A Litmus Test for Your Heart
Why do you work? Is it to afford nicer stuff or fun trips? To save for retirement?
The Bible gives two very clear purposes under grace for us to work: to provide for your own and to give (1Ti 5:8, Eph 4:28). In fact, in 1 Timothy 5:8 it states that if a man doesn’t provide for his own, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Provision for your family is important to God as we should not only bear our own burden, but the burden of others (Gal 6:2-5).
Most professing Christians don’t have a problem with providing for their own, especially in America, but when it comes to giving, there tends to be a different disposition.
In 2010, a study was conducted to understand the giving patterns of Americans and found that 8% of professing Christians that made less than $20,000 annually gave more than 10% of their annual income. That number drastically decreased as less than 1% of professing Christians that made over $75,000 annually gave over 10% of their annual income.
The Bible clearly warns about this behavior, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to us that the things we tell ourselves “we need” as our income increases are actually a snare that lead to destruction. In 1 Timothy 6:6-10, the Apostle Paul writes:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” - 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Money by itself isn’t bad, in fact, it can be an effective tool to show God’s love to those in and out of the Body. The problem arises when we desire the bigger house, the nicer car, and the more extravagant trips just because we can afford it. When we love what money can do for us and not what it can do for others, we fall into the trap of serving our own selfish flesh. The average American lives better than the majority of kings did throughout history, yet we continue to try to keep up with the Jones’s. As stated above in 1 Timothy, we should learn to be content with food and clothing alone.
How do we view money then in light of grace? While we are not under the law and not obligated to tithe 10% of our income, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 gives us insight into how we should give under grace:
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Under grace, there is no minimum, nor is there a maximum of how much we should give. You are not any less complete in Christ if you decide to give or not to give. However, when you recognize you have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ that you have been freely given by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, it changes how you view your money, your time, and your resources.
If there is no purpose in your heart to give, it is a blatant indicator that you are worried about yourself more than those around you. The purpose to give doesn’t come from a tax deduction, it comes from grace working in and out of your heart. That purpose comes when you grasp the magnitude of the love and grace freely given to you in Christ and realize that you can share that love through generosity and truth.
It’s often said that where your time and money are spent are where your hearts desires lie. Giving (and our attitude while doing it) is a litmus test for your heart’s desires: are you serving God or serving yourself? Do we view our income as a means to propagate the gospel and share the grace of God with others or as a means to be more comfortable?
The love of Christ constrains us and I pray that we would recognize that our life is Christ’s and not ours (2Co 5:14-15, Gal 2:20). I urge you to take a good hard look in the mirror and at your bank statement to see where your heart is, and to start viewing work as a means to give more, not get more.
