How Concerned Should Christians Be About the Environment?
I believe Christians should be concerned about the environment—valuing it as much or more than others do. We should be the best environmentalists because of creation’s relationship to God.
Stewardship has long been a sensitive topic in the Church. Because of abuses by certain give-to-me-to-get-for-yourself preachers, many legitimate, godly pastors avoid the topic of finances for fear of seeming money hungry. However, as any Bible-teaching pastor would know, God remains Lord over all the earth and over every area of our lives—including the money He entrusts to us.
As Christians, then, we must think carefully about our stewardship in ways that honour God. How much money should I give to God’s work? Does the concept of stewardship only relate to finances? Should I expect to enjoy the act of giving—or just do it as a duty? Allow our tools on stewardship to enlighten your mind and renew your attitude as you seek to become a godly giver.
I believe Christians should be concerned about the environment—valuing it as much or more than others do. We should be the best environmentalists because of creation’s relationship to God.
James’ advice isn’t just for people who possess great riches; it’s just as applicable to the pauper in Christ as to the prince.
Our hearts need to line up on this: everything, including all we are and have, is God’s. The question we ask is not, “How much of my money should I give?” but, “How much of God’s money should I keep?”
What I saw missing from my ministry was balance. While it was important for me to be there when someone needed me, it was also important for me to spend time alone with God because I needed Him.
In this message, we shall hear what God says about and to a certain percentage of the wealthy—at least, the wealthy of the first century. Then we'll consider how it relates to the wealthy of today. The basis of our thoughts will be James 5:1-6.
Being involved in church, volunteering your skills, and helping others however you can aren’t actions specially set aside for the chosen few or the super religious.
While the New Testament does not include direct commands that God's people tithe, it is worth noting that we are never commanded to not tithe. We could even assume that tithing was so ingrained in the New Testament believers' lifestyles, nothing more needed to be written regarding it—though, under grace, giving a tithe was no longer an obligation but an appropriate starting point for all who wished to cultivate the habit of joyful generosity.
Becoming a faithful and generous follower of Christ does not depend on our accumulation of money as much as it does on our attitude toward money. (Pause and reread that statement.) As we will discover in this lesson, the less we depend on material things to make us happy, the more likely we are to model generosity.
Whether we are single or married, younger or older, wear a hard hat or a top hat, are self-employed or climbing the corporate ladder or retired from that pressured, stressful world, God's Word provides wisdom found nowhere else in literature…and not just wisdom but inspired wisdom. Expressed in ways that are easily understood, some of the most helpful counsel has to do with managing our money wisely.
When grace fuels us to forgive someone who has offended us, we abundantly release every hint of any offence. When grace is cultivated in our relationship with a friend, an abundance of bountiful freedom marks our friendship. The same bountiful abundance occurs when grace is the motivating factor prompting our giving. In other words, living by faith includes giving by grace.