Serve God with Your Substance

Bible Passage: Luke 8:1-3

I. There are three types of characters in this passage

1. Jesus
2. Jesus’ disciples
3. A group of women; of them, first mentioned is Mary Magdalene!

a. Mary Magdalene lived in Magdala (Luke 8:2)
b. Magdala was located on the western shore of Galilee (cf. Matt 15:39)
c. The Greek name for Magdala was “Taricheae” or “factories for salting fish” (Strabo 16.2.45; Pliny 5.71)
d. The Aramaic name was “Migdal Nunnayah” meaning “Tower of the Fishes”—some think that Magdala was also called “Dalmanutha” (cf. Mark 8:10)

II. Jesus was preaching and announcing the good news of the Kingdom of God village after village (verse 1)

1. This verse implies that in these villages and towns another kingdom was at work, the opposite of the Kingdom of God, i.e., the kingdom of Satan
2. Satan exercises his rule (kingdom) on this earth where we live

a. Satan appears to have authority over the world and its splendour (Matt 4:8-9) materialism, hedonism
b. Satan appears to be behind human behaviour and decisions (Acts 5:3)
c. Satan opposes the redemptive purposes of God (Mark 8:33; 2 Cor 4:4)
d. Satan sows evil in human being (Matt 13:38)
e. Satan snatches the word of the Kingdom from hearts (Mark 4:15)
f. Satan entered into Judas, leading him to betray Jesus to the priests (Luke 22:31)

3. Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God, which is in conflict with the kingdom of Satan
4. Mary was under the control of Satan, which could have manifested in varied ways—in fact, Mary was under Satan’s reign/dominion
5. Jesus healed Mary from demon possession

a. Luke 8:2 … from whom seven demons had gone out
b. Mark 16:9 Mary of Magdala, out of whom he had cast seven demons
c. “Seven” is a complete number which signifies that Mary was under complete possession of the evil spirits
d. She was freed from “Demons” which was evident from her response to Jesus

6. Along with the other women, Mary served (διακονέω) Jesus and His team with the substance they owned

a. Jesus and His disciples traveled to villages and towns to announce the good news of the Kingdom of God
b. Mary and her friends supported Jesus’ work with their resources so that the work would continue—Luke calls it “service” or “ministry”
c. The minute she received God’s grace, she became a participant in Jesus’ work like Lydia of Philippi
d. She and her friends believed in the power of the Gospel, and they wanted to advance it

i. “Generosity is not a financial matter, but it is a heart matter”
ii. God initiates giving, empowers givers, supplies gifts, and meets needs (Walter Hanson)

e. Relationship with God has two components: continuous receiving from Him and generous reciprocity towards Him (cf. Phil 4:15)

7. How would she be able to do it?

a. This is the fruit of her conversion— I seek fruit abounding to your account (Phil 4:17)
b. Gospel converted them from being mere recipients to transformed participants

i. According to Paul, giving or participation in God’s work with substance is a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God (Phil 4:18c)
ii. It demonstrates that their hearts were rich towards God that participating financially was equivalent to worship (cf. Phil 4:18)

III. Lessons

1. Ministry is a team sport, and everyone has a role to play and there is no place for apathy

a. Jesus and His disciples in the field
b. Mary Magdalene and her friends working hard in order to support Jesus and His team
c. In fact, no one is a bystander in God’s work!

2. Serving Jesus’ interest has a far-reaching positive consequence

a. Witnessed Jesus’ suffering [when most of his disciples were either absent or not around Him] (Mark 15:40; John 19:5)
b. Witnessed Jesus’ burial (Mark 15:47)
c. Lingered around the tomb of Jesus (John 20:1-2)
d. First one to discover the empty tomb (John 20:1-2)
e. Was the first to witness Jesus’ resurrection to His disciples (Matt 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10)
f. Was the first one to announce to Jesus’ disciples about His resurrection (John 20:11-12)
g. What we give to God has the potential to multiply internally and externally

3. Jesus does not want mere membership at a church, but He wants participants in His work
4. Jesus Who is anointed with the Holy Spirit by the Father defeats Satan and his kingdom

a. John 12:31 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself”
b. Luke 10:18 I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven
c. Luke 11:20 But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you

5. Great Commission is not an option for a local church and individual believer; it is a mandate
6. Financial participation in God’s work is a barometer of one’s spiritual temperature

Takeaway:

Serve the Triune God with your substance and advance God’s interest through this local church