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This week, we are kicking off a new weekly series, Four Myths of Giving, and today, we'll be exploring the biblical purpose of generosity, the dangers of both prosperity theology and stinginess, and why Jesus cared so much about what happens in our wallets.
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Myth #1 - God Doesn’t Want My Money
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When I went to Kenya in 2019, local missionaries said the greatest threat to the spread of the gospel was the teaching from local churches on the topic of money. Most churches taught about financial generosity 30-40 Sundays per year, claiming that the more you gave the church, the more God would bless you. For evidence, just look at the “pastor.” He drove the nicest car, his wife had the nicest clothes, and his house was the biggest of anyone in the church. (This is because, in these churches, the pastor kept 100% of the tithes, while the church itself barely survived on the support of U.S.-based denominations.) Clearly, the teaching in many Kenyan churches was that God wanted your money so He could make you rich.
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However, this errant teaching is not isolated to Kenya. It can be found all around the globe and throughout history. If you study ancient Judaism, you find that there were similar strains of such teaching among some sects. For instance, the Pharisees believed so much in this idea of “giving to get,” they would “tithe mint and dill and cumin,” (Matthew 23:23) giving the smallest and most legalistic amounts, believing it would please God and cause Him to pour out His financial blessing upon them.
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So to avoid this spiritual Ponzi scheme, many Christians have swung to the other extreme, believing God doesn’t want your money. They aim to avoid the legalism and worldly mindset the prosperity gospel can bring, because they know “you cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
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However, this reaction to not give is just as unbiblical as the prosperity gospel. While God does not need your money, He does want your money. But not because He lacks anything; after all, He “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:8-11). Rather, He wants to be Lord over every area of your life, including your financial life.
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This is why the poor widow in Mark 12 is praised even though she only gave the equivalent of a couple pennies while the rich people gave much larger amounts. It wasn't the amount that mattered—it was the sacrifice. This widow was putting God first in her life, unlike the rich people around her who gave out of their abundance.
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So giving a portion of your income to your church isn’t about what God or the church wants from you, but rather what God wants for you. He does not want you shackled to the things of this world. And so to free your heart and release joy into your life, He invites you to give willingly, joyfully, generously, and sacrificially.
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Serve at the Food Pantry
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Sign up to serve at the Food Pantry at Waverly City Hall on Tuesday, August 11th @ 4:30pm (setup) and/or 5:30pm (distribution). Let's show up for our community and get signed up today!
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Partnership Class
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Wanna know what it looks like to become a Riverwood Partner (our term for membership)? Sign up for our August 16th Riverwood 101 class, which will be held after the Worship Gathering. Lunch will be included!
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Spiritual Growth Resources
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Did you know we have personalized spiritual growth resource suggestions readily available for you? Simply stop by the column in the lobby, determine your spiritual "depth," then select the appropriate card to take home with you!
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Monthly Financial Update
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Here is our financial update as of July 31st:
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Budgeted YTD Needs: $119,423.50
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Actual YTD Giving: $105,125.26*
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