Sermon Tone Analysis

TEXT:  Luke 6:38                                                        

TOPIC:  Why Should You Give      

Pastor Bobby Earls, FBC, Center Point, Alabama

October 29, 2006                   

 

          We are nearing that time of year when most of us will be bombarded with requests to give of our hard earned dollars.  (If you’re from the Homewood area of Birmingham, it’s already that time.

In fact, my wife informed me yesterday that the Christmas Home Show is scheduled next weekend at the BJCC downtown.)

So very shortly you will be hearing from many worthy non-profit, charitable organizations, retailers, special interest groups, and at times from worthless charlatans, who will ask time and time to give, to buy or support their interests.

Advertisements, commercials, and million-dollar marketing schemes are all aimed at one thing with you in mind—to get your money!

I once read about the Salvation Army and their annual Christmas effort to collect money for the poor and homeless.

Every year at this time the Salvation Army place volunteers in front of many of the most popular shopping centers with their familiar little red pots and bell ringers asking for your donations.

I read that this year the Salvation Army will assist 13,000 families with food, shelter and toys at Christmas.

(I’ve determined to drop something in those little red pots every time I pass this year.)

The point is this:  There are many legitimate and worthy causes to which you can choose to give your money.

But why should you?

Why should you give anyway?

Did you know there are certain words that appear repeatedly in the Bible?

Words like,

 

Belief - 272 verses

Prayer - 271 verses

Love - 714 verses

Give - 2162 verses

 

          Now it shouldn’t surprise you that the bible speaks a great deal about money.

In the gospels alone, Matthew, Mark and Luke, every 6th verse deals with the issue of money.

If I were to begin preaching verse by verse through the gospels, every 6th verse would be about money or giving.

People tend to be negative about messages on the subject of giving.

1.

Misunderstanding - How this principle fits into one’s Christian life.

2.     Methods - people use to promote giving.

3.     Motivation - The reason a person asks.

4.     Management - One’s own personal management of finances.

It is the third reason for giving or the lack thereof with which I want to deal today.

Motivation; why should you give?

If you have your copy of God’s word this morning, please open it to a single verse of the Scriptures, Luke 6:38.

My sermon is entitled “Why Should You Give?” 

 

/“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.

For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”/

What is the real motivation for serving the Lord, for obeying the Lord in this area of stewardship?

Why do Christians give like they give?

*I.

**MOTIVATED BY FEELINGS*

* *

*          *Some are motivated to give out of feelings.

Responding to a crisis or giving to meet a need is Christian but should not be our motivation for giving. 

 

2 Corinthians 8:1-4

          /1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

(NIV)/

 

          Every church I know is wonderful when it comes to giving based on the need of others.

*II.   **MOTIVATED BY FACTS, THE TRUTH*

* *

*          *Some of us are motivated simple by the fact or the truth that the bible teaches that we ought to give.

Beginning way back in Genesis after the expulsion from the garden, Adam and Eve gave their first fruits to the Lord.

The concept of giving the best of what you have, the first of what you have has always been taught in the Bible.

Genesis 14 describes where Abraham gave a tenth to Melchezedek and was blessed by him.

Leviticus 27:30

          /30 "`A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD./

(NIV)

 

          The Bible tells us the tithe is the Lord’s; it is holy unto the Lord.

There are only a couple of things in the Bible that God says are holy and sacred and that belong to the Lord.

I need to remind you that the tithe is still the Lord’s even if it is still in your pocketbook or checking account.

*III.

**MOTIVATED BY FEAR*

* *

*          *The curse of Malachi 3:9.

If we don’t tithe, God will zap us.

(i.e., Car problems, washer or dryer will go out, or the medical bills will pile up.)

Malachi 3:8-9

/“Will a man rob God?

Yet you have robbed Me! /

/But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ /

/In tithes and offerings.

You are cursed with a curse,/

/For you have robbed Me, /(NKJV)

 

Billy Graham has said the greatest sin America has today is robbing God.

We spend more on dog food than we do for religious causes.

We spend more on recreation and for our own personal pleasure than we do for the Kingdom of God.

The truth is, some Christians give out of fear, but that shouldn’t be our prime motivation for giving.

*IV.

**MOTIVATED BY FAITH*

* *

          Faith is taking God at His word.

Faith is trusting God.

Did you know that God promises great reward to those who give generously?

Listen to just a few of God’s promises to those who trust Him and give generously and sacrificially.

Malachi 3:10, NLT

/Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.

If you do,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will open the windows of heaven for you.

I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!

Try it!

Let me prove it to you! /

 

Luke 6:38

/“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.

For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”/

/ /

          Not like the church’s which I read about in the Birmingham News a week or so ago.

Do you know what my desire for this church is?  My desire for this church is that God would raise up an army of generous givers who take God at His word when it comes to their motivation for giving.

Why should you give?

More than feelings, facts, fear, faith, we should give based on our relationship.

Because we love Him, we obey Him.