Summary: Stewardship Series Part 2

Money Talks

Mark 12:41-44

I. God Cares about Our Giving

A. There are three reasons why some do not tithe.

1. They have never been taught to tithe.

2. They misunderstand the place of tithing.

3. They don’t tithe because they refuse to do so.

II. God Cares About How Much We Give

A. Jesus observed their giving.

"And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. Mark 12:41

B. Jesus observed what they gave.

And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Mark 12:42

C. Jesus saw the woman give all she had.

And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, ’Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.’" (Mark 12:-44)

D. God has commanded us to give proportionally.

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! 11Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not shrivel before they are ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. Mal. 3:10-11 (NLT)

E. Tithing began 450 years before the Law

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said:“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High,Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”And he gave him a tithe of all.Gen.14:18

20 (NKJV)

F. Giving should be regularly

On every Lord’s Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 1 Cor. 16:2 (NLT)

III. God Cares about How We Give

A. Our giving ought to be cheerful giving.

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9:7 (NKJV)

B. Our giving ought to be liberal.

If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you.”Luke 6:38 (NLT)

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Cor. 9:6 (NKJV)

C. Our giving ought to be sacrificial in nature.

Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. 2 Cor. 8:2 (NLT)