God and Money

Weekly Update – April 18th, 2024

Money is not an easy topic to bring up with anyone.  Nobody wants to think about a debt they owe, just as no one likes to come face to face with how much or how little money they have.  Yet in our world, we have accountants, financial planners, and the IRS that all tell us what we should do with our money.  No matter what our thoughts are here, the question we should ask is not, “what do I do with my money”, but instead, “what do the Scriptures say about money”.

In Proverbs 30:8-9, we see a clear summing up of the Scripture’s approach to money.  These verses say, “… give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”  Give me neither poverty nor wealth.  Scripture is remarkably indifferent toward the moral value of money.  It can be used for enormous good in this life, even good that will last until eternity.  And yet, as Paul writes to Timothy, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim 6:10).

So then how should we think about money? Here are a couple of principles. First, we must recognized that everything we have belongs to God. Many of our problems as Christians come up because we think about money in isolation from the rest of God’s calling on our lives.  Yet everything we have from our time, talents, money, etc. is from God.  This leads to the second principle which is, God has made us stewards of all that we have.  But we are not stewards of only a supposed 10% that we think we ought to be giving.  We are stewards of 100% of all that we have, using everything to point others to our master, who is God.

If everything we have is God’s and we are stewards of it, how then do we honor God in our stewardship?  We honor God in our stewardship by being generous with all that he has given to us.  Here is why.  Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”  We live generously with all that we have, whether it be our time, our talents or our money, because doing so acknowledges the generous mercy we have received from God, through our savior Jesus Christ.

Here then is what our generosity should look like.  Specifically in regards to money, we give for the sake of Christ, to show how worthy and how great our God is.  That is what Moses did, for example.  In the Hebrews 11:26 it says, “[Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt.” When Moses gave up the treasures that the world offered, he was proclaiming that Christ was worth more.  The man from the parable in Matthew 13:45-46 did the same thing.  He sold everything that he had to obtain one pearl of great value.  The principle here is that we are generous with what the world considers valuable, because we are looking to something more valuable in eternity. 

Imagine the contrast we would show to this world if we all held our money out with an open hand.  If we viewed everything we owned as God’s, to be used for his purposes, then the world might see how valuable our God is over how valuable we might think our possessions are.  We are to live generously with one another, taking care of each other’s needs, serving each other with our time and using our talents in such a way that points those inside the church as well as those outside the church to God.  Therefore, lets seek to think rightly about what has been given to us as we proclaim and display the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Ephesians 2:8-10

Announcements:

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over North America who are serving with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). This year, our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $8500. You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Annie.” Or you can give online HERE and choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.

Clothes Closet: On Saturday, April 20th, from 8:00am-11:00am, First Baptist Church will open the clothes closet for the community. If you would like to help, come Saturday at 8:00am.

Members’ Meeting: Following the morning service on Sunday, April 28th, we will have a potluck lunch and members’ meeting. There is a signup sheet for the potluck on the bulletin board in the hall. Please note that the church ovens are not working at this time, so they will not be available to keep dishes warm.

Harry’s Hay Days: On Saturday, May 4th, from 10:00am-4:00pm, First Baptist Church will be participating in the citywide festival called, “Harry’s Hay Days.” We will be hosting carnival games, face painters, balloon artists, Chick-fil-A, and more, right here in our parking lot. Put this date on your calendar and sign up in the hallway to help!

Prom Dress Giveaway: If you are interested in volunteering with the prom dress giveaway, please contact Amy Blankenship. More info can be found HERE.

Men’s Bible Study: This men’s study is based on the book, The Exemplary Husband. The study is held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday night of each month at 8:00pm in the library. If you are interested see Clint Blankenship.

Food Pantry: We are in need of pop-top and ready to eat items for our food pantry. These items are needed specifically for the homeless in our community that stop by the church building throughout the week looking for a meal. We are also in need of spaghetti-o’s, ravioli, dry pancake mix, and maple syrup.

Nursery Volunteers Needed: Nursery volunteers are needed each week during the 10:30am service time. Contact Betty for more information on how you can serve.

Equipping Hour

We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. “Firm Foundations” meets in the Sanctuary, a biblical exposition of 1 Peter meets in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the New Testament meets in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Home Groups

Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE. 

Wednesday Evening Activities

Awana, Youth Group, and Biblical Counseling are on Wednesday evenings. We will share a meal in the Faith Center Gym at 6:00pm before heading to classes at 6:30pm.