Biblical Giving 4

Remember Open Hand Receiving vs Closed Hand Receiving

What Does This Look Like?

Consider the Widow...

Mark 12:41–44 NLT

41 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1–4 NLT

1 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

This woman gave EVERYTHING to show her heart for God.

What she gave was 1/64 of a day’s wage...

It would be less that $1.50 today

Others gave from the outflow of their excess, but she gave ALL that she had, and had to trust God with tomorrow… hmm...

Open receiving vs. closed receiving...

What’s Going On Here?

Mark 12:38–40 NLT

38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

Jesus highlights that the religious leaders take advantage of the widows, and here she is being compared to them with how she gives vs. how they give.

Mark 12:28–34 NLT

28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” 32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” 34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Jesus here states that the most important command is to love God with EVERYTHING. This woman becomes an example of that.

She also becomes an example of what it means to love God and love neighbor in a way that is more important that all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. THE HEART OF THE MATTER!

But, there’s more...

Mark 12:13–17 NLT

13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” 16 When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.

Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s

1- Caesar doesn’t own everything and Caesar is not God!

2- Caesar’s image is on the coin, so it belongs to Caesar

3- We are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27) so, we therefore bare God’s image into the world

In a trap for Jesus, to get him to condemn paying taxes, and therefore commit treason, Jesus reminds us that we are God’s. Since there are things that belong to Caesar we also recognize there are things that belong to God. Give Caesar his due, but also give God God’s due - us, with EVERYTHING we have and are.

Give God everything, and trust God to take care of the results!

Compare the Widow to the Rich Young Man...

Matthew 19:16–30 NLT

16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “ ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” 27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” 28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.

What was the man’s problem with following Jesus?

He was too wealthy to let God have his heart! He was too much like Cain. He wanted the appearance of religion AT THE COST OF RELATIONSHIP!!

Matthew 19:22 MSG

22 That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.

He could follow all the other laws. But a relationship that calls him to give up EVERYTHING - well that is too costly!

Instead of being like the widow who gave everything, he walked away. He was willing to give from the excess, but he would not give until he had to COMPLETELY rely upon God!

So, like Cain, he turns his back upon God and goes a separate way...

And what is Jesus’ warning?

Matthew 19:23–24 NLT

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Jesus’ point is clear, many people try to serve 2 masters, but they can’t.

This man wanted to serve God and money, but when God challenged him on what it means to be in a relationship with God at the cost of his money, he walked away… He held on to too much.

The eye of a needle...

Yeah, Jesus is probably depicting a metaphor and it has been explained...

A gate in Jerusalem called the “Needles Eye” and camels would pass through it. In order for the camel to get through it everything would be taken off the camel so it could pass through...

Or… the word for a sailing rope was similar to the word for camel. Maybe Jesus was saying it is easier to thread that thick rope through a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s plans...

Or maybe, just maybe, Jesus meant what he said. He wants us to see the IMPOSSIBILITY of following God while holding onto MONEY!

In ALL these situations, EVERYTHING must be let go of to enter into the eye of the needle. We must LET GO of it ALL to follow God. THE HEART OF THE MATTER!

Matthew 16:24–26 NLT

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

How is this possible?

How do camels get through the eye of a needle - BY GOD’S GRACE ALONE!

Well, everyone of us can have access to the father ONLY by the grace of God.

With humans, it is ALL impossible - but God has made it possible through Jesus Christ!.

WE ALL have been camels that are invited to pass through the eye of a needle by God’s grace ALONE!

You cannot allow God’s goodness to pass through you when you hold tightly to it!

Conclusion

Jesus calls us to receive God’s gifts with open hands - that is the HEART of the matter!

GIVING is allowing God’s goodness to flow through us from a HEART and LIFE that are devoted to God.

There is no “managing” our gifts

There is no manipulating them, or hoarding of them.

We give because God has done so much for us. But really, open handed receiving makes it easy to give because it wasn’t our’s in the 1st place...

James 1:17 NIV

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Deuteronomy 10:14–17 NLT

14 “Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. 15 Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today. 16 Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn. 17 “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed.

Psalm 24:1 NLT

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

So… Jesus calls us to fully trust God and allow God’s goodness to flow through us unattached and unhindered. And, as we do this, Jesus has promised that God will take care of the rest...

Luke 6:38 NLT

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Malachi 3:10 NLT

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!