THE MOUNT - GIVING

Pray

On March 27, 1939, the first-ever NCAA men’s basketball tournament took place. This tournament, known later as "March Madness," kicked off as the University of Oregon defeated (any guesses?) The Ohio State University by a score of 46 to 33. From its inception in 1939 until modern time, this tournament has grown in size and popularity. From just 8 teams during its first 12 years, to now 68 teams who qualify. There is little comparison to the excitement it receives from sports fans.

But it doesn’t stop there. March madness is also one of the highest sporting events which Americans bet on.

An 45 million Americans will have wager $3.1 billion on this single tournament alone.

But here’s a question for us this morning, what do you think the odds are of one of these brackets being perfect? Any guesses? I’ll just put the number up on the screen. 9,223,372,036,854,775,808. And if anyone can read that number outload, I’ll buy you lunch sometime… The odds of someone having a perfect bracket are 1 in 9.2 quintillion.

Still. 45 million Americans will bet on one of these teams.

Why am I sharing this with you this morning?

Well, a couple reasons. First, I love sports. I’m excited by MLB opening day coming up, it’s been fun to watch this last week as free agency for the NFL takes place, and I plan on watching a couple of the tournament games. I also enjoy sports because it has a way of bringing us together. For instance, my 3 oldest kids are all involved in spring sports this year. In fact, later today, carter has try outs to see If he’ll be playing t ball or coach pitch baseball this year… so there’s a family element, and hopefully an opportunity to further connect with the community through sports…

But for the sake of this morning’s message, the reason I highlight this story is the staggering fact that 3.1 billion dollars will be placed on the tournament, yet the odds of winning are next to impossible.

Maybe you’re not a sports fan this morning. Maybe it’s the stock market, I found this week that 13 million, new Americans started buying shares of stock after robinhood and other apps were launched during covid. Young men and women who had no interest in stocks before, now had something at stake. For instance someone had no interest in General Motors just weeks ago, but now… they have to pull up the latest news articles, and read all the headlines to make sure they’re informed with what the Detroit based company is doing on a daily basis…

Think about it… A couple weeks ago, there was no interest in GM… Now, the same people probably can recall more about the company then they can from their high school history book… The question? What’s changed? How can one person suddenly have so much interest in one thing, where less than a month ago… there was no interest at all?

Turn with me to Matthew 6 this morning. And I want to give us the answer up front… Matthew 6:21 says: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Think about it, where your money is… there too is your heart… The same people that cared so little about GM all those days before, now spend tireless hours trying to stay informed not only on GM but on the global economy as a whole. The sports fan, who couldn’t tell you 1 player from teams, now knows that Kentucky might make a late round upset as their shooting guard is one of the best in the country.

What changed for the GM investor and Basketball fan? Their treasure was there, and so their heart was there.

This morning, we’re going to continue in the book of Matthew. And study the principle of spending. Our sermon this morning, is turning your investment from one that’s a mess to one that’s blessed. 2 questions I want us to consider this morning are this: how do we spend our 1. Time 2. Treasure (and we could add Our Talent. But for today our focus is just on giving our time and our treasure.)

Beginning with point 1. Turn with me to Matthew 5 as we look at how do we spend Our time

As your turning there, we’ll find Jesus preaching the sermon on the Mount. This sermon of course, is one of the most famous messages given by Jesus. It was spoken relatively early in his Jesus earthly ministry and would be the first of five messages in Matthewrelated to discipleship.

Jesus would then go on to preach to the Large crowd on topics that they could understand. on turning the other check, on loving others, on topics like murder, adultery and other topics… But ultimately, Jesus would challenge the legalistic mentality of the culture and ultimately prove that it was only by grace only, through faith only and in Christ alone that one would enter the kingdom of heaven.

You see, several times Jesus would quote the old testament, and say to the Jewish people…. You have heard it said this way… but let me explain how it actually is. You have heard it said you must not murder… but I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. You have heard it said do not commit aduelty… but I tell you that anyone who looks at a women lustfully has already committed adultery

And then he gets to the point of Love and Jesus says

He would tell the people: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

You see, Jesus comes in and completely challenges the peoples way of thinking. Not just love your neighbor, but love your enemy. Jesus would go on to say “46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

You see what’s interesting is, at the time the Tax collectors, charged tolls and taxes on behalf of the Roman government . Then, To make a profit, they demanded a higher tax from the people than they would be required of them from the government. This system led to widespread greed and corruption. Furthermore, since the Jews considered themselves victims of Roman oppression, the Jewish tax collectors specifically, were especially despisebed because itw as like they turned their back on their fellow countryman.

And here Jesus is comparing these despised tax collectors of the society and he’s saying hey, even the tax collectors love their own people… and yet, you’re called to be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.

You see, for a moment, I want us to consider a concept in social psychology that is called interpersonal attraction. The way it works is whether it comes to friendship, a new love interest or even just our ability to gravitate towards someone at the holiday Christmas party… there are certain factors which influence are willingness to associate with others. (GENDER, RACE, APPERANCE…)

The truth is, that the laws of social psychology explain how we tend to gravitate towards those that walk, talk and look like us… (ASSOCIATE WITH OTHERS IN HUMBLE POSITION)

Jesus said said: If you greet only you own people, what are you doing more than others? You see the point is… Jesus was challenging the people to make time for others. Yes, love your neighbor, yes, love those who love you… but listen… don’t forget about the man, women or child on the other side of tracks…

You see, when we talk about how to spend our time and investing our lives well. We must look to the example of Jesus. We must look at his life as time after time, he went out of his way and gave to the needs of others.

Even up until the night that Jesus was crucified, Jesus was living out this idea of giving. The night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus was present with his disciples during the last super. And he would go on to wash their feet. John 13 12 says: 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.

13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

(You see, Jesus takes it from a standpoint of hey… you call me teacher… good, I am the teacher… but now… let me give you this invitation… now that I’ve washed your feet. You go and was one another’s feet. (and by the way not just the other disciples but really serve the needs of the world… invest your time in giving to others… but then Jesus said and then at then end there’s a key nugget for each of us this morning… 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them… by the way, when we see the word blessed their many of your translations will say happy.

And here’s the point… Jesus was offering the disciples a life that was blessed or happy, if they invested their time by serving the needs of others. Guys, The very reason that Jesus was sent to this earth was to give… Miracle after miracle, time after time, even during his death he spent his life giving to others.

Guys here’s the point this morning, there are many things we could spend our time doing… But as we meet the needs others, as we serve them… the bible says that we will be blessed, that we will be happy. So here’s a challenging question for you this morning? 1. Are you happy in your life right now… 2. Are you serving others?

Acts 20:35 says: 35 In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we can help those who are weak. We must remember what the Lord Jesus said, ‘We are more happy when we give than when we receive.’ ”

I’ve used the nlt here, but in the niv it says blessed. But friends, are you happy this morning? If not are we serving others… when we talk about a life that’s happy, a church that’s happy are we investing in others? Are we meeting their needs? If so continue on, let’s meet the needs of others.

2. Aside from giving our time God also asks us to give our treasure

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 5:19-24

Friends, there comes a point in our own lives where we have to decide what who we are living for… Many people try to spend their eternity on earth as if it were heaven, yet many will spend their eternity in hell. They sacrifice their future for the present…. Others give up their present for the future… but make no mistake you will be either investing in one or the other….

You see this morning, God ultimately calls us to not invest and store or treasures up on earth, but instead, store up our treasures in heaven… where you will spend your eternity…

Jesus then goes on to say “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…” You see just like March madness or the stock market, the reality is what you give to is where your heart is…

I think back a few years ago… this was shortly after I had been called into youth ministry, but I was bivoactional at the time… in other words I was working part-time at the church as the youth pastor, but I also had a cleaning business that I was running full-time…

And our Senior pastor had told us for a few weeks that we would have a giving Sunday. We were studying a series on stewardship and giving to the Lord, and this Sunday… the pastor asked us to bring our best gifts and give them to God. He then said, Pray about what God would specifically ask you to give…

The morning before Service, I was driving, and I prayed for the Lord to guide me… Then the Holy Spirit told me to give $1,000 that morning… which by the way… I then looked to God and said: “are you sure you didn’t add on an extra zero?” what about 10…

Later that morning, we had a young lady named Martha who was present from YWAM. And she was sharing about her time in India. And how God would go on to work in the orphanage with children struggling with addiction to spray paint and glue. Martha would share stories and photos with us and then as she was done speaking the Pastor asked how we could pray for her.

She would go on to say that she was $1,000 short in her upcoming trip.

At that moment, I knew I would be giving $1,000 to martha for this upcoming trip.

Now I gave cheerfully, I didn’t do so to get anything in return. Instead I did so with excitement. But then something crazy happened… you see, the next day, I received an email from a chemical factory named 3vsgima in Myrtle Beach. They would go on to say how that had found my information online and wanted to hire our cleaning company. This factory would go on to pay back not only the $1,000 that I had given, but instead this job was worth $6,000 a month.

You see, it was huge sacrifice but friends… when I let go and Gave unto the Lord… God blessed what I gave.

You see, Earlier we talked about investing your time in serving others, WE READ JOHN 13:17 WHICH SAYS: Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Malachi 3:8-12

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

You see, This is the only scripture in the Bible where God says, “Test Me.” In Every other part he actually says the opposite, he says: “do not put the Lord your God to the test”… and yet here God tells us here to give to him and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be enough room to store it.

Friends, God simply tells us then when we give to him… he blesses us beyond comprehension.

You see, what’s funny to me.. is everything in this world is made by God, and is for His glory…. The bible tells us That: “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” Psalm 24:1 we’re also told that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills… and yet… God loves us, and extends an invitation to us and wants to bless our finances.

… 2 COR 9:6-11 Tells us: 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. It goes on to say 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. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

So here’s where I want to close this morning… My hope and prayer is that you would see ultimately, when we talk about giving to God… it comes down to a matter of your heart.

You see, God owns everything. And yet, he wants to include us in the work that he is accomplishing here through the church and out on the missions field.

The question becomes: God what do you want me to give to you?

The reason I tell you all of this is this… when is the last time that you said to God, lord what do you want from me? God my car? Take it? Lord, my house, it’s yours. God my business, have it. Lord my future, I surrender it… can I tell you something this morning friends, and I’m mentioned this before… but God is in the business of blessing what has been put into his hands…

The key is this… if we want blessed, we take what’s in our hands and give it to God…

I’m going to call Lisa back up at this time

HERE's what I’m asking you to do this morning… Ask God, what you’re holding onto this morning that he can bless. Maybe it’s your marriage, have you surrendered your problems you’ve been facing to God, maybe it’s your situation at work, have you taken it from your hands and given it to God… maybe it’s your life, your past, your present and your future… and for all of us I know God wants us to give. But understand, that God already owns everything…. So, what you give, is simply returning to God what’s already his…

I’m not going to shame you into giving financially. I do know that we have a great room that is nearly paid off, I do know that there is a possibility of a summer intern coming to the church, I do know that there are community outreach opportunities coming up and exciting things that the Lord is doing in and through the church. but I’m not going to say, “you need to give this,” and you need to give that… instead, I would simply ask you to ask God. Today… Lord what do I need to give to you… God what do you want to bless?

And then I would ask you… what do you want God to bless

You see, in Matthew 16 were told: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Let me ask you… what do you want God to bless? Your finances? Your future, your relationship with others? Your marriage? Ask God to bless it… but then turn over the control. I know for me I had to give up being a business owner living in Myrtle beach… I had to give up my life… and friends, God has blessed me in so many ways. I know financially, I’ve seen the same blessing…

What is God asking you to give to him today?

Pray