Fourth, I give because I’m greedy. Is it really true that church is not about what we can get, but rather what we can give? Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life” (Lk 18:29-30). I have found it liberating that Jesus himself expressed in this blood earnest exhortation that God’s will for us is to “receive” in abundance.
In this passage, I interpret Jesus to be assuming that whatever spiritual reward we get from our obedience will be “many times” the value of whatever we lose for the sake of the kingdom. I also take this to be the meaning Jesus had in mind when he said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Thus, even in this present life, I can expect a great spiritual reward for my giving. In addition to my immediate reward I will receive in this life, there remains the promise of eternal reward in the next.
Jesus gives us this exhortation, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:19-21). The shocking thing to notice about this verse is that Jesus’ exhortation ingeniously appeals to our desire for treasure.
Trusting that God Himself is our treasure and that there will be different levels of reward in heaven, I am therefore greedy to store up as much of this treasure Jesus speaks of as I can (1 Cor 3:13-14, cf. 2 Cor 9:6). Along with my time, energy, mind, heart, talent, I also give of my finances—all because I’m greedy for more of God in my life now, as well as an even greater portion of Him in the age to come.
T h e o • p h i l o g u e 
Where have you been?
Where have I been? You haven’t posted in ages! Nor have I seen you at Logos! What do you mean where have I been? I’ve been in routine (except for Spring Break when I went to Myrtle beach). I figured you’ve been dodging me because I’m white. It’s OK though, I’m used to it.
Well it may definately be because you are white, but I have been around as well. I go to Logos 4 days a week and I never see you there. I was in Florida also over the break. I will be there tonight so you should come hang out.
B you’ve been preaching about thi$ $ince back when I wa$ your roommate – I $ee what the focu$ of your life i$
You speak only of yourself, and this is a very self-centered post. Not all of us are as greedy as you are, and we still like to tithe. I love to tithe, it is God’s way of funding His church.
You’ve turned a God-worshipping act of selflessness into a stingy, man-centered act of selfISHness. I will pray that God will open your mind to the correct way of thinking on this issue.
Mr. Brand,
I’m sorry that you see things this way. The language of being greedy is an attempt to be paradoxically ironic. That is, you must understand, greediness is usually considered a pejorative term, but my post (far from being man-centered as you take it, and far from being all about myself as you accuse it of being) is meant to show that if we were greedy for more of God and those heavenly treasures he promised us, we will self-lessly give everything we are(there’s the irony) for the things of God, for His glory (rather than our own).
Your accusations seem to miss the spirit of the blog. They seem rash and uncharitable. Besides,
Where did I denounce tithing?
See, you can’t even be confronted. I will pray that God will humble your pride.
I left that last comment by the way, and I didn’t leave it as anonymous, so I don’t know why it says anonymous.
-Jake Brand
that’s the right kind of greed, i guess 🙂
God’s Grace!
Pros Apologian Archives for March 2006
I just realized that I need to give more. Hmmmmm…. a point to ponder.
Brad, did you hear Mike Waddell got married to Katie, and he is moving to the California Bay Area?
http://mikewaddell.blogspot.com/
Here is a novel new way to interact with your blogspot…
Put this ATOM URL for example…
http://koopstacochran.blogspot.com/atom.xml
…into Google reader…
http://www.google.com/reader/
…or a software-based newsreader
Hey what’s up dude?
I’m finding that exercising Biblical stewardship is exceedingly difficult in the absence of gainful employment.