Treasure Giving

TREASURE GIVING

TEXT: Matthew 6:16-33 W. Max Alderman

INTRODUCTION: By examining the gospels, we learn that the secret to success is threefold: (1) if we want to be successful in the eyes of God, we must first answer Christ’s call for our lives. (2) Because of what God has given us, He holds us accountable for how we use our success. As part of God’s kingdom, we need to store our treasures in heaven, for “For a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he passeth.” (Luke 12:15). (3) Even amidst success, we must realize that we are not self-sufficient; we need a relationship with our Lord.

With these thoughts in mind, may we consider the concept of TREASURE GIVING…

I. WE SHOULD PATTERN OUR GIVING… (Matt. 6:33)

A. God Certainly Has A Plan For Our Giving…

This verse gives us a wonderful pattern for all of our giving. If we really understand God’s concept of stewardship, it is only because we would first understand the truth of this great verse. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you, (V. 33).

Everything that we do ought to be with the kingdom of God in mind. For our dispensation, or the economy that we live, this is performed through the local New Testament Church. Therefore, we pattern not our giving worship after the heathen but after heaven, This entire 6th chapter insists that everything that we do is to be done with the motive of being seen by God, and not to be seen by men.

This chapter begins with this command: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them… then in verse number 5, the Scriptures read: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Verse 16 continues this warning in regards to fasting, “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

B. God Certainly Has A Purpose For Our Giving…

First, we should give, but actually before we even give, we should question our motives for giving. One may be obedient in the fact that he gives, but does not do so with the proper motive. Some think that by giving, that it is like an insurance policy in that one’s giving is protecting that one from any negative events taking place in his life. Another may think that 8it is a sure way to increase his or her standard of living. Someone rightfully said, “God prospers me not raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving”.

C. God Certainly Has Provisions For Our Giving…

Next, we should give of the Lord, and to the Lord. Even our capacity to give is of the Lord. Verse 25 through verse number 32 proves this truth. Verse 32 ends this way: “for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. For this reason, we do not need to be over anxious for anything. When the Scriptures say, “Take no thought for your life” that is exactly what the Scriptures mean…

II. WE SHOULD PLACE OUR GIVING… (Vv. 19, 20).

A. The Place of Healthy Giving…

The place of our kingdom giving is the local church. Our government is from above, but has the far-reaching effects of touching us all; God’s government originates in the throne room See Romans 13:1. The way that His government is implemented for today’s Christian is either through the local Church, or in respect to the local Church. For this reason, the Christian does not make a distinction between the secular and the sacred in regards to his personal stewardship. To the believer, he reckons all things to be accounted for unto the Lord. This is especially true in regards to his giving. The handling of God’s money is a sacred trust, and the truth of it is, that everything belongs to Him. There is a no more protected and proper giving than that which is given through the local church. God will see that such giving is protected by him. We should never have the attitude which says, “This money is mine, and this money is God’s” It all belongs to Him.

We are instructed in Matthew 6:19, and 20 to, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where nether moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through not steal.”