Book of Mark: Part Twelve
Is Money Your Master? Discovering the Truth About Giving
In Mark 12, Jesus tells a compelling parable about a vineyard. This vineyard, representing Israel, is a microcosm of God's relationship with His people. Through this story, Jesus illustrates profound truths about giving, obedience, and trust in God. Let’s explore how these lessons apply to us today.
The Parable of the Vineyard: A Heavenly Meaning
Jesus used parables—earthly stories with heavenly meanings—to teach timeless principles. In this parable, the vineyard owner (God) entrusts His property to tenants (humanity). However, when the owner sends servants (prophets) and later his son (Jesus) to collect the harvest, they are mistreated and rejected.
The rejection of the owner's son is a poignant picture of how humanity often rejects God’s authority. Yet, the cornerstone—a symbol of Jesus—is unshakable. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Mark 12:10).
This parable challenges us to align our lives with the Cornerstone. When our lives feel off-balance or "wonky," we must recalibrate by returning to the foundation: Jesus and His Word.
The Question of Giving: Caesar and God
The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with a tricky question: should taxes be paid to Caesar? Jesus, discerning their intentions, answered with divine wisdom: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17).
This response underscores two key responsibilities:
Honor earthly authorities.
Prioritize God as our ultimate authority.
Jesus' teaching reminds us that our resources—time, talent, and treasure—belong to God. Giving to God is not about obligation but about trust and worship.
Why Giving Matters: A Testimony of Trust
Many avoid discussing finances in church, yet giving is a spiritual act of worship. When we give, we are declaring:
God is first: Tithing demonstrates that God is our priority.
We trust God: Giving loosens greed's grip and declares, “God is my source.”
The Bible states, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
The 7 Transformative Power of Giving
Here’s how giving can transform your life:
Breaks the Spirit of Greed: Giving shifts our perspective from hoarding to sharing. It reminds us that money is a tool, not a god, and encourages us to reflect God's generous nature.
“You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).Provides for God's House: Your giving supports the church, the bride of Christ, enabling it to fulfill its mission to change lives, build community, and spread hope.
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house” (Malachi 3:10).Connects You to the Church: Where you invest your treasure, your heart naturally follows. By giving, you deepen your commitment to the church and its mission.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).Transforms Resources into Seeds: Every offering becomes a seed sown into God’s kingdom, ready to bear a harvest of blessings.
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower…will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10).Strengthens Faith in God’s Provision: Giving challenges us to trust God with our resources, teaching us that He is our ultimate provider.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).Gives Eternal Significance to Your Labor: Work is no longer just about earning a paycheck—it becomes an avenue for eternal impact when its fruits are invested in God's work.
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).Multiplies Joy and Blessing: Generosity brings joy, not just to the giver, but to others who are impacted by the gifts. It also aligns you with the abundant life God promises.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
A Heart Check: How Do You Give?
Jesus observed a widow giving two mites—a small yet sacrificial gift. “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others” (Mark 12:43). Her heart of worship mattered more than the amount she gave.
Giving reflects the posture of our hearts. Whether through service, worship, or finances, God values how we give, not just what we give.
Making Jesus Lord of All
Giving isn’t just about money—it’s about surrendering all areas of our lives to God. Have you made Jesus not just your Savior but the Lord of your life? This involves opening every "room" of your heart to His guidance.
If you've been holding back areas of your life from God, today is the day to surrender fully. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
