My friend's response? 10%? I should give 10%? No way! Unbelievable! I can't do
that! And he doesn't! He gives more! The minimum he gives is 15%. Most of the time it's around 20%, and some times it almost reaches 30%.

I've discussed that with him a number of times. "Where did you learn to give like
that?" I asked. "From my parents." "Do you mean your parents actually took the time to teach you about giving?" "Well, not exactly. They argued about money frequently, but I really don't ever remember being instructed in this area. I think I just learned from their example. You know the old saying: 'Actions speak louder than words.' I think I'm giving as much to the master as my parents gave--maybe a little more."

By this time I was really interested: "But why do you give so much? Don't you think you'd be a lot better off if you'd cut back on your giving a bit?" He looked at me as if I came from another planet or something and exclaimed: "Cut back? Are you kidding? I can't cut back. I've got to give that much; I'm under obligation. I'll admit that there are times when I don't feel like giving, times when I get sick of the whole business, but it's my duty, and I'm faithful to my duty."

"I don't want to offend you," I replied, "but it sounds as if you think the master is some kind of petty tyrant, ready to take a swipe at you if you step out of line." "You're exactly right," he replied. "He watches very closely what I give, and he'll come after me if don't give what I should be giving."

My friend and I talk about this from time to time. I always encourage him to reduce
his contributions; he always gives me a hundred reasons why he can't.

It might seem strange that I give such encouragement and doubly strange that I
would even mention this when our deacons are encouraging each of us to increase our giving in the year ahead. But you have to understand that my friend is giving so generously to Master Card, also known as Visa, Discover, Sun Oil, Household Finance and all their relatives. If all that money were going to Master Jesus, I would rejoice; I wouldn't encourage him to reduce his giving one bit. But month after month and year after year Master Card scoops up 15-25% every time he puts his hand out. Of course, that doesn't include the percentage that the bank or other institutions would pay my friend if he allowed them to use his money instead of him using theirs.

My friend is indeed under obligation. He must give to the master. If he doesn't, the master will come after him, breathing all kinds of threats. My friend does get sick of it because there is no joy or freedom in this plastic prison in which he has locked himself. And yet, he never breaks the bars that confine him. He continues to do what he hates to do, and by example he teaches his children the same 

Who is my friend? Is it you, my friend? Last Sunday, World Hunger Sunday, we
were challenged to examine the way we use the material resources God has given us.  Today again we ask: "Are we handling the Lord's money wisely?" That's the subject of the passage before us. The prophet is addressing people who, unlike many others, chose not to stay in the country of Babylon with all its comfort and luxury. They wanted to establish themselves in their homeland, and they especially wanted to rebuild the temple of their God. Their heart was in the right place.

However, although the work of rebuilding began, it was not long before opposition from a variety of corners halted it. Unable to rebuild the temple, the people turned to other things--among them the building of their own homes. What luxurious homes they were! In verse 4 the prophet identifies them as paneled houses, meaning that the inside walls were covered or inlaid with costly woodwork something found in the homes of the rich and more distinguished of the day. And one of the results of such building? Verse 2: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the Lord's house to be built.'"

Why? Because they were so involved in their own pursuits--their own luxury and comfort, their own acquisition of material goods--that the things of God were not quite as important as they once were. The things of God could wait.

That speaks to every one of us, doesn't it? That challenges us to look at our priorities! We are those who surround ourselves with all sorts of good things. We are those who have been blessed with an abundance of material blessings. We are those who seldom deny ourselves anything we want. We are those who hardly know what it means to wait. And the Church of Jesus?

Frequently, the Church of Jesus goes begging. Frequently, the church wonders if it
will have enough money to pay its bills. How do we respond to God, the Giver of all that we
possess?

What a poor response characterized the people of Israel at this point in their history, and God responds to their unfaithfulness by sending a famine as his judgmentupon them. Verses 10 & 11: "Because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands."

And one of the results? The end of verse 6: "You earn wages only to put them in a purse with holes in it." What an interesting phrase that is! People accumulated for themselves all kinds of material goods only to discover that they had nothing to show for it. The same tragedy happens in the lives of many today--not necessarily because of the judgment of God, but because of poor stewardship, misplaced priorities and a lack of discipline in handling the gifts God has given.

Last week my wife told me that a local department store was having a special sale. Lots of things were available at tremendous savings! What's more, if you used that department stores’ credit card, you'd get an extra 10% off. No discount for people who paid cash or wrote a check! I wonder how many people got out the plastic and bought lots of stuff so they could save an extra 10%.

I remember talking to someone who had just purchased a $30 item for only $20. He enthusiastically told me about that discount, one-third off. I asked him, "Did you need it?" "Didn't you hear me? I just saved $10 on this thing." "I heard you. Did you need it?" "Well, no, not really, though it will probably come in handy sometime. And just think, I saved $10." "You didn't save $10. You can't save a penny on something you really don't need no matter how big the mark down is. You just wasted $20." Money is earned and put in a purse with holes in it.

It's tough to discipline ourselves to do anything, isn't it? It's especially tough in this area even for those of us who acknowledge that our material goods are a trust from our God to be used in his service. It's tough to translate the intentions of our hearts and the words of our mouths into actions that validate what we believe and say. It's tough to think about how we spend what we earn.

It's especially tough in a world that continually preaches that peace and joy and blessing will enter our lives via the acquisition of material goods. Unfortunately, we find ourselves easily influenced by that false gospel. And it's so easy to buy in, isn't it? Here's a gold necklace. Let's say this necklace is worth $100. What would you say if I told you that because I'm your pastor, I would only add 20% to the cost of this necklace so you could have it for $120. You'd call me a cheat, wouldn't you? You'd say, "You're trying to pull a fast one on me. There's no way I'm going to buy a $100 necklace for $120. Do you think I'm stupid?"

But Master Card comes along and says: "You deserve to have this. You deserve to have it now. I'll help you buy it." It's so easy, isn't it--and so deceptive. Our good friend, Master Card extends a special offer to us, and we feel blessed, not cheated. Money is earned and put into a purse with holes in it

How easy it is to live an undisciplined life. How easy it is to get our priorities mixed up. How easy it is to live with the illusion that I can get what I want when I want it because of Master Card. The result is a double tragedy--people who don't set priorities in life and people who contribute more in a year's time to Master Card than to Master Jesus.

Do my wife and I have any credit cards? Yes, we do! Do we donate 15 or 18 or 24% to Master Card? No, we don't! We can't afford to serve two masters. Master Card gets nothing from us. There are enough people in the world willing to support his kingdom; we support a better kingdom.

Few of us have money problems. Frankly, there is never enough money no matter
how much there is. Most of us have priority and discipline problems that prohibit us from being more effective stewards of God's gifts.

Perhaps it would be good for us to seriously focus on our use of the material
resources with which God has blessed us. Which Master are you serving-- and why?