INTRODUCTION
Christians should take seriously the discipline of giving for the Lord’s ministry. Others thought that this is optional and can be replaced by other forms of service. But the Bible is clear that giving materially for the Lord’s work is equal in importance compare to that of faith and love for the Lord and others.
READ 2 Corinthians 8:7
But just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
This morning I would like to speak on THE GRACE OF GIVING. God is so gracious to us in many ways and He desires the same attitude from us by giving and supporting His agenda in this world. The church was commissioned to continue Christ’s work until He returns and it requires our financial and personal support.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were commissioned to be a blessing to other nations by being obedient to God and proclaiming His grace and mercy. The work is spearheaded by the priests and the temple activities.
The giving of tithes and offerings are not just an Old Testament practice. During the time of Christ, they still practice this discipline of giving and in fact He took it seriously.
Please open your Bibles to Mark 12:41-44 and let us find out why we should take giving seriously. (Read the text).
We need to take giving seriously because OUR MOTIVE AND MODE OF GIVING MATTERS TO GOD.
1. OUR GIVING MATTERS TO GOD (v. 41)
In the temple, there is a section called court of the women which both men and women were allowed to come, and where the temple treasury was located.
The Bible says that Jesus sat down on a bench where he could watch the people bring their offerings and put them in one of the thirteen trumpet-shaped collection boxes.
These boxes were used for the purpose receiving various dues, tithes, and freewill offerings of the people.
These offerings would be used to sustain the temple worship and other services. His observation was:
• DELIBERATE – He intentionally took a bench and observed how people give.
• COMPREHENSIVE – He observed everyone. No one had escaped his attention. Even the poor widow.
What do you think? Is God observing the way we give today? I believe He does. Worship is our response to God’s revelation of Himself. It is our response to God’s graciousness in our lives by sustaining and securing each one of us. In worship, we express our gratefulness through prayer, praise, and giving of offerings.
The movement of our activities in worship is from self to God. The attitude is not what we can get but what we are ready to give to God as an expression of worship. When we sincerely have this attitude, then God will reveal His glory and will to His people. Part of this attitude is seen in our practice of giving.
Our giving matters to God. And He looks at each one of us, not only what we give, how we give, and why we give. Why do you think God take seriously our giving?
READ 2 Corinthians 9:10-11.
a. Giving is an evidence of God’s providence – We are able to give because He provides. He owns everything in this world and makes everything productive so we can benefit and be His instruments.
b. Giving is an implementation of God’s will – God supply and increase our resources so we can do the will of God – to expand His kingdom and bless the lives of others.
c. Giving is an evidence of good stewardship – Material blessings should be used appropriately. It requires planning and budgeting. In His budget sheet,
He stipulated that 10% of His wealth is to be used for his kingdom agenda while 90% is for your personal needs.
READ Leviticus 27:30
Sometimes an individual fails to give his tithes not because he does not have anything but because of poor stewardship. Perhaps he spent more than 90% that God allocated for him.
Remember – our giving matters to God due to following reasons – God’s providence, God’s will, and Good Stewardship. Not only that our giving matters to God but also…
2. OUR MODE OF GIVING MATTERS TO GOD ( vv. 42-43)
Jesus appreciated the generosity and sacrifice of the poor widow. God is pleased when someone gives generously and sacrificially. It is not the portion but the proportion of our giving. For the rich, their gifts were a small contribution, but for the widow, her gift was true consecration of her whole life. Poor widow gave in the spirit of sacrifice and commitment.
Rich people gave out of their abundance, a mere surplus. Their comforts were not affected and their luxuries were intact.
READ 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.
God wanted us to give generously and cheerfully. Generosity begins when we give beyond what is expected. In God’s financial plan, He entrusted to us his resources but 10% should be allocated for Him and 90% is ours.
The 10% is rightly His; we have not given yet out of our own allocation. When we give more than 10%, then generosity begins. Whether you give it to anyone in need in Christ’s name or project related to God’s work and to the church.
Our generosity is measured not by what others give but what you are capable and willing to give. So if you want to know if you are generous, then evaluate your capability and willingness to give. If you give more that you are able and give willingly then you are a generous person.
When we give our tithe and offerings, let us give it cheerfully. The difficulty of giving cheerfully lies on the thought that we are losing. That is not true. Giving should be compare to sowing – sow sparingly, reap sparingly; sow generously, reap generously. There is a correlation between generosity and cheers.
I realize that generous people are always cheerful. Ungenerous people are often heavyhearted and joyless. Why do you think that poor widow was able to give generously? Because she knew that…
3. OUR MOTIVE AND MODE OF GIVING MATTERS TO GOD (vv. 44)
Remember, in the process of giving, we are accomplishing the will of God and recognizing the providence of God. Therefore, when we give we become instrument in accomplishing the will of God and we are able to express to God how grateful we are for his provisions.
On the part of the poor widow, it was widow’s evident passionate commitment to the cause of God. She knew that temple services and ministries are God’s will and plan. To some people, what the poor widow did was foolishness. She only had two coins and yet gave everything. The widow demonstrated her faith and dependence on God.
God knows her needs and wants. What about her needs and wants? Don’t you think God forgot those? For all we know, God observes the way we give so He will know whom to entrust more. Let us learn from God’s creation. All of God’s creation gives. Those creation that are expected to produce when they don’t produce; they are cut off – plants and animals.
Look at the arteries of your heart, when they are clogged: they install a stent or by pass because it hurts us.
a. Stent - a short narrow metal or plastic tube often in the form of a mesh that is inserted into the lumen of an anatomical vessel (as an artery or a bile duct) especially to keep a previously blocked passageway open.
In like manner, when we are clogged and the blessings of God do not flow freely sometimes God will install a spiritual stent to clear the way for God’s blessing to flow. Sometimes it comes in a form of trials, more payables, and health problems; at least God’s resources are distributed to others.
b. By-passed – surgically an alternate artery is provided and the clogged by-passed. What does it mean to us?
Spiritually, you will be by passed and God will use others as His channels of blessings. In a way, our motive for giving is to be God’s channels of blessing to others and to be God’s instruments in accomplishing His will for this world. When we do the will of God and promote His agenda, He will surely sustain us.
Therefore we should not be afraid to release God’s blessing by giving of tithes and offerings and other opportunities for generosity.
CONCLUSION
Our motive and mode of giving matters to God; therefore let us give generously and cheerfully. Let us always check our attitude when we give. Let us make sure that we remember to give for God’s cause and to a needy person. The more we are faithful in our giving, the more the Lord would bless our lives.
