2Co 9:7  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful/hilarious giver.

OT Giving: 23% Mandatory tithes & offerings (Lev 27; Num 18; Dt 12, 14; Lev 19); Free-will offerings, vows, alms (Ez 1)

NT Giving is purposeful, sacrificial, hilarious, free-will expression of the worth of God (worship) that flows from a perfect heart full of grace and gratitude  (Lk 7:47 forgiven much love much)

I. Giving is Worship

A. Our giving should honor God by showing He is worthy of our best sacrifice Pr 3:9  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Heb 13:16 do good  - share/communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

B. Giving should be Lavish toward God, Generous toward others 2Cor 9:6 sows sparingly…reap….sows bountifully shall reap

C. God doesn’t like being Lord of the Leftovers Mal 1:10 I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord, nor will I accept an offering

D. Get Blessed or Rob God Mal 3:7 Return unto me, and I will return to you…8…Yet you have robbed me...In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me…10  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, 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. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes…12…call you blessed

E. Giving should done by all; Poverty doesn’t exempt from giving Ex 23:15 and none shall appear before me emptyhanded Le 14:21 if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for an offering…Ex 30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than….when they give an offering…atonement  2 Cor 8:2…their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their generosity.

F. We should give sacrificially whether we have a little or a lot; Giving is measured not just by what we give, but also what we keep Lk 21:2 he saw also a poor widow casting in two mites. 3…this poor widow has cast in more than they all:

G. Motive is more important than amount 2Cor 8:12 if first a willing mind, accepted according to that a man has, and not…

H. We can give more than gold Ac 3:6  Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I you: In the name of Jesus…rise up and walk.

II. Giving is a Grace

(coin of the realm of heaven) 2Cor 8:7 as you abound in….faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, love to us, abound in this grace also. Act 4:33… great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither any that lacked…sold, 35 laid…feet…distribution according…need. 2Cor 9:8 God’s able to make all grace abound to you…always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

III.  Giving has been proven to be Part of a Comprehensive Program of Spiritual Well-being and Preventative Maintenance

A. Giving must come out of a perfect heart 1Chron 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. 2Cor 9:7

Mt 5:24  Leave your gift before the altar, and go first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (15:5)

B. Giving starts with dedication of yourself to God 2Cor 8:5 first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God.

V. How & Where to Give

Instructions & examples: Local Church; believers in need, local/distant relief, missionaries (local and foreign) 3Jn 8

A. Give regularly & proportionately 1Cor 16:2 first of the week every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered…

B. Give to those in need Eph 4:28…labor, working with his hands thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs

C. Priority is believers Gal 6:10…opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith.

D. Equality is not ease 2Cor 8:13 I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14  but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack——that there may be equality.

E. Give where you’re taught Gal 6:6  Let him that is taught in the word share with him that teaches in all good things.  Mt 10:10…the workman is worthy of his meat. 1Co 9:14 Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.  1Co 9:11 we have sown to you spiritual things…we shall reap your material things? Rom 15:27 For if…partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 1Tim 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. 18  For the scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, the laborer is worthy of his wages. Lk 10:7

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1.If giving results in blessings, then why shouldn’t one try to give as much as one can? Can you out-give God? 

2. If stewardship of money is so important in the Christian life, why do we consider giving private and are ashamed to talk about it?

3. If you designate/control your giving, are you really giving it to God? (Cf. Whole burnt offerings)

4. Since we no longer sacrifice animals, how do we make sure we’re giving God our best sacrifice (in order to honor Him)?

5. Does your giving honor God or rob God? If robbing God, why? On what are you spending His money? Is change possible?