How many people in your life struggle handing their money? Their problem is not being able to spend money. Their problem is spending too much money. They have the opposite problem of the miserly Wendell family. The world has bought into what Donald Trump says, “Those who say money can't buy happiness don't know where to shop.” This is the cold hard truth. The most recent research tells us the average American family, regardless of economic status, spends 110% of their annual income. Could it be the American economy is no longer built on heavy industry but credit? Could that be the real reason our country is struggling economically today? Could it be our country is maxed out? How many people in your life struggle handling their money?

Ours is not the first generation to struggle financially. The problem is as old as mankind. That is why Jesus spent more time talking about money than any other topic. He spoke more about money more than heaven or hell. He spoke more about money than salvation and redemption. He spoke more about money than grace or judgment. The Master was not afraid to talk about money because it plays such a major role in our lives. He dealt with money matters because money does matter. Did you know one-sixth of the gospels, including one-third of the parables, touches on the untouchable topic of money? Let us be clear. Money, itself, is neither good or bad. It is amoral. It is how we handle our money that makes the difference. I have never met a person who liked to waste money. We only spend our money on the things that are important to us. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

We find ourselves today in the twelfth chapter of Mark. It is the last week in Jesus’ earthly ministry. His appointment with the cross is near. He is near the front of the Temple. The front of the Temple is significant because it is the location of large boxes where people would place their offerings. The offering came in two forms. First there was a Temple tax, for the upkeep of the Temple. The second was a freewill offering. Regardless, no giving was private. No one is hiding their envelope in the offering plate. Everyone knew what everyone was giving. Everyone knew this poor widow gave next to nothing. She gave a widow’s mite, an amount less than a penny. The Temple Finance Committee and treasurer dismisses her but Jesus values her. Because, Jesus understands the power of true sacrificial giving. So with her as a background today I want to answer three questions. They are not new questions. I have had these questions answered countless times from the most cynical lips. Maybe you are asking these questions for yourself this morning? So if you are ready to get answers to these questions say, “Amen!”

WHY SHOULD WE GIVE?

This is question number one: why should we give? Let me give you several reasons why we should give. First, we give because God created everything. Second, we give because everything you own will in time return to God. Third, we give because it proves to the world our faith is authentic. We only spend our money on things that are really important to us. The widow in the story gave all her money to the temple because God was important to her. How can you question her authenticity? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

In 1715 King Louis XIV of France died after a reign of 72 years. He had called himself "the Great," and was the monarch who made the famous statement, "I am the state!" His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular. At the memorial, thousands waited in hushed silence. A single candle was lit to heighten the mood. When the service began the Bishop Massillon began to speak; slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, "Only God is great."

I am not going to wait until your funeral. I am going to tell you now. You are not so great, only God is great. He created this whole world out of nothing. Everything that you own in this world isn’t really yours. It is only on loan from God. Why should we give? Because it really isn’t yours anyway. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Martin Luther once said, “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess.”

HOW SHOULD WE GIVE?

This is question number two: how should we give? Let me give you two ways in which we should give. We should give generously and we should give willingly. In other words, don’t give because you have to give; give because you want to give. Your attitude is everything. Give because you want to make a difference in this world in the name of Jesus. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

I love the story of the great opera singer Beverly Sills. For years she sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. One Saturday she performed a matinee. She was scheduled again that evening. Between the two performances an old friend came to visit her in her dressing room. He had attended the matinee with his two young daughters. Beverly Sills was generous with her time and welcomed the girls. After a while the father looked at his daughters and said, “Girls, we have to go. Miss Sills has to sing again this evening. I am sure she has things to do.” Beverly Sills looked at her friend and said, “You are wrong. I don’t have to sing this evening.” The man said, “What do you mean? It says in the program you are scheduled to sing again at 8:00.” She said, “Yes, I am going to sing again this evening but I don’t have to sing. I get to sing. Do you know what a privilege it is for me to sing at the New York Metropolitan Opera?” Beverly Sills was right! She didn’t have to sing. She got to sing. Attitude is everything.

I don’t have to preach three sermons every Sunday morning. I get to preach three sermons every Sunday morning. You don’t have to come to worship. You get to come to worship. You don’t have to sing in the choir. You get to sing in the choir. You don’t have to give a dime to the church. You get to give to the church. Do you understand that when you give, you are aligning yourself with God. When you give you are becoming part of the great reclamation project in the history of the world. Don’t give because you have to give. Don’t give to help the church pay utility bills. Give because you want to make a difference in this darkening world. Attitude is everything. Give because you want to give. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE?

This is question number three: what should we give? The Biblical standard for giving is the tithe. In other words, the Bible says God expects 10%. This is a complex thing. The tithe is more than a mathematical formula. Taking 10% away from a professional athlete means nothing. The Los Angeles Dodgers offered slugger outfielder Manny Ramirez a two year $45 million contract the other day. He said he needed to think about it. (What is there to think about?)Taking 10% away from a car wash attendant, who is trying to feed his family on his income is something else. Minimum wage in the state of Ohio is now $7.10 per hour. The text does not say Jesus was sitting there at the Temple with an abacus to figure out the widow’s 10%. Jesus only knew one thing. Jesus only knew she gave sacrificially. Are you giving sacrificially of your time? Are you giving sacrificially of your talent? Are you giving sacrificially of your money? Are you giving until it hurts?

The other night I had a meeting here at the church. The chair of the committee asked me to say a few words about the state of the church. Generally, speaking we are doing well. We are getting ready for Christmas. Attendance is up over last year. Membership is up over last year. Everyone seems to be getting along. The only negative I added to my report was financial. This has been a difficult year for us financially. We are about one week behind in our offerings. The truth is we are behind today because of one bad month. When that happens it is hard for us to make it up. There are no massive secret funds. We are completely dependent on people’s generosity. Some asked me what was the month? The month was July. The attendance was up over the previous July but the giving was way off. He asked, “What happened in July?” Nothing internal happened here. What happened was external. Gas prices approached $4.00 a gallon. People’s disposable income went down so their giving went down. That was the first time I had said that out loud and it shocked me. I will say this gently because I wish I didn’t have to say it at all. Could it be we give to the church out of our surplus and not out of our need? Could it be very few people here give sacrificially? The widow gave it all because God was so important to her. She was hungry for God. How hungry are you for God? Your giving reveals your spiritual maturity. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Let me end with a forth question. Who wants to be a millionaire? Don’t answer that question to quickly. The answer is not that obvious. Listen to what some millionaires said about their situation.

John W. Rockefeller said, “I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness.”

W. H. Vanderbilt said, “The care of $200,000,000 is enough to kill anyone.”

John Jacob Astor said, “I am the most miserable man on earth.”

Henry Ford said, “I was happier when doing a mechanic's job.”

Andrew Carnegie said, “Millionaires seldom smile.”

Money will buy a bed but not sleep; books but not brains; food but not appetite; finery but not beauty; a house but not a home; medicine but not health; luxuries but not culture; amusements but not happiness; religion but not salvation; a passport to everywhere but heaven.

Why should we give? Because it demonstrates to the world that we are authentic. We know what the world has forgotten. Everything really belongs to God. Only God is great! How should we give? We should give because we want to touch as many people as possible in the name of Jesus. What should we give? We should give sacrificially, just like Jesus gave to us. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”