Looking to Christ in Generosity, Contentment, and Integrity

The following is a college paper I wrote based on a lecture by Mr. Jim Rickard, the director of the Stewardship Services Foundation. The lecture entitled, “Personal Finance Management Principles” underscored fourteen practical steps to the wise management of the resources God has entrusted to our care. At the heart of his lecture were three foundational points for the believer, which I have attempted to uncover in this paper.

From the Stewardship Services Foundation website:

The Stewardship Services Foundation is a privately funded, non-profit corporation established for the singular purpose of serving the fundamental Christian community. The Foundation offers you and your church several important stewardship services: Estate Planning Seminars which includes counseling on Wills and Living Trusts, Income Tax Seminars including the preparation of Federal and State returns for ministers, Family Finance Seminars, and Church Leadership Seminars.

May you be built up.

-Joshua

“You can't have one foot on earth and the other in heaven, it compartmentalizes your life.” These piercing, timely words of Mr. Jim Rickard summarize the epitome of the battle we as believers face daily; a battle over our loyalties; A battle over submission; a battle over who will rule over the throne of our hearts, either God, or our fleshly indulgence, but never both. In speaking to the issue of yoking in his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul says “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 - ESV).

If in our daily interaction with others we are commanded to reject any notion of entertaining darkness; how much more so in our own lives, in our own struggle with the sinful nature? This astounding dichotomy of natures, nestled deep within the heart of every believer, fabricates a surging war between obedience and rebellion (Romans 7). With lustful hearts bent upon arrogant rebellion, how often do we gaze upon material things to the degree that we become convinced our lives are hopelessly miserable apart from amassing wealth and goods that promise satisfaction, but result in absolute misery; that promise fulfillment, but in actuality, produce the sad and horrific realization of emptiness? What must we do to guard our hearts against attraction to a godless world of material gain? I believe the answer is found in how we practice generosity, contentment, and integrity, the three foundational points outlined by Mr. Rickard in his lecture.

Mr. Rickard spoke for quite some time, and rightly so, about the superior importance of practicing generosity. Its significance is unquestionable and our understanding and acceptance of it absolutely imperative. In fact, as was outlined in the lecture, generosity forms the root of every other financial issue simply because if I refuse to be generous then what I have is a much deeper, much more concerning problem; a lack of desire for obedience and a refusal to acknowledge, by my actions, that God is the provider and sustainer. This type of detrimental thinking meets its logical conclusion in a conceited self-reliance that, if left unchecked, could result in eventual apostasy. Moreover, such an outlook will undoubtedly lead to a foolish lifestyle that uses resources to glorify self, rather than God. This begs the question, how do I get generosity right? Simple. By not starting with generosity. Beginning with the surface issue, namely generosity, gets me nowhere when the root issue is my view of God. Having a right view of God instinctively leads to a right view of generosity. Conversely, I can never start with generosity and arrive at a right view of God because I have started by looking at self rather than gazing at Christ. As believers, we understand this, but what about unbelievers?

Giving, donating, charity, and philanthropy are just a few words that are familiar to, but not comprehended by, most people in our world. Indeed they cannot comprehend - apart from Christ. They give when compelled by a mounting sense of urgency or to gain status with peers and coworkers. Some will give only when they feel like it, and still others from a mere sense of obligation or because they have deceived themselves into believing that it will somehow gain them greater favor with God. What is wrong with all of these reasons and many more besides is the motivation behind the giving. It is self-centered. “I will give when I think it is necessary, I will give to impress peers, I will give when I feel like it, I will give to impress God so He will bless me.”

We should not expect anything other than such self-centered motivation from unbelievers. After all, they are ignorant to the truth. However, the sad reality is how well such motivations oftentimes describe believers. In some cases the sinful motivation of our hearts might be blatantly obvious (as was seen in the paragraph above), but astonishingly subtle in others. Nevertheless, in either case, we must be diligent to avoid the trap of serving self under the guise of serving God. Motivation does matter. This is probably most powerfully illustrated in the offerings of Cain and Abel recorded in Genesis chapter four. Ultimately, Cain's offering was not rejected because it was not a lamb, like Abel's offering. It was rejected because Cain's motivation in giving was not to worship God.

In light of these things, what should be the correct motivation in my giving? Simply this, love accompanied by joy. Jesus says in John 14:23 (ESV), “...If anyone loves me, he will keep my word...” Our love for God drives us to obedience. Anything other than love falls remarkably short. The joy which should accompany my giving is not bound by circumstances, moods, or emotions, but is a Spirit enabled state of mind that remains unshaken, come what may. In addressing this very issue, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (ESV):

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.

Loving obedience must serve as the primary motivation for my giving, but there is still more involved. I should be compelled to give because of the unparalleled opportunity to use my resources to help those in need and to advance the glorious gospel of Christ. James 1:27 (ESV) says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” While this command's boundaries extend far beyond money, I should generously offer whatever I have, including money, in loving obedience to help those in need. The Christian is always to be reaching out toward others with the love of Christ, seeking justice for the oppressed and the needy and continually pursuing after the heart of God in being acquainted with the response He requires of us in meeting the needs of the helpless and afflicted. The response, or lack of response, I have to the needs surrounding me also aids in proving the legitimacy or illegitimacy of my faith. Genuine saving faith will lead to action, because faith requires obedience.

Generosity, then, is an outward manifestation of the state of our hearts' dependence upon God alone to save and sustain. To the world it is nonsensical deprivation. But to us, generosity is indicative of simple trust in the kind providence and sovereignty of God. It is rejecting the pervasive attitude of gluttonous self-gratification and replacing it with perpetual contentment. The writer of Hebrews confidently asserts, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” - Hebrews 13:5 (ESV). Here the author reminds his readers of the blessed assurance we have in God's affectionate promise to never leave nor forsake us. His objective being that, in looking to Christ, we might relinquish our grasp to the material and forgo our little efforts to become self-sufficient, recognizing instead that He is all we need! We do not need Jesus plus a larger income. We just need Jesus. In fixing our gaze upon Him, we are assured that He will supply all that is necessary for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). There is truly nothing lacking in Him. He is all-together sufficient. Contentment is found only in its source, Jesus Christ. And until we are content in looking only to Him, we will never be content with what He has given.

So, then, there is a fascinating duality at work here. Lasting contentment on the material level can only be found as a result of unceasing contentment in Christ, which can only be discovered from an ever-present discontentment with self and the current level of our comprehension of and meditation on Christ. Conformity to Christ demands a certain level of discontentment with our current state. Pressing on requires us to first acknowledge that there is something to move away from and something infinitely greater to move toward. It should be stated that this type of discontentment is not pitiful self-debasement, but is a humble desire for more of Christ, born from a cognizance of how little we know Him. Furthermore, this discontentment should not be confused with ingratitude. Rather, with hearts full of thanksgiving for all that Christ is, has done, and has revealed we persevere.

Finally, Integrity forms the cap-stone atop the foundation. It comprises the ethical standards of our conduct. Devoid of a Biblical standard, however, integrity is worthless because its roots are in man's thoughts and reasoning. As with generosity and contentment, integrity begins with looking to Jesus. In doing so, Christ and His word become increasingly more sufficient and we regulate our lives to the authority of His word. Financially, this means being guided by Scripture in the discharge of our funds, being honest in our dealings, using proper judgment and scrutiny, and being a trustworthy people.

These three points, though not exceedingly practical, are the building blocks for financial success. By success, I do not necessarily mean wealth, though I by no means exclude it. Success, Biblically, is responsibly managing the resources God has entrusted to my care and exploiting them to have the most effect for the gospel. After all, everything material will perish. As Mr. Rickard noted, earthly treasures are tools to be used in service to God. “We must pour our lives into people,” Mr. Rickard said, because they are of eternal value. Practical steps will fall into place, as long as Christ is kept at the center. May God grant me grace to seek His face and never turn away, no matter the amount of worldly pressure and opposition that surrounds me. He is worthy; may He find me faithful.