“Our Motivation for Giving”

Moved by God’s Love “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.” Psalm 103:1-5 NIV

Moved by God’s Love Consider how good God has been to us He richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment! – 1 Timothy 6:17; James 1:17 We have been saved by God’s grace and blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ – Ephesians 1:3-14

Moved by God’s Love We owe it to Him to give our very best – 1 John 3:16-18 Christ’s love should compel us – 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 His grace should affect how we live – 1 Corinthians 15:10 When we don’t give as we should, we insult God – Proverbs 14:31

Moved by Compassion “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:35-38 NIV

Moved by Compassion Consider the plight of the poor and needy 1.2 billion people live in extreme poverty, less than $1.25 a day. (22%) Another 2.7 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day, raising the global income poverty rate to about 50% A third of all the poor living in the developing world are children under the age of 12

Moved by Compassion Can we really just look the other way? The story of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37 The story of the Rich man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-31 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses – Proverbs 28:27

Moved by a sense of Purpose “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:33-35 NIV

Moved by a sense of Purpose Consider our calling as Christians We are called to follow Jesus – Philippians 2:3-5; 1 John 2:3-6; Luke 6:30, 38; 14:12-14; We are called to help the weak – Acts 20:33-35; Galatians 2:10; James 1:27

Moved by a sense of Purpose It is our duty to help those in need – Deuteronomy 15:7-11 We are commanded to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share – 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Matthew 5:42; Luke 12:33 We are to use whatever gift we have received to serve others – 1 Peter 4:10; Galatians 6:9-10 We will be judged by our obedience to these commands! – Matthew 25:36-46

Moved by Necessity “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 NIV

Moved by Necessity Consider the alterative – If we don’t, who will? Children are the most vulnerable members of society We must defend the oppressed; take up the cause of the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow – Isaiah 1:17

Moved by Necessity Time is running out! 5.9 million children under the age of 5 died in 2015, equivalent to 11 children every minute (UNICEF) We may not be able to save all of them but we definitely can save some. Please give generously!