Give the Gift of Your Treasures

Introduction

What would you do for a pile of cash? We will do whatever it takes to get money but we won't do whatever it takes to give it away.

What would you do for $10,000? Years ago a Chicago radio station offered $10,000 to the individual who could devise the most outlandish way to get the money. More than 6,000 people responded to the challenge. The eventual winner was Jay Gwaltney of Indiana, who consumed an 11-foot birch tree -leaves, roots, bark and all. For the event he wore a tuxedo and dined at a table eloquently set with fine china, sterling silverware, candles and a rose vase. Armed with pruning sheers, he began chomping from the top of the tree and worked his way, branch by branch, to the roots. His only condiment:

French dressing for the massive birch-leaf salad. Consuming the tree took 18 hours over a period of three days. Afterward, Gwaltney complained of an upset stomach.

We view money as a resource to gain to better our lives, but what if we viewed money as a gift from God to be used for His glory and the good of others?

What if was the desire of our hearts? What could happen in our church, our community, and our world if we used our money intentionally for God’s Kingdom instead of our kingdoms?

Good question because this time of year, everyone wants your money! You’re going to spend on Amazon.com, Best Buy, your favorite charity, James Island Christmas lights… Some of you are going to go deeper in debt this Christmas.

What if you evaluated your use of money in light of God’s Word? You’ll likely spend well over $1,000 this Christmas!

The time of year that we spend our money! What will you spend on this Christmas?

This morning, I want you to come before God and make three requests regarding your money:

$25 billion could relieve global hunger, starvation and deaths from preventable diseases in five years. $12 billion could eliminate illiteracy in five years. $15 billion could solve the world’s water and sanitation issues, specifically at places in the world where 1 billion people live on less than $1 per day. $1 billion could fully fund all overseas mission work. $100 – $110 billion would still be left over for additional ministry expansion.

Gifts

Donations to Charities

Christmas decorations (over $200 in new lights and an inflatable for my house!)

Travel

James Island Christmas Lights

Food for gatherings

You’ll likely spend well over $1,000 this Christmas!

1. Ask God to make you a cheerful giver.

· – collection of a love offering for needy believers in Jerusalem. Churches in Macedonia, who were poor, were contributing, and Paul expected the Corinthians to contribute as well.

– collection of a love offering for needy believers in Jerusalem. Churches in Macedonia, who were poor, were contributing, and Paul expected the Corinthians to contribute as well.

– Macedonia poor, yet they gave out of their poverty. Corinth was not poor. They had an abundance of wealth. It would have been an embarrassment if they would have not given.

· – Macedonia poor, yet they gave out of their poverty. Corinth was not poor. They had an abundance of wealth. It would have been an embarrassment if they would have not given.

Interesting statement: God loves a cheerful giver. Is it possible? We relate to vs. 7 – Reluctant giving – I know I’m supposed to but I don’t want to. No joy in it. An obligation. Or, compulsion. Give out of guilt – a preacher preaches on tithing, and I feel like I’m forced to give. I don’t want you to give out of guilt but out of conviction.

· Interesting statement: God loves a cheerful giver. Is it possible? We relate to vs. 7 – Reluctant giving – I know I’m supposed to but I don’t want to. No joy in it. An obligation. Or, compulsion. Give out of guilt – a preacher preaches on tithing, and I feel like I’m forced to give. I don’t want you to give out of guilt but out of conviction.

· Why do we struggle to give cheerfully? heart?

Why do we struggle to give cheerfully?

o A heart problem – , “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our money goes to what we are most passionate about. Are you passionate about the Kingdom? Are you passionate about your Lord? Does your giving prove it?

A heart problem – , “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our money goes to what we are most passionate about. Are you passionate about the Kingdom? Are you passionate about your Lord? Does your giving prove it?

o A belief problem – vs. 6 – The real blessing is not in laying up treasures on earth but treasures in heaven. Crazy – we are convinced real blessing is found in a broken world. (Landfill) When you give you reap blessings – not necessarily material like crazy TV preachers might tell you. In your giving, you are making a real eternal difference. (Ill. – go on a mission trip – Russia – investment of time, talents, and treasures – and for us, we return blessed because we know we made an eternal difference. Greater than buying any gadget.)

A belief problem – vs. 6 – The real blessing is not in laying up treasures on earth but treasures in heaven. Crazy – we are convinced real blessing is found in a broken world. (Landfill) When you give you reap blessings – not material like crazy TV preachers might tell you. In your giving, you are making a real eternal difference.

· Ask God to make you a cheerful giver. Ask Him to change your heart and to change what you believe about blessing.

Ask God to make you a cheerful giver. Ask Him to change your heart and to change what you believe about blessing.

2. Ask God to give you a right perspective of wealth.

· – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” When you have an abundance of wealth, which we all do, it is easy to buy into three lies:

– “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” When you have an abundance of wealth, which we all do, it is easy to buy into three lies:

The more I gain the more satisfied I will be. If I have more money, I can buy more stuff, and that stuff will satisfy me. You know it’s a lie, but you and I buy the lie daily. (e.g., my Bibles)

o The more I gain the more satisfied I will be. If I have more money, I can buy more stuff, and that stuff will satisfy me. You know it’s a lie, but you and I buy the lie daily. (e.g., my Bibles)

oThe more I gain the more secure I will be. For some, we don’t have to have the latest gadget or hunting gear, but we have to have money in the bank. The more I have the more secure I am. To give means to let go of my security. You should save and invest, but it is sinful to look to anything other than Jesus for your security.

The more I gain the more secure I will be. “I have enough money to solve my problems.” Wise to save for emergencies and catastrophes. Unwise to put your faith in what you have in the bank. To give means to let go of my security and trust that God knows how to care for me whether I have a lot or little. You should save and invest, but it is sinful to look to anything other than Jesus for your security.

The more I gain the more impressive I will be. Dream home, two cars in garage, kids in private school, fully funded retirement fund, extravagant vacations… If you have all that, people will look at you and say, “He’s done well for himself.” The words we want to hear! But, we can look like we’ve done well for ourselves and be miserable inwardly. Lie: The more you have the more you are approved. Reality – the approval of many does not matter, but the approval of God does.

o The more I gain the more impressive I will be. Dream home, two cars in garage, kids in private school, fully funded retirement fund, extravagant vacations… If you have all that, people will look at you and say, “He’s done well for himself.” Don’t we long for that? Approval. The more you have the more you are approved. Reality – the approval of many does not matter, but the approval of God does.

Vs. 11 – God gave you wealth to give it away. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way. If wealthy, great responsibility and great opportunity. We have not been blessed with wealth to gain but to give away for the sake of the Gospel.

· Vs. 11 – God gave you wealth to give it away. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way. We have not been blessed with wealth to gain but to give away for the sake of the Gospel.

Your abundance of wealth is not God’s provision for you to live in luxury. Rather, your abundance of wealth is God’s means for you to expand His Kingdom.

· Your abundance of wealth is not God’s provision for you to live in luxury. Rather, your abundance of wealth is God’s means for you to expand His Kingdom.

You say, “I hear you. I need to be generous. But, what about me?” vs. 8 – God will make all grace abound to you.

· You say, “I hear you. I need to be generous. But, what about me?” vs. 8 – God will make all grace abound to you.

· The question to ask: If I gave God control of my bank account, how would I be spending my money?

The question to ask: If I gave God control of my bank account, how would I be spending my money?

He deserves control – after all, your money belongs to Him. He owns it all. He has loaned it to you to use for His glory.

· He deserves control – after all, your money belongs to Him. He owns it all. He has loaned it to you to use for His glory.

3. Ask God how you should give.

· Vs. 7 – Each on must give as decided in his own heart. Ask God how to give, and then respond in obedience.

Vs. 7 – Each on must give as decided in his own heart. Ask God how to give, and then respond in obedience.

Give cheerfully. Why?

· Give cheerfully. Why?

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Gospel: God’s generosity motivates our giving. Jesus Christ left glory and came to a broken world and experienced real poverty. He experienced physical poverty and He experienced spiritual poverty on the cross as He lost the most valuable thing He had – His eternal relationship with the Father. The Father turned on His Son and the Son absorbed His wrath so we might never absorb the wrath of God and instead, we absorb His grace. Three days after His death He rose victoriously – as a result we get everything. He lost it all so we could receive everything. We receive forgiveness of our sins, a renewed relationship with God, life abundant and eternal. God has been generous to us. Give cheerfully. That’s an understatement. We give cheerfully, gladly, joyfully – with a heart of love, worship, adoration, and thanksgiving. Do you know the generosity of God?

· Gospel: God’s generosity motivates our giving. Jesus Christ left glory and came to a broken world and experienced real poverty. He experienced physical poverty and He experienced spiritual poverty on the cross as He lost the most valuable thing He had – His eternal relationship with the Father. The Father turned on His Son and the Son absorbed His wrath so we might never absorb the wrath of God and instead, we absorb His grace. Three days after His death He rose victoriously – as a result we get everything. He lost it all so we could receive everything. We receive forgiveness of our sins, a renewed relationship with God, life abundant and eternal. God has been generous to us. Give cheerfully. That’s an understatement. We give cheerfully, gladly, joyfully – with a heart of love, worship, adoration, and thanksgiving. Do you know the generosity of God?

An honor to give because we know our giving is used by God to multiply His Kingdom.

· An honor to give because we know our giving is used by God to multiply His Kingdom.

Give systematically – Generous people give on a regular basis. Tithe – 10% of income. OT requirement. Should I tithe? NT doesn’t really mention it. Jesus affirms tithing but doesn’t command it. Tithes brought to temple. We don’t have a temple! That system of religion is done away with in the New Covenant but generosity is not! Do we tithe? We give as a response to grace! It’s only natural that we would give more than what the law required because of the grace we have received. We hold nothing back. We say, “God, here’s my bank account. What do you want?” Start with 10%.

· Give systematically – Generous people give on a regular basis. Tithe – 10% of income. OT requirement. NT – not under the law, but under grace. Do we tithe? No, we are not tied to legalism. We give as a response to God’s generosity in Christ – It’s only natural that we would give more than what the law required because of the grace we have received. We hold nothing back. We say, “God, here’s my bank account. What do you want?” Start with 10%.

Give systematically to the church – why? Conviction that God works through the church to accomplish His plan. If God’s primary means to reach the nations is His church, then the church is where my money is going. For a church, let’s evaluate how we are using the resources God has given us. Let’s use them for the spread of the Gospel and not to make ourselves more comfortable.

· Give systematically to the church – why? Conviction that God works through the church to accomplish His plan. If God’s primary means to reach the nations is His church, then the church is where my money is going. For a church, let’s evaluate how we are using the resources God has given us. Let’s use them for the spread of the Gospel and not to make ourselves more comfortable.

Give systematically to other organizations – missionaries, Christian radio, relief organizations, etc. Give to causes that you believe in. But it’s not the bulk of your giving.

· Give systematically to other organizations – missionaries, WAFJ, other Christian causes that you believe in. But it’s not the bulk of your giving.

Give spontaneously – as needs arise. Budget money just to give away to bless other people. To bless a struggling neighbor. To bless a friend who has lost something. Your giving opens up all kinds of opportunities to share the Gospel.

· Give spontaneously – as needs arise. Budget money just to give away to bless other people. To bless a struggling neighbor. To bless a friend who has lost something. Your giving opens up all kinds of opportunities to share the Gospel. Global Response – IMB.

Are you generous? This afternoon, sit with your spouse and have a candid conversation about your money. What needs to change in your spending habits to enable you to free up more money to give away? What if you and your spouse spent time asking, “If I gave God control of my bank account, how would I be spending my money?”

· Are you generous? This afternoon, sit with your spouse and have a candid conversation about your money. What needs to change in your spending habits to enable you to free up more money to give away? What if you and your spouse spent time asking, “If I gave God control of my bank account, how would I be spending my money?”

· Repent: Maybe your giving shows that you are not passionate about your King. See His grace and love. Ask Him to change your heart. You've hardened your heart in this area.

Repent: Maybe your giving shows that you are not passionate about your King. See His grace and love. Ask Him to change your heart. You've hardened your heart in this area.

· Pray for our church that we would be wise stewards of the financial resources God provides for us.

Pray for our church that we would be wise stewards of the financial resources God provides for us.