ARGUMENT ON THE USE OF GOD’S MONEY

ARGUMENT ON THE USE OF GOD’S MONEY – the coming evil.

By Bro. Lekia. G

Concerning what you told me earlier I write to you, that when it comes to the use of God’s money we should be careful. We are not Lords, but stewards and servants in his house (Tit 1:7). My arguments on this matter is not final but rigid.

ARGUMENT #1: THE SUPREME COMMAND

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Mal 3:10)

The mode of provision for the house of God in ages and remain, was that the people should bring to the house of God. If there must be meat in the house of God, then God’s people are to do the bringing. It has nothing to do with the Levite using the money in the treasury for trade in other to multiply it. God does not want His money multiply that way. He wants His children to obey him in tithe and offering and any other provision in His house. It’s an honour to give to God, He wants to bless his children, so He wants to them to give for the work of His house, not because he can’t provide money as God. He does not want that offering to come from Unbelievers, but His people. 9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: (Prov 3:9).

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal (offerings) things. (1Cor 9:11).  6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; (Hag 1:6).

29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. (Ex 35:29)

72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments. (Neh 7:72)

    11 And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,     

14 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD. (2 Kings 12:11,14)

Time and space will not permit us to go around the bible. The actual thing is, whenever anything was needed, any project was to be done the people gave towards the accomplishment of sure task. That was and is the mode of Divine provision for His house. God did command them to give. It was not written that the priest used the money of the treasury to trade for profit in order to meet up divine task.

ARGUMENT #2: TRUST (complete confidence in God)

Christians are charge all over the Bible to trust in God…when we move our source of income in a scheme and not the church, we put such scheme above God. God is higher than that scheme. Such scheme can make us addicted to the ease of life. Such scheme has the tendency of making us dependent on it, it takes away the place of leaning, and waiting on the Lord for our need. Where does God come in when we are sure of a constantly scheme that meets the need of the church. Church, where is our trust of divine provision?    

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (1 Tim 6:17)

ARGUMENT #3: WHAT WILL BE THE TESTIMONY OF THE CHURCH?

There is a place for divine provision, Jesus told his disciple to get money from the mouth of a fish, that’s divine provision. God gave Abraham a Lamb for sacrifice, He turn water into wine at the marriage feast, gave Peter a great harvest, He sent Ravine to feed Elijah, a window for Elisha, left no inheritance for the Levite (why did he do that?) these are all cases of divine provision – which are worthy testimonies. Such already made scheme that surety multiplies money without work (he that should not work, let him not eat) or miracle does not please Him: what is the divine connection between this ease of quick money return and the trait of God? God loves miracle, He loves our provision to be tied to him. Let’s assume that the church (fellowship) often comes again into financial need, what and where will be our first turn for aid, can we sincerely say praying about it will be the first inclination of our hearts? Leaders, should we by our human, carnal mind multiply God’s money? Is God that in need of money that we do it for him, what will be our testimony?

ARGUMENT #4: IS PYRAMID SCHEME A BUSINESS?

If we argue that there is nothing wrong with doing business, I also agree that Christians can do business as well. But we know the sacredness God places on His house and property.    

13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matt 21:13). Can we say pyramid is a business? We know business is a transaction, what is the business in this scheme, is it borrowing money, or providing money with usury – the act of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest and multiplying while we sleep? Where does the money go, is it not borrowed out to someone somewhere, then the money is return with huge interest? Can we confidently say there is no iota of greed involve? That which God can’t provide is not fit for us.

17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. (Ezek 18:17)

ARGUMENT #5: GOD IS JEHOVAH JIREH – THE LORD OUR PROVIDER.

‘Gives us this day our daily bread’. Do we still pray this prayer today, or we’ve look to a sure place of provision other than that daily bread he gives? this is the prayer of a child to a father, we are children, there is that pride God takes in providing for our need, and to be our sole provider. Dear brothers our God wants to be known and address as Jehovah Jireh – the lord our provider.

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide HIMSELF a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Gen 22:8) [emphasis mine]

ARGUMENT #6: THE DIVINE SACREDNESS

The things in Gods house are sacred including money. The story of Hezekiah and the vessels in the house of God at Jerusalem is a lesson to ponder.        13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment…there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not… Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah… And he said, what have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, …there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord. 17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. 13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said. Brethren, should there be no difference how God’s money and our money should be used, should we treat that which is divine like ours, are we driven by logic, or we just feel like doing it, or we guess it’s the right thing to do? Uzzah also guess it was right to prevent the ark of God from falling. What is the divine mandate, do we pray God to direct us on the use of that which is His? Let’s do so. (. 2 Kings 20:13,14,15; 24:13).          26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Should there be no difference between sacred thing and non-sacred, should God’s house be run like cooperate bodies, NGOs and secular establishment, should we treat God’s own like we do ours? No we can’t. This is a worthy warning. Give heed dear leader (Ezek 22:26)

ARGUMENT #7: SHOULD MEN HELP GOD?

Uzzah tried to prevent the ark of God from falling with a pure motive and died: 6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. let’s permit the lord of the harvest to send labourers into his vineyard. 7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. (2 Sam 6:6-7). Do we pray and seek the Lord before we lay hold of sacred things, or we think it not necessary to seek permission to use His money, perhaps guidance if that provision is divine? Should men help God, shouldn’t we take permission in using that which is his own? Men and brethren there are many passages of the scripture on these matter, but here are few of them. We can search the scripture and seek the Lord of the vineyard and Harvest, so we don’t miss working in the Light.  

ARGUMENT #8: THE WAY OF SUPERNATURAL INCREASE

‘Give and it shall be given unto you…’ the primary reason churches or believers will engage in such a scheme is for financial increase. The scriptures do not frown on sure increase, but the means, motive and mechanism of such increase, and if one’s heart is not derailed from trusting in God, and it becoming an idol.

There is a sure way of divine increase, and I charge to ‘remember the words of Lord Jesus when He said it is more blessed to give than to receive. He also commanded we give if we want to receive. Many do not take these words serious neither do they trust it is true. A good measure, press down shaking together will be given into our bosom, meaning we get more than we receive. This is true because the harvest is always greater than the seed. What other sure way of increase do we need.