Giving Back To God

Giving Back to God

February 19, 2017 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: God expects us to give back a portion of our income.

Focus Passage: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Supplemental Passage: "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. (Malachi 3:8-10 NASB)

Introduction: Jesus talked much about money. Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions. In the Gospels, an amazing one out of ten verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions. Howard L. Dayton, Jr., Leadership, Vol. 2, no. 2.

I. Giving is an act of obedience

a. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NASB)

b. "If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains. (Psalms 50:12 NASB)

II. Giving is an act of trust

a. And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44 NASB)

b. and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. (Acts 2:45 NASB)

III. Giving is an act of service

a. So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness. (2 Corinthians 9:5 NASB)

b. For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18 NASB)

IV. Giving is an act of worship

a. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; Bring an offering and come into His courts. (Psalms 96:8 NASB)

b. Ananias and Sapphira (Act 5:1-11)

Application/Invitation: Ten percent is a great place to start for new believers. But grace ALWAYS exceeds the law.