1. Don’t Give to Missions if You Think You Are Going to Change the World.
Please don’t get me wrong – the message of Jesus will change the world. But don’t give and expect the world to change right away just because you’re going to get involved in financing worldwide missions. High expectations are doomed to disappoint you, and I’m sure you won’t see a return on your investment right away. But often people who give to missions make a big mistake. They often think they are going to change the world by giving money to missions, but don’t give a dime to change the world right outside their living room window. Sometimes our vision is so big we neglect to see the small opportunities right in front of us. God may be asking you to do something small right now and you’ve overlooked it because you want to do something big. I hope you realize that the world, missions, our church and God doesn’t need your help – they all need Jesus! And so do you! So don’t think your gift will make a big difference, but know that Jesus will!
2. Don’t Give to Missions to Make Yourself Better.
A lot of Christians think that if they do more, they will get better. If they give more, do more, pray more, witness more, read the Bible more, etc. You get it? Giving won’t make you better. You give because you are already better. Guilt is a horrible motivation for giving to missions. Don’t give because you want to be better. Give to missions because you love Jesus and want more to love Him too!
3. Don’t Give to Missions if You’re a Wimp.
Sometimes people think that if they give to missions (or any other worthy spiritual activity) their life will be a little smoother. God will somehow look down and put His omnipotent umbrella over your world and the storms of life will bypass you. Ha! I say it again, HA! For one thing, if Jesus couldn’t bypass life’s storms who do you think you are? Another thing, sometimes stepping out in faith and obedience increases the winds of the storms of life. Satan doesn’t like it when Christians boldly take God at His Word. So beware if you accept the challenge to be a missions-minded Christian. It might get worse. So, if you’re a whiney, complaining wimp – keep your money. Leave it to those who ‘boldly go where no one has gone before’ or something like that.
4. Don’t Give to Missions if You Think You Are Really Good at Budgeting Money.
Don’t get me wrong, good budgeting is good stewardship. Too many Christians are bad managers of God’s material blessings. But if you’re into budgeting, giving won’t make sense. You’ll never be able to afford it. That dollar amount that God lays on your heart to give so others around the world will hear about Jesus will knock your budget’s socks off! But isn’t that faith. If you could afford it, you wouldn’t have to depend on God to fulfill it! That’s why we call it ‘Faith Promise Missions.’
5. Don’t Give to Missions if You’re Not Giving 10% Already & Living Off the Rest.
If you’re a Christian, and even if you’re not, doesn’t your heart ache for all those poor people in other lands? It makes you feel good to help the missionaries. They’ve sacrificed so much that you give to their cause. But if you haven’t been faithful to give God your tithe (10% of your gross income!), why are you giving to Missions? The tithe is giving out of obedience. The tithe is the Lord’s and it belongs to Him. You don’t decide how much the tithe is – it’s 10% of what you make. But you do decide how much to give to Missions: $5, $50, or $500 a week. So, don’t give to Missions if you are not giving your Tithe. Do first things first.
6. Don’t Give to Missions if You Aren’t Willing to Change.
I hope you realize that all this talk about money isn’t the issue. The issue is your heart. But God knows ‘where your treasure is there will your heart be also.’ So, God wants to capture your heart by capturing your money. That’s why it’s so hard for many people to give God their money. He doesn’t have their heart yet. But the reverse is also true: Where you put your money, your heart will follow. So, if you want to give God more of your heart, give Him more of your money. Your heart will follow. Don’t give if you want your heart to stay the same. But if you want your heart to change, give God your money.
7. Don’t Give to Missions if You Aren’t Going to Pray and Go.
Missionaries need your money, but they need your prayers more. This whole idea of sending missionaries around the world to help us fulfill the Great Commission isn’t like paying someone to mow your lawn. In a way, they are helping us do our job to ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.’ But sending them does not lessen our obligation to pray for them and go ourselves. It’s teamwork. Make the most of your financial investment by praying for our missionaries. And be a true partner with them by witnessing to the unsaved around you, while they witness and minister to the unsaved around them. Be a missionary at home!
Trackbacks/Pingbacks