Culture and Church (Giving)
We have been talking about (or at least I have) transforming our culture. It is important to remember that what we are talking about is living out our faith in order to transform our culture and communities. It is about taking an active role in God's work among us. It is not just sitting back but rather it is about being aggressive in bringing about change, there is another way that we can bring about transformation, giving.
Just like worship, giving sends a clear message that God is our source and we rely on Him for everything. Just today I was having a conversation with a friend and we were talking about what drives the American economy. In our discussion (we have all the answers by the way) we decided that construction drives the American economy. When people are building new houses then things are good and everybody has something to do. But when building slacks off then down goes the economy and everyone begins to get worried. So why do we get worried of God is the source and not the gross national profit?
Our economy is not God's. We need to remember that. Think about how we align ourselves with God when we are giving. He is a giving God. After all He gave His Son as a sacrifice for us. He gave us life when we deserved death, He gave us a soul and breathed life into us. Wow! What an awesome God we serve.
Giving also tests the sincerity of our love. 2 Cor 8:7-8 says "But just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others."(NIV) Those two verses really put it into perspective don't they. Excel in everything, even in giving. Paul expected the church to infiltrate society with excellence even in the area of giving. Most of the time we want to give our second best, or our used stuff or even ten percent of we have enough left over at the end of the week. We are however called to excellence. At the end of chapter 8 Paul's says 2 Cor 8:24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. (NIV) He wanted the churches to see how they gave in excellence. Giving permeates the culture and Paul wanted people to see how these people gave, why? So that the God who gave all good gifts would be glorified and the community and culture would be permeated with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Until later.
~SO~
Just like worship, giving sends a clear message that God is our source and we rely on Him for everything. Just today I was having a conversation with a friend and we were talking about what drives the American economy. In our discussion (we have all the answers by the way) we decided that construction drives the American economy. When people are building new houses then things are good and everybody has something to do. But when building slacks off then down goes the economy and everyone begins to get worried. So why do we get worried of God is the source and not the gross national profit?
Our economy is not God's. We need to remember that. Think about how we align ourselves with God when we are giving. He is a giving God. After all He gave His Son as a sacrifice for us. He gave us life when we deserved death, He gave us a soul and breathed life into us. Wow! What an awesome God we serve.
Giving also tests the sincerity of our love. 2 Cor 8:7-8 says "But just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others."(NIV) Those two verses really put it into perspective don't they. Excel in everything, even in giving. Paul expected the church to infiltrate society with excellence even in the area of giving. Most of the time we want to give our second best, or our used stuff or even ten percent of we have enough left over at the end of the week. We are however called to excellence. At the end of chapter 8 Paul's says 2 Cor 8:24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. (NIV) He wanted the churches to see how they gave in excellence. Giving permeates the culture and Paul wanted people to see how these people gave, why? So that the God who gave all good gifts would be glorified and the community and culture would be permeated with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Until later.
~SO~
posted by Pastor Ken | 9:51 PM
1 Comments:
i think that is realy important that we would start living out our faith!!! sorry i should leave a lot more comment's this is really good !!!!
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