PM Reflections on AM Sermon
1) 11-23-08…PM…SBC
PM Reflection on AM Sermon – 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 “Be a Liberal”
Giving/Tithing: The basic question is not how much of our money we should give to God, but how much of God’s money we should keep for ourselves.—J. Oswald Sanders[1]
OT: Genesis 28:20-22
1- Jacob here is fleeing from Esau at the instruction of His wife Rebekah
2- Jacob has just dreamed of a flight of steps reaching from heaven to earth
3- v13-15 – records God’s promise to Jacob
4- We must desire nothing else to make us happy and content then to know that wherever we are we have God’s present with us and are under his protection – Hebrews 13:5
5- It is comfortable when on a journey, to have a guide with you, and those that have God with them have all this. [2]
6- Jacob responded in light of God’s initiative of love towards him – Series on Joshua
7- All of Jacob’s responses in these verses enhance God providing presence upon His people
8- Jacob made a vow that Jehovah would be his God
9- Jacob’s response in light of God promise of protection and provision was to give back to God what he blessed Jacob with
· Jacob may have been bargaining with God, as if to buy His favor rather than purely worshiping God with his gift, but it is best to translate the “if” (v. 20) as “since” and see Jacob’s vow and offering as genuine worship based on confidence in God’s promise (vv. 13–15).[3]
· He realized that his dedication to God meant nothing unless his material goods were under His control as well.[4] – tithing in light of God’s activity was a joyful act of worship for Jacob
NT: 1 Timothy 6:10 (this discussion does not have to deal with stewardship – we must always do that)
1- there is a distinction between money itself and the love of it
2- Paul’s concern here is to point out the spiritual risks involved in money-grabbing.[5]
3- The results are seen as self-inflicted—the inevitable result of loving the wrong thing.[6]
4- The spiritual fruitfulness of our church can be choked off if we have a love of money
· personally we can be selfish with our money and evade our responsibility to give to those in need
· as a church we can concentrate on saving money or not spending money and miss opportunities to do ministry
· neither of these methods of handling money will bring the blessings of God
Application Question: How can we avoid the snare of the love of money?
1- Pray – ask God to change your heart
2- Read the Bible to see how God has revealed himself to be a provisional God
3- Realize the benevolent giving of God by giving you Christ and the blessing beyond that
4- Remember how God has provided your needs in the past
5- Get some help glorifying God with your finances
6- Tithe and Give – watch the people you give to thank and glorify God for you giving
7- Be more concerned with giving then with accumulating – Philippians 2:4
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[1]Robert J. Morgan, Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 339.
[2]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hen4drickson, 1996, c1991), Ge 28:16.
[3]John Jr MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville: Word Pub., 1997, c1997), Ge 28:22.
[4]Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), Ge 28:1.
[5]D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, Rev. Ed. of: The New Bible Commentary. 3rd Ed. / Edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1 Ti 6:6.
[6]D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, Rev. Ed. of: The New Bible Commentary. 3rd Ed. / Edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1 Ti 6:6.