The Presents of Christmas
The Present of Our Tithes and Offerings
2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5
INTRODUCTION: Everybody likes presents under the Christmas tree. We all gather around and wait eagerly, with quiet or not so quiet anticipation, the “opening of the presents”. Now in some houses there is a quick “free-for-all”, and the presents are opened en-mass, all at once. Then after EVERY package has been opened, we all look and laugh at what each person has received. Other families have a “system” for present opening. Some systems are part timing, part scavenger hunt, while others employ a more random opening schedule. Regardless of what method you use, the result is the same – the presents get opened!
What we cannot forget, is that God expects “presents” from us. Given the same way; as a reflection of our love and relationship to Him. God does not expect a gift because He earned it (even though in EVERY sense of the word God did EARN our gifts), but because we desire to give it. Our present to God is to be something personal, and desirable.
I WHY DOES GOD WANT A GIFT OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS?
A Tithes Were And Expression Of Our Love For And Trust Of God!
Deuteronomy 14:29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
1 Tithes were NEVER to be viewed as a burden, because they were not
2 Tithes were NEVER a threat to our personal security, in fact they revealed a confidence that the Lord would make the land produce
3 Tithes were MEANT to bless EVERYTHING that we did
B Offerings Were An Expression Of Our Desire For God’s House
Exodus 36:1-6 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded." 2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." 6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more,
1 They gave for the building of God’s house
2 They gave more than needed
3 They would do it again – twice!
1 Chronicles 29:6-7a Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
7 They gave toward the work on the temple of God, …
Ezra 1:4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’"
C God Desires Our Tithes and Offering To Teach Us
1 Not to trust in what we possess or to consider our possessions treasure.
Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Matthew 6:30-33 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2 The preeminent use of wealth is preparation for the future
Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
a In the parable surrounding this verse, the manager used the rich man’s wealth to provide for his future – ie: others would welcome him.
b Jesus tells us, in the same way, we should use wealth so that there be those to welcome us in heaven.
D His Love Is Reflected In Sharing What We Have
1 John 3:17-18 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 A real Christian cannot see his brother in need and not have a deep seated emotional concern (that’s what the word PITY means here!)
2 The true test of love is not verbal profession, but a willingness to help by action
E Treasure provides no hope for the future unless it is used
1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
1 Hope in wealth is uncertain.
2 Hope in God as the creator of things
3 Treasure is to be used to firm our foundation in heaven
F Loving treasure is problematic
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Lose my spiritual fruitfulness
2 Pierced means to plunge or to sink. In other words, to go down with the ship
II HOW DOES GOD WANT A GIFT OF OUR TITHE AND OFFERING?
2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.
17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.
20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. 22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say anything about you--would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
A Give with ENTHUSIASM
B Give to HONOR THE LORD
C Give with EAGERNESS
D Give RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD
E Give with ZEAL
F Give with CONFIDENCE
III WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO GIVE AS MY TITHE AND OFFERING
A The Tithe Was God’s Already, The Offering Was Freewill
Malachi 3:8-9 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, ’How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me.
1 Robbery is when we take was is not ours!
B King David Declared An Interesting Thought As He Sought God’s Forgiveness For Numbering The People
1 Chronicles 21:24 (KJV) 24 And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
1 Chronicles 21:24 (NASB) 24 But King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing."
1 Chronicles 21:24 (NIV) 24 But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing."
1 Chronicles 21:24 (YLT) 24 And king David saith to Ornan, `Nay, for I surely buy for full silver; for I do not lift up that which is thine to Jehovah, so as to offer a burnt-offering without cost.’
1 Chronicles 21:24 (MSG) 24 David replied to Araunah, "No. I’m buying it from you, and at the full market price. I’m not going to offer God sacrifices that are no sacrifice."
1 In other words, what I give to God ought to cost me something.
2 After all, what God would give to us at Christmas, would cost Him everything.
C God Encourages Us To Give – 2Cor 8:16-9:5
2 Corinthians 8:24 (NIV) Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
2 Corinthians 9:5 (NIV) So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
2 Corinthians 8:24 (MSG) Show them what you’re made of, the love I’ve been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!
2 Corinthians 9:5 (MSG) So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.
D God Tells Me To Give Like I Sow – 2 Cor 9:6-11
1 The seed was “thrown” out abundantly
2 The seed was thrown out with joy – knowing what it would produce
3 The better the harvest, the greater the seed to sow again
E God Tells Me That Giving Has A Positive Outcome – 2 Cor 9:12-15
1 Giving meets the needs of God’s people (and God Himself – ie: Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
a So if God has needs your giving meets them!
2 Giving reveals my obedience to the gospel
F 10% of the World claims to be Christians – that means, …
1 Only 10% of the world has a commission from God
2 Only 10% of the world has a mandate to fund that commission
3 Only 10% of the world can really make a difference in the world
So there it is, a present God wants from us.
No hype
No grammatical tricks
Straight from God’s Word
This Christmas, is this a present you will be giving the Lord?
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