Gift of Giving

Review

Last week we learned about loving our enemies.

We were challenged to treat those we dislike with kindness.

Did you do it?

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Introduction

Today we are going to learn about how Jesus wants us to give.

Why do we give to people?

God made us in His image, and God loves to give!

Handouts

Passage

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

HOW TO GIVE

6:1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven.

2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.

3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.,

Main Points

1) We should never brag about what we have done.

Why?

Because everything you have, including your ability to walk and talk, see and hear, are gifts from God!

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day would brag about their good deeds.

That says “Look how great I am” instead of “look how great God is.”

2) Our reward is in heaven.

What will happen to your stuff when you die?

Who knows? You won’t be here to find out!

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.

So why bother striving to get stuff? Instead, we should seek to share our faith in Jesus!

3) We should give to others.

Why?

Because God has given to us and He expects us to share our blessings!

The greatest gift God gave was His Son, Jesus.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God’s gift is new life! Life without pain, sadness, or suffering!

Would you like to receive God’s gift of grace?

Application

The principle of this passage is to glorify God in our giving.

This week I will give secretly and not brag.