SHARING
1. Because the end of the year is a time when gifts are often exchanged, some teachers were recently questioned.
2. Someone wanted to put together an article on Christmas gifts given to teachers.
3. Here is part of what the researcher found.
4. One school teacher (these are all for younger grades) received a half-eaten package of candy.
5. Another got a twelve freshly gathered eggs.
6. Someone ended up with a Zipoloc bag of vegetable soup.
7. There was also a package of dress socks.
8. It was also found that many teachers got a used bottle of perfume swiped from mom’s dresser.
9. One child took a used Christmas card, crossed out the person’s name, and that was her gift.
AS I READ ABOUT THESE AND OTHER GIFTS, I WAS REMINDED OF WHAT JESUS SAID IN MARK 10:14, THE SCRIPTURE WE JUST HEARD.
a) Children please God.
b) Children have certain qualities that are often very attractive in the eyes of God.
c) One of their qualities is the willingness to give/share.
2) Because the world’s attention is directed towards sharing at this time of the year, I want to study this topic.
3) In the Bible we have numerous examples (good examples) of people who wanted to give and share.
4) I am going to start in the book of Genesis and cite several cases where people shared.
5) Our beginning point is found in Gen. 24.
a) Abraham was old and his son Isaac didn’t have a wife.
b) Like most parents, Abraham was concerned about who is son would marry.
c) He didn’t want his boy marrying a heathen woman.
d) Abraham wanted his son to have a wife who had a certain background.
e) A servant was told to go to a special place and bring a wife back for Isaac.
f) Abraham promised the servant that God’s angel would help in the process.
6) Let’s look at the woman who became Isaac’s mate – Gen. 24: 16-20 – READ.
7) We might not think much of sharing water with someone; it is a small task.
8) Here was a woman who cared enough to give drink to a stranger and care for all his animals.
9) This kind of act is a small thing—something we might expect to see in the lives of children.
10) God says He, however, is pleased by it.
11) Do we not remember the Lord’s words in Mt. 10:42?
12) Jesus specifically mentioned “giving a cup of cold water” and associated this act with a reward.
13) Later in the book of Genesis we come upon another story that reminds us of sharing.
14) Gen. 42 says Joseph finally had a chance to later meet his family members.
15) At a prior time, Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery.
16) Joseph becamean important official in Egypt, and his family began to suffer from a famine.
17) Jacob heard that food was available in Egypt, so he sent his children there to buy food.
18) I am going to read only one verse from Gen. 42 – verse 25 – READ.
a) Joseph’s brothers came with money to buy grain, and they made their purchase.
b) They got their food, but they got something else. Their money was returned.
c) Most of us have had someone in our life say “forget it. No charge. It’s free.”
19) Shortly after we arrived in Elkhart County, I ran over a nail and needed a quick repair.
20) I went to the local garage and it was fixed on the spot. For free.
21) The man said, “you’re new to the neighborhood; forget about paying me.”
22) He shared a service and that kindness has been remembered.
23) Joseph sent his brothers back home with their money.
24) There may have been all kinds of reasons for this. We can say that their food was free.
25) Today we can give and share in this same manner. People will remember these acts.
26) Find opportunities to do something for someone for free.
27) Another great story in the Old Testament we may not refer to often enough is found in 1 Sam. 9.
a) Most Bible students know that Saul became king of Israel.
b) One day Saul’s dad had some donkeys that went astray; Saul and a servant went to look for them.
c) After extensive searching and not finding the animals, Saul was ready to quit.
d) The servant said he had an idea; there was a prophet in the area.
e) This was Samuel, and maybe Samuel could help find the animals.
f) Saul said (1 Sam. 9:7) that he didn’t have any money to pay the prophet.
g) There was no food to give him; what could be given to the prophet to pay for his help?
h) The servant said he had a very small amount of money. Why not try to offer that?
28) Our reading will start with 1 Sam. 9:18-24 and then go to 1 Sam. 10:1 – READ.
a) God saw goodness in the heart of Saul.
b) He was a man who was caring and ready to share. He was kind and benevolent.
c) In his early years, Saul was a wonderful man. He thoughtful and charitable.
d) Listen to 1 Sam. 11:12-13 – READ.
e) Saul used his authority to help others, at least in his early years.
f) God was so pleased with a man who shared and cared that he made him king of Israel.
29) A more familiar story, perhaps, is found in 2 Kgs. 5.
a) There was a man named Naaman; he was a leper.
b) His disease could not be cured. At least he thought no one could cure him.
c) When he learned about a possible treatment, he went and he went with some money.
30) Listen to verse 5 of 2 Kgs. 5 – READ.
31) This amount of money has been described as $20,000 in silver and $60,000 in gold.
32) This man was ready to fork over $80,000 + ten sets of clothing.
33) He was ready to pay it all if his skin condition could be cured.
a) Verse 15 – READ.
b) God’s prophet was offered a very substantial amount of money.
c) If he was offering it all, it would have been somewhere around $90,000.
d) God’s prophet said “no.” He said “no” to every last penny.
e) We see here a couple of points.
f) First, God’s gifts are not for hire; they cannot be bought.
g) Second, the words of Jesus come to mind (Mt. 10:8) – freely ye received, freely ye give.
34) Naaman was not a Hebrew. He was not from the Jewish nation.
35) This man had actually captured some Hebrews in raiding parties, 2 Kgs. 5:2.
36) A captured child shared some very information with him.
37) Then God’s prophet in Israel shared the gift of healing with him.
38) God was pleased with both the givers described in this account.
39) He was not, however, pleased with the takers.
a) The prophet had a servant.
b) This servant didn’t have a good grasp of the “freely ye received freely ye give principle.”
c) After the former leper started home, the servant decided to cash in on the healing.
d) 2 Kgs. 5:19-23 – READ.
40) Gehazi probably thought that no one would ever know.
41) Maybe he reasoned the former leper was still getting off very cheaply.
42) Naaman was still going home with all his gold, most of the silver, and most of the clothing.
43) Elisha was waiting for Gehazi; verses 25-27 – READ.
a) Sharing is good and right.
b) Not sharing, or somehow trying to turn giving to our advantage is worthy divine judgment.
44) Prov. 18:16 has a little something to say about sharing.
45) This passage says caring and sharing does wonderful things.
46) It can allow us to be “brought before great people.”
a) Caring will get you noticed and more than likely appreciated.
b) In this life this general principle is usually but, but there are sometimes exceptions.
c) If we are missed in this life, we will be brought before and welcomed by God in eternity.
47) Great Bible characters understood and practiced sharing.
48) Let’s turn our minds to Daniel.
49) A king saw some writing on a wall, and no one could explain it.
50) Finally Daniel was called in as he had proven his abilities on a prior occasion.
51) The king made a
significant promise (Dan. 5:16).
Daniel was told he would be the third highest man in the kingdom, get nice
clothes, and a gold chain.
52) Daniel said (Dan. 5:17), “keep your ealth.”
53) This prophet was wiling to give and share and God was pleased.
54) Today God is still pleased when His people give and sahre.
55) Jesus spoke of giving and sharing, Mt. 6:3-4.
56) When John the Baptist preached (Lk. 3:11), he talked about sharing.
57) 1 Tim. 6:18 tells Christians to always be ready to share.
58) When we study the Bible subject of giving, one element of that is sharing.
59) So often sharing involves the little things of life.
60) Rom. 12:8 specifically associates giving/sharing with Christianity.
61) There are so many times when we are tempted to not give and share.
a) Just after I had roughed out this material, the phone rang.
b) A lady was calling from Springfield, Il.
c) She wanted to find a preacher to perform a wedding ceremony.
d) She called Goshen, but she needed a preacher to do the service in Crown Point.
e) As she talked, my mind went back to what we have seen tonight.
f) One option was to say to her, “That is very far away; I can’t help you.”
g) A second choice was to help her find preachers in that area who could help her.
62) By sharing, giving, and caring, we point the world to Christ.
63) We also put into practice the golden rule.
64) As we begin another week, let’s be on the lookout for ways we can share and care.
65) Opportunity upon opportunity exists.
66) For our caring and sharing to have its greatest impact, we need to be a Christian.