Sacrificial Kingdom Mindset

Last week we saw that Worship is a powerful gift, allowing us to readily “enter in” to God’s Presence.

We are going to continue that idea today by looking at the connection between worship and offerings.

One my favorite bible passages is from King David.

He needed some land and was graciously offered some as a gift.

However, knowing that this land would be used by God David powerfully revealed why He is called a man after God’s own heart:

2 Samuel 24:24 NKJV

24 Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

David recognizes that the goal of life is not to make money - the goal of life is to serve the Lord.

Jesus made this crystal clear when He said:

Luke 12:15 KJV 1900

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

So the “blessing” of a financial saving is less than the “blessing” of honoring God by giving.

Proverbs 3:9 KJV 1900

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Jesus Himself bears powerful witness to this fact.

Mark 12:41–44 KJV 1900

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Here we see Jesus honoring a person who honored God with her generous gift.

He did not honor the quantity of her gift but the quality.

Jesus sat across from the place where people were offering their gifts, and he watched as they made their contributions.

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The Lord takes personal notice of our giving. He sees what we give and How we give it.

He takes note in whether we give out of abundance or out of lack.

He takes note of whether we give gladly or reluctantly.

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The only person Jesus honored on this occasion was a poor widow who demonstrated a good spirit with her giving.

Jesus continues to honor those who give.

The basis of his honors is not the size of the gift but the spirit of the gift.

Jesus wants to honor our giving.

Jesus honors an interest in the treasury.

Interest in the treasury represents an interest in the Lord himself and in the Lord’s work.

We simply cannot explain away the biblical truth that:

Matthew 6:21 KJV 1900

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

And no matter how much we claim to honor God with our life, if we refuse to:

Proverbs 3:9 KJV 1900

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

If we fail here we show our faith to be of no substance at all.

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The widow did not go to the temple to pay a bill or manipulate but to honor her God.

All through biblical history people have expressed an interest in the Lord through their giving.

Even Cain and Abel made offerings to God.

In the tabernacle, temple, and the synagogues God was worshiped by means of the treasury.

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One prominent reason for interest in the treasury is the advancement and continuation of the Lord’s work.

Churches are involved in the Lord’s work, and people give to advance it.

Eskom, blue security, outsurance, Simtel fibre, Engen Petrol - none of these companies accepts “prayer” as a valid form of payment.

I say this because many Christians really believe that their prayers are sufficient and they simply are not.

And thats not me saying that, its God!

1 John 3:17 KJV 1900

17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

James 2:14–17 KJV 1900

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

The Lord honors an interest in the treasury.

We should periodically ask ourselves, “How interested am I in the treasury?”

Our record of giving discloses our interest.

Jesus honors a proper motive toward the treasury.

Jesus examines the motives of those who give.

The Lord had a good place for observing the givers.

Jesus saw those who gave; but more than merely observing who gave, he saw why they gave.

A poor widow made an acceptable gift.

Its acceptance was not on the basis of its size but of its spirit.

She gave because she wanted to honor the Lord, not to be seen or heard by others.

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Jesus continues to examine motives for giving. He sees those who give out of guilt, self-righteousness, or manipulation.

He is not pleased.

The proper motive is to give out of love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

People who give for any reason other than selflessness can never be satisfied.

Those who think they can buy God never feel they have paid their bills.

Those who parade their giving must work harder to have a bigger show next time.

Jesus honors unselfish giving.

The rich as well as the poor can give honorably.

2 Corinthians 9:6 KJV 1900

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Jesus honors a sacrifice for the treasury.

Sacrificial giving originates with a great desire to give.

No one prompted the woman to put in the mite.

The thought of giving began in her heart.

She had a giving spirit before she ever gave a gift.

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV 1900

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

When the woman gave to the treasury, her giving was costly.

Mark 12:44

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

If you do not give at least the tithe, you can be assured that you are not an honorable giver.

Conclusion

This message has not been preached to gain a collection or to raise a budget.

It has been prepared and delivered to develop honorable givers.

God will bless those who give honorably.

Resolve this day that you are going to follow the example of the poor widow.

Take an interest in the treasury.

Develop the right spirit in giving and then sacrifice to the treasury. God desires honorable givers.