Eight "Right Things" Concerning Giving To The Lord

Eight “Right Things” Concerning Giving to the Lord

by Pastor Tim Gresham

Text: 1 Chronicles 29:1-16

Welcome to another Sunday of Stewardship Emphasis!

Before I begin, I’d like to tell you of

A little girl who became restless in church as the preacher’s sermon dragged on and on. Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, “Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?”

Introduction: David has been engaged in preparing his son, Solomon, to take his throne as king of Israel. He has been preparing the material to build the temple he promised to have built for the Lord. Now we find him preparing the people of Israel to accept Solomon as king, the endeavor to build the temple, and to give sacrificially to see that is happens.

I. The Right Perspective (Vs 1)

“…the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.”

“A little boy in church for the first time watched as the ushers passed around the offering plates. When they came near his pew, the boy said loudly, ‘Don’t pay for me Daddy. I’m under five.’” – January 14, 2004 issue of the Baptist Progress First Time Ushers

Cp Colossians 3:23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

Our whole purpose in giving and faithful stewardship is not to please man or to receive honor from man.

Our whole purpose in giving and faithful stewardship is to please the Lord and to bring honor to His Name.

Cp Deuteronomy 16:10, “And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.”

A lot of misconceptions about the purpose of the church and the integrity of the church could be avoided if the church had the right perspective for giving.

Cp 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

Cp Matthew 25:14-15, “[14] For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. [15] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”

II. The Right Degree (Vs 2)

“Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God…”

God commands us to give.

Grace comes in when we realize God did not demand a set amount. He commanded it to be in proportion to our ability.

However, when we come to the place in our Christian walk where we give with a cheerful heart (2 Cor. 9:7), we should know that we need to give it our all – the entirety of our being.

Cp Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might...”

Cp Colossians 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

III. The Right Direction of Interests (Vs 3a)

“…I have set my affection to the house of my God…”

Christian, where do your interests lie?

Cp Colossians 3:1-4, “[1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Christian, where do your affections lie?

Cp Matthew 6:19-21, “[19] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: [21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Jesus gives us a principle in verse 21 of Matthew 6. If your heart is with the things of this world, where moth and rust corrupt, then that is where your treasures is. If your heart is with the things of the Lord, Heavenly things, things that please Him, then your treasure will be there.

IV. The Right Example (Vs 3b-5a)

“…I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house…”

David here sets the right example as he dedicates, not only what he has already laid by in store, but has given over and above what he anticipated or promised God or others.