God and McDonald's

Introduction

Bob McKeen took his young son to McDonald’s and ordered him large french fries. You know how good McDonald’s french fries smell. He says that as he was watching his son eat them, he instinctively reached over and grabbed one to eat. His son slapped his hand and said, “Dad, you can’t have one. Those aren’t your fries.” Bob said three thoughts immediately went through his mind.

First, I’m the one who brought him to McDonald’s. I’m the one who walked up to the counter. I paid for the fries with my own money. He doesn’t realize that without me he would have no fries. I am the source of his fries.

Second, my son has forgotten that I control the fries. I could take them away from him and instantly and say, “All right, that’s it! No more fries for you.” On the other hand, if I wanted to, I could buy him a truckload of fries.

Third, I could just as easily walk back up to the counter and buy myself some more fries. What I really want is for my son to learn to be unselfish.

It is safe to say that all three ideas describe us at times when we think about giving in relationship to God, our Father. God gives us something and we think because it is in our possession that it is ours and God can’t have it. We have something and we forget that God still controls whatever we have. What God really wants is for us to learn how to be unselfish. The word “give” or “giving” is used 2285 times in the Bible. How does that compare to other words like love and faith? Faith is found 246 times; hope is found 185 times; love is found 733 times. Giving must be important to God.

Some people automatically get a little defensive when the idea of giving is brought up. Some believe that they are already asked to give a lot and with our building program going on why do we need a lesson on giving. Purpose cards are to be given out next Sunday and so now is a good time to be reminded of the importance of giving. Even with a building campaign going on, we still need to be reminded that the building is not the end of our giving. Karl Menninger, who founded the Menninger Clinic, says, “Giving is an important criterion of mental health. Generous people are rarely mentally ill.” You are a generous people. But in the interest of the mental health of those sitting next to you we are going to look at giving from God’s perspective. This is a reminder time, not a time to bring guilt or frustration. But we do want to be honest with God and with ourselves as we talk about giving.

Why Give?

Giving makes us more like God. What does John say about God’s love and giving? “For God so loved the world that he gave…” Or in James 1:5, “any who lack wisdom should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault.” Or James 1:17, “every good and perfect gift is from above…” Or Ephesians 2:8, “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” What can we say about these texts? Our God is a giving God. When we give we are like God. If you want to know how to give, look at God. If you want to know what pleases God, then give just as he has given to you. 1 Chronicles 29:14 says, “Everything comes from you, and we give you only what comes from your hand.” Everything belongs to God. Every time we are generous, we grow more godly.

Second, giving demonstrates what is important to me. Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where we put our treasure determines where our heart is. Wherever we put our money it tends to pull our hearts. If we put our money into things, then things will attract us. If we put our money into entertainment, the entertainment attracts us. If we put our money into people, then people attract us.

No one can tell you how much to give. Some speak of tithing as a guideline. Tithing is the giving a tenth of your income. But what most folks don’t realize is that tithing was only a guideline. Every year the Israelites were commanded to give a tenth of what they earned to the Levites. This was to take care of their spiritual leaders. In addition, according to Deuteronomy 12:5-6, at a special feast time, they were to give over and above that 10% for a celebration. Then in Deuteronomy 14:28-29, every three years they were to give an additional 10% to take care of the widows, orphans, and to ensure that the Levites had been taken care of. On the average, every family in Israel gave about 22% of their income for the spiritual ministry of God.

Now this is not a command, but a reminder. Giving demonstrates what is important to me. You are a generous people. With regular contributions and a building program on top of that your generosity is evident. I am not saying that you should give 22 or even 10% of your income. But your heart is where your treasure is. Charitable giving in America on average is about 2% of income. Those who make under $15,000 a year give on average 5.5% of their income to charitable causes. Middle class Americans give less than any other group, about 1.7% of income. Religious folk do better than the average American. But the point remains: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Giving is a test of faith. Materially we are blessed beyond what our grandfathers ever dreamed. Gadgets abound. The average house size has increased dramatically. More and more things are available to us. It is easy in such an economy to allow our faith to be in what we have rather than in the one who gives us all good things. Generous giving is a way of demonstrating that you trust God more than you trust what you have. I have many fond memories of growing up. We were not rich in things, but rich in love and fun. The congregation I grew up in had frequent times of giving over and above regular contribution. Probably 4 or 5 times a year. It could be for anything, from making up for missed contributions to helping a missionary. My dad and mom always found a little more to give. Then came the day that we built a three story education and fellowship hall building. And my folks were among the group who pledged to give over and above their regular contribution to meet the financial demand. I remember mom always cooking for someone and taking those things to others. We had people into our home. My parents are people of faith. They left me a legacy which said their trust was not in the abundance of things they had but in what they could give.

What legacy of faith are you leaving? Our kids see us make money, spend money, and enjoy money. Do they see us giving it away with a spirit of generosity and contentment? We want our children to be unselfish. They must see it in us.

In Malachi 3:9-10, God issues a challenge to Israel. If they want to know something about their God, they should give. God says “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

Put God to the test and at the same time test your faith. Giving tests our faith. When we give we are like God. Giving demonstrates what is important to us. Giving tests our faith.

You are a generous people. But we are all good forgetters and we need to be reminded of the importance of giving. Next week Purpose Cards will be distributed and collected. These are so that our Finance Committee can know what your financial plans are for this congregation. Totaling each card will result in a sum which allows them to plan the budget for next year. We need every member to participate. Let’s pray.

God so loved the world that he gave us Jesus. Having given us so freely and abundantly what we need to be in relationship with Him, we give in return. Not to match God’s giving, but in response to it.

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