I submit to us that The Offering Is An Important Part of the Worship Experience. The Offering is so Important that John Mark writes in verse 41 that
"JESUS SAT over against the TREASURY,
and BEHELD HOW THE PEOPLE CAST MONEY INTO THE TREASURY ...."
In the Giving of our Offerings, we are declaring God’s Worth To Us. We are declaring His Sovereign Ownership of Us and All that We Have. And for Blessings we have Received From Him, in the Offering, WE ARE BLESSING HIM IN RETURN!!! THE OFFERING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORSHIP EXPEREINCE - JESUS SITS AND WATCHES HOW WE GIVE WHAT WE GIVE AS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR GRATITUDE AND OBEDIENCE!
That’s why These Five(5) Principles For Our Giving are so important and must be personally believed and practiced by all of us. At Offering and Tithing Time, we are declaring to our Awesome God:
1. GOD, YOU DESERVE MY BEST - PROVERBS 3:9.
2. GOD, YOU WILL GET MY BEST EACH WEEK - 1 CORINTHINAS 16:2a.
3. GOD, YOU WILL GET A MINIMUM OF 10% WHEN I GIVE - 1 CORINTHIANS 16:2b.
4. GOD, YOU WILL BE GLORIFIED THRY MY GIFTS - EPHESIANS 5:20.
5. GOD, YOU WILL BE PRAISED THRU MY GIFTS - 2 CORINTHIANS 9:12.
I. Since we now know that Jesus Watches How We Give What we Give At Offering Time, WE MUST HAVE A RIGHT ATTITUDE WHENEVER WE GIVE! Mark says in verse 41 that Jesus Beheld HOW THE PEOPLE CAST MONEY INTO
THE TREASURY ...."
That means: THE WAY IN WHICH WE GIVE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS HOW MUCH OR WHAT WE GIVE!
1. SOME GIVE SELF-RIGHTEOUSLY, LIKE THE RICH MEN IN VERSE 41.
2. SOME GIVE TO SHOW OFF, TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK BIGGER THAN WHAT THEY ARE - MATTHEW 6:1-4.
3. SOME GIVE GRUDGINGLY - 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7
4. SOME GIVE BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO - 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7. PRESSURED TO GIVE.
II. COMMENDABLE GIVING IS CONSISTENT WITH WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE.
1. THIS WIDOW GAVE IN A MANNER THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH WHO AND WHAT SHE WAS.
A) SHE WAS POOR - SHE GAVE 1/4 OF A PENNY.
B) SHE WAS A WIDOW - SHE HAD NO ONE TO TAKE CARE OF HER.
C) SHE TRUSTED GOD - SHE CAST IN ALL HER LIVING.
III. OVERCOMING NEGATIVE GIVING ATTITUDES.
1. Some will say, "I’m in Debt. I can’t give." It was a wrong attitude that got you into debt in the first place. Because you made bad decisions, you ended up in debt. What will get you out of debt? A RIGHT ATTITUDE! Begin GIVING YOUR TENTH TO GOD, and then Properly Manage the Remaining 90% until You Get Out Of Debt!
2. Some will say, I’ll give More when I get More." More money won’t change anything. Only A Change of Attitude and a New Approach To Money Will Produce More Money. "Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money!" You need An Adjustment In Your Attitude, not an Adjustment in Your Wages!!!
3. Some will say, "I Can’t Give. I’m in Debt because of Circumstances." You’ll always blame Someone or Something Else. Your cash flow may be all right, but your "Outgo" may be centered on "Stuff."
4. Some will say, "I Won’t Give. I’m Mad!" You’re bitter because of your Financial Bondage. Your bitterness has robbed you of what little Joy you had, and of what little Money you had - James 4:-12.
5. Someone will say, "I’m Not Giving. I’m Giving Up!" Some people only see "the system." They have been on too may job interviews. They’ve filled out too many job applications. They won’t look Within. They look Around. They’re like the workers in Jesus’ parable, who just stood around complaining because no one hired them!
COMMENDABLE GIVING IS SACRIFICIAL
GIVING!!! MARK 12:43-44.
GOD DOESN’T DO WINDOWS FOR LESS THAN 10%!!!
