Close to God in Giving

I. Background authority for giving

II. Jerusalem famine

III. Acts 11:27-30 0 The prophet Agabus predicted a famine in Judea

IV. Romans 15:25-27 – Paul gathered money while in Asia

V. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 – The Christians in need are fed

VI. There are needs in the church today

VII. 1 Timothy 5:16 – Care for widows indeed (v.5-9)

VIII. 1 Timothy 5:17 – Support of elders

IX. Philippians 4:15-20 – Support of preacher

X. Jerusalem example: Christians in need

XI. We take a collection from the members of the church here for the work here

XII. Do not request money from non-members.

XIII. Freewill offering – not billed, pledged, etc.

XIV. Each person decides how much they will give

XV. The amount is between that person and God; it is no one else’s business

XVI. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – Purpose in your heart

XVII. We gather the money on the first day of the week, 1 Corinthians 16:2

XVIII. Each person should give as he has prospered, 1 Corinthians 16:2

XIX. Giving will help us draw closer to God

XX. Sharing work with God

XXI. When we invest money or time into a cause we care about its success

XXII. Stockholders have a great interest in the success of the company

XXIII. If you give to a charity you want it to succeed in its mission

XXIV. When we give to the Lord, we want the money to be used for a good purpose

XXV. Giving Christians have a share in the fruit of that work

XXVI. Philippians 4:14-19 – The Philippians shared in Paul’s labors

XXVII. Whatever success takes place at Northwood, we all share in it for we are fellow workers and contribute together to its success

XXVIII. By sharing the work with God, we get a clearer sense of His desire to see the work succeed and a bond through our mutual effort in the local work

XXIX. Sacrificing for God

XXX. By sacrificing our money and time for the local work, we invest in something greater than ourselves

XXXI. We only sacrifice for things that are special to us

XXXII. Our sacrifice pales in comparison to the sacrifice God made to establish the church and purchase our pardon so we could be added to it.

XXXIII. Yet we can gain some idea of sacrifice as we give to the Lord’s work

XXXIV. Acts 4:32-35 – Sacrifice in the early church

XXXV. “I gave my life for Thee; what hast thou brought for Me?”

XXXVI. 2 Samuel 24:18-25 – David’s offering had to cost him something

XXXVII. Helps us become more active as Christians

XXXVIII. We should have a broad concept of giving beyond the first day of the week.

XXXIX. We should not neglect the local work in our other giving; the work here depends on our contribution to meet the local needs.

XXXX. We can individually support preachers in the Lord’s work

XXXXI. Support preachers you know in difficult works or having support problems

XXXXII. Preachers with a need that interest you: foreign work in particular places or areas of the country that interest you.

XXXXIII. Even a little bit is very helpful; $25 will help pay a bill for a preacher; in some foreign works it can be worth more than its relative value here.

XXXXIV. One time help

XXXXV. You have an unexpected windfall of cash

XXXXVI. You know of a special need with the preacher (temporary shortfall in financial support, medical emergencies, moving expenses, etc.)

XXXXVII. Evangelism help

XXXXVIII. Purchase books, Bibles, tracts, etc.

XXXXIX. Contact the preacher first to see what is needed

XXXXX. Personal benevolence

XXXXXI. Thought he church is limited to supporting saints from the treasury, the individual does not have that limitation.

XXXXXII. You can help a neighbor, friend, or stranger in financial distress.

XXXXXIII. You can contribute to a community need such as helping a family in distress

XXXXXIV. Help others with our resources: meals, transportation, open homes, etc.

XXXXXV. Proper giving helps us have proper perspective

XXXXXVI. We draw closer to God because we lose our grip on the material world here

XXXXXVII. Some are personally devastated through financial ruin yet remain faithful

XXXXXVIII. No one would be happy with financial ruin and of course we would mourn the loss

XXXXXIX. However, the Christian who has a proper perspective will realize, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

XXXXXX. It would be stressful and traumatic but if our focus is on spiritual things we will be able to endure it considering our eternal reward.

XXXXXXI. Hebrews 10:32-35 – Some were plundered because of their faith

XXXXXXII. Hebrews 11:37-38 – Persecuted saints lived in humble circumstances

XXXXXXIII. Through God we realize that our self worth is not based on our financial status

XXXXXXIV. Our giving may reflect our relationship between God and riches

XXXXXXV. Matthew 6:24 – We cannot serve both

XXXXXXVI. Are we so materialistic that our money only serves our needs or do we use it to impress others?

XXXXXXVII. Do we view money as a means to greater ends?

XXXXXXVIII. Ephesians 4:28

XXXXXXIX. 1 John 3:16-18

XXXXXXX. Perhaps giving is an important test of our love for God

XXXXXXXI. Mark 10:17-23 – Rich young ruler couldn’t part from riches for eternal life

XXXXXXXII. 2000 years later, his riches and life are gone and he is eternity

XXXXXXXIII. He has lost his riches to death and eternal riches to a love for the world

XXXXXXXIV. It may not be tribulation or persecution that separates us from God, it may be our earthly comforts, our material pleasures, the luxuries of this world, and every other material thing that stands between us and God.

XXXXXXXV. Drawing Closer to God in Giving

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