TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 2:1-9
Don’t show favoritism. - James 2:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Does God want you to be rich?” asked a 2006 Time magazine cover story. The main article explored contemporary versions of the “prosperity gospel.” This “gospel” holds that God wants all believers to be professionally successful and financially well off. Its followers dream of large homes, expensive cars, and other signs of wealth—this is their definition of “blessing” and the “abundant life.” They reason that since an all-powerful God loves us and wants the best for us, and since success and wealth are the best life has to offer, then all we must do is act in faith to receive this blessing. Or as Time put it, “Why not gain the whole world plus my soul?” This is not a fringe movement: In a Time poll, 17 percent of Christians surveyed said they were part of a“prosperity gospel” church, and 61 percent agreed that “God wants people to be prosperous.”

Unfortunately for “prosperity gospel” followers, God’s Word does not agree with them. God might sometimes choose to bless or reward people materially, but the fact is that material wealth is unrelated to spiritual status in the kingdom of God. James’s command in this matter is simple: “Don’t show favoritism” (v. 1). In his supporting example, a rich man and a poor man go to church. The rich man receives personal attention and a privileged seat from the church leaders, while the poor man is ignored and shunted off to the side (vv. 2-4). These “judges with evil thoughts” had made the mistake of attaching evaluations of worth and importance to clothes, jewelry, and wealth.

The truth, however, is that God’s evaluations turn worldly ones upside-down (v. 5; cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-31). In this case, the financially poor have been chosen “to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom.” Why, asked James, would you favor these rich anyway? They’re the ones exploiting you, taking you to court, and slandering God’s name through their behavior (vv. 6-7). Showing favoritism to them is an insult to the poor, not to mention a violation of the command to “love your neighbor” (vv. 8-9).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Despite thousands of books of financial advice, perhaps what we need most are the two greatest commandments. According to Jesus, these are, “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-39). How does our handling of money fulfill or reflect these two commandments? Many budget-related discussions and prayers might flow from this single question.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 19:16-30
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. - Matthew 19:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the beginning, Solomon’s heart was devoted to the Lord. He knew he couldn’t rule successfully without God’s help. God offered the young man anything he wanted, and Solomon showed the quality of his heart by choosing wisdom. “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (2 Chron. 1:10). Unfortunately, spiritual decay later set in (1 Kings 11). Solomon married foreign women, let them build temples to false gods, then joined them in idolatry. He took increasing pride in his great knowledge and wealth. He relied more on himself and less and less on the Lord. His faith eroded, and his final legacy was not a godly one.

Power and riches can seduce the heart, as today’s reading also shows. This is the story of a rich young man’s encounter with Jesus. At the start of the conversation, the man asked how to get eternal life, but the implied question was really, “How good do I need to be?” Jesus countered that salvation is not about our

goodness but about God’s goodness. To prove it, He also gave a more straightforward answer, “Obey the commandments” (v. 17). A godly person would have known that perfectly keeping God’s law is impossible, but the rich young man asserted that he met the standard.

Trying to enlighten this proud person, Jesus switched tactics and presented the man with a practical challenge: Sell your possessions, give to the poor, and follow me (v. 21). He knew that wealth, not God, had first place in this man’s heart. The rich young man “went away sad,” and perhaps also shocked and humbled (v. 22). The true state of his heart had been revealed.

Jesus followed up by teaching His astonished disciples that riches are a fierce and direct competitor to faith and to our valuing God above all else (vv. 23-26). In fact, those who have given up earthly riches for committed discipleship will be blessed with far more heavenly riches than those they gave up (vv. 27-30).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The rich young man believed he could earn his way to God through spiritual performance without rearranging the priorities of his heart. But God will not share the throne of our lives with our love of riches, security, comfort, or self. He alone will be worshiped. Good works should flow out of our love for Jesus, but works alone cannot substitute for our praise and obedience to God (see Eph. 2:10). Do we spend more time worrying about financial investments than praising the Lord who protects us?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 19:31-39
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. - Proverbs 11:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
Lincoln Electric, a global leader in arc-welding equipment, treats its employees based on the Golden Rule. The brothers who started the company, John and James Lincoln, were influenced by their father (who was a preacher) in this regard. There are no layoffs, and profits are shared according to workers’ performance. If times are bad, everyone suffers, but no one loses their job. According to the current CEO, “They know we’re not going to desert them in the bad cycle, and they become more and more committed as far as the company is concerned.” Not one worker has been laid off for economic reasons in more than 60 years!

This is a good example of how people might use money in ways that honor the Lord. In Barzillai, we find a biblical example of a rich person who used his money for godly purposes. He provided for King David during the rebellion of Absalom (v. 32). It would have been far less risky to stay out of the political conflict. If he were a betting man, the

“smart money” was on Absalom, whose populist rebellion seemed certain to succeed. But Barzillai honored David as God’s anointed king and put his money where his mouth was. Supporting David and his men when they were on the run wasn’t cheap! And if Absalom had won, Barzillai would no doubt have paid with his life. His support meant so much to David that the king spoke of it on his deathbed (1 Kings 2:7).

Barzillai’s attitude was one of duty and humility (vv. 34-37). After regaining the kingship, David invited his benefactor to return with him to Jerusalem, no doubt to be honored and rewarded. Barzillai, however, preferred not to seek such attention and instead recommended Kimham, probably one of his sons. This was not a “price tag” for his help, though, as made clear by the emphasis on “whatever pleases” the king and by his receiving the king’s blessing even though he was by some measures in the superior position (v. 39). His righteousness caused him to “thrive like a green leaf” (Prov. 11:28)!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Barzillai serves as a model for those with wealth and also for those with more modest means. No matter how large or small our sphere of financial influence, each of us must use our money according to godly priorities, whether those seem high-risk or low-risk under the circumstances. Consider the contrast between Barzillai and the rich young man, mentioned yesterday. With the rich young man, money owned his heart. With Barzillai, his heart belonged to God alone.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:10-19
He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. - Ecclesiastes 5:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to varying reports, between three and 30 million pieces of luggage are lost annually by airlines around the world. If unclaimed, this luggage often ends up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama. The Center is like a giant thrift store, with items from the unclaimed bags available at bargain basement prices. Clothing, electronics, jewelry, and other goods are all for sale. One customer compared shopping there to a treasure hunt. The CEO called it “an archaeological dig.” About 7,000 new items come into the store per day, or about one million new items per year.

Lost luggage is a reminder that “you can’t take it with you” (v. 15; cf. Ps. 49:16-20). As one preacher put it, “There are no U-Haul trucks behind the hearse.” Earthly riches are only temporal. People who are spiritually dead live in denial about this. “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income” (v. 10). At a practical level, argued Solomon (he would know!), wealth is empty or troublesome. A rich man can’t sleep because he’s worried about it, while a poorer laborer enjoys sweet sleep (v. 12). If money is hoarded, it brings harm; if it’s lost, it was all for nothing (vv. 13-14). What, then, is the point of all the work involved in getting it (vv. 16-17)? It’s just more chasing after the wind.

To treat acquiring money as a worthy purpose in life leads to worship of things rather than God. It embraces covetousness as a lifestyle—it is a thirst that can never be quenched. For this reason, when it comes to money and material goods, simplicity and contentment are recommended biblical values.

Wisdom’s response to the “we can’t take it with us” dilemma is that contentment can be found in accepting whatever socioeconomic lot God assigns us and enjoying whatever work He gives us to do (vv. 18-19). “When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.”

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Verse 11 of today’s reading seems to describe the current world economic situation: “As goods increase, so do those who consume them.” Consumerism is a never-ending spiral, with goods and buyers always increasing and the amounts of money (and debt) always escalating as well. But to what end? What’s it all for? “What benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?” Now more than ever, a hopeless world needs to hear the good news of eternal hope and salvation in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Proverbs 30:7-9
Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. - Proverbs 30:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Using Peter and Matthew as examples, musician and writer Michael Card sings of “the freedom we find from the things we leave behind.” The lesson of the song is that “worshiping goods” is love of the world, whereas a true Christ-follower’s heart is not tied to such things. The song continues: “Every heart needs to be set free from possessions that hold it so tight, ‘cause freedom’s not found in the things that we own, it’s the power to do what is right. Jesus, our only possession, giving becomes our delight. We can’t imagine the freedom we find from the things we leave behind.”

For those of us who trust in the Lord, our daily bread is enough. The godly virtue of simplicity is relatively simple. As followers of Christ, we abandon the world’s frantic pursuit of more and bigger and better, understanding that money and material goods do not and cannot satisfy our deepest needs and desires. The so-called rat race promotes anxiety and covetousness, not thankfulness and a sense of God’s blessing.

That’s why the otherwise-unknown figure of Agur declared in today’s reading that he had only two prayers. The first prayer was for truth or honesty, and the second prayer was for simplicity or contentment (v. 8). He defined “simplicity” as a balance between poverty and riches; it is enough to live on, that is, “daily bread.” For the Israelites, this was a powerful historical image of God’s provision. They remembered well how God had provided manna for them day by day in their desert wanderings during the Exodus.

To Agur, “daily bread” was the perfect midpoint between two extremes (v. 9). If poor, the temptation would be to steal. Rich or poor, stealing is a sin—God’s ethics are not relative (Prov. 6:30-31). If rich, on the other hand, the temptation would be to rely on money and forget God. Moses had long ago warned the nation that prosperity could bring faithlessness if the people failed to remember that wealth and the ability to produce it are God’s gift (Deut. 8:11-20).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A trip to your local grocery store (all those choices!) reveals how complicated “daily bread” might become if we let it. We hope that today’s devotional has given you a deeper appreciation for the line in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). Money and things cannot satisfy, but Jesus Christ is our “Bread of Life . . . Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:26-58).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 12:22-31
Seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. - Luke 12:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Internet has put more information than ever before at our fingertips—maybe too much information. Sometimes people get obsessed, for example, with checking online the balances in their retirement accounts. “How’s my 401(k) or IRA today?” they wonder. “Is the market up or down? How is my mutual fund performing?” Worried, they switch funds or reallocate to investments that are thought to be more secure. They watch television shows like Mad Money, desperate to pick up tips that will give them an advantage. If the numbers are headed downward, they get depressed or panicky.

Such worrying, Jesus said, is sinful. Habitual anxiety about finances is doubting that God can or will provide for our needs. Money is a tool, a means to ends. Handling it well is part of being responsible stewards, but it’s just not worth all the fretting and worrying that sometimes goes on.

Jesus taught this in today’s reading in three different ways (v. 22; cf. Matt. 6:25-34). First, He gave two natural object lessons. Ravens and lilies neither work nor worry, yet God ably takes care of their needs. Since people are even more valuable to God, surely we can trust Him to take care of our needs as well.

Second, Jesus used rational arguments against worry. One was that life is about more than basic needs (v. 23). If we go overboard obsessing about food or clothing, we’ve lost perspective. Also, worry is useless, practically speaking (vv. 25-26). It accomplishes nothing, so why would we waste our time on it?

Jesus’ third strategy was spiritual arguments against worry. Worry shows a lack of faith (v. 28). God already knows what we need, and He is our Provider. In addition, worry characterizes a pagan lifestyle, not a godly one (v. 30). To pursue lesser things is to obtain only lesser things. As we know from the parable of the seeds, the “worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” can conspire to choke out faith (Matt. 13:22). By contrast, we should invest our time, energy, and money in seeking God’s kingdom first (v. 31)!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Worry sneaks up on us. We tend to think it’s not a serious sin like murder or adultery. But it is a sin that reveals the state of our hearts, and the temptation to worry must not be underestimated. If we are habitually anxious about our bills, budget, job, health insurance, savings, or other financial aspects of life, we are dishonoring the name of the Lord by forgetting His promises and faithfulness. Thankfully, He stands ready to forgive and to remind us of His deep and everlasting love for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 4:10-13
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. - Philippians 4:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
How can we live simply in a materialistic culture? Christie and Paul Borthwick addressed this question in their article, “Alternatives to Affluenza: Living Light in the Land of Plenty.” The world bombards us with an incredible variety of goods, advertising, and the examples of peers and colleagues buying the latest gadgets. The Borthwicks, however, did not want to “end up making choices based on cultural pressure instead of convictions grown from our commitment to Christ.” They have made their financial decisions by the godly principles of stewardship, freedom in Christ, and identifying with the poor. “In all of our life choices,” they wrote, “God notices. What we do in terms of giving more or spending less or choosing simplicity might not be world changing, but the God who knows every sparrow that falls will know when we intentionally bring our lifestyles more in line with discipleship, obedience, and His global purposes. In that knowledge, there is great reward.”

Paul, too, had learned the secret of contentment. In today’s reading, he thanked the Philippian believers for their financial support of his ministry, and he described his gratitude in the context of godly joy and contentment (v. 10). This was not a psychological strategy for prompting another gift. Rather, because of God, Paul was always joyful and satisfied, whatever the situation (v. 11). He understood that contentment is rooted in God’s ever-present faithfulness, not the ebb and flow of bank accounts and material circumstances (Heb. 13:5). Paul’s statement that he had “learned to be content whatever the circumstances” is not an empty boast, for he had experienced a wide variety of what life has to offer (v. 12). He had been well-fed and hungry. He had lived in prosperity and in poverty. He had been popular and persecuted. Paul had experienced life’s highs and lows, and he knew God was always faithful.

Paul’s key to contentment was the realization of “him who gives me strength” (v. 13). Circumstances don’t bring contentment, and neither do abilities, self-confidence, or optimism. Rather, it was Jesus Christ who empowered Paul to do “everything” for God’s glory (cf. Col. 1:10-12).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The opening illustration today is from a 2006 special issue of Discipleship Journal. The publisher, NavPress, has since turned parts of this issue into a resource packet, “The Good News About Money.” For a small fee, it’s available for download from www.navpress.com/product/9781600067839/The-Good-News-About-Money-Discipleship-Journal. Other helpful resources on money and godliness are available at your local Christian bookstore or online.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 6:3-10, 17-19
The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. - 1 Timothy 6:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Given all that Scripture says about money, perhaps the question is not, “Does God want you to be rich?” (see Jan. 18), but “Is poverty spiritual?” As one writer asked, “Would [we] not be able to trust God far better and have greater faith, if [we] had less material goods to rely on?” But this misses the point. Our sins with regard to money and possessions are not so much about having things as about using them—sins such as self-indulgence, irresponsible stewardship, and stinginess are about what we do with the resources we have, whether much or little. Furthermore, even those who possess little can sin by idolatrously organizing their lives around the pursuit of wealth and goods. Scripture urges us to consider the context and the attitude of our heart.

Believers have wrestled with such questions throughout history. The truth that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” is a difficult one (v. 10). This is why the Bible so often warns about wealth as something in competition for our souls’ allegiance, and why it so often emphasizes simplicity, contentment, and walking in dependence on the Lord to provide.

In today’s reading, Paul warned Timothy about false teachers who were motivated by pride, ignorance, and greed (vv. 3-5). By contrast, “godliness with contentment is great gain” (vv. 6-8). This means that we understand we can’t take material possessions into eternity, and that we’re satisfied with having enough to live on. We are also vigilant against the love of money, knowing it can lead people to wander from the faith and “[pierce] themselves with many griefs” (vv. 9-10).

At the end of the chapter, Paul added more strong exhortations for the believers who are rich (vv. 17-19). They should not give in to the temptation to be arrogant because of their financial success, but rather they should seek to be generous, rich in good deeds, and seekers of eternal treasures. Whether wealthy or poor, followers of Christ should be characterized by generosity and humility rather than stinginess and pride.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are we guilty of treating “godliness as a means to financial gain”? It’s the human tendency to bargain—“Just get me out of this one and I’ll . . .”, or perhaps feeling that God owes us material blessings in exchange for our obedience. We owe Him a debt we can never repay, so we should stop pretending we have anything to bargain with. Godly contentment rests in the good gifts from God rather than attempting spiritual manipulation in the pursuit of more money or things.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Malachi 3:6-12
You are robbing me. - Malachi 3:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the days of the prophet Haggai, the people looked after themselves instead of taking care of God’s house. After returning from exile, the Jews started to rebuild the temple, but stopped when the going got rough. Instead, they focused on their own homes and fields. They made excuses, “The time has not yet come.” God condemned their attitudes and actions: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? . . . Give careful thought to your ways.” He had tried to get their attention by making their labor difficult and unproductive, but they had missed the point. “Go up into the mountains,” God said, “and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored” (Hag. 1:2-11). The people obeyed.

Withholding proper offerings to the Lord is sinful, as today’s reading emphasizes. In this final week of our month’s study, we’ll focus on giving. The Bible has a lot to say on this topic, and any study of what the Word has to say about money would be remiss not to stress it. With regard to godliness and money, giving is an essential spiritual discipline.

Malachi’s condemnation was built around contrast. On one side was God’s character, perfect and unchanging (v. 6). He’s faithful to His covenant, which is why the people hadn’t been destroyed. If He reacted based on their actions, they’d be dead already. On the other side of the contrast was the people’s character, rebellious and disobedient (v. 7). Because of God’s character, they had hope; but they needed to repent of their sins and change their ways.

The first thing they needed to change was their attitude and practice of giving. The people were robbing God by withholding their tithes and offerings (vv. 8-9). In order to return to the Lord, they should give appropriately. Then, in response to their renewed obedience and trust, God could pour out covenant blessings (vv. 10-12). The prophet’s audience desperately needed transformed hearts—the road back to closeness with God would start with this one specific, measurable part of life.

Apply the Word
Two principles that should guide our giving are regularity and firstfruits. Regularity means that we set aside money for God at regular intervals. This means including giving in our regular budgets (1 Cor. 16:2). Firstfruits means that we honor the Lord by giving to Him first (Prov. 3:9-10). Our giving is not done after all other expenses have been met. That’s the mistake Malachi exposed in today’s reading—we are not to put our own “houses” ahead of God’s house or worshiping Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:1-4
Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. - Matthew 6:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the early days of the church, Barnabas sold some land and gave the money to the Apostles to be used in meeting the needs of fellow believers. It seems that he was much admired for this, so much so that Ananias and Sapphira were moved to do the same—sort of. They also sold some land and brought a sum of money to the Apostles. So far so good, but when they said they were donating the entire purchase price, they were not telling the truth. Peter knew it. “You have not lied to men but to God,” he told them, and the Lord judged this proud and hypocritical couple with death (Acts 4:36-5:11).

Some organizations will put up with anything as long as donors send in the money. To the Lord, however, the state of the heart is far more important than the size of the gift. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the need to give our offerings in humility. The larger principle is that the motivation for good works should not be the admiration of others, but pleasing the Lord (v. 1). As Jesus’ listeners knew, the Pharisees paraded their “righteousness” in front of human eyes in order to impress others and assert their authority. Unfortunately for them and for anyone who does likewise, human praise is all the reward such people get. God-honoring good works, however, receive rewards from Him (1 Cor. 3:12-14).

Jesus illustrated first with the specific example of giving (vv. 2-4). The wrong way to give is to make sure everyone sees how much you deposit into the offering plate. This kind of giving is really a worship of self, and it indicates not generosity but hypocrisy. Such givers aim for honor from others—that’s what they get, and that’s all they get.

The right way to give is “in secret,” signifying discreetness and humility. This means that we are content if no one else knows the amount that we give or if we don’t receive any recognition from others. This indicates a heart of true generosity and worship. Since God knows all thoughts, motives, and actions, He is able to judge perfectly each gift that is offered, and He will reward each person as He sees fit (Col. 3:23-24).

APPLY THE WORD
In some churches, unfortunately, money means power. Big donors may receive special attention and privileges. Those who give more might have more access to the pastor or more influence in shaping decisions. Favoritism for the rich is standard practice in secular fundraising, where all that matters is the amount of money, but as followers of Christ we cannot afford to follow this example. Whether wealthy or not, Christians should be motivated to give to honor the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. - 2 Corinthians 8:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Giving was often a public matter in ancient Israel. People would deposit their gifts into a treasury box in the temple. One day, Jesus and His disciples sat and watched. Those with sizeable gifts made a big show of throwing in large amounts of money. Others dropped in their gifts more quietly. But one particular woman drew Jesus’ attention—a poor widow who put in two small coins. He held her up as an example of faith and sacrificial generosity: “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:41-44).

The Macedonians also excelled in the grace of sacrificial giving. Paul brought them to the attention of the Corinthians as an encouraging (and convicting) example. The Macedonians’ “rich generosity” was proof of God’s grace at work in their church, even in the midst of dire poverty and harsh trials (vv. 1-2). Despite the circumstances, God’s grace led to their “overflowing joy,” which in turn bubbled up into sacrificial giving.

“Sacrificial” means that they gave beyondany reasonable estimate of their ability to do so (vv. 3-4). Furthermore, they gave on their own initiative, with no external pressure from Paul or anyone else. Usually any urgent pleading comes from the people in need, but in this case it was the Macedonians requesting to share from their meager resources with their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.

The Corinthians would do well to follow this example (vv. 6-8). Paul wrote that Titus, probably the bearer of this epistle, was entrusted with the task of completing the collection in Corinth for the same purpose. That is, the Corinthian church was also being called upon to give toward meeting the needs of poor believers in Jerusalem. They, too, should seek to “excel in this grace of giving.” Paul didn’t issue a command, but he was bold and forthright in saying that he regarded this offering as a test of the sincerity of their love. If they needed additional motivation, they need look no further than God’s grace in Christ (v. 9).

APPLY THE WORD
The metaphor in verse 9 is exquisite and meaningful. What does it mean to say that Jesus went from riches to poverty so that we could go from poverty to riches? Jesus’ movement from riches to poverty is a way of describing the Incarnation. Laying aside the glories of heaven to walk as a man on earth shows incredible love. Our movement from poverty to riches is a way of describing redemption. The gospel accomplished in Christ takes us from condemnation and death to salvation and life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:10-15
See that you also excel in this grace of giving. - 2 Corinthians 8:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Unity in the early church was practiced in worship and evangelism, as well as in the handling of material possessions. “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need” (Acts 4:32-35).

Giving shows proper honor to the Lord and contributes to the health of the body of Christ. As mentioned yesterday, the Macedonians, Corinthians, and other Gentile churches were being exhorted to contribute to an ambitious collection on behalf of the Jerusalem church. The collection was a financial symbol of the spiritual truth that in Christ, barriers between Jew and Gentile had been taken down. Cultural and religious conflict and prejudice must give way to Spirit-infused love and unity. In Paul’s words: “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (Rom. 10:12; cf. Col. 3:11). Because all believers are one spiritual body, the health of one part is the health of every part.

The collection project had gotten stuck in Corinth, but Paul sent Titus there to get things going again. They had been eager to participate, so now Paul advised them to “finish the work” (vv. 10-11). There was no command to give sacrificially, as the Macedonians had done. A willing gift appropriate to their means was perfectly acceptable. The point was willingness—to give out of joy, as an act of grace, for the privilege of serving one another (v. 12). Paul’s goal was “equality” (vv. 13-15). This time Jerusalem needed their help; next time it might be the other way around. With both individuals and communities, God provides daily bread as needed, and He often uses the giving of others to meet that need.

APPLY THE WORD
How we handle money, including our giving, is one marker of integrity and moral and spiritual quality (Ps. 37:21). That’s why Paul challenged the Corinthians to “pass the test” and give generously to the Jerusalem collection. How are you doing with the principles and practices studied this month? What might be some areas for improvement? Might having an accountability partner in this area be a helpful idea? Pray for the grace to excel in giving to the work of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. - 2 Corinthians 9:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Nabal was a rich man who was “surly and mean in his dealings.” When David asked him for provisions, he responded with an insult: “Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?” This was grossly unfair, for David and his men had acted with integrity, protecting Nabal’s flocks rather than helping themselves to whatever they wanted, which they might have easily done. Righteously angry, David set out to teach this wicked man a lesson. On the road, he met Nabal’s wife, Abigail, who, after being alerted to what was happening, wisely and generously brought the requested provisions. Shortly thereafter, God Himself struck Nabal dead (1 Samuel 25).

A stingy rich person is a person who doesn’t understand the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping (v. 6; cf. Luke 6:38). Generous sowing leads to generous reaping, and vice versa. Such a person also doesn’t understand that all good things are gifts from the Lord, and that our giving is merely a proper response to His gifts (v. 15). True giving starts with simple willingness and a decision in one’s heart. There’s no reluctance, no pressure, no guilt trips, no legalism, “for God loves a cheerful giver” (v. 7).

In the big picture, we can’t outgive God. His grace abounds, which means we’ll have everything we need, which in turn means our good works or acts of service can also abound (v. 8; cf. Eph. 2:10). Just as God literally provides both seed and bread, so too would He provide the “seed” (money) for this “harvest,” that is, the collection, indicative of the Corinthians’ generosity and righteousness (v. 10).

Paul restates that God would make the Corinthians “rich” in both funds and grace so that they could and would contribute generously to the Jerusalem offering (v. 11). These truths and actions would ripple outward in expanding circles of gratitude and mutual intercession within the body; the effect of their generosity would be the spread of the gospel and praise to the Lord (vv. 12-14).

APPLY THE WORD
Many believers practice tithing, though the exact amount of 10 percent of our income is not an explicit New Testament command. But we should not let a certain percentage ever limit our generosity. When deciding how much of your resources to give back to God, consider His grace, your means, your heart, and any specific needs He has brought to your attention. One idea is to allocate at least 10 percent for your church, and other gifts can be given to other needs that God has put on your heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 13:44-46
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jesus’ story about a treasure in a field in today’s reading is not imaginative fiction. In the past, people really did bury treasures in hiding places like this. There were, after all, no bank vaults until recently! In the summer of 2009, an amateur treasure hunter found one such hiding place. Using a metal detector in a farmer’s field in central England, Terry Herbert “discovered the largest Anglo-Saxon hoard of gold artifacts ever found in Britain.” Due to their historical and archaeological value, the more than 1,500 gold and silver items he found, which date from the seventh century, are the property of the state and were put on temporary display at Birmingham Museum. Herbert and the landowner, however, did share in their value, which runs into the millions of dollars.

Imagine how you would feel if you had just discovered such a treasure! That’s the feeling Jesus conveyed through the two brief parables of the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great price. Both are similes for the “kingdom of heaven,” and the point of both comparisons is its incalculable value and present hiddenness. As with Jesus Himself, whose deity was clear only to those with eyes to see, His kingdom is here but presently hidden from those who can’t or won’t see it.

For us, the application is that we must value Christ and His kingdom above all, which means we must sacrifice everything for its sake. Our discipleship, our commitment to following Jesus, must be complete in every area. We can hold nothing back, because that would imply that something else is of greater value. Since that’s false, we must pursue what is supremely valuable with every ounce of time, energy, money, and other resources that we have.

Elsewhere, Jesus put the cost of discipleship in equally strong terms. It’s like carrying a cross to an execution; like an intense, long-term construction or military project; like dying; or like being reborn (Luke 14:26-32; John 3:3-8; 12:24-25). Wholeheartedness with our financial resources is an important dimension of this kind of discipleship.

APPLY THE WORD
What part does handling money play in your own discipleship? Would your checkbook ledger testify to wholehearted stewardship and generosity in your pursuit of the kingdom of heaven? Whether God has put one, three, or five, “talents” into your keeping, His greatest wish is that you would multiply these resources for eternal purposes. He longs to welcome you one day with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant! . . . Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt. 25:21).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 1:1-3
It is finished. - John 19:30
TODAY IN THE WORD
This world has no shortage of discouragement. People all around us insist there is no God or that belief in Jesus Christ is foolishness. Those who stand against us mock us. Sometimes the people we love most break our hearts. Other times life just doesn’t go our way. Because of those disappointments and more, every believer at one time or another has felt the temptation to give up.

The book of Hebrews is the perfect remedy for the person on the verge of losing the will to carry on in the faith. Not only does Hebrews show the superiority and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, it also invites us into the finality of His salvation: His perfect, eternal rest.

Our opening passage in the study introduces several themes that recur throughout the book. First of all, Jesus, the Son of God, is the flawless communication of the identity of God. The concept of a visible earthly person or object representing a heavenly reality plays heavily throughout Hebrews, and Christ is a special example far greater than any other. Secondly, the dual concepts of creation (or birth) and inheritance (which is related to death) frequently arise in the discussion. Jesus is both Creator of all and Inheritor of all.

All of those themes converge into the overarching reality of God’s perfect rest. It is perfect because it is not merely a break from activity or suffering but rather a final stage of existence. The Son of God sat down, a position of rest, and one of honor and sovereignty as well! Jesus completed the work to save us and, unlike the examples from the Old Testament we’ll see over the next several days, Jesus’ journey into a glorious place of rest is final! And it is for us to share.

But the path Jesus traveled to arrive there should clue us in to the nature of our journey as His followers. When He “provided purification,” He did it on the cross. To follow Jesus into the salvation of His holy rest is not a sweet and gentle Sunday afternoon stroll. We are compelled to suffer, to strive, and to serve Him until the day we can meet Him in person.

APPLY THE WORD
Do not be discouraged. If life is hard, if it is painful, if it is more than you can bear, these are not signs that you are out of God’s favor. Those are reasons to pursue His holy rest. Unlike that feeling of fleeting relief when the work week is over and the weekend begins, the rest of Jesus Christ that awaits us as believers is permanent and eternal and glorious. Let your faith be so steadfast as well. Praise God for this assurance through His Word, His Son!