Issue #1: You Have to Pay Your Dues

An individual may say “My schedule is too hectic to be at fellowship in person. I am too busy to study God’s Word. I do not have enough time to pray.” It is also quite common to hear, “I do not have enough money to abundantly share”. Yet the fact of the matter is that every one of those statements is an I Can Do of Mine Own Self statement. The truth is that there is a right choice and a wrong choice in every situation. And if you want to live a life which is more than abundant, you have to pay your dues.

The Lord Jesus Christ spoke the following words when spies came to him, hoping he would say something they could use to hand him over to the government.

Luke 20:25:
And he said unto them, Render [Greek: apodidōmi] therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

The word translated as “render” is apodidōmi, which can mean “to pay” or “to sell”, depending on the context. Here, the sense is “to pay”. A man ought to pay to the government the things that are due to the government, but he must also render to God the things that are due to God.

From a practical point of view, every person has two chief resources to steward—time and money. Man finds himself in that same situation before God.

Romans 12:1:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

The word “holy” is hagios, which means “set apart”. The word “acceptable” is the word euarestos, which is made up of eu (“well, good”) and arestos (“pleasing”). Arestos can also have the meaning of “fit”, meaning suitable or adequate. Thus, euarestos refers to that which is “well‑pleasing, well‑suited” or “fully fit”.

Our bodies are to be a living sacrifice to God. This sacrifice is both “set apart” from other sacrifices and “well-pleasing” before God.

I Corinthians 6:20:
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Your life was bought with a price. It is not your own to do with as you please. Your life belongs to God.

Pay to God what belongs to God. Pay to God your time—time spent fellowshipping with the believers of the One Body, time spent in God’s Word and time spent in prayer.

I Corinthians 9:14
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

The pressures of this world are so often brought about by men. Yet, according to Scripture, we who are sanctified are not the servants of men. Therefore, we ought not to allow the things of men to get in the way of the things that ought to be paid to God, including our time and our material gain.

I Corinthians 7:23:
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. Therefore, those who hear the gospel ought to share with those who preach it.

Ephesians 4:28:
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

A believer ought to work so that he may give to those in need. Work should meet one’s own needs, but its greater profit is that it enables a person to give to those who lack.

Romans 12:13:
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

The saints are to show hospitality and distribute to the needs of other saints.

Pay to God what belongs to God. Pay to God your material gain—support those who preach the gospel, give to those in need and care for the saints.

Luke 20:25:
And he said unto them, Render [Pay] therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

Pay unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s. Pay unto God the things which are God’s.

Pay your dues According to Scripture.