John F Avanzini - How much money is enough?

Acknowledgment

This book is unlike any book I have previously written. It's different in its inception, for I received the inspiration to write it while reading the book, 31 Reasons People Do Not Receive Their Financial Harvest by Dr. Mike Murdock, P.O. Box 99, Dallas, TX 75221.

While all of Dr. Murdock's books have blessed me, I believe this one is his best to date.

Thank you, Dr. Mike, for the influence your teachings have had on the lives of so many of God's children, and special thanks for the influence they have had on my life.

How Much Money Is Enough?

While many people have opinions about how much money is enough for a Christian, I wonder just how many have searched the Scripture to see the amount of money God expects His children to have. I must confess that when I researched the financial requirements, I was astounded! I had to immediately admit that I didn't have enough money to do all the things God requires of me.

Let's look at twelve things God requires every believer to do. Notice that each of these things takes money.

I. God requires you to have enough money to be truly joyful when you tithe.

Tithing is not always joyful, especially when every cent counts and there are needs on every hand. In spite of their needs, there are many Christians who tithe faithfully. However, when money is in short supply, it's really hard to be joyful about it. Let's go to the Scripture and see what God says our attitude should be when we tithe.

Deuteronomy 26 is completely dedicated to the proper way of bringing the tithe to God. I recommend that you read the whole chapter at your earliest convenience. However, to save time, let's look at only a portion of it.

And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house....

When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase ....

Deuteronomy 26:11 ,12

God says we must be in an attitude of rejoicing when we tithe. Think about it a moment. Just how much money will you have to earn to be really joyful each time you tithe? I cannot personally answer that question for you. You will have to determine that for yourself. There is an amount of money that would make tithing more than an act of obedience, turning it into a truly joyful act of worship.

But wait! Don't put the book down yet, for God requires you to have money for eleven other things.

II. God requires you to have enough money to be able to adequately do your part to send the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the whole world.

I am sure all Christians know God requires more of them than just tithing. Malachi tells us we have robbed God if we do not give offerings over and above our tithes.

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:8

Just take a moment and think of the many offerings God requires of you. Surely He wants you to give to missions, traveling ministers, as well as Christian radio and television networks.

Those who are taught the Word of God should help their teachers by paying them.

Galatians 6:6 TLB

Go ... teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway , even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:19, 20

Everyone knows that going into all the world to preach the gospel to every living soul is a very expensive business. However, this requirement becomes even more expensive when you fully understand what Jesus added to the Great Commission in the Book of Acts.

... ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8

Notice carefully the word both in the above verse. It shows us how we are to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. The word both as it is used here, means "simultaneously."

Let me paraphrase the verse to emphasize the vastness the word both adds to the Great Commission. "You shall be witnesses of me simultaneously in

Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."

Now before you throw up your hands in utter hopelessness, let me point out that God hasn't left you powerless and alone to meet this great expense. Look once again at the first part of the verse.

... ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you ... [then] ye shall be witnesses....

Acts 1:8

The power Jesus promises after the Holy Ghost comes upon you is enabling power ( dunamis ). The Greek word dunamis means "ability." So let's look at the verse again as I expand the paraphrase for you. "You shall receive the ability after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you will be able to witness of me simultaneously in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."

How much money will be enough for you to be able to joyfully tithe, as well as paying your fair share toward simultaneously sending the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the entire earth by every means God has ordained?

Now stay with me. We still have ten more things God says you must do that require money.

III. God requires you to have enough money to contribute your fair share toward a better-than-average standard of living for your minister.

Most churches simply ignore this requirement and take financial advantage of their ministers. Let me share a humorous saying about the prayer many churches offer when they hire a new preacher. "Lord, you keep our new preacher humble, and we, here at the church, will keep him poor."

Notice how different the above prayer is from God's instructions.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor , especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.

1 Timothy 5:17 ,18

Notice it doesn't say your minister should receive just a living wage. Neither does it say he should receive an average wage. It clearly states that ministers of the gospel who handle the Word of God are worthy of double honor . That means at least twice as much money as the average wage-earner in your community.

There are good reasons God wants your minister to receive ample funding. First of all, your minister has the most important job in your nation. He watches for the souls of people, while civil authorities merely watch for their bodies and possessions.

Second, your man of God cannot lead you into the abundance you need to do all God wants you to do if he, himself, is walking in insufficiency. It's difficult for your minister to take you where he has never been. Just as a lost pastor cannot produce a saved church, if your pastor walks in insufficiency, it will be difficult for him to bring you into the abundance you need to do all that God requires of you.

Just how much money will be enough for you to meet God's financial requirements for tithing with real joy, giving offerings large enough to do your fair share of preaching the gospel simultaneously to every corner of the globe, as well as giving your part for your minister to have a better-than-average income?

At this point we have covered three financial requirements, and we still have nine to go.

IV. God requires you to have enough money to properly provide for those of your own house.

Most people would not have made this requirement number four; they would have made it number one.

It took me a bit of time to find God's divine order in listing the twelve things God requires you to do that take money. I used two scriptures to help me make my decision.