The Truth About Giving Money

The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, and can be extremely deceptive. There are numerous ministers and ministries that are caught up in the love of money. These are the ones who constantly talk about money. Every time the church meets, they bring up giving and have 10 minute sermons on how everyone needs to give. These ministers preach about money so much, because money is on their minds and hearts. You talk about what you think about. Where your treasure is, your heart is also. If the treasure of your heart is Jesus, then you will speak of Jesus. If the treasure of your heart is money to build your ministry, you will always be thinking of new ways to preach money. 

Of course ministers would not admit or acknowledge this. They would say they are preaching about money, because the people have an issue with giving; and they need to preach the truth to set the people free. But that would be equivalent to preaching on a certain sin like pornography every single week. Is that necessary? No, most leaders continually talk about money because they want it. If their hearts weren’t given to money then they would merely need to provide an opportunity for believers to give every meeting (for those who do not give online). 

Mature leadership treats believers with maturity. We believe the best in people. When we treat people with maturity, believers will rise to the occasion and be mature. We must trust the Lord to minister to people’s hearts, and speak to them about giving. This will ensure that believers are not giving under compulsion, and that they are giving with a cheerful heart. 

Jesus is our example in life and ministry. Jesus never took up an offering for His ministry, or directly asked people to give money to His ministry. Jesus did have people who were giving to His ministry and funding it so He could minister full time:

“and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means [as was the custom for a rabbi’s disciples].” Luke 8:3 AMP

Jesus trusted His Father to provide for His earthly ministry. The Father brought people around Jesus who gave willingly and joyfully so the ministry would be funded and could operate. I do not think it is wrong for ministers to take up tithes or offerings, or simply allow people to give. I believe it is incredibly wrong when ministers frequently preach on giving, shame people, and manipulate by telling believers they are in sin because they are not tithing. 

The heart is extremely wicked and we must discern our hearts by the Spirit of the living God. How can ministers who need money for their own livelihood and ministry, be objective when taking up offerings or asking for money? This is a massive conflict of interest. Some politicians are notorious for getting involved in shady deals that portray a conflict of interest. Shouldn’t ministers of the Gospel follow Jesus and stay out of this gray area and slippery slope? Oh brothers and sisters the line is so thin, and can easily be crossed. Those ministers who think they trust themselves in this matter are already fooled. 

Jesus did not ask for money as an example to us and to ministers. He demonstrated to His ministers the necessity of protecting their hearts from being entangled in money. “And some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10 AMP). This is true with numerous ministers and ministries in the United States.

The Proper Method

If I, as a minister, need financial provision for myself and ministry; I should simply give believers an opportunity to give money without any added pressure, manipulation, or sermon quoting scripture. I simply present the opportunity to give, and go on with what I am called to do, which is preaching and ministering Christ. I must then trust the Lord to provide for the ministry. This is the only way for a minister to keep their heart pure and free from the ensnarement of money. We should not “pull on” offerings, as they used to call it. 

If I, as a minister, need financial provision for myself and ministry; so I formulate a message that makes people feel guilty for not giving, then I just moved into the realm of manipulation. 

““Do not store up for yourselves [material] 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 and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 AMP)

Ministers should listen to their own preaching. They shouldn’t be spending large amounts of money on buildings, equipment, and material things. Some are quick to use this scripture to shame people for not giving to their ministry, in which they term “the Kingdom of God.” Then these same ministers turn around and use the tithe money to buy natural earthly things that will rust or that could be stolen by thieves. Hypocrites!

Now I am not saying that tithe money cannot be used to buy material things or for a building. I am saying that too much of tithe money is wasted on material things and extravagant things. I am saying that money can be better stewarded. I am also saying that ministers need to apply the above scripture to themselves. What good is it if a minister has a new building with massive TV screens, and other expensive equipment; but the Holy Spirit is not moving in power? The Spirit of God should be our top priority, and He doesn’t come dwell among us simply because we have the nicest material things or building.

The scripture above doesn’t just apply to money. It applies to time, which is much more valuable than money. How you spend your time determines where your heart is. If you spend time with the Lord, and thinking about the Lord; then your heart is with Him in Heaven. You are storing up treasure in Heaven. When this is the case you care very little about money. Money is simply a tool to survive, and it does not have control of your heart. Again, if your heart is always with the Lord and focused on the Lord in the Spirit, money does not have your heart; because your heart is not focused on money. 

You could be giving 50 percent of your money to the church, but not spending any time with the Lord or have an intimate relationship with Him. You would therefore only be storing a small amount of treasure in Heaven. The Lord is not after our money. He is after our hearts, time, and lives. Most ministers preach this scripture in relation to money, because that’s what their hearts are focused on. The Lord has told me to preach spending time with Him. When you spend time with the Lord, He directs you and you do things out of your relationship with Him. He becomes your life.

Isn’t it interesting that many preachers seem to equate money to treasure? Maybe they do so because it is treasure to them and their hearts are set on it. But is money really treasure? It certainly is not. Most money is worthless paper that is not backed by anything of value. Money is “made up” ones and zeros in the digital world that a bank created out of thin air and put into your account. That fake money is so temporal and is already passing away. True treasure is the Lord Jesus Christ. Real treasure is the presence of God. That is the treasure I want and long for. Once you have partaken of that treasure, fake earthly money is nothing to your heart. 

Supporting Ministries that God is not Supporting

Some believers are giving to ministries that the Lord does not want supported. There are ministries who are not truly preaching Christ or His cross. These ministers are living for themselves, their calling, their enrichment, their fame, and their destiny. Believers should not be giving to anything that is not exalting Christ, and allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way. Believers should send their support money to a ministry of their choosing (who the Holy Spirit directs). They do not have to give to the ministry they are attending just because the pastor says they do. No, give to a ministry that is doing the will of God. You have freedom to give where the Lord says. Don’t be trapped by the religious establishment. Be free in the Lord to give to Him, how and where He chooses. 

Believers who are giving to ministries and ministers who are not in alignment with Jesus, are actually fighting against God. They are supporting what God is not supporting. They are giving life to that which God would rather die. How can the Lord raise up His true ministers, when the church is giving money to compromised worldly ministers? Believers will be held accountable for supporting what the Father wants to dry up financially. Believers giving money to ministries the Father does not want to receive money, are actually funding the false religious system and keeping believers trapped in system of man’s control.

Food in the Lord’s House

Now we will take a look at one of the most preached scriptures on tithing and let the Holy Spirit shine His revelatory light on it:

““Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld]. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation! Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it.” (Malachi 3:8-10 AMP)

So as we can see, tithes and offerings are to be brought into the storehouse (God commissioned ministries) so that there is food in His house. Most ministers interpret “house” as their ministry or church, but let’s look at how the New Testament interprets God’s house:

“ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, well pleasing to God by Jesus, the Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5 JUB)

Ephesians 2:20-22 agrees with the above scripture. God’s house is His people. Therefore tithes and offerings should be used primarily on God’s spiritual house, not physical things that will be destroyed. It is absolutely Biblical for a minister to live off of tithes and offerings:

“So also [on the same principle] the Lord directed those who preach the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:14 AMP)

However, tithes and offerings should also be used by ministers and ministries to take care for the Lord’s spiritual house; which is His church or His people. For far too long, leaders have focused on natural buildings as the church, but that is not the church. Maybe we haven’t seen the windows open and the blessing being poured out from Heaven, because we have been spending the tithe money inappropriately. The modern church has been focused on the natural, and the Lord is trying to get us focused on spiritual. He is building a spiritual house, not a physical one. 

“There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.” (Acts 4:34-35 AMP)

We should view the scripture above through the lens of giving tithes and offerings. The apostles took the money given and distributed it to other believers (God’s house) who were in need. These people were then able to have food or get out of debt. Then they would be better prepared to gather with the church and spend time with the Lord. Here are a few more scriptures in which tithes and offerings were given and distributed to the Lord’s spiritual house: 2 Corinthians 9:12-13, Acts 11:28-30, Romans 15:25-27. It’s very interesting how the first century church used money given to the Lord, opposed to how the current church uses money. The scriptures reveal the truth and are a model for us.

The Lord is in the process of restoring apostolic leadership to the church who will make sure the Lord’s spiritual house is cared for the way the apostles in the first century did. This leadership will focus on the Lord’s true house, instead of their own ministry. This is the primary way that tithes and offerings were used in the New Testament scriptures (besides ministers living off the money). Money must be used on the true spiritual house of God before natural things. 

The Example

“Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.” (Luke 18:18-23 NKJV)

This would have been the perfect opportunity for Jesus to fund His entire ministry, and to fund the ministries’ of the 12 apostles for some time. Jesus didn’t need to tell the rich young ruler to give all his money to the poor. He could have simply preached to him about giving tithes and offerings to His ministry. That’s what many pastors in America would have done. They would teach the rich young ruler proper doctrine about giving tithes to their ministries, and then their ministries would be greatly blessed. 

Well it’s a good thing we have Jesus for our example. We see that Jesus demonstrates how His disciples should be to keep their hearts free from the love of money. “Give it to the poor,” Jesus says. How many ministers in our time would be enraged if a massive amount of wealth was just given to the poor, and they didn’t get anything from it? These leaders have the spirit of Judas. Judas was enraged when money that could have come to him, was wasted (in his opinion): 

“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”” (John 12:3-8 NKJV)

This would be equivalent to someone taking a large amount of paper money (acquired from working an entire year) and burning it as an offering to Jesus. Wasting it on Jesus. How many Judas-like minsters in America would be enraged if a believer in their ministry took money and burned it before the Lord as an act of worship? That’s exactly what Mary did. She burned cash. “But you could have given that money to the ministry and funded the gospel,” the minister might say. But inwardly, like Judas, he is lusting after the money that he didn’t get. Money has a value in the minister’s heart. But for the one who truly worships Jesus only, money is nothing special.

The Falsehood that Jesus Preached Mostly about Money

I have heard a number of leaders over the years say that Jesus preached more on money than any other subject. They said this because their hearts were set on money, and they interpreted the scriptures through the lens of their hearts’ desire. Their own biases caused them to miss the true meaning of Jesus’ parables. They wanted to justify why they preach on money often. “Well Jesus preached on money all the time,” they parrot after each other. 

The parable of the talents is an example (Matthew 25:14-30). Jesus uses money as an example in the parable, but money is not His focus. Jesus is saying that we will be judged on what we do with what we are given in this life. This applies to our time, our natural giftings, our spiritual giftings, our careers, stewardship of our children, our ministries, our relationship with the Lord, how we treat others, our assimilation into the body of Christ, our callings, our marriage, and also our finances. How we used our money will be one aspect of how we are judged. But we will not be judged entirely on how we spend our money, because it is certainly not the most important thing. Money is not what this parable, and others are about. Jesus tells us to give, but tithing is far less important then allowing His character to possess us:

““Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23 AMP)

According to Jesus, tithing is a lesser issue. Allowing Him to come forth in us with justice, righteousness, love, mercy, and faithfulness is much weightier and more important. Many in the American church, like the Pharisees, have placed the lesser things above the weightier more important matters of the Lord.

Sowing and Reaping

“Jesus said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; or about your body, as to what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the crop]; they have no storehouse or barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:22-24‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Animals do not sow and reap, yet the Lord provides for them. How much more so with believers? If you have a job, you are sowing work. If you are sowing work then you are reaping money. The good Father is going to provide and take care of His children. Preachers manipulate God’s children by telling them they need to sow into their ministry (that they call the Kingdom) to get money. The rich unbelievers of this world certainly do just fine financially without sowing into any Christian ministries. Sow into the Kingdom because you love God, and you want to further His Kingdom. Don’t further the Kingdoms of men by giving your money to men building their own ministries. Use wisdom. Do not be manipulated. Give with a right heart and right motives to the right ministries. If you give how the Lord is telling you to, then you will store up treasure in Heaven. It is definitely more important to reap eternal treasure in Heaven than temporal treasure on the earth.

Good Stewardship

Many believers use money in a good way: food to eat, transportation, a house to live in, clothes to wear, and other basic things needed to live. We have to work for these things, and it is good in the sight of God to buy these things. We should always be progressing with the Lord, and giving Him greater control. Everything we have must become His. If we are to be His disciples, then we must give up all our possessions. In other words, He has control of our possessions and shows us how to use them. We obey Him.

World currencies are currently being inflated. People are still making the same amount of money, but the cost of living has increased dramatically. We should be giving to God’s work, but the Lord has given us jobs to provide for our own families also. It is our God given responsibilities to take care of our families. It’s not the fault of believers that the ruling elite are stripping away our money with higher taxes and inflation. Worldwide, people are having to work more just to provide for their families. This means that they have less time with the Lord. People around the world are starving and living in poverty, because the wealthy elite are sucking up all the wealth of the world.

We should be supporting the Gospel and giving to Jesus. But ministers get to spend a lot of time with the Lord while, believers have to work jobs and have only a little time with the Lord. Then many leaders will tell the people they need to spend more time in prayer along with giving more money. See the burden that is being placed on God’s people. This is not right. The Lord wants His people to have time with Him, and not be trapped in an endless cycle of slavery. He doesn’t want His people being slaves, in which their only purpose is to work so they can give to the church. He wants intimacy with His people. 

The first century church gave money to believers to help them. They used the money to strengthen God’s house (His people). We are entering a time in which the true church will be returning to this. Leaders should be more compassionate and understanding with believers who are working to provide for their families. They need to have grace for people. Leaders need to reread the writings of Paul and the book of Acts, so they can understand that money is supposed to be distributed to the body of Christ. Leaders’ main priorities should be helping believers to have more time with the Lord, instead of seeing them work more to get more money. 

Reformation

Joash started off as a great reformer. He had it in his heart to rebuild the house of the Lord. Joash used the money given by the people to rebuild the temple of God:

“Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money for the dedicated things which is brought into the house of the Lord, in current money, both the money of each man’s assessment [for all those bound by vows], and all the money which any man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house (temple) of the Lord, let the priests receive such contributions for themselves, each from his acquaintance; and they shall repair any breach in the house of the Lord, wherever a breach is found.” But it came about in the twenty-third year of [the reign of] King Jehoash, that the priests still had not repaired the damages of the Lord’s house. Then King Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest and the [other] priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the damage of the house (temple)? Now then, do not take any more money from your acquaintances, but turn it all over for [the repair of] the damages of the house.” [You are no longer responsible for this work. I will take it into my own hands.]” (2 Kings‬ ‭12:4-7‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

The priests of his time were not using the money to rebuild the temple, just as many pastors of our time are not doing so. Money must be used to build living stones together into the spiritual temple of God. This means that those in ministry should be paying for believers to be equipped and perfected. Leaders should be paying for believers to go to ministry school, not charging believers to be equipped in school. Joash walked in a kingly authority which is symbolic of the apostolic ministry. The Lord is restoring apostles who, like Joash, will steward the Lord’s money correctly and use it for the Lord’s intended purposes. Damaged living stones must be repaired so they can be built into the temple of the Lord.

The Driving Out 

“And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice]. Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”” (Matthew 21:12-13 AMP)

Jesus will drive out all of the leaders who are prostituting His Gospel. He is going to bring an end to all of the merchandising of His Gospel. He has called leaders to perfect and equip the saints for the work of ministry (a holy call and a great privilege). Many leaders have decided that believers need to pay them in order to be perfected and equipped. The command and choosing of Jesus is no longer enough. Leaders now require believers to pay for ministry schools, meetings, and training. This Americanized Gospel plague has began spreading like a cancer to other parts of the world. How backwards are we from the true Gospel in the pure word of God?

Ministers were selected by the Holy Spirit, not by paying money to attend a ministry school. The American church has polluted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She oftentimes sees through the lens of a lust for money. She needs more money to build bigger and better. But the true church is the people. The people need to be invested in. They need help and support. The people should have the Gospel for free, and the people need time to be with the Lord. Leaders are here for the people of God, the people are not here for leaders. Jesus is going to clean house, and cast out all of the garbage in His house. He is going to cleanse the temple from all the unrighteous merchandising of the saints. The whip is already in His hands, and unless repentance comes very soon from many in leadership; they will find themselves driven out of what they call “their church.”

-Ty Unruh (2021)