To
GIVE = Greek – didomi – Hebrew – Nathan
READ:
p 19-22 “How to increase giving in your church”
Giving
is rooted in the heart of God shown through JESUS!!!
John 3:16 For God so love the world, that he GAVE…
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to GIVE his life as a ransom for many."
He gave his LIFE – even to
the point of death. Phil 2:6-8 Jesus
had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to
cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. When the time came, he set aside the
privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was
an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he
lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death — and
the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.
What
did Jesus say about GIVING?
Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by
this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to GIVE
than to receive.'
This is a new saying for the Christians – it is nowhere
recorded in the gospels.
Great illustration is the
end of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Paul
establishes weekly giving
1 Cor 16:1-3 Now
about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to
do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum
of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no
collections will have to be made.
10
Characteristics of Giving like God gives:
2 Corinthians 8:1-12 1
And now, brothers, we want you to know
about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. (GRACE-CENTERED
GIVING) 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme
poverty welled up in rich generosity. (GENEROUS GIVING) 3 For
I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their
ability. (SACRIFICIAL GIVING) Entirely
on their own, 4 they urgently
pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the
saints. (COMPASSIONATE GIVING) 5 And
they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and
then to us in keeping with God's will. (CHRIST-CENTERED GIVING) 6 So
we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to
completion this act of grace on your part.
(FULFILLED GIVING) 7 But just as you excel in everything — in
faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for
us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (SPIRITUALLY EQUAL GIVING* important later)
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your
love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. (LOVE-MOTIVATED GIVING) 9 For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for
your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (CHRISTLIKE GIVING) 10 And
here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were
the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish
the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your
completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there,
the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does
not have. (RESPONSIBLE GIVING)
2
additional Characteristics of Giving like God gives:
9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and
whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each
man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (CHEERFUL GIVING) 9:13 Because of the service/giving by
which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that
accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in
sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their
hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (GRACE-FILLED GIVING)
(I thank God for my daughter
Gretchen = Pearl and son – Nathan = gift, but more so for God’s son – Jesus – the
Pearl of Great Price and our indescribable gift.)
How
can we give all this a laser focus? And
besides giving, where is tithing specifically mentioned in the New
Testament? It is mentioned though not
often because by this time among the Jews it is assumed. But even that assumption is pointed out by
Jesus himself.
Background - Luke 18:12 “I
fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’’
Matthew 23:23 “Woe
to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of
your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important
matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced
the latter, without neglecting the former. (also in Luke 11:42)
Some people act as if Christ liberates us from the
law so that we can keep more physical blessings for ourselves. That is false —
Christ liberates us so that we can be free to serve him more, as loving
children and not merely as slaves. He frees us so we can have faith instead of
selfishness.
When it comes to money, the real question is, Is our
heart in the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we putting our money where our heart
is? We can tell where our heart is by seeing where we are putting our money. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” Jesus said (Matthew 6:21).
No comments:
Post a Comment