Giving In God’s Economy

Giving in God’s Economy

March 25, 2012 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Giving is an act of worship, trust, and obedience.

Focus Passage: Mark 12:41-44

Introduction:

I. Giving as worship

a. Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste? "For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. "For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. "For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. (Matthew 26:6-12 NASB)

b. David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!" So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD; and he said, "Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did. (2 Samuel 23:15-17 NASB)

II. Giving as trust

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. But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die." Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. "For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'" So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. (1 Kings 17:12-15 NASB)

c. How can you trust God with your soul if you can’t trust Him with your money?

III. Giving as obedience

a. To tithe or not to tithe – that is the question

b. What we understand to be a 10% tithe is not a true biblical tithe

c. It has become a tradition to give 10%, but nowhere in the New Testament Church do you see the principle of 10% tithing

d. Legalists demand that you “pay tithes”; there is no (or very little) expression of love and trust when you “pay” tithes

e. So, what does the NT say about giving?

f. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7 NASB)

g. "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:3-4 NASB)

h. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4:34-35 NASB)

Invitation: So, should you give? Yes. How much should you give? That is between you and God. Whatever you give, you give out of gratitude, knowing that ALL of it belongs to the Lord. For some, $5 is a burden. For some $500 is not a burden. If you really don’t know, then start with 10%; historically, it is a good place TO START. If you start spending your resources on things that matter instead of temporal pleasure things, then God will take that offering and multiply it in His Kingdom. For too many of us, it is way too easy to throw a 20 in the offering plate, but we’ll never know the joy of trusting the Lord with our money until we start giving until it hurts.