Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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Scratching
the Surface of Malachi
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It's been said
one of the best ways to check out a person's faith is to check out a person's
checkbook.
According to the
Bible, our secret lives are laid open before God; and that includes our checkbooks;
specifically, how we have managed the money entrusted/graced to us by Him.
Like it or not and anybody who likes Him likes it
because they want to know how to manage it as an expression of thanks to Him
for the confident living inspired by the certainty of eternal life through Him,
the Bible has so much to say about money and how it confirms or
contradicts our personal relationship with Him.
Just a few years
after being ordained to talk about Jesus and Biblical instructions for walking
with Jesus, I came across a little leaflet produced by the Christian Life
Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention called The Bible Speaks on Money: "The
Bible speaks about money. God is concerned about our relationship to
material things. Money is a useful tool but an evil master. As
Christians we are obligated to subject ourselves to the mind and spirit of
Jesus Christ in all our dealings related to money."
Granted, there
are people who don't want to hear or talk about money in the church because the Bible is only as big as
their favorite parts.
They're not Biblical.
Being Biblical
means embracing the whole book and praying and laboring and really trying to
incorporate it into our hearts as we honor Him as led by it with our heads,
hands, and feet - our total selves as He commanded: "Love the Lord with
all your heart, soul, mind, and body..."
Quickly, this
little leaflet outlines how God's people handle money Biblically: (1) Work is good and its rewards have
God's approval (e.g., Exodus 20:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:10;
Ecclesiastes 3:13; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9:10-11); (2) God owns all wealth and He entrusts a
portion of it to us (e.g., Genesis 1:1; Haggai 2:8; Deuteronomy
8:18); (3) God expects
us unselfishly to share what wealth we have; sharing to support God's work and
sharing with others less fortunate than we are (e.g.,
Deuteronomy 14:22; 15:11; Matthew 25; Mark 12:43; 1 Timothy 6:17-18; Hebrews
13:16); (4) We should
pay taxes to government with our money and tribute to God with our lives (e.g.,
Matthew 22:15-21); (5) God's
kingdom is more important than money (e.g., Matthew 4:4;
6:19-20,33; 13:45-46; 16:26; Luke 12:15; 14:33); (6) Christians are not to orient their
lives to money (e.g., Matthew 6:24; Luke 12:29-30; Hebrews
13:5); and (7) There are
great dangers and temptations connected with money (e.g.,
Matthew 19:21-24; James 5:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:10).
Personally, I'm
just scratching the surface which means I don't know everything there's to know about
handling money as a Christian by
the book; but I do know tithing is the commencement not goal of
giving, God expects the firstfruits or first not last cut/dibs when we decide
what to do with what's been entrusted to us ("Give of your best to the
Master!"), and everything that we are and have must be managed by prayer
and effort to honor Him (again, "Love the Lord with all...").
Anything less or Anyone else provokes
this prophecy from Malachi: "Will man rob God?...Bring the full
tithe..."
Saying Malachi
was a "typical" prophet as if there's anything "typical"
about looking up, standing up, speaking up, and acting up for God, his message
does not differ from anything or anyone in the book - get back to God or
forfeit His blessings.
It's how he talks
about money that catches attention.
When we don't
manage it for God - to honor Him and advance His Kingdom - we're robbing from
God.
Stealing.
Ouch.
Let me put it
another way.
Malachi, again,
as consistent with the whole book, is saying money is one of the best
measurements of devotion to God.
He is saying
anyone who tries to exclude money from the equation of discipleship just may
hear another voice in the distance: "Get behind me,..."
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...to be continued...
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Blessings and Love!
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