WHY GIVE

1. Virtually every part of what God has made is somehow involved with giving.

2. God made our sun, and our sun gives many things to our planet and us.

3. God made the moon, and it gives.

4. It was God who created the stars and they give.

5. Air, clouds, the earth, and sea—all of which have come from God—also give to man.

6. Trees and the flowers give as well as fowls, beasts, and plants.

IF VIRTUALLY EVERY ASPECT OF CREATION GIVES, WHAT WOULD SEEM TO BE IMPLIED ABOUT MAN?

a) He too is designed to give.

b) In our world, we find a lot of people who do not want to give. They want to either take or keep.

c) Creation itself teaches us that man is a creature who was designed to give.

2) When we think about being good stewards and managing money, questions begin to emerge.

a) Last week we considered one of these questions: who should give?

b) Tonight we look at something else: why should we give?

3) Suppose someone said to us, “Justify your belief that proper money management means giving.”

4) A small child might put the matter in simpler terms: why are you teaching me to give?

5) How would we answer these questions?

6) Looking at creation is a good beginning answer, but we can go beyond creation.

7) Moments ago we heard a reading from 2 Cor. 8.

8) 2 Cor. 8:24 refers to “proof of one’s love.”

a) Paul indicated that love can be proven.

b) Love can be subject to some tests, and those tests can be met with success or failure.

c) A few nights ago Teresa said she needed something for the next day.

d) I failed to get that item ready for her before going to bed.

e) About midnight I remembered that what she wanted for the next day was not ready.

f) For a quick moment I debated on what to do.

g) The bed was warm, the furnace was off, and it was cool throughout the house.

h) The entire house was also dark very dark, and I couldn’t see very well.

i) What Teresa needed was downstairs—in the furthest part of the house.

j) I knew that getting what she needed would likely leave me wide awake.

k) There were two choices: spend another minute in bed and be asleep or get what she wanted.

9) The next morning everything was as she wanted.

10) Love and commitment can be proven.

11) Sometimes people say “show me your love” and their request is evil.

12) This is not what is in view in 2 Cor. 8.

13) Paul spoke of good instances where actions really do demonstrate love.

14) Even God demonstrated His love by sending Christ into the world.

15) If someone asks why we give, we now have a second answer: it shows (demonstrates) our love.

16) As we consider this answer, it is good to remember that demonstrated love is based upon realism.

a) A story is told about a farmer who was having a conversation with God.

b) The farmer said, “If I had a million dollars God, I would give every cent of that to you.”

c) Then the farmer said, “If I had a thousand acres, I would give them all to you, God.”

d) God said, “Well, how about a pig?” The man replied,

e) “Wait a minute Lord—I have one of those.”

f) Actual giving—not theoretical—is a demonstration of love.

17) A third reason to give is based upon the word faith (or we could say “trust”).

a) If we give, we are indicating our belief that God will help us with what we need.

b) Giving means our hope is set on God and not this world.

18) Paul spoke of this in 1 Tim. 6.

19) At the close of First Timothy, a lot is said about money.

20) Warnings are given. Promises are also stated to young preacher and those he taught.

21) In verse 17 Paul said this – READ.

a) There are people who do not give. We find people who are hoarders.

b) They stash away possessions and wealth and cling to each dollar.

c) Such an approach is unwise for at least two reasons.

d) First, there is “uncertainty” with this way of life.

e) Second, this way of living offers “hope” only in this life.

f) Paul said, “put your hope and trust in God.” Put your faith in Christ and not cash.

g) Rely upon God and not gold.

22) We give because our true hope is in God instead of this world.

23) A fourth reason for giving is that God commands it.

a) 1 Cor. 16:2 says “each one of you.”

b) Before man arrived, God managed to get along just fine.

c) God did very well before the United States started printing greenbacks.

d) He had no difficulty when the world didn’t have a stock market.

e) God has never needed man’s money or wealth.

f) We do not give because it makes God good, better, or complete.

g) God has used earthly wealth to demonstrate a person’s loyalty and interest.

h) Jesus said our love for God is tested by our obedience.

i) God says give (a command), and this instruction helps reveal the heart.

24) Consider how many now living regard God’s commands.

a) We all know that God wants us to love our neighbor.

b) Do we not find from time to time that this command is modified?

c) Several years ago I remember being at a function with several Christians (none from here).

d) A Christian said, “I find it difficult to sing one of our songs.”

e) “Our song leader leads a hymn that talks about neighbors.”

f) He sings “we get along in sweet accord.”

g) “He sings that, but I know something about this brother’s neighbor.”

h) The song leader had been taken to court by this neighbor.

i) The suit was without merit, but the neighbor still sued this Christians.

j) The song leader’s neighbor was a trouble maker, and she made lots of trouble for him.

k) For the song leader, loving that neighbor was a “back burner” command.

25) We can sometimes view God’s commands in this same way.

26) “Well, yes, it is a command, but it is not one of the instructions where I excel.”

27) “My stronger qualities are in another area.”

28) We can nullify the force of God’s instructions and then in our minds justify our conclusions.

29) Many have done this in the area of giving.

30) “We do not need to give or give like others because _________________.”

31) We give because God has told us to. It is a command.

32) Reason # 5 for giving is that what we offer enlarges a congregation’s ability to work.

a) What happens when a worker receives a pay raise?

b) More money typically means a greater ability to do things.

c) A large increase may allow an employee to buy a second car or another large item.

d) A bonus check may pay off bills or allow a major purchase to be paid for all at once.

33) In the book of Acts (the early chapters), two things go together.

34) God’s people grew, and God’s people gave.

35) When we get ready to take a collection, many of our men have said something like this:

36) “The collection is so the work of this congregation can continue/grow/multiply.

37) What is said before taking a collection is absolutely right.

a) When we manage our money well, we are in a position to help the church grow.

b) I know of a preaching family that is being substantially supported by private funds.

c) By private funds, I mean individual Christians.

d) Christians who help this family first pay attention to their home congregation.

e) Then they look at their budget and say, “Look. We can create an extra $25.00 a month.

f) “We go out to eat Every Sunday at the cost of $25.00.

g) “Let’s skip eating out every other Sunday.” That $50 a month is then sent to a missionary.

h) With that $50.00, a missionary prints tracts or pays for a week of radio preaching.

i) In a lot of families, a slight budget adjustments can further promote Christianity.

38) Reason # 6 for giving is that it pleases God.

39) God is certainly pleased by more than money or giving in general.

40) Proper management of money (and this includes giving), does please God.

41) At times we allude to Cornelius He was a Gentile. He lived when Jews were the chosen people.

42) While God had a special nation of people for a time, heaven had not forgotten about Cornelius.

43) Cornelius was praying, and Acts 10 say God was very aware of that.

44) Cornelius was giving, and God paid close attention to that too.

45) Acts 10:4 says this man’s prayers and giving had “come up as a memorial before God.”

46) Seven is a good Bible number, and this is our final point for giving.

47) We give because it is right, and Godly giving is associated with God’s promises.

48) For this final point we will take information from Phil. 4.

a) Paul had a very close relationship with the Philippians.

b) He loved the saints at Philippi, and he told them so in a variety of ways.

c) Only four chapters are in this letter, but it is a very upbeat piece of correspondence.

d) A study of this epistle shows that Paul had times in his life when he needed money.

e) Christians from Philippi sent a contribution to him.

f) Then they sent another gift to help him.

g) Towards the end of the 4^th chapter he said this (verse 17) – READ.

h) What “account” did the Philippians have?

i) It was certainly not something like a checking account at First Source bank.

j) Paul spoke of an account that was “increasing.”

49) I don’t know about you, but here is how my bank account works.

50) If I take money out of an account, that account balance does not increase.

51) When checks are written, the balance goes down instead of up.

52) The apostle spoke of contributing money and said the account was “increasing.”

53) Paul was not speak of his account, but the Philippian’s account.

54) How could a giver’s account increase when it was being debited?

a) Paul had in mind an account that is not of this world.

b) Here had in mind a heavenly bank account.

c) God’s people parted with some of their worldly wealth, and God was pleased.

d) Jesus described this as “laying up treasures in heaven.”

e) Giving is right, and one benefit of it is a magnificent reward in eternity.

55) We have come to a season of the year when giving is commonplace.

56) People can list plenty of reasons to give gifts during this time of year.

57) Express love, good sales, fun, tradition, and some other things.

58) Christians give in a different way. Our entire lives are to be based upon the principle of giving.

59) Tonight we ask about this principle: are we good givers?

60) Have we given our life to God by becoming a Christian? Are giving as a Christian?