It is a scenario common to the college years. It involves discouragement, pain, social issues, and the very nature of existence itself. Played out in a letter, phone call, or e-mail, the voice, whether printed, audio, or electronic, is the same: panicked and discouraged.
Both sexes are not exempt from this gripping issue. However, a legendary illustration highlights this issue and it comes from the pens of a young man and his father.
‘Dear Dad, No mon. No fun. Your son.’
‘Dear Son, Too bad. So sad. Your dad.’
There is discouragement involved in this situation due to the lack of ‘mon’ or ‘money.’ The young man is discouraged that he does not have enough money to do something other than eat and buy necessities. This involves some deep personal pain… of the social kind.
No money? No social life. No social life? No girls. No potential places to go to meet girls. Nada, zilch, zip.
Moreover, since the social life has tanked, the very existence of human nature and life is called into question, especially as it relates to the reasons for higher education in the first place.
Money is an issue that does not go away in life, no matter how young or old you are. It is always a part of our human experience. It is a part of family life.
Where is God in your family finances? His involvement helps us in this important area of life.
This is the second part of a four part series entitled, ‘God is in the Small Stuff for Families.’ Last week, we began this series with a reminder that ‘God is in the Memories of Families’ as we remembered those who had sacrificed for our nation as well as for our faith and our families as well.
The purpose of this series, as I noted last week, ‘is designed to help us see things from God’s perspective and invite Him in to the small stuff, the details, of life.’
God needs to be in our memories and we need to, at certain times, give our family memories to God and ask for His grace and help as we process them. We also need to invite God into our family finances so that we can honor God with them.
Our text for this morning contains some important imagery that I think is important for us to deal with as it relates to finances. As we reflect on the sowing image of our passage, I want to ask you to reflect seriously and prayerfully on the following questions:
1. What is our family sowing through its financial resources?
2. How is God honored in our finances?
Many people have said that when you look at a person’s checkbook, you get a very good idea of what is important to that person. Jesus made that clear when He said, “For where your treasure is there is your heart also.”
In our main text, our values are linked to the quality and quantity of what we sow which is, in turn, linked to the outcomes of our sowing. Paul plainly says it, “if you plant small, you will have a small crop. But if you plant generously you will have a generous crop.”
Now, this passage can be interpreted in some broad ways, without going way beyond the intended and original meaning. It can speak to us about how we sow our time and abilities. Both are important commodities in our day and age. However, we cannot get away from this passage speaking directly to the financial affairs of life because all of chapter 9 deals with the importance of giving and giving well.
When we give on Sunday morning, what is it that we give to?
The first response is usually, “We give to a budget that says that what we give, we be used in certain ways.”
Another response, I heard a year or so ago, is “We give to the preacher who gets the money.” Well, I get a portion but it does not all go to me. (I am grateful for the good salary.)
Let me suggest that we give on Sunday mornings as primarily, an act of worship. Repeatedly after the offering, I have acknowledged in prayer our giving as an act of worship.
As we give, we give to God and worship Him through our giving. Why? Because as we do this, we acknowledge God as the giver of our financial resources we need to live on and that our financial resources are used by God to do His good work in our lives.
We also give to a vision we have of the church. This evening we are going to gather together to give thanks to God for our church and remember the gifts that we have been given through the giving of many people’s time, abilities, and yes money over the years.
What is your vision for our church in the next five years? 2010 is only 5 years away. If you could share your vision of our church in 2010, what would it be?
Let me share with you some things that I want to see occur by 2010:
At least 150 in morning worship services
A praise band (with another keyboardist)
A new facility that allows us to have groups and classes throughout the week
A network of support groups with trained leaders that allow us to serve our community in Jesus’ name through helping people with important issues in their lives.
Small groups that meet in homes or various places throughout the week to help us another grow in our relationship with Christ.
More important than what I think is what the Lord wants us to do in the next five years. However, we are sowing the seeds for 2010…now. The question becomes, are they the right seeds and are we sowing them generously?
I believe that one of the best investments that a family can make is the investment of their money and their time to the church. I believe that as we sow generously in this important area, we demonstrate to our children, and one another’s children, that church matters and ultimately, God matters in our lives.
Paul also says something else that is very important for us to remember in the matter of finances and faith: attitude. He says in verse 7, “You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.”
As we pay bills, as we write the check or set aside the cash that we put in the offering envelope on Sunday, what kind of an attitude do our children observe in us? Do they see financial integrity in operation?
An attitude of gratitude is very important in giving of not just our money but our time and abilities. The best giving comes from a heart of gratitude.
As each of us reflects on our finances, how well do we honor God in them? Are we giving to God with integrity, joy and gratitude?
Finally, I want us to reflect on how we use our money for our families. I know that we are at various places in the family life cycle and so it will be different for each of us.
I like what Bruce Bikel and Stan Jantz say about this important issue, “It is better to spend your money on experiences for your family than on things for them.” I like that statement. It says something important.
Yet it also challenges me to rethink how I spend my money and…how I spend my time. As you are aware, ... and I have spent the past six weeks coaching a rag ball team.
I was not sure if I really had the time to coach it. However, I made the time to coach those kids. I have valued it and I have grown by it.
One of those kids is .... (He is already asking if I would coach his soccer team in the fall!) Because I took the time to coach his team, I have made an investment in an experience that I hope both of us will look back on later in life and thank God for.
As followers of Jesus Christ we have a constant choice when it comes to our families, (and because through Christ we are able to become a part of the family of God, the church, to other people), we have the choice to invest in them, financially and in other ways. I say ‘choice’ because no matter what our level of income is; we have the means to invest in them. Let us invest generously, willingly, and with gratitude, our money, time, and abilities so that our children and grandchildren will follow the Lord.
As we enter our time for communion, I would have us earnestly reflect on God’s investment in us through His Son Jesus Christ. It cost Him dearly, but it was worth it because we are worth everything to the Lord!
Isn’t that worth giving to? Amen.
Sources: God is in the Small Stuff for you Family by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz. © 1999 Promise Press.
