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Giving


RETIREDFAN1

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Giving

 

A few weeks ago, we started discussing the five aspects of worship. We have studied singing, praying, and taking the Lord’s Supper. Today, we are going to look at the command to give. When studying the subject of giving to God’s work, we are studying about worship. Giving to God praises and glorifies God. The action in giving is simple. There are not very many regulations at all. Giving as worship is to be upon the first day of the week as Christians assemble together to worship. Giving is to be a free will offering taken only on the first day of every week. We don’t get to hold bake sales or car washes. 

 

The attitude in giving is much more complicated. What is our attitude when we give to God? How can we help our attitude and thereby help our giving?

 

Let’s start the lesson today by reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 16:1 - 2

 

A collection was being taken up for the poor in Jerusalem. Paul was visiting various churches to gather these funds. This example is the pattern for contributions in the church today. Each congregation has all sorts of work in the fields of edification, evangelism, and benevolence. that they need to accomplish. This work requires finances of some sort. 

These finances come from the giving of individuals who are members of the individual congregations.There are many different reasons we should be willing to give freely and cheerfully as we have prospered. 

II Corinthians 9: 7

 

One reason we should be willing to give of our means is because God gives His grace freely to His creation. He gives whether we want Him to give or not. God gives to the unjust.

Matthew 5:45 

 

He gives to the ignorant.

Acts 14:17

 

He gave the gift of His Son to His enemies.

Romans 5:10

 

He always gives us more than we can give to Him.

 2 Corinthians 9:8

Proverbs 3:9-10 

 

Paul wrote Timothy about the giving nature of God.

1 Timothy 6:17





 

God gives because he loves us. As our heavenly Father he desires to give good things to His children.

Matthew 7:9-11

John 3:16

1 John 4:10

 

If there were no more reason to give than this, this reason should well up within our hearts and souls to spring forth the most abundant giving that we could possibly undertake, but there is more.

2 Corinthians 8:9 

 

Knowing this, we should give because we have a thankful heart. Gratitude toward God is part of the Christian life.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Ephesians 5:20 

 

When giving, we should have gratitude in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 9:11-12

 

Gratitude is the foundation for cheerful giving.  One of the ways to show our gratitude is through our contribution to God. When David completed gathering all of the materials for the temple, he showed his gratitude to God.

1 Chronicles 29:13-14

 

Paul wrote that giving was the proof of the love of the Corinthians. Is it not also proof of our gratitude as well? Who do we show love toward who we are not first thankful for?

 2 Corinthians 8:24

 

Do we strive to give in a way that says thank you to God? If so, we should give first of ourselves. We do this by dedicating our lives to Christ. Jesus demands that we give of ourselves wholeheartedly to Him.

 Matthew 16:24-26 

 

This is what the brethren in Macedonia did before they gave.

 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

 

We should recognize that everything we do is to be done for the glory of God and His Son.

Colossians 3:17

1 Corinthians 10:31

Psalm 100:3

 

In this way, when we give, we are giving what God already owns. If we hold back from God, we are not holding anything back from him due to his lack, but are really holding back on glorifying Him.

Psalm 50:10-12


 

Notice the conclusion of this Psalm.

Psalm 50: 22 - 23

 

David acknowledged this principle in storing up offerings for the temple.

 1 Chronicles 29:10-16 

 

Give God your whole life and you will naturally give him your pocketbook. When doing so, we should always remember that if we fail to give, we will fail to prosper. If we fail to give, we rob God. 

Malachi 3:8-10

 

If we fail to give, our bags will have holes. The Book of Haggai was written to engage the people in building God’s temple instead of concentrating on their own physical concerns. It addresses their failure to give to God. 

Haggai 1:6

2 Corinthians 9:6 

 

If we fail to give our best, then we will not honor God. Again in Malachi’s day they thought that giving things that were less than the best would be acceptable, but God says that this does not honor Him. 

Malachi 1:8


 

Did God give anything less than the best for us? How then should we honor God in this regard?

 

We must understand HOW to give and we must give to God. We have looked at four principles that should help us examine our giving.

 

The principle of Grace–God gives to his creation.

 

The principle of Gratitude–Giving comes from a thankful heart.

 

The principle of Generosity–Giving comes from an attitude of generosity.

 

The principle of Egression–if we fail to give, we will fail to prosper not only now, but eternally.


 

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