The Walk Of Sacrifice Series

THE FORWARD WALK – PART SEVEN

‘THE WALK OF SACRIFICE’

2 CHRONICLES 24:1-14 - ©LARRY L. THOMPSON

Introduction:

We are taking our final steps in the Forward Walk as we approach our Forward by Faith Commitment Sunday on June 1st. In today’s Forward Walk we will discuss the WALK OF SACRIFICE and I will use this chest, a chest that we shall call, “The Chest of Joash” as a focal point for the next three weeks. In the Bible passage this morning, we will read about King Joash. He was a good king (righteous, or accepted by God). For 40 years he ruled over God’s people in the late 9th century BC and our focus today will be on the King as he led the effort to repair the crumbling Temple of God at Jerusalem. The temple was badly in need of repair because it had been robbed of its vessels for the service of Baal and neglected during the reign of (a-thawl-yah) Athaliah. With the help of the high priest, Joash undertook the repair of the temple. Jehoiada and the priests were using free-will offerings to finance the work, but this did not satisfy the godly zeal of this young king. It was King Joash who devised a plan of his own and constructed the first “money box” in the form of a chest with a hole in the top. This box was placed at the gate of the temple for offerings. Each day its contents were counted by the king’s officers and handed over to the builders. The work on the house of God was soon completed, and there was enough money left over to provide vessels for the service of the sanctuary.

I will use this chest as a visual because according to the WORD of GOD the chest will remind us of our responsibility as the PEOPLE of GOD to continue to build for the future insuring that this great fellowship continues to be the beacon of truth in South Florida and to the uttermost part of the world.

As in the days of King Joash, today this chest is a reminder of both and opportunity and an obligation. So remember, this chest is a reminder. People don’t look forward to that reminder. (Look in box) “FEED ME!”

You might have even had this thought cross your mind, “Who does the Pastor think he is, telling me I should put MY money in HIS Chest?” I’ve got three responses for you today…

 It’s not My Chest;

 It’s not Your Money;

 If you have a Pastor that doesn’t teach the truth of God’s word concerning biblical stewardship then you’ve got the wrong pastor or wrong church.

“MY DAD’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR DAD!” I assure you it’s not like the story of the three young men bragging about the importance of their dads. The first boy begins the bragging. He says, “My Dad is really important. He’s a songwriter. He scribbles a few words on paper, calls it a song, and they pay him $500.” The second kid, not to be outdone, brags, “That ain’t nothin’ – my Dad’s a lawyer. He scribbles a few words on a paper, calls it a brief, and they pay him $1,000.” The third little guy now speaks last, “Ha! You think your Dads are important? My Dad’s a preacher. He scribbles a few words on a paper, calls it a sermon, an’ it takes sixteen guys to haul in all the cash!”

This illustrates the truth– it really is God’s Chest, and God’s offerings and not anyone else!

So, with this background now established please allow me to look into this chest and see if I can provide some answers for all of us today that will help us to take the FORWARD WALK OF SACRIFICE as we look to the strengthening of God’s work among us. Two key questions concerning the walk of sacrifice:

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SACRIFICALLY GIVE?

To answer this question you would have to return to the story of the widow’s mite as Christ watched the people give their offering.

Mark 12:41-44 (NIV)

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. [42] But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. [43] Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. [44] They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.”

What does it mean to sacrificially give?

1. Jesus OBSERVES what we give (v.41-42).