Your Heart’s Place In Giving

Text: 1 John 3:16-23

Introduction

What I love about this letter written by the Apostle John is that is over all purpose was to reassure Christians in the faith and counter false teachings.

This letter is of course untitled and not written to any particular church. It was sent more so as a pastoral letter to several Gentile churches.

John would have been a much older man by this time and spending many of his last days on the island of Patmos. He was the only remaining eye witness of the the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He had every right to pen these words down with the tone of authority that you hear.

Key verse: 1 John 5:13 “13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

What we have read today is stating one of the basics of the faith. Having a desire to pursue and materialize the right heart in one’s giving will develop you into an action Christian, grants you strong confidence in your faith, and further blessings.

I want you to leave here today understanding that the placement of your heart (having a pure heart) in your giving leads the recipient as well as you to a renewed sense of the unwavering love of Jesus.

1) A Pure Heart Leads Us To Action

Verses 16-18

A. Pure hearted love giving did not originate within the human mind, but with a sovereign mind

Pure hearted giving predates before time came into motion.

Hebrews 9:26 “26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

1 Peter 1:20 “20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”

Jesus’ giving is nothing short of experiential.

(v16) “Hereby perceive (to know) we the love of God”

It took a laying down of His own life in order for us to experience His love.

Notice verse 1 — “behold what manner of love”

1 John 4:10 “10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Notice verse 1 — “behold”...what the Father bestowed on us

Take time to “comprehend” the affection God placed upon all who have put their trust in Him.

John 1:12 “12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

Ephesians 1:5 “5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

B. The right placement of our heart in giving will make sure others feel the love of Christ through us

John now gives us instruction on how to execute that kind of pure hearted giving:

a) “we ought to lay down our lives”

John 15:13 “13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (no slide)

This does not align with the popular statement, “I would die for you.”

John is saying, “We should live for one another.”

to give up ⇔ set aside v. — to give up, conceived of as laying aside a right or possession.

life (state) n. — the condition of living or the state of being alive; especially healthiness, happiness, exuberance, energy, vitality, and the like.

b) Pure hearted giving stands on the solid ground of “truth” and “action.” (v17-18)

James 2:14–17 “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.”

Illustration: Has anyone ever done something for you and it left you in question about their motives?

Q — You should never leave in question your love for the brethren!

Q — Are you truly being as generous as you should be with your money, possession, and time?

2) A Pure Heart Leads Us To Assurance

Verses 19-21

A. A genuine Christian can often times fall prey to always feeling like they never do enough to love others the way they should

God not only gives us His promise in holy scripture about our security in salvation, but he also gives us a new kind of giving heart.

LISTEN...it would be a scary thing to not have assurance when standing before Jesus Christ Himself!

However, even right now He knows the state of your heart.

“of the truth” = You are born again by God’s grace through faith in Jesus’ gospel.

Q — How many of you have had your conscience continue to present gnawing accusations to your mind? What do you do?

Set your heart on God’s love.

Even though you might have reached as far as you can in your giving, God knows your motives.

Allow the gospel to free you from such thoughts.

It frees us from the guilt that comes when we reach our limits in serving in God’s kingdom.

God will never take us beyond what He supplies us with.

Notice verse 21.

Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Hebrews 9:14–15 “14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

3) A Pure Heart Leads Us To Further Blessings

Verses 22-23

A. When our heart is in the right place because we are focused on Christ, our requests will be right also

What is the stipulation regarding future requests from His children?.............

First commandment — trust the integrity of Jesus’ character.

In Biblical times, a persons name represented their character; who they really were.

To “believe in the name” is saying the same thing as, “pattern your life after Jesus and become more like Him.”

If we will be obedient to that commandment, the second one will naturally flow out of you.

Second commandment — Love others like Jesus would.

What kind of requests do you think you will be making when setting your heart on being obedient to those two commandments?

They will be the kind of requests Jesus will definitely be pleased with!

There is know greater feeling than to know Jesus is pleased with my giving and my requests!

Conclusion

True Story:

The first two Scottish missionaries sent to the New Hebrides Islands were killed and eaten by cannibals on the day they arrived. After that it proved difficult to find missionary volunteers. But even when John G. Paton agreed to go, well-meaning people in the church tried to dissuade him. One elderly man warned that he would be eaten by cannibals. Paton replied, “I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.” After fifteen years of fruitful ministry, almost everyone on the island of Aniwa where Paton ministered was converted.

Serving God is not a guarantee of an easy life. But we are called to a life of service, even if it means giving up everything. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).Source: John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides, John Gibson Paton and James Paton