DOING WHAT I CAN DO…

in Giving

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   There are some Bible subjects that are not preached on very much.

1.    They are extremely controversial.

2.    They are somewhat political in nature.

3.    They involve members of the church who are somewhat.

4.    They involve commands that are difficult and cause painful emotions.

5.    They involve matters that some deem to be private.

6.    They involve subjects that are being followed well by the church and may not need immediate attention (Ex., 1 Thess. 4:9).

 

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you:  for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

 

B.   At OceanSide, we do not have to teach about the subject of giving very much.  Over the course of the last 2+ years, this congregation has literally shined when it comes to our giving.

 

C.   We have challenged the church this year with 12 months of mission works that we desire to support.

1.    It will be a challenge for us to contribute over our budget every month to give to these works.

2.    Thus, we thought it important to preach a lesson tied to our theme which is “Doing What I Can Do.” 

3.    Today, let’s consider this topic:  Doing What I Can Do…in Giving.”

 

I.             GIVING IS COMMANDED BY OUR GOD

 

A.   There are numerous verses that exhort us to give.

1.    Proverbs 3:9

 

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.

 

2.    Luke 6:30

 

Give to every man that asketh of thee…

 

3.    Luke 6:38

 

Give…

 

4.    Ephesians 4:28

 

Let him that stole steal no more:  but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

 

5.    2 Corinthians 9:7

 

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:  for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

6.    1 Corinthians 16:1-2

 

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

 

B.   The fact that giving is commanded is enough reason to preach on the subject from time to time.

 

II.           EXAMPLES:  DOING WHAT THEY COULD DO IN GIVING

 

A.   The poor widow (Mark 12:42-44)

 

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.  And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:  for all they did cast in of their abundance:  but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

 

1.    Question:  What caused this poor widow to cast in all her living?

a.    The Law did not command her to do this.

b.    She was not forced by the Jewish leaders.

c.    Jesus had not given her an order to do this.

d.    We do not read about some special purpose for this collection.

2.    Observation:  Jesus looks at the percentage of what is given more than the amount that is contributed.

a.    The rich “cast in much” (Mark 12:41).

b.    The widow cast in “two mites” (Mark 12:42).

c.    The widow “hath cast more in” (Mark 12:43).

 

B.   The Macedonians (2 Cor. 8:1-2)

 

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed upon the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

 

1.    Two negatives faced by those in Macedonia:

a.    A great trial of affliction

b.    Deep poverty

2.    Yet their giving is described as “the riches of their liberality.”

3.    Their secret is found in 2 Corinthians 8:5.

 

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 

When you give yourself to the Lord first, nothing physical that you possess really holds a place in your heart.

 

C.   God (1 John 4:9-10)

 

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

D.   Question:  Does my giving remotely resemble the giving of these three?

III.         HOW TO BE A BETTER GIVER

 

A.   How we give is predicated upon where we are spiritually.

1.    The direction of my heart

2.    My spiritual growth

3.    The amount of faith I possess

4.    The love I have for God and His cause

5.    The appreciation I have for the truth of God’s Word

6.    The compassion I have for the hurting

7.    The desire I have for heaven

 

B.   If we understand these seven things, we will become better givers.

1.    When I give, I become more like God (1 Tim. 6:17b).

 

…who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

 

2.    When I give, I please God (2 Cor. 9:7).

 

…for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

3.    When I give, I am in fellowship with a good work (Phil. 1:4-5).

 

Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.

 

4.    When I give, I am assisting others.

a.    Giving usually does one of three things:

1)    Takes the gospel to the lost.

2)    Edifies the saints.

3)    Alleviates the needs of others.

b.    Proverbs 31:20

 

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

 

5.    When I give, I am storing up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20).

 

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.

 

6.    When I give, I am not giving anything I own (1 Tim. 6:7).

 

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 

 

7.    When I give, I have promise of blessings in return (Prov. 3:9-10).

 

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Very little can be accomplished in this world unless God’s children are willing to give.

 

B.   They must be willing to give of their time, their talents, and their treasures.

 

C.   This year, we want to assist many works throughout the brotherhood.  What we do will depend on our “Doing What You Can Do…in Giving.”