Live.Awake

Money Matters?

// September 24th, 2008 // Church Life

I preached a message this Sunday that was the expression of what I have learned thus far in an ongoing period of deep conviction about idolatry.  Specifically, the king of all American idols: Money.  It was a tad raw (at least it felt that way), but sometimes that’s the best way to communicate.  If I’m getting my clock cleaned, then it’s only fair that I bring the rest of you along for the ride.

I’m struck primarily by two dark revelations about myself.  First, I don’t really believe money will not make me happy.  I know that’s stupid.  We all do.  Yet in the hidden places of our motivation, we believe that a little more money in the bank will bring a little more happiness.  How many purchases have we made over the years that we said we “needed” when the truth was we wanted to be happy?  Am I happier now than I was 10 years ago?  I have a lot more stuff in this house than I did 10 years ago, that much is sure.  But happier?  Nah, I don’t think so.  In fact, we are having a community yard sale at KCC this weekend where I will be hocking much of that bought-and-paid-for-happiness for pennies on the dollar.  When will I learn?

Secondly, I actually believe that my money and my stuff is really mine.  Almost without exception, giving to a church has been no different to me than paying taxes.  When it comes to money, God and the IRS have a lot in common… at least in how I view them in my heart.  I strongly suspect this is true for almost all of us.  I have always viewed the debate over how much tithe is a proper tithe as the same thing as asking the IRS “Hey, how much do I owe?  What’s toll to cross this bridge?”.  I’ve been asking, “How much of my money do I have to give to God so He will bless me and not be mad at me?”

Reading Deut. 8:17-20 has been like getting kicked in the gut.  It’s not a question of how much off the top I have to give to God.  The Biblical question is “How much of God’s money do I get to keep?”  Looking at it this way, suddenly squabbling over whether or not the 10% tithe rule still applies to us is silly.  10% becomes like the floor, not the ceiling.

Could it be that what God is after is our worship?  Could it be that generosity and good stewardship are fruit of Christ-centered worship?  I know that in my personal experience, money has been a convenient false savior.  My debit card receives a lot of worship.  I beg it to save me every day.

I’m nothing close to a “doom and gloom prophet”, but I wonder how much longer God will allow Americans to worship at the foot of an altar of greed.  How much longer before He allows the idol to crumble and fall?  As companies fail, taxes increase, gas prices soar and mortgages default I can feel a disquietening panic in the culture around me.  The steadfast, unshakable god of this age has stumbled and lost his balance and his followers have no idea what to do.