TRUE RICHES - notes #3

Introduction

Giving

Saving

How to Know God

Summary

I. Introduction

Let’s review what we have covered in the first three Sermon Notes.

First, we discovered that God owns everything on earth. Our responsibility is to be faithful stewards (managers) of the possessions the Lord has entrusted to us. We also learned what the Bible teaches about work and how we should earn money.

In Sermon Notes #2, we learned the importance of seeking counsel from experienced, godly people when making financial decisions; how to spend money wisely; and what the Bible teaches about avoiding debt.

Sermon Notes #3 contains God’s principles of giving, saving and how to know Him personally.

II. Giving

Giving is one of the most fulfilling parts of the Christian life. Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to be generous. In fact, there are more verses related to giving than any other subject dealing with money.

1. It is important to give with the proper attitude.

A. Give out of a heart of love.

It is hard to imagine anything more worthy of praise than giving everything to the poor. But if it is done with the wrong attitude, without love, it is no benefit to the giver.

“If I give all I possess to the poor... but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3).

God evaluates our giving based on our attitude.

Jesus said in Matthew 23:23: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices— mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law— justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

The Pharisees had been careful to give the correct amount—down to the last mint leaf in their gardens. However, for giving to be of any value to the giver, it must be done out of love.

(1) God the Father set the example of giving in love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16).

The best way to give in love is to give each gift as if you are giving it directly to Jesus Christ. When you give to the Lord, it can be an act of worship because God is our Savior and our faithful provider.

B. Give cheerfully.

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

The word translated “reluctantly” means sorrow, grief, or annoyance. The word translated “cheerful” means joyful, happy, and exuberant. We are not to give reluctantly; rather, we should give because we are joyful for the opportunity to help others. Stop and examine yourself. What is your attitude toward giving? It is very important to give with the proper attitude.

2. Give to God first.

Part of our responsibility as a faithful steward is to give back to God a portion of what He has entrusted to us.

“Honor the Lord from your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops” (Proverbs 3:9).

God doesn't need our money, but we need to give. Giving to the Lord is a reminder that God owns all we possess and that He is our Provider. It is also an indicator of our obedience to God’s principles.

3. Amount to give

A tithe, or ten percent of our income, is the foundation of our giving. “Yet you rob me...in tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me” (Malachi 3:8-9).

In addition to the tithe, God’s people in the Old Testament gave offerings. The New Testament builds on the foundation of tithes and offerings, teaching us to give in proportion to what we receive. Jesus praised sacrificial giving.

“A poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny...Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on’” (Mark 12:42-44).

We are convinced that a tithe is the minimum amount we should give to the Lord, desiring then to give more than the tithe as the Lord prospers or directs us.

4. Blessings of giving

“Remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). If a gift is given with a proper attitude, the giver benefits in four ways.

A. Giving draws our hearts toward Christ.

Above all else, giving directs our heart to Christ. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). This is why it is necessary to give each gift to Jesus Christ. When you give your gift to Him, your heart will automatically be drawn to the Lord.

B. Giving develops godly character and helps us conform to Christ.

Our heavenly Father wants His children to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The character of Christ is that of an unselfish giver. Unfortunately, humans are naturally selfish. One of the ways we become conformed to Christ is by giving.

C. Giving allows us to put treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:20 reads, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). The Lord wants us to know that we can invest for eternity. Paul wrote, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account” (Philippians 4:17). When we give, there is a literal account for each of us in heaven, an account we will enjoy for eternity.

D. Giving can produce a material increase to the giver.

“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25).

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously...God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ 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. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

These verses teach that giving results in a material increase: “will also reap generously...in all things at all times...having all that you need...you will abound...will supply and increase your store of seed...enlarge the harvest...you will be made rich in every way.” But note why the Lord is returning an increase: “so that you can be generous on every occasion.” The Lord provides a material increase so that we may give more and have our needs met at the same time.

5. To whom should we give?

Scripture encourages us to give to the work of Christ and to the needy.

A. Give to the local church, Christian workers and ministries.

The Bible tells us to give to the church and those serving in ministry. Old Testament priests were to receive support: “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel...in return for the work they do” (Numbers 18:21). And the New Testament teaching on support is just as strong. “Pastors who do their work well should be paid well and should be highly appreciated, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17, TLB). “The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).

In our opinion, a minimum of ten percent of our income should be given to our church. But we also believe we should give to others who are teaching us. “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor” (Galatians 6:6).

B. Give to the poor.

Hundreds of verses deal with meeting the needs of the poor. In Matthew 25:34-45 we learn one of the most exciting truths in Scripture. “The King will say... 'I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink'...then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?'...The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire... I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink...whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'" Jesus, the Savior of the world, identifies Himself with the poor. When we give to the poor, we are actually giving to Jesus.

"Whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31).

“A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).

"All they [the apostles] asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I [Paul] was eager to do" (Galatians 2:10).

III. Saving

1. Scripture encourages saving.

“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets” (Proverbs 21:20 TLB).

We are encouraged to save to prepare for future needs. Saving means not spending today so you will have something to spend in the future. Joseph is an example of a person who saved. In Genesis 41, Joseph saved during the seven years of plenty so that there would be enough to live on during the seven years of famine.

A. Save only if also giving.

Jesus told this parable. “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you...’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:16-21, 34).

God called the rich man a fool because he saved all of his goods and was not giving generously. The only time we should be saving is when we are giving so that our hearts will remain focused on the Lord.

B. Save regularly.

“Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty” (Proverbs 21:5 TLB). The fundamental principle you need to practice to become a successful saver is to spend less than you earn. Then save and invest the difference over a long period of time.

(1) You do not have to earn a lot of money; rather, save consistently.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8).

C. How much should we save?

There is only one biblical example of saving that specifies an amount. Joseph saved twenty percent per year during seven years of plenty so that the nation would have enough food for the following seven years of famine. “Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance” (Genesis 41:34). In our opinion, it is wise to attempt to save ten percent of our income.

D. What to save for

(1) Save for unexpected emergencies.

In our opinion, it is wise to save for unexpected expenses so we can use cash rather than incur debt. If possible, save enough to pay for two months of regular expenses.

(2) Save for major purchases. Save for major purchases such as transportation, a farm, a home, or education.

(3) Save for longer-term needs.

Once you have saved for unexpected emergencies and major purchases, it is wise to save for longer-term needs, such as for providing for old age.

E. Investments

People place some of their savings in investments with the expectation of receiving an income or growth in value. Investments vary in different cultures and economies. Farms, animals, food, real estate, precious metals, stocks and bonds are all examples of investments.

Scripture encourages us to: (1) Avoid risky investments.

“There is another serious problem I have seen everywhere—savings are put into risky investments that turn sour, and soon there is nothing left to pass on to one’s son. The man who speculates is soon back to where he began—with nothing. This, as I said, is a very serious problem, for all his hard work has been for nothing; he has been working for the wind. It is all swept away” (Ecclesiastes 5:13 TLB).

(2) Diversify investments.

It is usually wise not to put all our money into one investment.

“Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth” (Ecclesiastes 11:2 NASB).

There is no investment without risk, and Scripture does not recommend any specific investments.

F. Gambling

The Bible does not specifically prohibit gambling; however, many who gamble do so to get rich quickly. This is a violation of Scripture. “A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth, and does not know that want will come upon him” (Proverbs 28:22 NASB).

Make a commitment never to gamble, even for entertainment. We should not expose ourselves to the risk of becoming compulsive gamblers, nor should we support an industry that enslaves so many.

IV. How to Know God

God has created each of us to know Him personally. Four basic truths explain how this is possible.

1. God loves us and wants us to experience a meaningful life.

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

God the Father loves you. He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you.

“I [Jesus] have come that they might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

2. We are separated from God.

God is holy, which means He is perfect. Unfortunately, every person has sinned;

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

The consequence of sin is separation from God; “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

An enormous gap separates us from God. Individuals try without success to bridge this gap through their own efforts, such as philosophy, religion, or living a good moral life.

It is important to understand that we only live on this earth once.

“Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

There is no such thing as reincarnation.

3. God’s only provision to bridge this gap is Jesus Christ.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. He bridged the gap between God and us.

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

This bridge is a gift from God; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

4. Each of us must receive Jesus Christ.

“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Nothing in life compares with of knowing Christ personally. We can experience true peace, joy, and hope when we receive Him as Savior and Lord.

If you desire to know the Lord and are not certain whether you have this relationship, you may receive Christ right now. Pray a prayer similar to this one: “Father God, I need you. I invite Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord and make me the person you want me to be. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life.”

“Believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). If you have asked Jesus Christ to come into your life as your Savior, you now know Him and have eternal life.

V. Summary

According to God’s Word, giving is a priority. It is more of a blessing to give than to receive. The Lord encourages saving for future needs.

The key to wise saving is to spend less than you earn and save the difference over a long period of time.