“The Lord has been so good to me! How can I ever pay Him back?” Psalm 116:12.

Introduction:

1. Who owns the earth? ”The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” Psalm 24:1, 50:10-12. “The highest heavens belong to the Lord. But he has given the earth to human beings” Psalm 115:16. “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me” Leviticus 25:23.

2. God is the greatest Giver and in the creation of God everything gives. Though man is also a creation of God, he always likes to get more and says: “give me” & “forgive me” Luke 15:11-31; he uses and abuses these things. We must first give our hearts to the Lord - 2 Corinthians 8:5.

Discussion:

1. Why should we give?

   1. Everyone is accountable to God: “Why then did you not put my money in the bank?” - Luke 19:13-23. “Give an account of your management” Luke 16:2.

   2. “Last year you were the first to give. You were also the first to want to give. So finish the work. Then your longing to do it will be matched by your finishing it. Do you really want to give?” 2 Corinthians 8:10-12.

   3. The church has financial liability - 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, Matthew 10:5-10, Romans 15:25-27.

   4. “What do I still lack? Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” Matthew 19:16-22. The rich young man has lost all his possessions after 40 years when Titus invaded.

   5. There is no safe place on earth: “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys” Luke 12:33.

   6. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” Matthew 6:19,20.

   7. Zacchaeus said, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold” Luke 19:8.

2. How shouldn’t we give?

   1. As a grudging obligation - 2 Corinthians 9:5

   2. Reluctantly or under compulsion - 2 Corinthians 9:7

   3. Without love - have not love, it profits nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:3

   4. With what you don't have - 2 Corinthians 8:11

   5. With selfishness - Acts 8:12-21

   6. No need to give secretly as alms - Matthew 6:3,4

3. How should we give?

   1. Regularly – on every Sunday - 1 Corinthians 16:2

   2. Cheerfully - 2 Corinthians 9:7

   3. Generously - 2 Corinthians 9:5

   4. Sacrificially – Romans 12:1, Hebrews 13:16

   5. Whole-heartedly - 1 Chronicles 29:5

   6. With willing mind - 2 Corinthians 8:12

   7. As decided in one’s heart to give - 2 Corinthians 9:7

   8. Giving is not just mechanically dropping money into a collection plate, box or bag on Sundays. But God wants us to think about it, plan it, pray for it and rejoice in it as a spiritual decision of heart.

4. How much we should give?

   1. Good measure - Luke 6:38

   2. Bountifully - 2 Corinthians 9:6

   3. “She has done what she could” – “a special sealed jar of very expensive perfume” - Mark 14:3

   4. Storing up as one may prosper - 1 Corinthians 16:2

   5. According to what one has - 2 Corinthians 8:12, Deuteronomy 8:17

   6. According to the blessing of the Lord- Deuteronomy 16:17

   7. Every man shall give as he is able - Deuteronomy 16:17

   8. Be generous - share in all good things - Galatians 6:6

   9. Abounded in the riches of their liberality - 2 Corinthians 8:2, Luke 21:4, 1 Kings 17:12

   10. More than all - all that she had, her whole livelihood Mark 12:43,44

   11. Give what you have decided in your heart - 2 Corinthians 9:7, Deuteronomy 23:21, Eccl 5:4, 5

   12. Give on the basis of what you have - 2 Corinthians 8:11

   13. Its clearly self-deception for a Christian to think that he can please God under the perfect Law of Christ while giving less than the Israelites did under the typical Law.

5. The outcome of giving.

   1. It gives us a chance to ask God: "……. Put me to the test, says the Lord: Then you will see that I will throw open the windows of heaven. I will pour out so many blessings that you will not have enough room for them” Malachi 3:10.

   2. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” - 2 Corinthians 9:6.

   3. “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty” - Proverbs 11:24.

   4. “He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever” - 2 Corinthians 9:9, Psalm 112:9.

6. Examples of some givers.

   1. Abraham gave his son – Hebrews 11:19.

   2. Little lad gave his lunch of 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish – John 6:9.

   3. Thus he was the legal owner of the 12 baskets taken after the feast.

   4. Mary gave very costly perfume – John 12:1-8, Mark 14:3-9.

   5. Poor widow gave her whole livelihood - Mark 12:41-44.

   6. Joseph gave his own grave – John 19:38-41. Joseph received his grave again.

   7. King David said: “I'm giving 110 tons of gold and 260 tons of pure silver…” 1Chronicles 29:4.

7. If we don’t give?

   1. Rich man – “And He said to them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses ……… So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” Luke 12:15-21.

   2. Camel & Needle – “…Jesus …. said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich…” Luke 18:22-30.

   3. Ananias & Sapphira – “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God” Acts 5:1-5.

   4. Cain: “Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD…. but He did not respect Cain and his offering” Genesis 4:1-4. “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” Hebrews 11:4. To not give as God instructs will make our worship vain.

   5. “What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what can anyone trade for his soul?” - Matthew 16:26.

Conclusion:

1. Can a man rob God? Yes, Malachi 3:8-10 says so – “…..Put me to the test," says the Lord. "Then you will see that I will throw open the windows of heaven. I will pour out so many blessings that you will not have enough room for them”

2. Would like to deposit in the heavenly bank? “Instead, put away riches for yourselves in heaven. There, moths and rust do not destroy them. There, thieves do not break in and steal them” Matthew 6:20.

3. “The things which were sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, and acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God” - Philippians 4:18. "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased" Hebrews 13:16.

4. Gain all you could honestly
   Save all you could earnestly
   Give all you could generously
   And your heart consecratedly

Outline adapted from P. I. Sabbathi