Sunday Sermon

A Practical Plan for Generous Giving Dave Shaner April 6, 2003

Introduction: God is best understood when you understand His giving nature. Giving can be difficult to practice. A variety of elements can make it difficult from the economy to an attitudinal war going on in our hearts.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  - II Corinthians 9:7

Giving is not intended to be a drudgery, but a blessing. Money is a resource that can be used to good or evil.

Three Ways to be a Better Giver:

I. Think like a _________ ____________.

A. The scriptures teach that God owns everything.

1. Psalms 24:1

Of David. A psalm. The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

2. Psalm 50:9-11

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.

3. I Corinthians 4:7

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

B. Understanding God's ownership gives me balance.

C. Thinking like a godly servant helps check materialistic desires.

1. I Timothy 6:6-10

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

2. What matters is how we regard our possessions.

II. Act like a __________ ____________.

A. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  - Matthew 6:19-21

1. Our money and our hearts are tied together.

2. Every spending decision is a spiritual decision.

B. Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.  - I Corinthians 16:1-2

1. Give ______________ - "every first day of the week"

2. Give ______________ - "let each on of you"

3. Give ______________ - "set aside"

4. Give ______________ - "in keeping with his income"

5. Give in response to ______________.

III.  Feel like a __________ ____________.

A. God wants to ______________ for us.

1. I Timothy 6:17

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

2. Mark 12:41-44

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

B. God wants to ______________ us.

His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'  - Matthew 25:21

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