Giving God’s Way
Giving is a touchy subject because few people consider that what is “theirs” actually belongs to God. He gives to us to see if we are good stewards with HIS money. In this way, He can witness our desire to follow His Word and teachings. He can test our hearts to see if it is true. He can ascertain whether or not we understand His desires for our life and if we truly understand that earthly treasures are not the same as heavenly treasures (like eternity with Him). So many pastors teach all the scriptures that say “sow and you shall reap,” but reaping earthly treasures is NOT the motivation God wants behind our generosity. He wants it to come freely from our heart without the selfish idea of “what will our goodness return to our bank account?”
In this sermon, when I discuss giving, I am not talking about tithing, but rather selflessly giving what you have been given to help others who are less fortunate. Recently, I received a bounty of unexpected cash. I realized immediately that I wanted to use such bounty to make the lives of a few others better and help them live a secure life.
As I thought about this, I also realized that had this bounty arrived 2, 5, or 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have felt this way. I would have thought about all the ways I could make my own life better, more fun, and more secure. It made me realize that God has been quietly training me in the background on how to give as He tells us to give, without me even knowing it! It was quite a revelation, and yet I still struggled with my decision even after it was made.
I thought about how I suffered and suffer every day for this money, so obviously I should spend my newfound treasure making my life better and more healthy/fun. I struggled with thinking about the things I could buy for myself that might bring me more freedom, peace, and healing. Then I realized that my peace and healing come from the Lord and not from material things. The Lord is my PROVISION, and if I depend on providing for myself, I have taken His power out of my life. Yikes!
Matthew 6:19-21 - “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I have also struggled with the feeling that the recipients of my “gift” may not have the appreciation and gratitude my “flesh” self thinks they should. I thought about how they probably wouldn’t even realize how wonderful a gift this is that has been bestowed upon them (an opportunity to live debt free) until I am gone and no words or sentiments can be expressed. Just as quickly as that thought overtook my brain, I heard the Holy Spirit say this:
“YOU will be in heaven, standing naked in front of God when your reward for compassion, generosity, and selflessness is granted. YOU are NOT doing this for the gratitude of people, but in obedience and LOVE for GOD!!” I am doing it for God, not people. This makes giving without any positive recognition from humans very easy.
Tears come to my eyes when I think about this revelation. By the time humans realize the sacrifice I made for them in the Name of God, I will be with God. This is actually my LEGACY because it will be during that time when they will see the PROVISION of God without me even being alive. It will be my testimony after I am gone. My heart now leaps with joy at what God has done through me, and because of my obedience to Him, others will come to know Him too! 😊 Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving TO God.”
Matthew 6:1-4 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
YOUR REWARD ISN’T MONETARY or STROKING YOUR EGO (Self-Righteousness), IT IS ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH GOD!!!
The Bible is FULL of scripture and words of wisdom about giving. I am going to provide a few, but as always, I encourage you to study on your own so the Holy Spirit can fill you with God’s Word. As I sign off, I want you to understand I learn as much from writing these sermons as you do from reading them. When the Holy Spirit speaks, it is a lesson for us all! Amen. ><>
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2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Luke 6:38 - Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Acts 20:35 - In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.
2 Corinthians 9:6 - The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Malachi 3:10 - Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Proverbs 3:27 - Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Hebrews 13:16 - Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Proverbs 19:17 - Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.
Mark 12:41-44 (The Poor Widow) – And He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And He called his disciples to Him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Proverbs 11:24-25 - One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
2 Corinthians 8:12 - For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. (Read this over and over until you understand.)
Proverbs 22:9 - Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Deuteronomy 16:17 - Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.
Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your wealth, and with the first fruits of all your crops. (Part of your first fruits is your TIME. Spend some of your TIME reading The Word and praying to God.
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