By Greg Huggins
If truth be told, much of our giving depends upon what we perceive our financial circumstances to be. In other words, if we feel all our expenses will be met and nothing will be left unpaid or unpurchased, we will give more. On the other hand, if it appears that something might go unpaid or partially paid and the ends might not meet, then we might not give as liberally in order to prevent any financial concern or worry. This amounts to giving according to fear and not according to faith.
The fear produced when we trust in money’s abundance, accumulation, hoarding, or lack is not only sinful but can cause spiritual ruin. Listen to the words of Scripture and see how money can hinder sound judgment regarding spiritual matters.
Mark 10:21-22 –"Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property."
Mark 10:23 –"And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"
Mark 10:24 –"But Jesus answered again and said to them, ‘Children how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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 6:24 –"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
1 Timothy 6:10 –"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
These verses prove there is a connection between how a person views money and his ability or willingness to make sound spiritual decisions. Therefore, whether the fear is not having enough money or running out of money, fear concerning finances is unthinkable and, therefore, sinful for Christians, given everything Christ has promised us.
Here are several statements and promises that, if remembered and practiced by faith, will free you from the bondage of fear regarding finances and giving to kingdom enterprise.
1. Unlike the unbeliever, you have a heavenly Father who knows that you need everything from Him in order to live. (Matt.6:32)
Those who have no relationship with God have every reason to be anxious and worry because they have no hope, nothing to live for, and no God to supply their needs, whether physical or spiritual, present or eternal. So everything they need and receive they must "eagerly seek" for themselves, which also means to crave, search, or want. Interestingly, the three times Matthew uses this word (Cf. 12:39, 16:4), he speaks of a searching and wanting that will not be fulfilled. However, as a child of God, it is unnecessary to worry about obtaining the necessities of life because God knows you need them and so you can rely upon Him to provide them.
2. You are free to focus on obeying the Lord and pursuing holiness as priorities because God promises that He will provide you with everything you need to live. (Matt.6:33)
When you consider how much time and energy we spend worrying, trying to make sure that we have enough money and that we don’t run out of money, it’s a wonder that anything for the sake of Christ and holiness is accomplished. Our life’s provisions are so certain and sure that whatever Christ’s kingdom demands, we can provide; and whatever righteousness requires, we can accomplish because our needs are already met. This means that you can give of yourself and your resources without fearing the possibility of not having enough to live on. So the next time you’re tempted to worry, ask yourself who are you going to believe and trust: yourself, who is powerless to add or put anything towards your life (v.27), or God, who knows everything, can do anything, and promises to provide? After all, you are more important than the "birds of the air" (v.26) and the "lilies of the field" (v.28), for which God also provides without any help from them.
3. God promises to supply your needs based upon His infinite eternal wealth; rather than simply give you some of it. (Phil.4:19)
Like you, perhaps, the Macedonians had sacrificially given of their earthly possessions and resources to support God’s work (Cf. 2 Cor.8:1-3), a sacrifice which came in circumstances of "a great ordeal of affliction," "deep poverty" (v.2), and "according to their ability, and beyond their ability" (v.3). In other words, though they could have feared not having enough and been controlled by the fact they had very little, they chose to trust their God and faithfully support the ministry. How could they do this? They had every confidence that God would "supply all [their] needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil.4:19). Simply put, faith—not fear—gripped them because of who God is.
God is the reason you can reject any temptation to become fearful about your finances because "…God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed" (2 Cor.9:8). He can be trusted!