QUIT ROBBING GOD

STORY WHEN YOUR IN LOVE

2 WEEKS AGO DWAYNE

Mark 12:38–40 ESV

38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Passover week, midweek....100,000s people

Mark 12:41–44 ESV

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

temple: center of it all......temple courts…, court of women 13 different offering box

Jesus is watching, sees your heart (PICTURE)

some church traditions watch your giving

2 ways of looking AT THIS:

CONVICTING, WOW, THAT’S HOW WE ALL SHOULD GIVE

THATS NOT WISE

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE

SO WHAT DOES HE SEE? PLAY IT OUT

POOR WIDOW......COMPARING TO THESE “SCRIBES WHO DEVOUR WIDOWS HOUSES”

mite, which comes from the word for a “crumb” or “very small morsel.”

1/64 OF A DAYS WAGE

GOD is more interested in HOW you give rather than HOW MUCH you give!!

Jesus is more concerned with the MOTIVE of your giving than the money you’re actually giving....

THIS POOR WIDOW GAVE ALLLLLLL!!!

elon musk 1MILLION doesn’t hurt, not a sacrifice

1 Chronicles 21:24 ESV

24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

DOES IT COST YOU ANYTHING?

THIS WAS A CASE OF EXTRAORDINARY GIVING.....NOT A PRESCRIPTION.....BUT OBIVIOUSLY IT MOVED JESUS!!

THATS WHAT LOVE DOES.....EXAMPLES OF DUMB STUFF

SHE DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING BUT SHE GAVE ALL

IS YOUR GIVING WORSHIP OR WORK?

THIS IS WORSHIP, CALLED TO DO IT CHEERFULLY, GENEROUSLY, NOT UNDER COMPULSION

2 Corinthians 9:12–14 ESV

12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

PICTURES OF TEXTS

PRACTICAL WAYS OF GIVING:

FIRST, CONSISTENTLY, GENEROUSLY, AND CHEERFULLY

FIRST

Proverbs 3:9 (ESV)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

God does not bless leftovers.....leftovers are a blessing to my belly, leftovers are not a blessing to God

(ARE YOU JUST TIPPING GOD, OR AS AN ACT OF WORSHIP, WITH GRATITUDE, ARE YOU SACRIFICIALLY GIVING

WHAT CAN I SPARE?

What will it take?

CONSISTENTLY: act of worship

1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV

2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

LIFE GET IN WAY, SMALL HABITS LEAD TO BIG CHANGES

MATH IF WE ALL GAVE 10% ( MINIMUM) IF EVERYONE GAVE THEIR PORTION

GENEROUSLY:

2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Mark 12:44 ESV

44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

CHEERFULLY

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

QUIT ROBBING GOD

Malachi 3:8–9 ESV

8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.

Malachi 3:10–11 ESV

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.

GOD WANTS TO BLESS YOU, WILL YOU LET HIM?!?!