Reflections on God and Money: The Grace of Giving a Million Shillings!

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia…

1 Corinthians 15:58-16:5

I interrupt the series on idolatry to share the single most memorable and helpful sermon I have heard or read on the subject of giving (and, I must add, I have heard some very good ones). The Grace of Giving a Million Shillings! was preached by G Campbell Morgan at Westminster Chapel in January 1909. It was an appeal for funds for the London Missionary Society but it was the opportunity for Dr Morgan to explain the basis and motivation for giving.

I believe the sermon remains relevant to Christians of all traditions because it exalts the superiority of giving over fundraising, the basis of giving in devotion to God and Christian fellowship and the practical application of the scriptural principles.

I cannot include the sermon in a single Reflection but it is available at the website to read or to download as a pdf. Click here to go to the website and then select from the menu at the top of the page. The following is an extract.

'We are to arrange our substance as Christian people on the basis of recognition of the fact that all is His. Consequently, it is not that I am to give Him a tenth or a part, and hold the rest to spend according to the dictates of my own desire. The Christian man must recognise that not a tenth, but ten-tenths, belong to God. He has no right to spend anything save in accordance with the Divine will. May I put the case quite simply for the youngest Christian here. Out of my income I am to spend so much on food, clothing, shelter, mental culture, recreation, and all to the glory of God. If the method of my eating is not for the glory of God then I waste God’s money. If the method of my dress is not according to the glory of God, then I violate the principle of Christian life and of Christian giving. I must do all to the glory of God. In order to giving directly and immediately to the actual work of God, therefore, there must be a recognition of stewardship, and that means careful disbursement, not only of your hundreds and thousands, or millions, but of your pence and shillings. We have no right to disburse money without investigation. If your conscience is not at rest about a society you have no right to buy off a collector with a subscription. We need a new sense of stewardship in the heart and conscience of Christian people in all this matter.'

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Sunday, 20 October 2013

The Grace of Giving a Million Shillings!