“Bad Reasons To Give”

1. Most of us remember the story of Scrooge.
2. Scrooge was the bad tempered man who refused to celebrate Christmas.
3. Scrooge was so greedy that he refused to give money to the poor.
4. Scrooge barely let his poorly paid clerk off work for Christmas.
5. One year while Scrooge was I his home, a ghost came TO VISIT HIM.
6. This ghost – Jacob Marley – was his former business partner.
7. Mr. Marley related that he had come to regret his selfish life.
8. AS this excellent story continues, three spirits come to see Scrooge.
1. The first spirit was Christmas past,
2. The Second spirit was the present Christmas;
3. The third spirit represented a future Christmas
4. Scrooge learned that he would die, be buried, and that no one would care.
9. Concerned about the future, Scrooge started to give.
10. Scrooge sent a turkey to his clerk’s home.
11. He attended a religious service; he donated to the poor.
12. He even raised his clerk’s salary.

I. SCROOGE TOOK HIS RESOURCES AND BEGAN TO SPEND THEM IN NEW WAYS – WAYS THAT WERE GOOD AND RIGHT.

A. Last week we learned that most of us here will have a million dollars.

2. We saw that God requires us to be ready to account for how this money was spent.
3. We must be good stewards.
4. Building upon what we have learned, we may now ask:
5. “If Scrooge put his money to good use, how can we do the same?”
6. “How can we be good stewards of our bodies, money and time?”
7. Today we offer some Biblical answers to these questions.
8. If we are going to be good stewards, money will be directed toward church.
9. The church has been given a mission – go into the whole world and preach the gospel.
1. We are the church.
2. The great commission is our responsibility.
3. The great commission requires that we give, and the giving is not just because
4. To fulfill the great commission, bodies are need
5. Hand and minds are needed to teach the gospel to the lost.
6. With wiling hands is the need for money.
7. Taking the gospel to every place in the world requires funds.
8. Money is needed for travel.
9. Sometimes lodging and food are not provided so money is needed.
10. The distribution of literature (like the tracts in our foyer.)
11. Radio broadcasts and TV. programs cost money.
12. The church needs time, money, and help from people.
10. Many denominations do not hesitate to ask the public for money to evangelize.
11. In public places like Wal-Mart booths are set up in an attempt to evangelize.
12. The church built by Christ does not raise money in this way.
13. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 says:” Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
14. We have no business or right to ask for money from outsider.
15. God expects members of the church to fund mission work and everything else.
16. In fact, in 3 John 7 this statement is made: Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
1. The word “taking” is a present participle.
2. This means that this was the regular custom/habit.
3. Money was not collected from those outside the church.
4. The way the churches of Christ deal with giving is a shock to some.
5. I have had people ask me, “How do you meet expenses?”
6. “If all the giving comes form the member.
7. “If there are no bake sales, bazaars, craft marts, etc?”
8. Where do you get the money which is needed to function?
17. The answer is “internally”.
1. There was once a congregation, which needed to raise $10,000.00.
2. A meeting was called.
3. During the meeting a brother said, “If 10 Christians would each give $1,000.”
4. Ten people promised a thousand dollars each, the money was internally given.
18. In the churches of Christ there are hundred of needs.
19. Most have compared to others in the world, vast resources to help.
20. In this country we are blessed beyond comparison with most others.
1. Last Thursday saw an interesting article about the Internet.
2. 80% of the internet is in English (our language)
3. We can look at the Internet for 8 hours a day for 30 days for about $20.00 per month.
4. The people of Japan are not nearly as fortunate.
5. Unless the Japanese also know English, they must deal with a long?
6. Japanese users pay $175.00 a month to use the internet for 1 hour per day.
7. 30 hours on the internet would cost $175.00
8. 240 hours for us is close to $20.00.
21. On every hand we are immeasurably blessed with wealth and resources.
22. If we look at what we have, we are a lot like Scrooge. We have plenty.
23. Compared to the rest of the word, we are rich.
1. WE have multiple sets of clothes in our closets. While
2. Some in the world would be delighted to own a pair of shoes,
3. We have homes; others are not fortunate enough to even rent
4. WE are able to not only meet in a nice structure
5. WE had the wealth to put in pews, and they are padded.
6. WE had sufficient wealth for carpet, AC/heating, pew Bible
7. There is enough wealth in our lives that
8. At lunchtime some present will pay someone to fix a meal for them.
24. We have enough wealth to buy reading materials, have people cut our hair, and manicure the ends of our fingers.
25. We are rich.
26. Maybe we wish that we were richer that we are.
27. No mater what our wish, our standard of living is very, very high.
1. Most of us have heard about NATO and the current bombings.
2. People are fleeing their homes with little more than a suitcase.
3. When we go home today, let’s take a look at what we see.
4. If we compare what we currently possess.
5. To people who are fleeing with nothing but a suitcase,
6. What conclusion can we draw about our wealth?
7. We must say that we are rich.

2. As rich people, we have a responsibility to the kingdom of God.
3. We have a duty to give. WE must first give of ourselves 2 Cor. 8:3-5
4. Along with ourselves is to come some of our wealth.
5. We need to use what is at our disposal to further progress of God’s church.
6. Right now, billions of people are on this planet.
7. Billion of people are lost.
8. As Americans we have resources available to help teach these people.
1. We have enough money to fund radio and TV. programs.
2. We have sufficient wealth to print and mail Bible courses.
3. We have enough resources to send missionaries.
4. We have resources in the area of time – vacations.
5. I have met brethren who took vacations to do evangelistic work.
6. Brethren have taken early retirement to do evangelistic work.
7. We have computer technology to reach most places in the word instantly.
8. We can use a computer and modem to reach most places in the world.
9. Are we using our resources, as good stewards, to teach the lost?
10. Or are we squandering our resources on ourselves?
11. In the story about Scrooge, money was misdirected for a time.
12. This man was using his wealth incorrectly.
13. It is possible for Christians to do the same thing.
1. Several years ago I spoke with a middle aged mother
2. This woman said, “When I got married, I saw how much my husband wrote out for a contribution one day.”
3. “I was shocked!”
4. This lady thought that her family was giving too much.
5. This was not the case where the house payment was being given.
6. It was a case where the sum was substantial.
7. This wife finally came to realize that with the resources they hade.
8. This was an appropriate amount to give.
14. We have one lifetime to wisely spend a lot of resources.
15. If we waste this opportunity, there will never be another.
16. Our resources can only be spent one time.
17. We have is said that we “cannot take money with us.”
1. This statement is not very accurate.
2. We can take what we have with us.
3. If we use our resources wisely, we are essentially sending the
4. AS we saw from Luke 19 last week, “if we are faithful in a few things”
5. We hear people speak of investing money.
6. No investment pays a higher return than God’s kingdom.
7. Every good deed, every cent every act.
8. Directed towards the church by Christians will
9. Result in a marvelous return.
18. The church treasury is the only place where money can be wisely spent.
19. There are other places where money can be well spent.
20. Individual Christians have supported the TFW. Radio Programs, CC
1. Some send $5, $10. $20 or more a month to TFW/
2. About $25 will send a bagful of CC to lost souls.
3. 5 people giving $5 a piece will send another bag.
4. $100 will help teach hundreds of people.
21. There are lots of good causes in the world.
1. Some organizations raise funds to fight birth defects.
2. Other organizations work to eradicate diseases like cancer;
3. There are several good charities.
4. There are many good ways to spend money.
5. Christians can learn quite a bit from Scrooge.
6. Money can be misdirected.
7. When that happens, it’s time to repent.

II. GIVING TO THE CHURCH FOR THE SAKE OF EVANGELISM AND MISSION WORK IS ALWAYS RIGHT. GIVING MONEY TO OTHER GOOD CAUSES CAN ALSO BE A WAY TO EXERCISE GOOD STEWARDHIP. ANOTHER PLACE TO SPEND MONEY IS IN THE AREA OF BENEVLOCENCE.

1. Both testaments deal with the subject of benevolence.

2. Out of all the references that exist I will give one,

3. Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

4. There are times when people need some type of help.

a. Typical needs are food, clothing, or shelter.

b. People may also need money.

5. In last weeks bulletin I inserted a little article about Y2K.

6. Some were oiling up their guns to protect their meat and potatoes.

a. While some are undoubtedly doing this.

b. It’s wrong. It’s a sin.

7. If people are good and godly stewards, they are benevolent.

8. This means that we share with those who lack.

9. If there are food shortages when 1999 ends.

10. Some of our resources can be diverted to those who lack food.

11. Our children watch on television a tight fisted Scrooge.

12. A man who refused to help others when he had the ability.

13. We say to our children, “That man is mean, That is wrong.”

14. What about us?

15. What if our ability to help others is not used?

16. What if we hold on to what we have just like Scrooge did?

17. Are we then not just like the man we condemn?

18. Good stewards share.

19. This is one of the key points in the story of the Good Samaritan.

CONCLUSION:

A. There are no set percentages on giving in the New Testament.

B. We are repeatedly told to be a good steward.

C. We are told that the church can only raise money internally.

D. Christians are told to be benevolent.

E. We have been told to teach the gospel to the whole world.

F. We have wealth, in the church, to do this job.

G. If we are a Christian, do we handle our resources like Scrooge – the old or the reformed?

H. Are we giving to God the best that we can give?

I. God has given us His best; we must do the same.

J. If this is not being done as a Christina, and we may encourage you.

K. If you have been thinking about becoming a Christian,

L. Realize that one of the required things is and interest in and a commitment to giving.