WHY GIVING TO GOD?

Mark 12:41-44india.cmfionline.orgcmfi.india2008@gmail.co

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Pst Bertin K.

THE POINT

WHY MUST WE GIVE TO GOD? HOW DOES GOD EVALUATE OUR GIVING TO HIM? THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR WICH AN ANSWER MUST BE GIVEN TO A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS A LOVE RELATIONSHIP AND ANY RELATIONSHIP INVOLVES GIVING. THERE CAN BE NO LOVE WITHOUT GIVING. GOD LOVED US AND GAVE US HIS SON AND THERE IS NOTHING TOO BIG THAT WE CAN GIVE HIM. THIS MORNING THE SPIRIT OF GOD WANTS TO ENLIGHTEN US SO THAT WE WILL GIVE TO GOD WITH UNDERSTAND IN ORDER TO RECEIVE GREAT BENEFIT.

Mark 12:41-42

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

THE TRADITION OF GIVING TO GOD

GIVING TO GOD IS AN OLD TRADITION THAT SPANS THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION. GIVING IS AN INTEGRATED PART OF OUR DEALINGS WITH GOD.

HISTORY OF GIVING

GIVING TO GOD HAS GONE THROUGH 3 STAGES THROUGHOUT THE

SCRIPTURES.First. MaterialThen. Psalms 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise”.In the NT. Material and spiritual

THE TRADITION OF GIVING TO GOD

GOD LONGS THAT WE GIVE HIM SOMETHINGHE WANTS YOU TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR HIM

EXODUS 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

EXODUS 35:20 20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

A DEMAND OF LOVE

A REQUIREMENT OF LOVEEXODUS 23:15

Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

EXODUS 35:20 20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

GIVING IN THE CHURCH

GIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS AFTER HE MINISTERED TO THE CROW

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury:

and many that were rich cast in much.

CRITICAL POSITION

JESUS SAT OPPOSITE THE TREASURYTO SCRUTINIZE PEOPLE AS THEY GIVE

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury:

and many that were rich cast in much.

CRITICAL POSITION

GOD IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE GIVE AND HOW WE GIVE.HE LOVES GENEROUS GIVERS

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury:

and many that were rich cast in much.

EVALUATION OF OUR GIFT

JESUS GAVE MORE VALUE TO THE GIFT OF THE POOR WIDOW

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

CRITERIA OF EVALUATION OF THE LORD

SHE GAVE OUT OF HER POVERTY WHILE OTHER GAVE OUT OF THEIR

ABUNDANCE

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

GOD CRITERIA # HUMAN CRITERIA

WHILE MEN LOOK AT WHAT IS GIVEN, GOD LOOKS AT WHAT REMAINS

AFTER THE GIFT

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

A GIVEN THAT REACHED THE HEART OF GOD

THE GIFT OF THE UNKNOWN WOMAN TOUCHED JESUS.

SHE MET THE PURPOSE OF ALL GIVING TO GOD42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

GIVING TO GOD

IF OUR GIVING TO GOD MUST BE MEANINGFUL, WE MUST AT

REACHING GOD’S HEART WITH OUR GIVING.

WE MUST WANT GOD TO ACCEPT IT AND VALUE IT

HOW COULD SHE GIVE?!?

SHE WAS A WOMANSHE WAS A WIDOW

SHE WAS POORAND IT WAS HER LAST MONEY

THEN HOW COULD SHE GIVE TO GOD?

AN INSPIRATION TO GIVING TO GOD

IF THE POOR WOMAN COULD GIVE TO GOD THERE IS NO ONE WHO CAN REFUSE TO GIVE TO GODIF JESUS VALUED THE GIFT OF THE WOMAN, THEN HE CAN VALUE THE GIFT OF ANYONE.

WHY GIVING TO GOD?

THE POINT WITH OUR POSSESSION.ALL THAT WE HAVE IS RECEIVED FROM GOD. THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED

I CORINTHIANS 4:7

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

WHY GIVING TO GOD?A NATURAL FLOW

AN OUTFLOW OF THE CREATURE TO THE CREATOR

CAIN AND ABEL JUST UNDERSTOOD THEY WERE TO GIVE TO GOD.

GENESIS 43 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

WHY GIVING TO GOD?AN ACT OF GRATITUDE

A FLOW OF A GRATEFUL HEART FOR HIS PROTECTION

ABRAHAM ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROTECTION OF GOD OVER HIS LIFE WHEN HE FOUGHT HIS ENEMIES

GENESIS 14“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”

WHY GIVING TO GOD?ACT OF REVERENCE

HONORING THE PRESENCE OF GOD.SHOWING REVERENCE

EXODUS 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

EXODUS 35:20 20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

WHY GIVING TO GOD?A WISE INVESTMENT

GIVING TO GOD IS PILLING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

MATTHEW 6:19-20 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

WHY GIVING TO GOD?PROVIDING A DIRECTION TO THE HEART

YOUR HEART WILL SURELLY FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF YOUR

INVESTMENT

MATTHEW 6:21“For where your treasure is, there will

your heart be also.”

WHY GIVING TO GOD?A RESPONSE TO SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT

ANYONE WHO IS SPIRITUALLY BLESSED MUST RESPOND IN GIVING TO GOD

GALATIANS 6:6“Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his

instructor.”

WHY GIVING TO GOD?A SUPPORT GOD’S WORK

THE WORK OF GOD IS SUSTAINED BY THE GIVING OF THE SAINTS

I CORINTHIANS 9:13-1413 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

WHY GIVING TO GOD?AN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD

GOD COMMAND THAT WE GIVE TO THE TREASURE OF THE TEMPLE

MALACHI 3:8-10Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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.

WHY GIVING TO GOD?AN OUTFLOW OF LOVE

HE WHO LOVES GIVESJOHN 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.”

EXPERIENCING JOY

EXPERIENCING THE JOY OF GIVINGACTS 20:35

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

A GIVING CHURCH

OUR CHURCH HAS BEEN A GIVING CHURCH.

LET’S THE OUTFLOW OF LOVE CONTINUES THIS

YEAR.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL