The Blessing of Giving

The Blessing of Giving

November 17, 2008

Introduction

As Paul had a special meeting with the Ephesian elders, he asked that they remember the Lord as saying, (Acts 20:35 NKJV) 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" What does the Bible say about giving? This morning, we want to look at giving from the point of view of who is giving, and where is it going. Who is to give, and what is the purpose of our giving. Let me rephrase what I am saying. We as Christians have a responsibility to give, but I believe the Bible gives guidelines as to how the money should be spent.

Body

I. What does the Bible say about giving?

A. Jesus indicated there are times when we just help as individuals.

(Mat 5:42 NKJV) "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

1. I am sure that many of us have had these opportunities.

2. If you remember, the brother that presented the case of the poor at Harding, was talking about the beggars in other countries.

3. Jesus assured us that we would always have the poor.

(Mat 26:9-11 NKJV) "For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor." {10} But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. {11} "For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.

B. Clearly the New Testament gives examples of our pooling our resources for specific needs.

1. Today, we speak of “giving to the church,” but where is our example of doing that?

2. We probably all know the “first day of the week” verse best.

(1 Cor 16:1-2 NKJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: {2} On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

a. It should be noted that this collection was for a specific need.

b. There is really not an example of a church with extra cash available.

II. What do we do with contributions to the church?

A. Special needs are clearly a reason for making a joint effort.

1. This was clearly a special contribution for the saints in Jerusalem.

(Rom 15:25-26 NKJV) But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. {26} For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.

2. It was obviously a joint effort of several congregations.

(2 Cor 9:2 NKJV) for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.

B. It is also clear that preachers were paid out of contributions to the church.

1. Paul had second thoughts about preaching for nothing.

(2 Cor 11:7-8 NKJV) Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? {8} I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.

2. By way of a rhetorical question, he says that he and Barnabas should have been paid for their labor.

(1 Cor 9:6-7 NKJV) Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? {7} Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

C. The Philippians supported mission work with their contributions.

(Phil 4:16-18 NKJV) For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. {17} Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. {18} Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

III. What are other things we can do with church contributions?

A. There are the widows and the orphans that need our care.

(James 1:27 NKJV) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

(James 1:27 NCV) Religion that God accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence.

1. I believe we can pool our resources and provide homes for orphans.

a. Many of these cannot be adopted.

b. Many are from abusive homes that need special care as well as the necessities of life.

c. Most of those in our children’s homes today could not be cared for in our individual homes.

2. Christian Care Centers provide homes and care for the elderly.

B. We’ve already listed preaching the gospel.

1. There is mission work such as Paul in the New Testament times

2. There is local work and mission work which Paul discusses with various illustrations.

(1 Cor 9:9-16 NKJV) For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? {10} Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. {11} If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? {12} If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. {13} Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? {14} Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

3. As we speak, there is an opportunity to support a full time preacher in Africa for $100/ month.

4. There are churches needing money for a roof which we could help provide.

IV. We are accountable for what we have been given.

A. The parable of the talents is very scary.

(Mat 25:24-30 NKJV) "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. {25} 'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' {26} "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. {27} 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. {28} 'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. {29} 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. {30} 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

1. Talents and talents become confusing. These talents are about money

2. What is sobering about the parable is the condemnation of the one who simply stored the money away and did nothing with it.

B. The parable of those who turned from those asking help is also frightening.

(Mat 25:41-46 NKJV) "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: {42} 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; {43} 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' {44} "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' {45} "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' {46} "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Conclusion

I. I believe we are responsible for the material possessions that God has given us.

II. I believe that we as a congregation are accountable to God for the material possessions that we have, and how we have used them when needs were presented.

III. Each of us is responsible and accountable to God for the lives that we have lived.

IV. Is your life right with God?

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