Is Your Checkbook Converted? - Part A

Money is not evil. Money is neutral. Money is amoral, that is, it has no moral value attached to it either good or bad.

It all depends on how it is you. Somebody will say, but the Bible says money is the root of all evil Bible does not say money is the volleyball much of the Bible says. First Timothy chapter 6 the love of money is a root not the roof. A root of all kinds of evil whole different spin on just like any tool money can be used to do harm to do good today on connect with skip-Skip shares how you can use the resources God is giving impact lives for his kingdom. But first we want to invite you to be a part of an unforgettable journey to Israel you're invited to join Stephanie Tori spelling 2022.

Visiting the places for the offense of the Bible and folded is a unique and significant experience will be encouraged and your faith is. That's where it comes to life for you in only ever has before. Get all the info and inspiration Christus.com/CA DQ now we're in Philippians chapter 4 as we dive into her study with Skip Heitzig was Martin Luther great reformer who said there are three conversions that are necessary conversion of the heart. The conversion of the mind and the conversion of what he called the purse or the wallet.

The pocketbook and probably of all three. The third one is the hardest to convert Charles Haddon Spurgeon said we are with some Christians. The last part of their nature that ever get sanctified is their pocketbooks. While for some people money is a huge issue and for other people at the driving issue and it's a driving issue, either because they don't have it and they want it or because they have too much of it and he gets him into trouble.

I heard about an elderly gentleman who had married a beautiful young girl but he was worried that perhaps she married him because he had so much money.

So one day he said tell me the truth sweetheart if I lost all my money would you still love me and she said reassuringly all honey, don't be silly. Of course I would love you and I would miss you terribly when the Bible has a lot to say about finances. In fact, it surprises many Christians just how much the New Testament and the Old Testament speak about this topic is an example in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

It's estimated that one out of every six verses deal somehow with money of the 29 parables that Jesus told 16 deal with the person and their money. Look at it another way, the Bible has 500 versus thereabouts on the topic of prayer. Fewer than 500 versus on the topic of faith.

Yet more than 2000 versus on money. Jesus taught more on the topic of money and possessions that all of his teachings on heaven and hell combined for the Bible is a lot to say about now. Any people who know me know that if there's one thing I'm not good at is talking about the subject of money there's one thing I shy away from. Maybe I've been guilty of people have told me that at least is that I don't ever mention her hardly ever mention it.

Plus, the Bible mentions that I so the Bible talks a lot about it but there are some preachers who talk about it even more than the Bible talks about.

So when we first came to Albuquerque. We heard reports about how different evangelists had come to China were coming through town and a eunuch is Albuquerque's like the crossroads. It's always on the way to somewhere and so they'll stop here and have an event and they would take up offerings and when we had first come here. Somebody came to town and they had their little evangelistic event. They decided to take the offering with trash cans, demanding that they be full by the end of the night with a guy from our Bible study. We just starting a church and he went to this event to watch this, the offering went by and then it didn't fill up and so he sent the trash cans around a second time. They didn't fill out incentive on the third time to sort Doing this and it it's so aggravated this gentleman who is now in heaven that he got out and he walked out wool as he was walking out the evangelist called him out and said hey you would leave a restaurant without paying for the meal. Would you so you just had enough and he stormed out. There's even a story of Mark Twain, who had gone to a service and was so disgusted by the way, the offering was being announced and being taken that he said he wrote not only when the offering plate came by. Did he not give what you plan to give, but he actually took some money out of the offering. As it went by I would not recommend the practice by the way, but Jesus said this for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. That's quite a statement you can tell a lot about a person.

Spirituality by what that person does with money. Just take a tour of the checkbook and find out what is recorded in their what is spent. What is important. What are the values while the church at Philippi was a model of sacrificial, generous giving just to give you the background they had supported Paul, 10 years before it supported him in a couple of occasions they lost touch with him. Now they hear he's in Rome, in jail, and they send a man by the name of a path for Titus 800 miles from Philippi to Rome with a very lavish gifts sacrificial gift from the church once again some kind of a care package in financial offering and it gets to Paul so when it comes to how we are to look at money or deal with money or our financial responsibility. This tax is a good one to look at and it's interesting that Paul closes out his book with that working a look at verse 14 to verse 23, which completes the book but you know me, I do love context and the context of this begins back what we looked at last week in verse 10, so I like to just read it altogether. Verse 10 but I rejoice in the Lord greatly.

You can follow along. Verse 10. I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at last. Your care for me has flourished again, though, you surely didn't care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased, I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel. When I departed for Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving.

But you only for even in Thessalonica, you did send Aiden once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

Indeed, I have all and abound I am full, having received from the pack for Titus the things sent from US sweet smelling aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God and my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.

The brethren who are with me greet you.

All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. In looking at the verse we just read. I want to share with you for insights when it comes to our finances are money. First of all, generosity is commended. Paul commends them for their generosity.

In verse 14 he says nevertheless you have done well in that you shared my distress.

Now he had just gotten through saying, I am content no matter what I have learned in whatever state I am to be content if you would've ended their maybe they would've thought well if he's content with anything a lot or a little. Why did we just sacrificially give so much money and then send a guy 800 miles to getting this So he closes off by saying nevertheless I'm content no matter what.

Nevertheless, you have done well. He's commending them. He said what you did is good now want to clear up an issue and unfortunately it's been a thought that is been around Christian circles for a long time, money is not evil. Money is neutral. Money is amoral, that is, it has no moral value attached to it either good or bad. It all depends on how it is used. Summary will say, but the Bible says money is the root of all evil, the Bible does not say money is the root of all evil money.

The Bible says. First Timothy chapter 6 the love of money is a root not the root, a root of all kinds of evil up with a whole different spin on you can love money. If you have a lot of it, or if you have none of it is love love love I gotta get it. Gotta get it was the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. If you know your Bibles a very well you understand that there were many people in the Bible that were very wealthy and yet very godly name if you Abraham. The Bible tells us Abraham had 318 servants in his own household.

Trained servants. They became a militia for him. At one point they were paid staff 318 of them.

Abraham, of the kind of wealth that was on a par with the kings of Canaan and often interacted with those kings. That's one then you have another example in the Old Testament. Job, God bless him with land and with flocks and with buildings etc. etc. and you might say yeah but he lost it all yet it says at the end of the book of Job. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than at the beginning so whatever wealth he had a loss God actually gave him more and then another example is Joseph Joseph who is really a true rags to riches story right. He ends up as the second richest man on earth as the Prime Minister of the largest wealthiest nation at the time, Egypt become second in command of Pharaoh.

So here you have a guy who's godly and wealthy.

Then Proverbs 24 says, through wisdom a house is built by understanding it is established by knowledge its rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches. So money is an evil riches aren't evil. Wealth is an evil, it's amoral. It has no moral value attached to it. It all depends on how a person uses a Ludwig J. Paul Getty said he said money is like manure you stack it out. It stinks you spread it around and makes things grow, so giving for God's work is good. They had given to Paul.

They were giving to God's work and it's good and there are many examples of that.

David it amassed wealth and property to build the temple. He didn't get to do it.

His son did, but in first Kings chapter 8 the Lord said, because it was in your heart to build a temple for my name. You did well and have because you have this in your heart. Then, in the New Testament there is a book called third John it's the smallest book in the Bible. Third John. John writes to a guy named Gaia's saying you are doing a good work for God when you take care of traveling teachers who are passing through. Even though they are strangers to you and finally Paul the apostle quoted Jesus in acts chapter 20 by saying it is more blessed to give than it is to receive so all of those verses speak to that.

It's good, it's commended.

Generosity is a good thing be a generous person.

It's a good value to have in the honest truth is that very few things will ever get done in ministry without the generous support of people not loved to look at statistics from time to time in the Gallup organization is sort of a go to source the Gallup polls so according to the Gallup organization in the average church 17% of people say they tied 17% people.your boy that slow poison affinities and 17% say they tied only 3% actually do 40%. According to Gallup will give nothing in the year 91% will say to make more money now than they ever have in their life and in the same set of Gallup poll statistics, 71% of the pastors believe that church members a change from stewards into consumers enter the church at Philippi refreshing different animal, giving generously on one and then two and the now at least, this is the third occasion. Generous to Paul and Paul says it's good church at Philippi believed what Jim Elliott that great missionary to Ecuador who was martyred would later say when he said he is no fool who gives away that which he cannot keep in order to gain that which he cannot lose. They were generous generosity is commendably give you a second insight. But before I do I want to show you reasons why it is so good. First of all, one of the reasons generosity is good is that it turns people into partners coherently turns people into partners back in chapter 1 Paul begins his book of Philippians and he says I thank my God upon every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine, making my request for you all with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now that's all Paul viewed the we are partners in this together.

You are there. I am here you are doing what only you can do and I'm doing what only I could work part. Now with that. Look at verse 14. Nevertheless, you have done well that you look at the word shared in my distress and then again in verse 1590 Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel.

When I departed from Macedonia. No church shared with me concerning giving and receiving. But you only twice. He uses the word shared the word is so good: and that all and it means to be a partner to gather in something so what Paul loves more than the present that they gave to him was the partnership where partners together and that's the way it is in church work and mission work in God's work. Some are growers. Others are senders, but all are partners with the partnership. So in member I just mentioned third John and a guy named Gaia's who is supporting itinerant ministers.

John says this so we should support them, that we may become partners with them for the truth and drilling that hand because I want you to hold onto that thought for a moment that we are partners present to show you in a minute how the partnership works.

One of the reasons though generosity is good. It's commended is because it turns people into partners is the second reason that it's good it's the highest reason as God likes it. It pleases God.

Look at verse 18.

Indeed, I have all and abound I am full because I received, having received from a proper diet is the things that are sent from you a sweet smelling aroma and acceptable sacrifice to look at this last phrase well pleasing to God is the highest motivation to do anything to give anything because it is well pleasing to God. But did you notice in this verse, the language that the apostle uses is the language of the temple, sweet smelling aroma. If you were walking Jerusalem 2000 years ago.

It smelled very different than it is today. First of all, if you walked in Jerusalem 2000 years ago during the time that they would have morning or evening sacrifices would smell like barbecue. The massive barbecue because they were taken that animal and putting it on an altar and the smoke was ascending up to God and you walk through the old man I gotta get some of that worst that I was going on in the temple. Add to that the incense that was going up that represented their prayers of the incense and the animals on the altar made this wonderful aroma and what Paul is saying here is, that's what giving is like to God is like the purest best sacrifice where he goes it's I like that it is well pleasing to him, and again this ought always to be our highest motivation. It's not while I'm giving because the church needs it should be on giving because God is worth it is well pleasing to him. No notice that he says in this verse.

He calls it a sacrifice and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God.

Just the fact that he uses the word sacrifice means that the person who offers it has gotta feel it right at me I'm I'm I'm missing something here. I'm giving it away its sacrificial like David said I will never offer to the Lord. Anything that doesn't cost me something but I always get asked the question about the amount how much I give our Christian supposed to tie and if we tie should be tithed on the gross or on the net we get really complicated about first of all, tithing is not even a New Testament concept. It's an Old Testament concept is for the typing 10%, but if you were to actually study the ties you find out that Israel didn't have one tied with it to annual tithes +1/3 one. Every third year. Add to that the giving of the temple tax added that letting their fields be on cut on the edges on gleaned so that others could glean that the pork agreement and you have the children of Israel giving out of their annual income between 25 and 30% about navigable, I'm glad I don't know the Bible.

I will present already a lot just 10% what what you need to realize when it comes to percentages is you don't own anything. It's not yours.

It all is his 100% in the prophet Hosea God said all the silver and all the gold is mine saith the Lord God is in a Deuteronomy 8 the Lord said, for it is God who gives you the power to get wealth so if God happens to give you anything or let you keep anything that's already has to begin with that's were you thinking for citizens. Oh my goodness, I have to give 10%. How about this, God let you keep 90 that's the way you look at it all belongs to him. So when it comes to amount the New Testament says nothing about a month it would seem that these Old Testament believers who get saved in the New Testament, began as the baseline with the 10th. But then Paul said this second Corinthians. Let each one. Give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly, nor out of necessity for God loves tell me, cheerful, literally hilarious giver Lord loves a hilarious giver Skip the message from the series technical webmail to share about a resource you incredible insight into what's going on in the Middle East and why it matters for you. New York Times best-selling author Joel Rosenberg is now based in Jerusalem and he's releasing the new nonfiction book enemies and allies I traveled with Joel to the middle of the cities to meet with Kings Crown Prince. We sat together on the east lawn of the White House for the signing of the historic Abraham accord and I previewed his new book enemies and allies. I can tell you it contains never before published quotes from behind closed door meetings with some of the most powerful and mysterious leaders in the Middle East. You will want to read enemies and allies by Joel Rosenberg includes insights and analysis.

The authors conversation is the first name. She needed leaders to meet its howls, language means income to meet the most interesting consequence and receive leaders enemies and allies by Joel Rosenberg includes insights and analysis from the authors conversations with some of the most controversial leaders in the world will send you a hardcover copy of enemies and allies. Thanks for your gift of $35 or more to give. Visit connectwithskip.com or call 819 to 1888 the materialistic society, but her contentment doesn't come from what we have that we have Jesus help others experience the satisfaction of the relationship with him today. You can be a part of that by giving a gift to help others experience the joy of Jesus visit connectwithskip.com/donate to give a gift now that's connectwithskip.com/donate or call 819 to 19 team to him tomorrow as Skip Heitzigs of shares about the ways God we will enjoy generosity and how he uses it to grow his family.

God generously treat those treat others generously, and I hope you know that that is a scriptural principle over and over and over again greatest authority, we have the Lord Jesus Christ.

So that this chapter 6.

The eight give, and it will be given so Skip Heitzigs presentation of connection communications to God's unchanging truth, ever-changing time