GIVING
Introduction
-It seems that we
don’t hear very many lessons on the topic of giving.
-A couple of
reasons:
-1. Preachers
sometimes feel ackward presenting a lesson on giving because their
salaries
come from
the contribution.
-Making a living preaching the word is scriptural and
so is the topic of giving..
-I Cor 9: 9-15
-vs 14 - “live of the gospel” = to earn their living
-NAS - “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim
the gospel to get their
living from the gospel.”
-2. Money is a
sensitive topic and some don’t like lessons aimed at their
pocketbooks. But,
before this
lesson is over, I hope you’ll see that giving is more of an issue of
the heart.
-Yet, remember,
giving is an act of worship. It is something that is commanded.
-Also
remember, the Lord’s Supper and giving are separate acts of
worship. Because we do them
together for convenience sake, I’m afraid we sometimes blend those
together in our minds.
-1 Cor 16: 1-2
-The saints in Judea were in need and the other
churches were helping them.
-Acts 11:27-30
-2 Cor 9:1-2 - We find that the Christians in
Corinth responded.
-superfluous - (Coll Dict) - unnecessary or needless
-II
Corinthians 8:1-13
-This is an
extremely important passage when it comes to the topic of giving.
-We know that Paul
had commanded the other churches to give when he commanded the
Corinthians to do so (1 Cor 16:1).
-In 2 Cor 8, we
find some information regarding the response of the churches in
Macedonia.
-Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and others
-Notice some
unusual contrasts: (what we might think unusual)
-vs 2 - great trial
of affliction - abundance of joy
their deep poverty - abounded unto riches of
their liberality
-vs 3 - great
willingness
-vs 4 - prayed for
Paul and those with him to take the gift
-praying - (Vines) - desire, beseech (Beseech
carries with it the idea of earnest begging.)
-They wanted badly to help those who were in need.
-vs
5 - “but first gave their own selves to the Lord”
-Because they first gave themselves to God, they were
willing to give of their finances to God.]
-Explain vs 1 -
“grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia”
-Hopefully, we see
by this passage that giving isn’t as much a matter of the pocketbook
as it is a matter of
the heart.
-Matt 22:37
-2 Cor 9:7
-purposeth - (Vines) - “ to bring forth or forward” -
can mean “to take by choice,
prefer, purpose”
-We see that our giving is something that is to involve
thought - purpose.
-It is to be planned. It is a choice and hopefully it is
a wise choice.
-We don’t put every penny in the collection today and
expect to buy groceries tomorrow.
-I
Cor 16:2 - A Closer Look
-When? - Upon
the first day of the week
-It is not a part of the Lord’s Supper but usually done
immediately after for convenience.
-Lay
by in store
-lay - (Vines)- to
lay up or store up
-Store - (Vines) - comes from the Greek word meaning “to
amass or reserve” - in treasury
-Mark 12: 41-44 - another great passage on giving
-There was a physical treasury. Now our treasury is in
the form of a bank account.
-As
God hath prospered him
-Many misunderstand
what is meant by this phrase.
-When we think of
the word “prosper” we think of abundance and excess.
-In other words, we get the idea of giving based upon our
excess - what is left over.
-Think about that for just a moment. Should God get our
leftovers? A portion of them?
-prospered - (Vines
and Strongs) - comes from two Greek words: 1. well 2. A way or journey
-as we do well along the way - as we earn income
-NIV - “each one of you should set aside a sum of money
in keeping with his income”
-In other words, our
giving should not be based upon what we have left when all is said and
done but on what we
receive in the first place.
-Most people consider all other payments and then give to
God.
-We should give to God first and then consider other
payments.
-Give God what is right, not what is left.
-Scriptural
Pattern
-We are not told a
specific amount to give.
-2 Cor 9:7
-But, there is a
pattern found through the scriptures:
-Prior to the Law - Gen 14:20 - tithe = tenth
-During the Law - Lev 27:30-32
-After the Law - No set amount given.
-But, think about how far more we are blessed to be under
the Gospel.
-Should we then give less?
-Summary
and Invitation
-Giving is an
individual issue. It is one upon which you must decide.
-But, one factor we
haven’t discussed yet is the most important.
-2 Cor 8:9 (with vs 13)
-Think about how much
God gave and how much Jesus gave for you.
-Won’t you give in
return?
-Most of all, won’t you
give yourself to the Lord?
-You do so initially by obeying
the Gospel - Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32,
Rom
10:9), Repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts
2:38)
-Then, we
continue to give through faithful living (Rom 6:4, Eph 4:22-24).
However, if
you’ve
quit giving yourself to the Lord, come back to Him - confess your
shortcomings,
repent
of them and pray for His forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).
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