Give Gods' Way

Illustration

A man called the church and asked if he could speak to the Head Hog at the Trough. The secretary said, "Who?" "I want to speak to the Head Hog at the Trough!" Knowing she had heard right, she said, "Sir, if you mean our pastor, you will have to treat him with more respect--and ask for ’The Reverend’ or ’The Pastor.’ But surely you cannot refer to him as the Head Hog at the Trough!" "Oh, I’m sorry," the man replied. "I just happen to have ten thousand dollars I was thinking about donating to the Building Fund." At which point the secretary said, "Hold the line, sir—I think the Big Pig just walked through the door.”

Introduction

A Gallop Poll of Church Members reported that 17% say that they tithe-- but only 3% actually do. 40% will give nothing in a year. 91% say they make more money than they ever have in their life. 71% of pastors believe that church members have changed from stewards into consumers.

Unbelievers frequently gripe that the church is always after their money. They are right in one sense: God is after their money, because their hearts are bound up with their treasure, and God wants their hearts to be devoted to Him. The fact that they resent giving shows the condition of their hearts.

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew

The word “Mammon” is used 4 x’s in scripture. 3 x’s by Jesus

"Mammon" is an Aramaic word that essentially means "riches." At its heart there’s an attitude that says: Man doesn’t need God—we’re self-sufficient. This is what the spirit of mammon tries to tell us: You don’t need God. Trust in riches!

Mammon promises us those things that only God can give—security, significance, identity, independence, power, and freedom. Mammon tells us it can insulate us from life’s problems and that money is the answer to every situation. But God wants to break this spirit and help us to live a life of open handed generosity!

What should generosity look like in the life of a believer?

The people of God learn what it means to be generous from God, for He has a generous heart. God is not stingy or reluctant in His giving. He loves to give and is happy to bless. He takes great delight in providing for His children.

In the gospel, we are recipients of God’s lavish generosity. The cross is the standard of God’s eagerness to give. It is the guarantee that He is willing and able to provide all that we need.

Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Romans 5:1 NIV

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

romans 5

Romans 8:32 NIV

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Wrong Motives for Giving

Pride - Give to be honored by men ()

Greed. , “Give, and it will be given to you,” is wrongly used to motivate people to give so that they will get. Jesus is not promising that if you give, God will give you more in return. He is stating the principle that if you are a generous person, others will be generous toward you. But you may give and be impoverished because you gave.

Pressure. Responding to high-pressure tactics of Christian fund-raisers is another wrong motive. We are not to give “under compulsion” ().

Power. Money is power. Some people threaten to take their large gifts elsewhere if you don’t do what they want. That may be how politics operates, but that isn’t how God’s church operates. It’s wrong to show preference to the wealthy (). It’s sin to use your money to try to buy spiritual influence ().

Who Should Give?

Giving is a privilege and responsibility for those who have received from God the gift of eternal life.

Giving is for believers, and it should be done by all believers. Poor Christians as well as rich should give to the Lord. Personal debt can be a tremendous hindrance to giving, because you aren’t free to give generously when you owe creditors. But even if you can’t give much, you aren’t exempt from giving.

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 NIV

1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Luke 21:1–4 NIV

1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

How Do We Give?

How Do We Give? (Should Christians Tithe? The Village Church)

Give Generously

2 Corinthians 8:5 NIV

5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

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

2 Corinthians 9:10–11 NIV

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

If you want to grasp giving, read several times

Give Cheerfully

This kind of giving is not just throwing some pocket change in the offering plate as it passes by

2 Corinthians 8:4–5 NIV

4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Give Cheerfully

2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Give Sacrificially

2 Corinthians 8:3–5 NIV

3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Give Sacrificially

Give Regularly

2 Corinthians 8:

Give Regularly

1 Corinthians 16:1–2 NIV

1 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

1 Corinthians 16

What Do We Give?

“Time , Talent, and Resources”

1 Peter 4:10–11 NIV

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Illustration from Matt Chandler - “Stewardship” (Grace made visible) July 6, 2014 (13:00 minute mark) Children buying their parents gifts out of the parents pockets (You can’t buy off the Lord)

What Will Happen When I Give Properly?

I and my family will be blessed. God blesses faith and obedience which are at the heart of biblical giving. If you give, God promises to supply your needs.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:17–19 NIV

17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Others’ needs will be met (, ; ; ). God’s work and workers will not be hindered. The needs of the poor will be met.

Philippians 4

The Body of Christ will be united in prayer and fellow-ship (). Since your heart follows your treasure, you will be concerned about and will pray for those to whom you give.

2 Corinthians 9:14 NIV

14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving."

Tithe if you love Jesus; any idiot can honk!

If believers will give from biblical motives, in line with biblical principles and priorities, God will bless with His results.

Closing Challenge

Make a 90 day commitment to tithing. If you already “tithe”, ask the Lord to expand your giving with a generous heart. To “Give God’s Way!”

Take your “Next Step” (Salvation, baptism, discipleship, community group, Sunday morning class, membership, serve team …)