Giving Facts

We live in the most affluent society in human history.

American Christians control 70% of the world’s Christian wealth.

The average American Christian gives 2.6% of his income.

Average giving by adults attending U.S. Protestant churches:

$17 a week

$70 a month

$840 a year

• 96% of American Christians give away less than 10% of their

income.

• The younger a church-goer, the less he gives (proportionately).

• 80% of the money given to the American church is given by those age 55 and older.

• Within 50 years, $100 trillion will pass from older to younger.

The average Christian gives one quarter the amount required by one of three tithes commanded the people of Israel…mostly poor, who hadn’t experienced Christ’s transforming grace or the empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

How is this possible?

The Average Christian in our churches gives 30% less than the average American gave in the depths of the Great Depression.

• What does this tell us?

• What needs to change, and how?

• Who’s positioned to lead a giving revolution?

Lack of Giving means lack of

• Impact: Church and Mission funding

• Kingdom-mindedness

• Joy

• God’s blessing

• God’s grace

Money and Mirages

• Advertising’s job: Persuade you that you need what you really don’t

• Convince you that you’ll be satisfied with what can’t satisfy

Study: “Six months after winning lottery, winners were no happier than if paralyzed in a car crash.” 1999, 9.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-15

The More You Have…

Whoever loves money never has money enough.

The more you have, the more you want.

Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.

The more you have,

the less you’re satisfied.

As goods increase, so do those who consume them.

The more you have, the more people (including the government) come after it.

And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?

The more you have, the more you realize it doesn’t meet your real needs.

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.

The more you have, the more you have to worry about.

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.

The more you have, the more you can hurt yourself with it.

or wealth lost through misfortune.

The more you have, the moreyou have to lose.

Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb; as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor he can carry in his hand.

The more you have, the more you have to leave behind.

You Can’t Take it With You

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

• Don’t renounce treasure: relocate it.

• Don’t abandon the idea of storing up treasures for yourself; put it where it’ll last.

• When it comes to treasures, be smart, not stupid.

You can’t take it with you You can’t take it with you

but...

You can send it on ahead! You can send it on ahead!

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted. Luke 12:32-34

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted. Luke 12:32-34

Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

Philippians 4:17

Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

Philippians 4:17

KEY #1

God owns everything;I’m His money

manager.

KEY #1

God owns everything;I’m His money

manager.

God’s OwnershipGod’s Ownership

The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.

Leviticus 25:23

The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.

Leviticus 25:23

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

Psalm 24:1

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

Psalm 24:1

The silver is mine and the gold is mine.

Haggai 2:8

The silver is mine and the gold is mine.

Haggai 2:8You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20

You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20

God’s OwnershipGod’s Ownership

It is God who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:18

It is God who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:18

My Stewardship I’m God’s money manager

My Stewardship I’m God’s money manager

It is required of a steward that he be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

It is required of a steward that he be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

We will all stand before God’s judgment-seat…each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:10-12

We will all stand before God’s judgment-seat…each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:10-12

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

Matthew 25:21

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

Matthew 25:21

KEY #2

My heart always goeswhere I put

God’s money.

KEY #2

My heart always goeswhere I put

God’s money.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Not a value judgment; a simple fact.

The law of vested interests:

Whatever we invest in, we care about.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Not a value judgment; a simple fact.

The law of vested interests:

Whatever we invest in, we care about.

• Where we put money shows where our heart is. But it also determines where our heart goes.

• Good news: the choice is yours; you can put your heart wherever you want to.

Don’t wait to take action until your heart’s in it. Take action so your heart will be in it.

Don’t let your giving follow your heart. Give so your heart will follow your giving.

Your heart is NOT where:

• your treasure used to be• you wish your treasure was• you hope or plan your treasure to

one day be

Your heart is where your treasure IS NOW

How do we solve a problem of hearts being in the wrong place?

Give, to put them in the right place.

• Ask: If I were the person God wants me to be, what would I do with God’s money?

• Do it now…then watch God make you into the person He wants to be.

The abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.

Ecclesiastes 5:12

The abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.

Ecclesiastes 5:12

Where your treasure is,there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Where your treasure is,there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

KEY #3

Heaven—the New Earth—not this Earth under the Curse, is my home.

KEY #3

Heaven—the New Earth—not this Earth under the Curse, is my home.

• this present world is my home

The greatest deterrent to giving? The illusion that:

• this is my only chance to live out my earthly dreams

• I’ll only go around once on this earth; I’ll live it up while I can

But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.

Daniel 7:18

No longer will there be any curse. [Not: no longer will there be any earth.] The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

Revelation 22:3

At the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus, Matthew 19:27-28

“[Christ] must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

Acts 3:21

They were aliens and strangers on earth …looking for a country of their own… longing for a better country—a heavenly one, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

They were aliens and strangers on earth …looking for a country of their own… longing for a better country—a heavenly one, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

Our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20

Our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20

We are looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

We are looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

Whenever I think about heaven, it makes me depressed. I’d rather cease to exist when I die. I can’t stand the thought of endless boring tedium. Heaven doesn't sound much better than hell. I’d rather be annihilated than spend eternity like that.

An evangelical pastor

With a negative view of Heaven…

who’d look forward to it? 2 Peter 3:13

Who’d set their minds on it? Colossians 3:1-2

Who’d want to store up for themselves treasures there?

Matthew 6:19-21

Satan lies about Heaven: 1) He suppresses the central truth

of God’s ultimate redemptive victory: the resurrection and the New Earth.

2) He covers up God’s coming reclamation of earth, humanity, nations and culture in the “renewal.”

3) He hides the promised reversal of the curse and Messiah’s & mankind’s eternal kingdom reign.

KEY #4

I should livenot for the dot,but for the line.

KEY #4

I should livenot for the dot,but for the line.

The Dot:Life on earth

The Dot:Life on earth

The Line:Life in heaven

The Line:Life in heaven

Moses chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

Hebrews 11:25-26

Moses chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

Hebrews 11:25-26

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Jim Elliot, 1927 – 1956

1927

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Jim Elliot, 1927 – 1956

1927

KEY #5

Givingis the only antidote

to materialism.

KEY #5

Givingis the only antidote

to materialism.

The Physics of Keeping v. Giving

• Mass, Gravity, Orbit

• Needed: A Shift in the center of gravity; a Copernican Revolution of Giving

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:9-101 Timothy 6:9-10

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

Command them to do good,to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:18-19

Command them to do good,to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:18-19

KEY #6

God prospers me not to raise

my standard of living, but to raise

my standard of giving.

KEY #6

God prospers me not to raise

my standard of living, but to raise

my standard of giving.

God’s Grace: Lightning

God’s Grace: Lightning

Our Giving:Thunder

Our Giving:Thunder

As thunder follows lightning, so giving follows grace.

As thunder follows lightning, so giving follows grace.

The more God’s grace grips you, the more you give. The more you give, the more God’s grace grips you.

The more God’s grace grips you, the more you give. The more you give, the more God’s grace grips you.

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

2 Corinthians 8:14-15

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

2 Corinthians 8:14-15

He distributes unequally, so those with too much can give to help those with too little.

When we give, we solve two problems—others having too little, and our having too much.

It’s God’s will that we not have too much OR too little.

God gives us bread to meet our needs, and seed to plant where it will bear eternal fruit.

God gives us bread to meet our needs, and seed to plant where it will bear eternal fruit.

Do you ever wonder why God prospers you financially? Do you ever wonder why God prospers you financially?

9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

He will also supply and increase your

store of seed and will enlarge the

harvest of your righteousness. You

will be made rich in every way SO

THAT…______________________

___________________.

2 Corinthians 9:1011

He will also supply and increase your

store of seed and will enlarge the

harvest of your righteousness. You

will be made rich in every way SO

THAT…______________________

___________________.

2 Corinthians 9:1011

you can be generous on every occasion you can be generous on every occasion

Test me in this [giving: not only of tithes, but freewill offerings] and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

* Malachi 3:10

Test me in this [giving: not only of tithes, but freewill offerings] and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

* Malachi 3:10

Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap, for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38

Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap, for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2

….remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35

….remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35

Keep remembering that our Master said, “You’re far happier giving than getting.” Acts 20:35, The Message

Keep remembering that our Master said, “You’re far happier giving than getting.” Acts 20:35, The Message

We come in naked and broke. We may be dressed when we go out, but we’re just as broke. Warren Buffet? Going to go out broke. Bill Gates? Going out broke. Tom Hanks? Going out broke. Steve King? Broke. Not a crying dime.

All the money you earn, all the stocks you buy, the mutual funds

Stephen King

you trade—all that is smoke and mirrors. It’s still going to be a quarter-past getting late whether you tell the time on a Timex or a Rolex.

So I want you to consider making your life one long gift to others. And why not? All you have is on loan, anyway. All that lasts is what you pass on….

We have the power to help this needy world. Why should we refuse? Because we’re going to take it with us? Please.

A life of giving repays. ….So I ask you to begin giving, and to continue giving. I think you’ll find in the end that you got far more than you ever had, and did more good than you ever dreamed.

Stephen King

The irony of Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Stephen King, etc.:

People without Christ can discover the truth of His principles and enjoy the short-term happiness of giving—while many of God’s own people are enslaved to stinginess and debt, robbing God and living joyless fruitless lives.

The most generous Christians of my acquaintance have been always the most happy, and almost invariably the most prosperous. I have seen the liberal giver rise to wealth of which he never dreamed; and I have as often seen the mean, ungenerous churl descend to poverty by the very parsimony by which he thought to rise.

Charles Spurgeon

Men trust good stewards with larger and larger sums, and so it frequently is with the Lord; He gives by cartloads to those who give by bushels. Where wealth is not bestowed the Lord makes the little much by the contentment which the sanctified heart feels.

Charles Spurgeon

2 Cor. 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Cor. 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

The richest person in the universe became the poorest. He took the Hell we deserve to give us the Heaven we don’t deserve. We can never outgive God.

The richest person in the universe became the poorest. He took the Hell we deserve to give us the Heaven we don’t deserve. We can never outgive God.

• Strategic question:

Five minutes after I die, what will I wish I would have given?

• Strategic plan:

Spend the rest of our lives closing the gap between what we’ll wish we would have given and what we are giving.

Why are so many Christians afraid to die?