GOD ’ S GIFT – GENEROUS GIVING Penge Baptist Church June 3rd 2012

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift…. is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously.….. (Romans 12:4-6, 8) Dictionary - Generous (of a person) Showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected. Showing kindness toward others.

Why should we give? A reasonable response to what God has done Show our Christian faith Jesus and the Apostles command us to God promises to reward us

What is a generous giver? Not size of gift but condition of giver’s heart… ….so the giver experiences joy in giving ….takes an eternal perspective ….prefers giving over getting ….recognises God owns everything ….offers gifts as an act of worship

How much to give? Care about what God cares about Apply the Great Commandments to our money and possessions Imitate Jesus’ sacrificial example Be aware God looks at giver’s capacity and attitude As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)

Giving to whom? Poor and oppressed, especially Christians People in Christian ministry Needs of family members Tax authorities Give to our enemies Give to the furtherance of God’s kingdom

What is sacrificial giving? Follow example of Jesus on the cross Giving our best, what it pains us to lose If we are rich, giving to a level that cuts noticeably into standard of living – adopt a “missionary support level”… …Jesus warned prosperity doesn’t often lead to generosity… …although God ensures generosity doesn’t lead to poverty

The spiritual gift of giving Taking joy from giving Having the right motives…. ….but even if we have the wrong motives, give all the same!

Giving quotations “The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money.” — Anonymous “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” — Billy Graham (1918-), American evangelist “The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’ Christ asks, ‘How does he use it?’ ” — Andrew Murray ( ), South African evangelist and writer

“Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart.” — John Wesley ( ), English evangelist and founder of Methodism “A lot of people are willing to give God the credit, but not too many are willing to give Him the cash.” — Anonymous “It is an anomaly of modern life that many find giving to be a burden. Such persons have omitted a preliminary giving. If one first gives himself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.” — John S. Bonnell ( ), pastor and author

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” — Martin Luther ( ), German reformer and theologian “A man there was, and they called him mad; the more he gave, the more he had.” — John Bunyan ( ), English Puritan writer and preacher Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

“When it comes to giving until it hurts, most people have a very low threshold of pain.” — Anonymous “It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.” — Richard Braunstein, author “The Dead Sea is the dead sea because it continually receives and never gives.” — Anonymous “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Jesus, in Acts 20:35 ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ Jesus in Matthew 6:21