opportunities and needs.

This arrangement places a severe test upon the sincerity of our consecration vows, for the Lord leaves it entirely up to us as to just how fast we will spend our substance, and how and where. The human heart, which is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, might well induce us to believe that we have but few, or perhaps no opportunities to use our means in the Lord’s service. In this event we would be tempted to “withhold more than is meet,” and discover later—perhaps too late—that such a course led to spiritual poverty.—Prov. 11:24

Under the Jewish Law, the Israelites were required to give a tenth of their gross income, of whatever nature it might be; but Christians have the opportunity of giving all. Indeed, a consecration to the Lord which comes short of presenting our all to him would not be accepted. But it is in the managing of our stewardship that we need to remember the spirit of our consecration. Because we are under no strict law which demands that we actually give a certain portion to the Lord’s service each week, our own needs—real or fancied—might become over-emphasized in our minds, with the result that little or nothing which we originally gave to the Lord would actually be used for him.

God told Israel that if they faithfully brought all their tithes into the storehouse he would pour them out a blessing so great that they would not be able to contain it. (Mal. 3:10) He does the same for spiritual Israel. The apostle explains that “God is able to make all grace abound” toward us, in order that we may have “all sufficiency in all things,” and thus be able to abound “in every good work.” God does not promise to return dollar for dollar that which we spend for him; but our spiritual lives will be enriched in proportion to our faithfulness in carrying out the terms of our covenant of sacrifice which we have made with him.—Psa. 50:5

PHILIPPIANS 4:10-18

PAUL, who so faithfully admonished the brethren to faithfulness in providing for the needy in Jerusalem, later found himself in a position to appreciate the generosity of the brethren toward him. The Philippian church sent him a package of supplies while he was in a Roman prison. Writing to thank them for the gift, he said, “I have received [margin] all, and abound,” and then explains that their sacrifice was “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.”

In using that over which the Lord has made us stewards, the spiritual needs of the brethren should be our first consideration, and this includes the general ministry of the truth. But we should also be glad to help along material lines where a genuine need exists. It was in keeping with this that the brethren of America responded so liberally to help the needy friends of Europe. Today, the Spirit of the Lord is actuating the hearts and lives of the consecrated even as it did in the Early Church. In this we should all rejoice, and continue our mutual sacrifices in order that the truth may be proclaimed, the brethren served spiritually and where needed, materially also.

QUESTIONS

Does God need anything we give to him?

Explain the setting of today’s lesson, and how it applies to us?

What is the difference in the matter of giving between God’s arrangements for natural Israel and spiritual Israel?

In the matter of spiritual or material service, which should come first?

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