John Avanzini - Truth About Money

The Truth About Money

Money Is Important

If something is important to God, don't you think it should be important to you?

I want you to know that God desires good things for you. Not only does He want you to be strong and prosperous in your spirit, He also desires you to be prosperous in the material areas of your life. He wants you to have food, clothing, housing, finances, and everything that pertains to the good life. All those things take money.

Remember, God did not tell Isaac to forget about the famine and be spiritual (Genesis 26). Instead, He told him three things: First, where to live. Second, what to plant. Third, what to expect from his sowing. God wanted Isaac to have the material things necessary to live well, even in the midst of famine. God cared about his material needs.

Today it seems it is just fine for preachers to talk about religious matters, but many people feel the topic of money and practical things is not spiritual, and they should not talk about them. Nonsense! Money is a spiritual issue to the saints of God!

When the poor widow sacrificed her two mites in an offering in the temple (Mark 12:41-44), Jesus did not say, "Woman, your financial sacrifice does not matter to me. God is not interested in your money. All that matters to God are your spiritual needs. I'm not concerned about your material needs. Just learn to accept your financial condition."

Instead, Jesus praised her for her precious financial sacrifice. Jesus knew the widow's heart. Since the two mites were a big part of her necessary living expenses, Jesus considered them a significant gift. Her giving was an important action.

The widow's gift represented more than the other gifts given that day, even those given by the very rich people. Jesus even called to the disciples and made open comments about the faith the widow manifested in her money offering.

You see, money is important to God. Money is important to Jesus. So money should be important to you.

I want to encourage you to allow your mind and spirit grow into a deeper understanding of the value of money to you, to God, and for the spreading of the gospel.

Money Is a Spiritual Subject

Over 20 percent of the Holy Scripture concerns money, wealth, finances, property, lands, possessions, tithes and giving. If money is not a spiritual subject, why does God say so much about it in the Bible?

Scripture shows clearly that God wants you to have money and be happy with your wealth.

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 10:22

... yea , let them say continually,

Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Psalm 35:27

Scripture gives clear instructions on how to increase your funds.

Give, and it shall be given unto you....

Luke 6:38

Scripture also shows that when you give your money, you are performing an act of sacred worship to your God.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat [food] in mine house, and prove [test] me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open [for] you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi 3:10

If you will read Deuteronomy 26:1-12, you will see that God says tithing and giving offerings are specific worship services before Him. Money is a spiritual matter.

Money is one of the acceptable scriptural offerings for the worship of the Lord. It is also an effective tool to help bring the message of salvation to lost souls throughout the world. When you put it to use according to biblical principles, money becomes a sacred thing.

Your money is your life. Each week when you are paid, the paycheck you receive is your employer's way of reimbursing you for the part of your life you spent in service to him. If you are sanctified through the blood of Jesus, and you give part of your holy life to your employer, the money he gives you in exchange for your life is holy money. It represents a portion of your holy life.

It Takes Money to Spread the Gospel

If you are interested in winning the world to Christ, it is important for you to understand these facts.

Operating churches costs money.

Printing Bibles costs money.

Preaching the Word in foreign lands costs money.

Beaming Christian television programs around the world costs money.

There is no doubt that it takes money to spread the gospel. The Word of God agrees with this statement.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent ?...

Romans 10:14 ,15

It costs money to send the Word of God to others. When you begin to understand and apply God's laws of abundance in your life, you will receive the money you desire

to help finance the end-time harvest.

You can begin right now to have not only enough to meet your own needs, but plenty left over to give into the work of the Lord (2 Corinthians 9:8). Just begin to apply the principles in this book, and see their benefits materialize in your life. Your faithfulness in giving to God's work will help spread the gospel. It will also guarantee that a day of abundant prosperity will eventually overtake you. That's not my promise; it's God's promise!

Giving Money Results in Receiving

Memorize that important statement. It is a vital principle of biblical economics. Giving always results in receiving! You have God's Word on it:

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal [measure] it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 6:38

Look closely at these key points:

1. God promises to return your gift to you. He says you will receive a "good measure," literally "running over." God will bless you when you give to Him.

2. God says your blessings will come from men who shall give to you. God uses people, and so He has no difficulty blessing you from unexpected places. The source God uses doesn't matter. What is important is that you understand this biblical principle: when you give, you will receive a return.

3. You will receive in the same measure that you give. Remember, the measure is not how much you give, but how much you give in proportion to your income. This scripture does not promise that if you give five dollars, you will receive five dollars in return. It says if the five dollars you gave is simply casual pocket money, you will not receive a very large return. You will receive the five dollars back, but not in a greatly multiplied measure.

However, if that five dollars is a very critical part of your remaining funds, a precious seed out of your limited remaining resources, it becomes a great measure in God's eyes, and you will receive a great measure in return from Him. Your gift will be greatly multiplied.

When you become a giver, you automatically move yourself into the realm of a receiver. There are no exceptions to this rule. However, there are levels of receiving: "... some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundredfold] (Mark 4:8). The measure you use in giving will determine the measure God will apply to you in receiving. No matter with what measure you give your gift, when you give to God, you will receive a return. " Give, and it shall be given unto you..." (Luke 6:38).

Remember:

Be not deceived [dont be fooled];

God is not mocked [He cannot be fooled]: For whatsoever a man soweth , that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:7

Now you understand why it is so important not to forget this statement! Giving money results in receiving.