Cheerful Giving

Nehemiah 12:43-47

Introduction: Living the Christian life is the filled with so much joy and it is beyond anything this world can or will offer to us. It is amazing that giving is connected with joy. This is the exact opposite of how the world views joy. The world thinks joy is connected with receiving but the Bible shows joy is connected with giving.

I read about a man who enjoyed giving so much, that he made it his life’s ambition. He started what he called an other’s bank account. He deposited anything he received unexpectedly to give away. A strange thing happened. The more he gave away, the more he received unexpectedly. The more he gave away to others, the more joy he had and the more he had to give away.

A farmer was known for giving extensively to the Lord’s work. He explained it this way: “I keep shoveling into God’s bin, and God keeps shoveling back into mine, and He has the bigger shovel.”

Anonymous

Israel has been a rebuilding project for the house of God and the walls around the city. These have been difficult and testing days. Anytime you build, you can be assured it will be testing times. Ezra and Nehemiah records the process and challenges. It takes perseverance and commitment to build, especially here in CA.

Though Israel had limited resources, the project is completed in a record 52 day time. I would assume they did not have to get building permits. The lessons of getting close to God were miraculous.

It is time to celebrate the completion of the wall. This passage is filled with celebration and joy. Joy or a derivation of the word joy is used five times in verse 43. This was a joyous occasion even in verse 27 gladness and thanksgiving and singing.

While a building project can be bring frustration and difficulty, it can also bring great joy to a people at the completion. While we are in this building project which can be discouraging, it also gives us a reason for joy.

This is true of stewarding our family’s finances. As we learn to manage the finances God gives us, we seek His direction, there will be joy in giving to Him. Stewarding our resources involves discipline and wise management.

There are three important concepts about joy we learn from these verses. These are not merely verses of historical facts, but lessons God is giving to us. Here there are three considerations about joy.

I. Joy comes from sacrifice

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ brings great joy to the believer.

There was a large choir that mounted the city wall and walk around it counterclockwise, evidently beginning at the Valley Gate vv. 31-37. Many people came from all around to honor the Lord.

Another vv. 38-39 speaks of another choir proceeding clockwise.

This celebration was giving thanks to God for the project being completed.

They offered great sacrifices-they brought a sacrifice to God what He had laid on their heart. There is something extra special when God lays an amount on your heart and you give it, this brings great joy. They gave willingly and trusted God when they gave. We learned this morning when you give, you give in trust. If you think about it, resources are easier for us to get than it is for them.

This wall and the house of God was a place where people would come to worship God. We have a church where we invite people to come to hear the Gospel of Christ. Our giving is an investment into the souls of men. We invest our time, we invest our talents, and we invest our finances to see people hear the gospel.

The banquet coming up is our opportunity to invest in the future of MVBC. The tithe is that which goes to the local church for general operational procedures. We give our tithe to Him as the starting place.

John D. Rockefeller was asked about his giving to God. One of the riches men in history. “Yes, I tithe, and I would like to tell you how it came about. I had to begin work as a small boy to help support my mother. My first wages amounted to $1.50 per week. The first week after I went to work, I took the $1.50 home to my mother and she held the money in her lap and explained to me that she would be happy if I would give a tenth of it to the Lord. I did, and from that week until this day I have tithed every dollar God has entrusted to me. And I want to say, if I had not tithed the first dollar I made, I would not have tithed the first million dollars I made.”

Right here in the celebration, they gave to the Lord a great sacrifice. For some that day, it might’ve been a bushel of corn. For others it might’ve been live stock. For some it might’ve been large amount of money or maybe a small amount. That day, it was equal sacrifice but not equal giving. However, as they sacrificed on that day, there was equal joy. Biblical tithing is not sacrifice, it is what God commands. If you are not a tither, you should decide right now, you will tithe. 10% of everything you get, you should give to God.

There needs to be intentional giving We intentionally choose to tithe biblically as God commands and then God speaks to us.

1 Corinthians 16:1–2 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

This means we anticipate we will be giving unto the Lord. We lay aside to give unto Him. This is also true when we give to Him. Sacrificially means we give beyond what we are commanded to give. We are commanded 10% but we choose to give above that. The banquet giving is a sacrificial gift unto the Lord.

This may mean I give up something to give unto God. This may mean I pass on this trip or give up a special event so I can give to God. It is reported the cheapest 2026 Super Bowl ticket was $3400. Remote budget parking was $20 but premium parking was $1600 to $3300. I was thinking about the tremendous sacrifice it was for some people to go to a one time event. That kind of money could be given to God that will invest in the souls of men.

Sacrificially giving to God brings tremendous joy because we are honoring the Lord with our giving. How many of you love to see souls saved and lives growing in their walk with the Lord?

II. Joy is giving to the Lord

As they were led of the Lord to give, God gave them great rejoicing in their heart. There is something special when you give unto the Lord that gives awesome and amazing joy. In fact, it becomes addictive.

The greatest joy of a Christian is to give joy to Christ.

Charles Spurgeon

When you give to the Lord, He makes us rejoice with great joy. Your heart is stirred and your love for Him is moved as you give to Him.

There is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving.

Henry Drummond (Irvingite Leader)

Matthew 6:19–20 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”

Jesus is saying don’t waste your money and your efforts on temporal things. Jesus is not saying we are not to purchase a home, clothes, transportation, or a hobby. Our focus is to be on treasures in heaven. Happy is the Christian who gives to God not only the tithe but also sacrificially.

Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

As we give to God and He fills us with joy, we are strengthened in our walk with Him.

Grace does not make giving optional.

Charles Caldwell Ryrie

III. Joy is a testimony to others

Wives and children were also involved in giving to the Lord. Dad’s testimony had an effect on the family. Then as the whole family gave, the bible the joy was heard far off. Next to pagan nations, next to neighbors, next to those who were watching.

The joy God gives is a testimony to those around us, that God is doing something in our hearts. Joy in the heart of the believer should not be hidden.

Giving financially is certainly in view here but God speaks of our giving ourselves to the Lord to the Lord first. Have you given yourself to God? Have you surrendered everything to Him?

The greatest joy of a Christian is to give joy to Christ.

Charles Spurgeon

There is a joy when give time to share the gospel to others and they are reached. There is joy when we give our talents to God so that others may know Christ.

There is joy when we steward our family in God’s will. May God show us how to give cheerfully.