The Value Of The Giver? Evaluate Your Attitude Toward Giving!

THE VALUE OF THE GIVER?

EVALUATE YOUR ATTITUDE OF GIVING?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Have you ever heard the story of DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA? Don Quixote was called the KNIGHT OF THE SORROWFUL COUNTENANCE!

Don Quixote was a knight, he had a horse, he had full armor, and knew important people. Don seemed to have some mental problems.

Don decided to go to battle, he grabbed his sword, his spear, and geared up for battle.

He went to battle a wind mill. As the wind mill blew around and around, Don Quixote’s horse charged and he fought long and hard against the wind mill. Some how he supposed the wind mill to be an enemy.

All his fight efforts were wasted on stupid, useless battles. Are we fighting windmills?

Do you see leadership as your enemy? Is your family the enemy?

TEXT:

2 Cor. 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

I. THERE ARE MANY HIDDEN LESSONS IN THE BIBLE.

WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE IN GIVING?

LEFT OVER GIVING IS A NEAT LESSON?

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

A. HOW VERY SAD IS THE LESSON OF THE FIRST TWO BROTHERS.

The brothers were raised in the same home, but their attitude toward giving varied greatly.

B. One brother gave in love the best he had. One brother gave of the leftover.

Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt

rule over him.

C. The underlying motive of the first murder was giving?

II. WHY IS GIVING SUCH A BIG DEAL?

There are special people, that have given so much. Their love has meant sacrifice.

Today they forget the kind deeds they have done for other people.Givers never sound the trumpet that they have given.

Often times givers have been hurt and pressed on all sides. Their work was not seen by many people, and their trophy cases are bare. They have never tasted the privilege of standing on a stage and knowing the applause of standing ovations.

Sometimes they have loved and been betrayed. Good givers have not just given to temporal means, but they have given of their heart and people laughed. They have spoken in great love and it has been misunderstood or misrepresented by someone that never

saw the heart’s effort.

Sometimes we get hurt and withdraw our giving.

III. THE GIFT OF WHAT I LOVE IS SO PRECIOUS!

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

A. Many years ago near Christmas, a little girl brought her favorite doll to the altar at prayer

time. I saw her Dad standing and crying in the background. She loved that doll so much,

with tears in her eyes I knelt down beside the little girl. She laid the doll in my hands and

said, Preacher would you find a good owner for my doll?

She got up and left the altar crying. I sat there and cried, I knew what a sacrifice this gift was. I also knew the value of this collector’s piece, I wanted so bad to say NO!

You love it, keep it. But I knew God was growing a little girl’s faith in giving.

I still shed tears telling this story. For I know a gift’s value means so little, but the value of the giver is far above, it is a love sacrifice. God loves a cheerful giver.

B. Sure, I know many takers. They give no one a gift. They say: I deserve this gift.

You don’t? But I know some that have given their best, and the husband, the child, the parent just doesn’t get it. A gift means they thought about you!

C. I know you have heard the story of the little girl that wrapped herself in gift paper then went in her Dad’s office and sat on her Dad’s lap. The Dad fussed and fussed and fussed until the little girl cried. The Dad claimed the daughter had wasted the gift