Text:
Proverbs 3:9:
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Theme:
How To Give
Introduction:
- The Book of Proverbs is one of the books of poetry written by Solomon, son of David and King of Israel…the man, who when praying to God and requesting additional resources, asked for WISDOM. One result of this request was believed to be three thousand proverbs written by Solomon of which the book of Proverbs is an excerpt or portion.
- The book, Stanley’s Jewish Church, explains well the book of Proverbs,
“philosophy of practical life. It is the sign to us that the Bible does not despise common sense and discretion. It impresses upon us in the most forcible manner the value of intelligence and prudence and of a good education… It deals, too, in that refined, discriminating, careful view of the finer shades of human character so often overlooked by theologians, but so necessary to any true estimate of human life”
- Proverbs deals with the reality of life
- As the Master said in John 17:11, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
- We have to be in the world, but we must not be OF IT!
- Our text in Proverbs 3:9 gives credence to the believer’s “giving” in the context of the church
- WHAT WE GIVE (3 types of church giving)
- Tithes (tenth)
- Offering (heart)
- First Fruit (first of your increase)
- WHAT WE GIVE OF (what we should be giving)
- Talent
- Time
- Treasure
- We often discuss, debate, shout and meditate on the instruction of WHAT and WHY we give….but let us allow the Word of God to instruct now on HOW we should give!
- As any parent will tell you, the HOW TO GIVE is a critical element of raising a child.
- No matter true or nice the gift, if it is not given “right” you don’t want it anymore J
- So let us nail down biblically…
- How To Give
- 7 Characteristics of Godly Giving
- How To Give
- WHAT WE GIVE (3 types of church giving)
Body:
- 1 è From the Heart
- 2Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give….”
- It is a HEART decision
- Not intellectual
- Not societal
- Not cultural
- Not obligatory
- MUST BE GIVING FROM THE HEART OR IT IS NOT GODLY GIVING!!!!
- Sometimes Godly Giving may seem to the world to be….
- Dangerous
- Crazy
- Illogical
- Not financially prudent
- BUT if God says give…GIVE!!!!
- Sometimes Godly Giving may seem to the world to be….
- 2 è Cheerfully
- 2Corinthians 9:7, “….not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
- If you are cheerful, then you cannot be grudging or reluctant
- If you are cheerful, then you cannot be obligatory
- If you are cheerful, then you cannot be scared
- Remember in Nehemiah when he told us that, “…the joy of the Lord is our strength”
- 2Corinthians 9:7, “….not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
- 3 è As a testimony of God’s Provision in our lives
- Malachi 3:10, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
- We should be giving so that others can see God working in and through our lives!
- Our faithful giving is how we please God into giving to us also J
- Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
- Malachi 3:10, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
- 4 è Don’t make it Difficult
- Romans 12:8, “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
- If God told you to give…
- Not your own intellect or words from someone not God our yourself
- GIVE…
- JUST DO IT (The NIKE slogan)
- Don’t think just DO!
- If God told you to give…
- Romans 12:8, “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
- 5 è With EXPECTANCY
- Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”
- Give EXPECTING…not from the person but from GOD!!!!!!!
- Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”
- 6 è Without SHOWMANSHIP
- Matthew 6:3, “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth”
- Godly Giving would never be laced with pride, haughtiness or attitude
- In SECRET!
- Matthew 6:18, “That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
- Matthew 6:3, “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth”
- 7 è WITHIN your resources
- 2Corinthians 8:12, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not”
- You can only give what you have.
- If you don’t have what is requested, give what is needed!
- BUT…we should strive to HAVE SOMETHING so that when we are asked we can have something to give!
- 2Corinthians 8:12, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not”
Conclusion:
- With all 7 characteristics we can find a common thread that either builds or tears down our individual engagement with Giving…that common thread is…..
- Giving is something done TO GOD!!!!!
- Not given to people
- Not given to family
- Not given to strong drink
- Not given to self
- Not given to routine
- Not given to other people’s opinions
- As our text says…
- “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”
- The 7 Characteristics of Godly Giving are not a TEACHING point….but a TESTIFYING point!!!!
- The way that I GIVE to GOD is only a “can’t help it” reaction to the way that He has given to me!
- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- God gave me power
- God gave me joy
- God gave me peace
- God gave me happiness
- God gave me
- Through God’s Word, Will and Way, I now know HOW TO GIVE!
- The way that I GIVE to GOD is only a “can’t help it” reaction to the way that He has given to me!
- Giving is something done TO GOD!!!!!
#857
