Season of Giving

Don’t Strip Your Vineyard

Leviticus 19:9–10““When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the resident alien; I am the Lord your God.”

We have a tendency to use our entire harvest.

God commanded Israel to save some for the poor and immigrants.

This can be applied in both the physical and spiritual realms.

God has always intended on His people helping provide for the less fortunate.

We should be helping lift people up both naturally and spiritually.

For us to use everything up that God has given us violates His Word.

We spend everything and use up all of our resources.

We study the word, pray, and fast, but we never minister to others.

The early church continued this practice.

Acts 4:32–37 “Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

The early church came together as a community.

They did not sell their possessions because they had too.

They were establishing the Church and equipping it care for the poor and widow.

They were led by the Holy Spirit in this area.

The Scripture says there was a need and it was distributed according to the need.

Acts 6:1–7 “In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.”

The outreach ministry of the early church played a vital role in the advancement of the gospel.

There isn’t a more effective way to grow the kingdom of God than showing the love of Christ.

Giving is an Act of Worship

Matthew 6:1–4 ““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. 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. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

God Pays Attention and Remembers Our Acts of Love

Acts 10:1–4 “There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.” Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God.”