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00:00:01 We’re going to talk about money. 00:00:03 Now, the fact is, 00:00:05 we never beg for money. 00:00:07 But that’s not to say 00:00:08 that we can’t talk about money 00:00:10 in Jehovah’s organization 00:00:11 —the earthly part. 00:00:13 So it’s long standing; 00:00:16 there is a balance here. 00:00:18 Going back to The Watchtower, a long time ago, it says: 00:00:22 “We have never considered it proper to solicit money for the Lord’s cause, 00:00:27 “after the common custom [referring to Christendom]; . . . 00:00:31 “It is our judgment that money raised by the various begging devices 00:00:36 “in the name of our Lord is offensive, 00:00:38 “unacceptable to him, 00:00:41 “and does not bring his blessing 00:00:43 either upon the givers or the work accomplished.” 00:00:47 So we do not need to be coerced into giving. 00:00:52 We gladly use our money to support Kingdom activities. 00:00:56 So that stands to this day. 00:00:59 But we’d never want to come to the conclusion that we can’t talk about money. 00:01:04 Money has to be discussed in these last days in this system. 00:01:09 It “meets a response in all things.” 00:01:12 So I thought we’d take some thoughts from the Kingdom book: 00:01:16 three reasons why we’re willing —so willing to give. 00:01:20 Some beautiful thoughts. 00:01:22 Well, the first one is connected 00:01:25 with “doing what is pleasing in [Jehovah’s] eyes.” 00:01:29 And finding 00:01:31 the Second Corinthians reference here 00:01:35 is so crucial in helping people understand 00:01:39 that we don’t beg for money. 00:01:41 But, nonetheless, we have to talk about it from time to time. 00:01:46 Here in the ninth chapter, 00:01:51 donations and such were being discussed. 00:01:54 And then this profound, inspired thought, 00:01:57 which is reflecting Jehovah’s thinking, 00:01:59 is in verse 7 00:02:02 —2 Corinthians 9:7: 00:02:04 “Let each one do just as he is resolved in his heart, 00:02:08 “not grudgingly or under compulsion, 00:02:12 for God loves a cheerful giver.” 00:02:15 So there we have it. 00:02:17 We’re happy to give to Jehovah. 00:02:20 When needs arise, 00:02:22 and the organization brings it to our attention 00:02:26 —for example, disasters and such 00:02:28 like the report we had at the annual meeting 00:02:31 about the increase in disasters— 00:02:34 millions of dollars of God’s Kingdom money 00:02:38 was used to help our brothers. 00:02:40 But when it comes to giving, 00:02:42 it’s an individual responsibility, as the verse says, 00:02:45 “resolved in his heart [or her heart], not grudgingly.” 00:02:49 And the footnote addresses the word “reluctantly.” 00:02:54 So it’s not like we embarrass people 00:02:57 or beg them, saying: “Look, you’re well-off. 00:03:00 Why aren’t you giving more?” 00:03:02 Well, that’s not their business; that’s not our business. 00:03:05 We have to resolve it in our own heart. 00:03:07 So while we discuss money, 00:03:10 we never come across like we’re putting people 00:03:14 —trying to get them 00:03:16 to even grudgingly give just so we get the money. 00:03:19 That’s not this organization. 00:03:21 Of course, Christendom, they are experts at begging for money. 00:03:26 So we love Jehovah. 00:03:28 We want to be the kind of person that he loves. 00:03:33 And notice that beautiful expression: “God loves a cheerful giver.” 00:03:36 One translation put it nicely: 00:03:38 “God loves people who love to give.” 00:03:42 And that’s true. 00:03:44 So we want Jehovah to love us. 00:03:46 So this money we might have 00:03:49 —whatever amount, depending on our own personal circumstances— 00:03:53 we’re happy to give to Kingdom interests. 00:03:56 So that’s the first one: We make these donations 00:04:00 because of our love for Jehovah. 00:04:02 Now this second one, this is interesting 00:04:04 —a heart-searching principle found back in the Mosaic Law. 00:04:08 Turn to Deuteronomy chapter 16, 00:04:11 if you would, please. 00:04:13 In Deuteronomy 16, 00:04:16 you’ll see the connection. 00:04:19 While this applied to the Jews at that time, 00:04:22 you’ll see how it applies to us in our day. 00:04:25 We’re going to read verse 16 and then verse 17 of Deuteronomy 16. 00:04:30 “Three times a year, 00:04:32 “all your males should appear before Jehovah your God 00:04:35 “in the place that he chooses: 00:04:37 “at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, 00:04:39 “the Festival of Weeks, 00:04:41 “and the Festival of Booths, 00:04:44 “[now notice,] and none of them 00:04:47 “should appear before Jehovah empty-handed. 00:04:51 “The gift that each one brings should be in proportion 00:04:55 to the blessing that Jehovah your God has given you.” 00:04:58 So if you let that sink in, 00:05:01 this is what Jehovah wanted to be conveyed 00:05:05 to the Israelites who would attend these festivals—“none.” 00:05:09 Now, he didn’t say, 00:05:11 ‘If you’re well-off, if you’ve had a great year 00:05:14 (as opposed to some that were poor).’ 00:05:17 They still had issues back at that time, 00:05:19 even though it was Jehovah’s nation. 00:05:22 But he said: ‘None should appear empty-handed.’ 00:05:25 So that takes in all of us, 00:05:27 whatever our circumstances are, 00:05:29 whether at Bethel or in the field. 00:05:31 Jehovah doesn’t approve of us coming empty-handed. 00:05:38 What would help us not to come empty-handed, 00:05:42 in this case, back in Israel or in our time either? 00:05:46 Notice verse 17, and this is a lot to think about: 00:05:49 “The gift that each one brings should be in proportion 00:05:53 to the blessing that Jehovah your God has given you.” 00:05:56 So there we have it. 00:05:58 You stop and reflect that they were supposed to do that, 00:06:01 and we can do the same throughout the year. 00:06:04 Reflect on the blessings that Jehovah God has given us. 00:06:08 You have to take time to do that; you have to give that consideration. 00:06:13 “The gift that each one brings should be in proportion to the blessing.” 00:06:16 So adding up these blessings, 00:06:18 then we’re happy to give out of our material possessions. 00:06:22 So a profound thought there, 00:06:24 and something to reflect on so that we don’t find ourselves 00:06:29 —when it comes to contributions on a monthly basis or whatever— 00:06:34 empty-handed, perhaps thinking, ‘Well, I’m doing so much here and there.’ 00:06:37 Well, money meets a response in all things, 00:06:42 and you have to take that into account, 00:06:44 even if we’re in the poor range. 00:06:47 Now, the third one is connected with our love for Jesus. 00:06:52 Let’s turn to John chapter 14, if you would, please 00:06:56 —John chapter 14. 00:06:59 We give and have voluntary contributions 00:07:02 because we love our Lord Jesus. 00:07:06 And notice what he stated here, 00:07:09 John 14:23: 00:07:14 “In answer Jesus said to him: 00:07:17 “‘If anyone loves me, he will observe my word, 00:07:21 “‘and my Father will love him, 00:07:23 and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.’” 00:07:27 So appreciate how Jesus put it—“if.” 00:07:31 So it’s a responsibility that falls on us individually. 00:07:34 But if we say we love Jesus 00:07:37 (we’re not like Christendom 00:07:39 with this proclamation of their love for Jesus, 00:07:41 —they really don’t even know the real Jesus, frankly, 00:07:45 until they get an accurate knowledge of the truth), 00:07:47 if we’re in the truth 00:07:49 —dedicated, baptized servants of him— 00:07:52 if we really love him, we’re going to observe his word. 00:07:55 Now, that means not just carrying out the Kingdom work, 00:07:57 putting our time and energy into it, 00:08:00 it also means money. 00:08:02 We are willing to donate money to support the worldwide work. 00:08:07 We’re not ashamed to admit 00:08:10 that it takes money to have these things operate 00:08:13 —branches, supporting all of the preaching work, 00:08:18 the Kingdom work, and all these other initiatives 00:08:20 that we’ve had in recent years. 00:08:22 It takes money. 00:08:23 You can’t go to people that you buy things from and say, 00:08:27 “Well, look, this is a non-profit organization,” 00:08:29 trying to shame them, saying, “Well, can you give it to me?” 00:08:31 No. 00:08:32 They want their money and to be paid for the various things 00:08:36 that we have to use to accomplish Jehovah’s work. 00:08:40 So something to keep in mind, those three things: 00:08:43 Our love for Jehovah —we want to do what’s pleasing to him. 00:08:47 We count our blessings from Jehovah. 00:08:50 Then, we have our love for Christ Jesus. 00:08:54 And we want to do whatever we can. 00:08:56 So how you do it with the financial contributions, 00:09:00 that’s a personal decision, 00:09:02 and Jehovah dignifies us with that. 00:09:04 We never want to be shaming somebody 00:09:07 that we think should be doing thus and so. 00:09:10 That’s a personal matter. 00:09:12 But keep in mind, sometimes, if you are poor 00:09:15 —remember the widow. 00:09:18 So she didn’t come there 00:09:21 to the temple empty-handed. 00:09:24 She didn’t have much, but Jehovah loved her. 00:09:27 Jesus loved her for giving what she had. 00:09:29 So even when we’re poor, 00:09:31 we’re expected to give monetarily. 00:09:34 And it’s because we love Jehovah, we love Jesus, 00:09:37 and we appreciate all the blessings we receive 00:09:40 during the year and are grateful.
00:00:01 We’re going to talk about money. 00:00:03 Now, the fact is, 00:00:05 we never beg for money. 00:00:07 But that’s not to say 00:00:08 that we can’t talk about money 00:00:10 in Jehovah’s organization 00:00:11 —the earthly part. 00:00:13 So it’s long standing; 00:00:16 there is a balance here. 00:00:18 Going back to The Watchtower, a long time ago, it says: 00:00:22 “We have never considered it proper to solicit money for the Lord’s cause, 00:00:27 “after the common custom [referring to Christendom]; . . . 00:00:31 “It is our judgment that money raised by the various begging devices 00:00:36 “in the name of our Lord is offensive, 00:00:38 “unacceptable to him, 00:00:41 “and does not bring his blessing 00:00:43 either upon the givers or the work accomplished.” 00:00:47 So we do not need to be coerced into giving. 00:00:52 We gladly use our money to support Kingdom activities. 00:00:56 So that stands to this day. 00:00:59 But we’d never want to come to the conclusion that we can’t talk about money. 00:01:04 Money has to be discussed in these last days in this system. 00:01:09 It “meets a response in all things.” 00:01:12 So I thought we’d take some thoughts from the Kingdom book: 00:01:16 three reasons why we’re willing —so willing to give. 00:01:20 Some beautiful thoughts. 00:01:22 Well, the first one is connected 00:01:25 with “doing what is pleasing in [Jehovah’s] eyes.” 00:01:29 And finding 00:01:31 the Second Corinthians reference here 00:01:35 is so crucial in helping people understand 00:01:39 that we don’t beg for money. 00:01:41 But, nonetheless, we have to talk about it from time to time. 00:01:46 Here in the ninth chapter, 00:01:51 donations and such were being discussed. 00:01:54 And then this profound, inspired thought, 00:01:57 which is reflecting Jehovah’s thinking, 00:01:59 is in verse 7 00:02:02 —2 Corinthians 9:7: 00:02:04 “Let each one do just as he is resolved in his heart, 00:02:08 “not grudgingly or under compulsion, 00:02:12 for God loves a cheerful giver.” 00:02:15 So there we have it. 00:02:17 We’re happy to give to Jehovah. 00:02:20 When needs arise, 00:02:22 and the organization brings it to our attention 00:02:26 —for example, disasters and such 00:02:28 like the report we had at the annual meeting 00:02:31 about the increase in disasters— 00:02:34 millions of dollars of God’s Kingdom money 00:02:38 was used to help our brothers. 00:02:40 But when it comes to giving, 00:02:42 it’s an individual responsibility, as the verse says, 00:02:45 “resolved in his heart [or her heart], not grudgingly.” 00:02:49 And the footnote addresses the word “reluctantly.” 00:02:54 So it’s not like we embarrass people 00:02:57 or beg them, saying: “Look, you’re well-off. 00:03:00 Why aren’t you giving more?” 00:03:02 Well, that’s not their business; that’s not our business. 00:03:05 We have to resolve it in our own heart. 00:03:07 So while we discuss money, 00:03:10 we never come across like we’re putting people 00:03:14 —trying to get them 00:03:16 to even grudgingly give just so we get the money. 00:03:19 That’s not this organization. 00:03:21 Of course, Christendom, they are experts at begging for money. 00:03:26 So we love Jehovah. 00:03:28 We want to be the kind of person that he loves. 00:03:33 And notice that beautiful expression: “God loves a cheerful giver.” 00:03:36 One translation put it nicely: 00:03:38 “God loves people who love to give.” 00:03:42 And that’s true. 00:03:44 So we want Jehovah to love us. 00:03:46 So this money we might have 00:03:49 —whatever amount, depending on our own personal circumstances— 00:03:53 we’re happy to give to Kingdom interests. 00:03:56 So that’s the first one: We make these donations 00:04:00 because of our love for Jehovah. 00:04:02 Now this second one, this is interesting 00:04:04 —a heart-searching principle found back in the Mosaic Law. 00:04:08 Turn to Deuteronomy chapter 16, 00:04:11 if you would, please. 00:04:13 In Deuteronomy 16, 00:04:16 you’ll see the connection. 00:04:19 While this applied to the Jews at that time, 00:04:22 you’ll see how it applies to us in our day. 00:04:25 We’re going to read verse 16 and then verse 17 of Deuteronomy 16. 00:04:30 “Three times a year, 00:04:32 “all your males should appear before Jehovah your God 00:04:35 “in the place that he chooses: 00:04:37 “at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, 00:04:39 “the Festival of Weeks, 00:04:41 “and the Festival of Booths, 00:04:44 “[now notice,] and none of them 00:04:47 “should appear before Jehovah empty-handed. 00:04:51 “The gift that each one brings should be in proportion 00:04:55 to the blessing that Jehovah your God has given you.” 00:04:58 So if you let that sink in, 00:05:01 this is what Jehovah wanted to be conveyed 00:05:05 to the Israelites who would attend these festivals—“none.” 00:05:09 Now, he didn’t say, 00:05:11 ‘If you’re well-off, if you’ve had a great year 00:05:14 (as opposed to some that were poor).’ 00:05:17 They still had issues back at that time, 00:05:19 even though it was Jehovah’s nation. 00:05:22 But he said: ‘None should appear empty-handed.’ 00:05:25 So that takes in all of us, 00:05:27 whatever our circumstances are, 00:05:29 whether at Bethel or in the field. 00:05:31 Jehovah doesn’t approve of us coming empty-handed. 00:05:38 What would help us not to come empty-handed, 00:05:42 in this case, back in Israel or in our time either? 00:05:46 Notice verse 17, and this is a lot to think about: 00:05:49 “The gift that each one brings should be in proportion 00:05:53 to the blessing that Jehovah your God has given you.” 00:05:56 So there we have it. 00:05:58 You stop and reflect that they were supposed to do that, 00:06:01 and we can do the same throughout the year. 00:06:04 Reflect on the blessings that Jehovah God has given us. 00:06:08 You have to take time to do that; you have to give that consideration. 00:06:13 “The gift that each one brings should be in proportion to the blessing.” 00:06:16 So adding up these blessings, 00:06:18 then we’re happy to give out of our material possessions. 00:06:22 So a profound thought there, 00:06:24 and something to reflect on so that we don’t find ourselves 00:06:29 —when it comes to contributions on a monthly basis or whatever— 00:06:34 empty-handed, perhaps thinking, ‘Well, I’m doing so much here and there.’ 00:06:37 Well, money meets a response in all things, 00:06:42 and you have to take that into account, 00:06:44 even if we’re in the poor range. 00:06:47 Now, the third one is connected with our love for Jesus. 00:06:52 Let’s turn to John chapter 14, if you would, please 00:06:56 —John chapter 14. 00:06:59 We give and have voluntary contributions 00:07:02 because we love our Lord Jesus. 00:07:06 And notice what he stated here, 00:07:09 John 14:23: 00:07:14 “In answer Jesus said to him: 00:07:17 “‘If anyone loves me, he will observe my word, 00:07:21 “‘and my Father will love him, 00:07:23 and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.’” 00:07:27 So appreciate how Jesus put it—“if.” 00:07:31 So it’s a responsibility that falls on us individually. 00:07:34 But if we say we love Jesus 00:07:37 (we’re not like Christendom 00:07:39 with this proclamation of their love for Jesus, 00:07:41 —they really don’t even know the real Jesus, frankly, 00:07:45 until they get an accurate knowledge of the truth), 00:07:47 if we’re in the truth 00:07:49 —dedicated, baptized servants of him— 00:07:52 if we really love him, we’re going to observe his word. 00:07:55 Now, that means not just carrying out the Kingdom work, 00:07:57 putting our time and energy into it, 00:08:00 it also means money. 00:08:02 We are willing to donate money to support the worldwide work. 00:08:07 We’re not ashamed to admit 00:08:10 that it takes money to have these things operate 00:08:13 —branches, supporting all of the preaching work, 00:08:18 the Kingdom work, and all these other initiatives 00:08:20 that we’ve had in recent years. 00:08:22 It takes money. 00:08:23 You can’t go to people that you buy things from and say, 00:08:27 “Well, look, this is a non-profit organization,” 00:08:29 trying to shame them, saying, “Well, can you give it to me?” 00:08:31 No. 00:08:32 They want their money and to be paid for the various things 00:08:36 that we have to use to accomplish Jehovah’s work. 00:08:40 So something to keep in mind, those three things: 00:08:43 Our love for Jehovah —we want to do what’s pleasing to him. 00:08:47 We count our blessings from Jehovah. 00:08:50 Then, we have our love for Christ Jesus. 00:08:54 And we want to do whatever we can. 00:08:56 So how you do it with the financial contributions, 00:09:00 that’s a personal decision, 00:09:02 and Jehovah dignifies us with that. 00:09:04 We never want to be shaming somebody 00:09:07 that we think should be doing thus and so. 00:09:10 That’s a personal matter. 00:09:12 But keep in mind, sometimes, if you are poor 00:09:15 —remember the widow. 00:09:18 So she didn’t come there 00:09:21 to the temple empty-handed. 00:09:24 She didn’t have much, but Jehovah loved her. 00:09:27 Jesus loved her for giving what she had. 00:09:29 So even when we’re poor, 00:09:31 we’re expected to give monetarily. 00:09:34 And it’s because we love Jehovah, we love Jesus, 00:09:37 and we appreciate all the blessings we receive 00:09:40 during the year and are grateful.
