Love Corrupted

Love turns to selfishness when we become the centre. It becomes self-love, love of pleasure more than of God, security in material things and not in God. It becomes love of things and love of money. Paul spoke to Timothy a lot about this. We should also speak about it, not to bring people into legalism, but to locate our hearts. “For where our treasure is, there is our heart also.” (Matt 6:21).

“Contentment with godliness is great gain.” (1 Tim 6:6). Contentment is not common. Advertising tells us we must have the latest product. Often preaching tells us the same. There is also spiritual ambition and ministerial ambition. Our desires are stirred up (James 4:1). We tell others that God will give them these things if they give money.

For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, let us be content. But they that desire to be rich fall into temptation (compromise, to allure others through their baser instincts) and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction.

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. But you man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…(1 Tim 6:7-12).

The “giving to get” doctrine appeals to the baser instincts of man. It is said, “This is what we will get out of it.”. “Support this ministry and this is what you will get.” The Bible tells us to give to those from whom we do not expect a return. We are not in a club where we scratch each other’s back.

Then said He also to him that invited Him, When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor thy brothers, neither you own tribe, nor your rich neighbours; lest they also invite you again and a recompense be made to you.

But when thou make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And you shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense you: for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:12-14).

Do not think that they enjoyed this advice any more than people would today.
We are told in scripture to give because we have received. Giving is not a works that God recompenses. We receive from God by grace. Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matt 10:8).

We give because of God’s love. We give because Christ lives in us and it is our nature. We give because we want the gospel to go out to others so they can have Christ as we do. We give because we obey the Great Commission to preach the gospel to every person. We give because God has been kind to us and has abounded toward us in love through Jesus Christ.

God does not give to us because we first give. He gives to us because He loves us. He gives to us because of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us while we were sinners, not because we did anything. God does not give to us because we put Him in debt. He is debtor to no one. All we have we received from Him. God gives to us because He gave Jesus Christ who took away our sin and through Him He freely gives us all things (Rom 8:32).

People often think in terms of law. They say, “Are you saying we should not give?”. We did not say that at all, but that is the first thought of some when we speak about these things. When Christ changes our nature we have a giving nature. Giving to support the ministry is a grace that God includes us in. It is not something we do for God. It is an honour He gives to us to participate in.

We have heard people say, “If we do not tell people what they will get in return they will not give.”. If people will not give unselfishly then we do not need their money. We must teach the right things. People say, “The ministry needs money.”. Do we forsake the gospel to change the message to raise money? We might get the money, but if there is no genuine gospel, there is no genuine ministry.

We hear preachers saying that God is going to transfer all the money to Christians so He can defeat the devil and bring in the last great revival that will bring Jesus back in His Second Coming. This is just not the truth. God does not need any money to defeat the devil, bring revival to the whole world, nor bring back Jesus. He can do all that He pleases without our gifts.

People are told to give to a ministry and God will cancel their personal debts and they end up in more debt. The way to cancel debt is to change the way we live. We live without things we cannot pay for. It is contentment. Sew your garment according to the size of your cloth. “Life does not consist of the abundance of the things you possess.” An extra possession will not make us happy. It will not satisfy what drives us. It will not change who we are on the inside.

And He said to them, Take heed (watch, be vigilant) and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesses. (Luke 12:15).