“It is better to give than to receive”- Jesus, circa A.D 30 Reality Living – The Sermon on the Mount Matthew 6:1-4

It is better to give than to receive "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (NLT)

It is better to give than to receive Its about Faith in God Faith that he is generous to all Faith that we by faith in Jesus are his children Faith that we will display his character Faith that he will provide our needs Faith that he will keep promise to reward

It is better to give than to receive  ‘Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  ‘So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (NIVUK)

It is better to give than to receive Background – “good deeds” of the Kingdom Why we are to give? – because God gives How are we to give? – in proportion to how we have been blessed by God Who are to receive what we give? – the needy, for God’s applause! What is the result? – praise to God and our reward from God

It is better to give than to receive 1. Why we are to give? By faith in Jesus we are now children of God So we live seeking to do what pleases God rather than what pleases us This is what separates us from everybody else Many give little, we give generously because we know God has given generously to us Because he expects us to give generously – “when you give”

It is better to give than to receive 2. How are we to give? – “Box of Donuts” (DVD) Generously – Exodus 34, 1 Chron 29 Sacrificially - Mark 12:41ff Eagerly Significantly - in proportion to our income – 2 Cor 8:11-13 A comment on “Tithing” – Malachi 3

Exodus 35 Then Moses said to the whole community of Israel, "This is what the Lord has commanded: Take a sacred offering for the Lord. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze etc All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. So the people of Israel - every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord.

1 Chronicles 29 King David “..now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?" Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king's administrative officers all gave willingly. The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.

1 Chronicles 29 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honour come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.

It is better to give than to receive 2. How are we to give? – “Box of Donuts” Generously – Exodus 34, 1 Chronicles 29 Sacrificially - Mark 12:41ff Eagerly Significantly - in proportion to our income – 2 Cor 8:11-13 A comment on “Tithing” – Malachi 3

Mark 12:41 to 44 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on."

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

It is better to give than to receive 2. How are we to give? – “Box of Donuts” Generously – Exodus 34, 1 Chronicles 29 Sacrificially - Mark 12:41ff Eagerly – 2 Cor. 8 Significantly - in proportion to our income – 2 Cor 8:11-13 A comment on “Tithing” – Malachi 3

2 Corinthians 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. For I know how eager you are to help,…. I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."

It is better to give than to receive 2. How are we to give? – “Box of Donuts” Generously – Exodus 34, 1 Chronicles 29 Sacrificially - Mark 12:41ff Eagerly – 2 Cor. 8 Significantly - in proportion to our income – 2 Cor 8:11-13 A comment on “Tithing” – Malachi 3

2 Corinthians 8:11-13 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have. Of course, I don't mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.

It is better to give than to receive 2. How are we to give? – “Box of Donuts” Generously – Exodus 34, 1 Chronicles 29 Sacrificially - Mark 12:41ff Eagerly – 2 Cor. 8 Significantly - in proportion to our income – 2 Cor 8:11-13 A comment on “Tithing” – Malachi 3

Malachi 3 "Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!“ But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you? ‘ "You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of i heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Its good when budgeting to make this the first line to decide an annual amount. Family Budget 2015/2016 Giving £……… Mortgage £…….. Rent/Rates £…….. Utilities £……….. Insurance £……. Food £……….. Clothing £………. Maintenance £……… Transport £………. TV Licence/Telephone Line/Mobile Contract £……….. Holidays £………. Treats £………… Etc £……….

It is better to give than to receive 3. Who is to receive what we give? Not us! “Hypocrites”- they want applause now from others, or even from themselves (self- congratulation) Hypocrites have no faith in a loving, rewarding Heavenly Father – now, and later in Heaven To the “needy” – those whose need is greater than ours, who look to God, and we are his agents e.g. Charities, including your Church

It is better to give than to receive 4. What is the result? God will be praised and the needy will pray for you – 2 Cor. 9:11-15 Your Father in Heaven will reward you – Matthew 25:31-46

2 Corinthians 9:11-15 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be a generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

Matthew 25:31-46 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you? "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! ‘ "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me. '

It is better to give than to receive Concluding Remarks Every act of righteousness recognises there is a higher authority in our lives Our submission to Christ is really tested in this righteous act of giving where our nature or situation makes it difficult/costly Our “wallet/purse” is often the last fortress to fall to God’s kingdom rule