Sermons
Lesson On Giving
At this time of year we typically reflect on the past twelve months, considering those things we accomplished in 2017, as well as the things we wanted to accomplish but didn’t. Many of us also set resolutions for the new year.
Think back for a moment, about the end of last year. Did you make resolutions for 2017? If so, did you keep any of those resolutions? If not, what hindered your success this year?
As we think about the upcoming year of 2018 this morning, I would like for us to focus on our Christian walk for a few minutes. Ask yourself: what goals can I set for 2018 that will help me to grow in my faith and trust in God?
Maybe I need to do better with attending services or bible studies. Maybe I need to be more active and volunteer for church activities and events. Maybe I need to pray more often or study God’s word more often. Maybe I need to reach out to other church members to encourage them.
I am sure that if each of us takes an objective look at our Christian walk, we can identify areas for improvement in the coming year. I am not one to make formal resolutions but my key goals each year are to grow in my faith, draw closer to God, and to find ways to be a blessing to those that I come in contact with throughout the year.
As we consider the new year we are about start, I wanted to spend the majority of our time this morning looking at giving to the Lord or more specifically our attitude in giving to the Lord.
A. Psalm 96:8-9 tells us: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name: bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”
B. We should all desire to want to know the whole truth on any subject.
C. Sadly, some Christians have closed their ears to what God has said on the subject of giving.
2. If many told the truth, it might sound like this:
a. “I am too selfish to give generously.”
b. I am too extravagant with my money to be able to give generously.”
c. “I spend too much money foolishly to give generously.”
D. As Christians, it’s essential that we manifest the proper attitude of giving.
1. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 says: “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, save it up so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
These are very clear instructions – to set aside money in keeping with our income. We are not instructed to give God what is left over or give beyond our means. The instructions remind us to give in keeping with our income.
2. We need to remember that giving as we have been prospered is a command of God.
3. Someone once said attitude is just as important as truth, for truth is never understood with the wrong attitude.
4. Free-will offerings are commanded on the first day of the week.
5. Let’s look at some examples from the scriptures as we consider a variety of attitudes that some may have toward giving.
A. SOME MAY HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF THE RICH YOUNG RULER as we see in Mark Chapter 10.
1. READ Mark 10:18-22
2. This ruler wanted to go to heaven and he lived an upright and moral life – he had a desire to follow Christ, and no doubt he thought he was ready from any standpoint
a. It never entered his mind that his money, or how he viewed it, was a hindrance to him
b. His wealth had blinded him.
c. This rich young ruler thought he was doing well in keeping the commands of God – BUT, there was something he was overlooking
3. Jesus said go sell what you have! WHY DID JESUS SAY THIS TO HIM? It is because Jesus knew that this man had the wrong attitude toward money.
a. We see from the text, that the young man turned and walked away. How sad that he would turn away from God.
b. He loved his money more than he loved the Lord.
c. As faithful Christians we definitely do not want this kind of attitude toward money and giving.
B. SOME MAY HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF JUDAS as we see in John Chapter 12.
1. READ John 12:3-6
2. It has been said that “temptation commonly comes through that for which we are naturally fitted.”
a. If a man is fitted to handle money, the temptation comes to regard money as the most important thing in the world.
b. Judas was evidently gifted at handling money – that is why he was chosen to take care of the money.
c. Judas, though, became so fond of money that he became a thief.
d. Judas saw this woman anointing Jesus’ feet – an act of surpassing love, but Judas saw it as a waste.
3. You see, a man’s sight depends on what is on the inside of him. What he sees depends on the condition of his heart.
a. For example, if we like a person we seldom see his faults, but if we do not like an individual – his faults increase.
b. When I hear one is opposed to a good work because it costs too much – I wonder about their attitude …Is their attitude toward money like that of Judas?
C. SOME MAY HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA as we see in the 5th chapter of Acts.
1. Acts 5:1-11
2. The very fact that these two people lied about their giving shows beyond all doubt that they had the wrong attitude toward money.
a. Are we having the attitude of Ananias and Sapphira when we leave the impression that we are giving as God has prospered us but then refuse to give appropriately?
b. Someone may say, “I don’t lie about my giving, I just do not give liberally.”
D. SOME MAY HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF BARNABAS
1. Acts 4:36-37 says: “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
2. It’s not difficult to understand why Barnabas was called a good man. Acts 11:24 tells us: “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” This is the kind of man we should all strive to imitate.
a. Think of all the good that would be done if all people in the church were free-hearted, liberal givers and good like Barnabas.
b. The contrast is striking between Barnabas and the rich young ruler, Judas, and Ananias and Sapphira.
3. Why did Barnabas do this good deed? Because he had a wonderful attitude toward giving.
a. Do you suppose Barnabas ever got mad when a sermon was preached on giving?
b. I’m glad that the Bible tells us of men like Barnabas – reading about Barnabas should give us a much stronger desire to give generously.
E. SOME MAY HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF THE POOR WIDOW as we see in Mark’s gospel.
3. If we would all give liberally as God has prospered us, our contribution would increase and we would be adding good works.
a. One preacher said, “When I look at the well-dressed congregation, I ask, where are the poor? When I look at the collection plate, I ask where are the rich?”
b. Ask yourself this question: Am I giving sacrificially? Only you and your family can answer that personal question but it is something good to reflect on regularly.
F. SOME MAY HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF DAVID
1. 2 Samuel 24: 22 - 24 says: “Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king. Araunah also said to him, May the Lord your God accept you. But the king replied to Araunah, No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
2. I wish we could have this type of attitude.
a. Notice Malachi’s rebuke … in Malachi 1:12-14 which says: “But you profane it by saying on the Lord’s table, It is defiled, and of its food, it is contemptible. And you say What a burden and you sniff at it contemptuously, says the Lord Almighty. When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands? Says the Lord. Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king, says the Lord Almighty, and my name is to be feared among the nations.”
b. This passage reminds us that we should not be giving God our “left-overs”
3. Each of us needs to consider our attitude on giving and reevaluate our giving to the Lord and the work of the church.
Another example we see in God’s word is found in 2ndCorinthians Chapter 8, verses 1 – 15
This passage should encourage us to give generously.
Another passage to consider is 2nd Corinthians Chapter 9, verses 6 -15
This passage reminds us that we thank God and give back to him for the indescribable gift he gave to us (his Son). Although we can never repay him for such a wonderful gift, we can give according to our means to the work of his church.
1st Timothy Chapter 6, verses 3 – 10 and verses 17 - 19 provides another lesson to us on where our priorities should be.
Let’s look briefly at some things that properly motivate us to give to the Lord:
- We must first have a proper dedication to Christ by denying ourself.
- We must be willing to put God’s kingdom first.
- We love the Lord with all of our mind, heart, and strength and remember John 3:16 – that God so loved the world, that he gave his only son.
- We need to keep in mind the mission of the church
- We need to constantly remind ourselves that God is the owner of all things – it all belongs to Him.
- We should remember what Jesus tells us in Acts 20:35, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
- As Matthew Chapter 6, verses 19 and 20 tells us, We should not store up for ourselves, treasures on earth but store up treasures in heaven. He reminds us in verse 21 that where our treasure is, our heart will be also.
- We should always have a thankful heart and remember that we have been given so much, especially all of our spiritual blessings.
- And finally, a s we see in Mark Chapter 8, what value can we place on someone’s soul – bringing souls to Christ is the best investment we can make with our money.
We see that giving is a cycle
A. God first gave to us
1. It is He who created us, made a world for us, gave us opportunities to work. For all this we should be thankful
a. We Work so we have something to give to others Eph. 4:28 – says: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need”
2. God gave us His own son. He purchased our salvation with the blood of Christ.
a. How trivial and insignificant is our gifts back to him
C. The cycle continues. The gifts we give, bring glory to God - II Cor. 9:10 says: “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness”
I believe that it is important to remind ourselves periodically, what the scriptures tell us about giving to the Lord. I hope that my lesson today has been a good reminder and I want to encourage all of us to continue our generous giving into and through the new year.
