Read the Instructions

The Ikea of Faith

Today is it, the last message in our as we are able series on giving. We are going to dive into the how of giving. We will even hit the verse that inspires the series title.

Have you ever taken the box from Ikea or fill in the blank looked at the book of directions shrugged your shoulders and tossed them out. Admit it you have… most people do. They toss direction manuals all the time. We all figure we know better. We see the instructions. We realize that if we used them things would be so much easier and for yet for some reason we like to think we know better.

That can happen when it comes to the truth that is Giving. We don’t necessairly want to read the instructions so we try and cobble it together on our own. Doing more what feels right or what feels good as opposed to what makes the whole thing work properly and sturdy.

It’s like this…(talk about the netflix show where they split people into teams to figure out how to build a chair)

So we have answered who, why and what we give…Today we are going to answer the how to’s of giving and we are going to start in the Old Testament, and then move into the New.

Just how do we do it?

Deuteronomy 16:16–17 HCSB

“All your males are to appear three times a year before the Lord your God in the place He chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. No one is to appear before the Lord empty-handed. Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you.

If we look at this passage we realize a few things about giving. We realize first of all that anyone who is coming to the Lord who is appearing where he is, who has made the decision to follow the laws of God in this time of the old testament had to make sure they came to the Tabernacle and later the temple for three specific festivals.

We come Ready To Give

No one is to appear before the Lord empty-handed. Last week we talked a bit about the fact that just thinking about giving isn’t enough, but giving to God must start with actively thinking about it with coming ready with planning to give.

We Give to God…not to be seen!

When we read these words...

Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you. We need to recognize something. We are not giving to be seen. We don’t give to be patted on the back, nor do we judge others by what they Give. When we realize the importance of giving as we are able....and we understand that we are able because of what God has blessed us with, we begin to understand the importance of coming prepared to give.

We Give in Secret

Matthew 6:1–4 HCSB

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

When we give to be seen, when we give to be told how great we are, when we give to be remembered....we are giving for the wrong reasons. Giving is to be between you and God. No one else needs to know…(expound)

We give generously

2 Corinthians 9:6 HCSB

Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

We Give Individually

2 Corinthians 9:7 HCSB

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We give Cheerfully

2 Corinthians 9:7 HCSB

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We give with confidence

2 Corinthians 9:8 HCSB

And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

Expound about the blessings of giving with confidence.

This Week’s Challenge

Look at what you have been giving and how you have been giving it. If you have not been giving…start…if you are giving the wrong way…ask God to help you through the Holy Spirit to give with the right attitude.