SERIES OF STEWARDSHIP MESSAGES BY RICK WARREN
PART 5 - ‘LIVING AND GIVING ABUNDANTLY'
Bible Reading : II Corinthians 8 and 9
INTRODUCTION
What does the Bible say about giving?
The fact is the essence of Christianity is giving. The Bible tells us God so loved that he gave, and when God wants us to give He just wants us to become like Himself.
When we look at what Jesus say, we find He is more interested in the motive of giving, not the amount. He was much more interested in why we give not how much. Quality of the giver is more important than the quantity of the gift. Attitude is much more important than amount. It's a responsibility but, more than that, it's an opportunity.
Why does the Bible say we are to give? The Bible teaches our giving is to be a response to God in 3 ways.
1. It is to be a response to what God has done for me in the past.
2. It is to be a response to what God is doing for me in the present.
3. It is a response to what God will do for me in the future.
II Corinthians 8 and 9 are important passages on giving and in 8:7.
Paul says: 'But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in the grace of giving'.
Paul says I want you to grow in giving, why?
1. It is to be a response to what God has done in the past:
God says I want you to grow in giving as much as faith, as much as you grow in love and knowledge I want you to grow in giving. Why? Giving allows us to express gratitude for past blessing. Thankfulness is the highest motive.
In II Corinthians 9:7 - Don't give because you feel guilty, pressured, God loves a cheerful giver.
In II Corinthians 8:12 - Give to God because he first gave to us.
In II Corinthians 8:9 - 'Though he was rich but for your sake He became poor so that you through His poverty might become rich'.
Illustration
Give a gift because it is a most practical way of showing love or gratitude. (Example).
Giving shows our gratitude it says I love you and I am grateful for all you have done.
II Corinthians 8:8 Giving shows our love.
We give simply because we want to express our love and gratitude for God’s goodness to us.
Giving allows me to express my gratitude for the past.
2. Giving allows me to examine my motivation in the present
It helps me to look beyond myself, my own needs. What giving does it helps me to examine my motivation. I need a value check up. Who am I living for? My giving is a reminder that God is the source of it all. It helps me clarify my values and priorities in the present.
Deuteronomy 14: 23 It teaches us to put God first.
Matthew 6:33 It teaches us to put your priorities in place.
God wants you, he wants your life and than you can give to Him in gratitude.
In II Corinthians 8:5 Paul say they first gave themselves to the Lord. That’s the priority I want your life. God does not need our money; we give because we need to give, because what it does to us. It keeps us from being self-centred. So why do we give because of guilt, no, because of pressure, no.
In Luke 16:11 Jesus say, Spirituality and stewardship are absolutely linked together. You must deal with this vital area to grow. Stewardship is Lordship.
3. Giving allows us to enlarge our expectations of the future.
Gratitude for the past, keeping my priorities and values balanced in the presence and also a demonstration of faith in the future.
In Chapter 9:6 Just like when a framer scatters seed and even if he plants one seed he'll get a crop, he will not get not much. This is a principle taught all through Scripture. Here it says you reap in proportion to what you give.
I believe giving is the number one way we demonstration faith in the Christian life. Our money is important to us and God has never dealt with a person until he has been dealt with his finance. Giving shows our faith
Giving is making an investment for the future.
Your giving can determine what God can do in your life.
God says we reap what we sow. How much do you want God to bless your life?
Abundant living begins with abundant giving.
God say you give as an act of gratitude, act of keeping your priorities in order and as a statement of faith saying I believe God will bless me. You cannot out give God.
In Luke 6:38.
When you make a pledge it is an act of faith, faith takes over. We make financial commitments in every other area but we say I can’t make a giving commitment to God. I don’t know what might happen.
Jesus told the story of the widow, she gave all she had, and she was giving by faith.
Now the amount a person ought to gives is between you and God. You need to make it a matter of prayer. Does it express you love and faith, but the fact is God never asks us to do something with out telling us how.
I Corinthians 16: 1-2
1. it needs to be systematic, not as I feel, it should be;
2. It needs to be planned, thought out
3. It needs to be proportional. Has God blessed you a lot?
Deuteronomy 16:17
That’s what tithing is about – a percentage.
Application
Giving is simple, why do we give?
To express our love, you have blessed me God and it all came from you in the first place.
To examine our motivation, and our priorities, puts God first.
To enlarge our expectations. Most practical way to demonstration faith is in my giving. Trusting God’s promise.
Giving is something you should consider over the next few weeks.
I want you to think about these questions:
How much am I grateful to God for?
Where are my priorities?
Ask God to help you with the answers, maybe for some it will mean tithing for other it may be to go beyond this.
What God days to you today, what I want is you, what your money represents.
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