Missions and Money

Dr. Robert PattonMissionary to Suriname,

South America

PART III – TO GIVE OR

NOT TO GIVE

A number of financial options are available

Part III Summary from To Give or Not to Give

Money is amoral – but can bind the owner

We need to model dependence on God and not self-reliance

We need to show the cross

Preoccupation with money

Focus strictly on budgets, marketing schemes, and numbers may leave us without spiritual power!

To work for God’s glory:

More cooperation and less competition

More self-denial and less self-sufficiency

Less ambition to lead and more willingness to serve

More willingness to develop and less desire to dominate

What sort of poverty?

Absolute poverty = lacks food, safe water, sanitation, health care, and personal safety

Relative poverty – denied regular amenities of that society

Social exclusion – denied opportunities for education, advancement; living in dangerous situations

Western missionaries must be careful

Not to use fear of dependency as an excuse for not giving

Instead- help impoverished people find their true identity as humans

Have true unity with God, with others, the environment, and with themselves too

We need to

Have an approach which pleases God

Have staying power, and not just respond to a crisis

Help the culture correspond to Christ

Problems with dependency

Unhealthy reliance on Western support limiting their vision

Subjugation of native workers, making them passive or at least considering them inferior to the donors

This is NOT to discourage western giving

Most problems with giving is the strings attached to the funds

Western organizations as well as NGOs will sometimes compete for the best talented nationals, removing them from the churches which are struggling to become self-sufficient

The right attitude

Humility, not patronizing Sharing is not patronizing No double standards of

lifestyle choice, financial support and ministry responsibilities

Honor each partner’s responsibilities

The right attitude

Allow nationals to cast a vision or initiate ministry – this will reduce the risk of dependency

Foster interdependency. This is illustrated in I Cor. 12:14-26 where we see that various parts of the body of Christ work together [14] For the body is not one member, but many.

The right attitude

[15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?[16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?[17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

The right attitude

[18] But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.[19] And if they were all one member, where were the body?[20] But now are they many members, yet but one body…. [25] That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

The right attitude

26] And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Interdependency

We need to receive as well as give

We need to be able to teach and learn from each other, and even reprove and offer correction to each other

Reciprocity is tied to responsibility

The three-self paradigm

Self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating started with Henry Venn and John Nevius.

Both were trying to avoid European dominance in a time when Europeans were feeling superior and colonial imperialism occurred. They were not worried about dependency

The goal of Nevius

No outside dominance Outside assistance is OK Remember God calls us to

generous giving. In Mt. 25:31-46, Jesus tells about how those who treat others at the end of the tribulation will be considered as to serving Himself

Jesus judgment after the tribulation: Mt 25:31-46

[34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:[35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Jesus judgment after the tribulation: Mt 25:31-46

[36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.[37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?[38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?[39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Jesus judgment after the tribulation: Mt 25:31-46

[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.[41] Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…[46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Some Biblical principles on giving

We are hypocrites if we see others in need, and fail to help them, particularly fellow believers:

James 2:14-17[14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?[15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food.

Don’t be a hypocrite

16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?[17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

No hypocrisy I Jn. 3:16-18[16] Hereby perceive we the

love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. [17] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Biblical principles of giving

Galatians 6:9-10[9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.[10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

God Himself owns all resources

Psalm 24:[1] The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Haggai 2:[8] The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

Thus God has ultimate control of what happens to all resources

God Himself owns all resources

Psalm 24:[1] The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Haggai 2:[8] The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

Thus God has ultimate control of what happens to all resources

God controls all resources I Chron. 29:11-12[11] Thine, O LORD, is the

greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.[12] Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Deut. 8:17-18

God controls all resources Deut. 8:17-18[17] And thou say in thine

heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. [18] But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day

Stewards must be faithful:

I Cor. 4:[1] Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2] Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

We are dependent on God:[6] And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.[7] For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

God wants our blessing to call others to Himself:

Ps. 67:[5] Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.[6] Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.[7] God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

God wants us to share:

2 Cor. 8:[13] For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:[14] But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:[15] As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Some Biblical principles on giving: God wants us to share

Proverbs 11:[24] There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.[25] The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

God repays giving to the poor:

Proverbs 19:[17] He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Fools hoard

Luke 12:[16] And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:[17] And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?[18] And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

Fools hoard

Luke 12:[19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.[20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?[21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

God gives extra weight to the gifts of the poor

Mark 12:[41] And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.[42] And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

God gives extra weight to the gifts of the poor

Mark 12:[43] And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:[44] For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

How to Give Without Dependency

Dependency Giving with

domination Subjugation of

nationals Competition via

westerns Patronizing favorites Complacency re

multiplying Giving minimalized Western

agenda/control Stagnates growth

Investing Model of discipleship Sponsorship of

nationals Model sacrificial giving Promoting their

fellows Capacity for

multiplication

Giving maximized National

agenda/control Stimulates growth

God changes lives

Zaccheus gives generously God changes thieves who steal to

those who work to help others: Eph. 4:28[28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Serving God vs. mammon

Poor believers are prized as those rich in faith. James 2:[5] Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?[6] But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Prosperity is spiritually dangerous

Brings pride and self-reliance Often the poor are despised See the poor as spiritual assets

and not as financial liabilities Give them dignity

What we should do

We should serve God and use money

We must not use God and serve money

The church at present time is only 0.02% of giving to reach the lost. The rest is for Christians

Principles of giving

Manna – in the wilderness, everyone was equal economically. We should be generous and share.

The example was the Macedonian church in 2 Cor. 8:[12] For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Principles of giving

[13] For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: [14] But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: [15] As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Remember

We cannot serve two masters – both God and mammon

2 Cor. 9:[8] And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Initial principles of helping in the United States

God intervenes in human troubles; man who is created in His image should do so and help also

Charity is best experienced in close personal relationships

Man’s greatest needs are spiritual

Principles of help…

Sharing comes in the framework of church, family and neighborhood

Mostly help was in kind Distinction between worthy poor

(situations are difficult) and wayward poor – they make their own problems

Principles of help

Avoid public statutory relief – which promotes indulgent lifestyle

Personal involvement in the spiritual aspects of life

Over time, repentance and change in life show true change

Problems in the USA

Social darwinism – ignored the poor and favored the rich – bad

Social universalism – better, but asked the government to care for the poor – their power, money, and size. They substituted tax for tithe, and material aid was separated from spiritual considerations

USA and welfare

Johnson’s administration was worse – bureaucracy without productivity. People wanted their entitlements.

there was a redistribution of wealth but no moral transformation

Warfare, not welfare

During World War II and afterwards, the USA put full effort into the war without requiring paybacks. There was a commitment to thrift and generosity.

We need the same warfare mentality in the war against satan now

Christians in the USA do not want to give

They keep 98.4% of their weath 6% of evangelicals tithe USA holds 80% of evangelical

wealth Only 0.2% go for reaching others The USA government budget – true

foreign aid is only 0.14% of the federal budget

In the world today

The wealthiest 20% consume 80% of goods

The poorest 20% consume 1.4% of goods

Be careful that affluence does not spoil your influence

Problems in USA lifestyle

Insulation from the culture you wish to impact

Isolation from neighbors in our passion for privacy

Pace of life which is too hectic Illusions of superiority Good may lead to hostility and

envy

Rules to help: Affiliation

Interpersonal networks to support indigent people

Social nets of family and friends Rebuild families and put orphans in

a family Support system for material

assistance

Rules for help: Bonding

Material support must combine with persistent ongoing commitment

We suffer with others in need Personal involvement is key

Rules for help: Categorize

Distinguish between the worthy poor and the wayward poor.

Help the worthy poor The wayward poor need jobs

Test the willingness to work Train – social and employment skills Accountability

Rules to help: discern

Gifts of the Spirit – so we are not relying on human worldly wisdom

Remember that people are lost Employment – top priority Freedom to choose work and a

career with a fair day’s pay Receive God’s grace

Principles of sending groups

The primary group responsible for missions is the church, not the mission agencies

Providential provocation – consider going where the need is greatest, with doors open to new ministry opportunities. But commit for the long haul

Principles for sending groups

Romans 5:20 Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more.

We must be willing to go and even suffer to experience this grace

Prophetic view – sometimes it is prudent to get property in perilous times if God wills it (Jeremiah buying land occupied by the Babylonians)

Principles for those who go

The poor need our friendship as much as our finances

We need a long term covenantal relationship – not a commercial or contractural one

Principles for those who go

Promote the nationals: teach them to see with spiritual eyes and speak for themselves

The kingdom of God is populated by the meek, the poor and the persecuted

Principles for those who go

Stand at the side of nationals as a committed ally and encourage them

Proportional sacrifice: Money, manpower, language acumen, cultural knowledge, disciplined austerity

Peacemaking prayer including others

Personal covenants with close personal relationships