weekly sermon

8-10-08

What Shall I Give?

As many of us can see, the economic stability of our nation is struggling. With the rise in fuel prices, the tightening of everyone's financial belts, the steady increase of foreclosures in the housing market, it is very tough for anyone to be able to give of any of their finances, should they spare assets necessary to make ends meet.

The Lord says that even in the rough times we are to give. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 8:2-7, "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. (3)For to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and beyond [their] power [they were] willing of themselves; (4)Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (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. (6)Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. (7)Therefore, as ye abound in every [thing, in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also."

Many of us find it very hard to scrape together any money to be able to give at all. During these times the Lord sees what we are going through and still expects us to give to the work of Christ, that maybe through this giving, one soul may be saved. Only through our giving can we continue the spreading of the word to all areas of the world that all may hear the word of God and have the opportunity to accept Him as the Saviour.

This part of scripture above is a writing from Paul concerning the churches of Macedonia. This writing from Paul occurs around 60 A.D. when the Macedonian people were in severe times with their finances. Even though they were having hard times these Macedonian people would still give knowing that they would be blessed by God through their giving. As you can see in verse 2, it states that deep poverty had taken their riches from them, but they still gave of themselves first then the rest. The Lord stated that we are to first give a tenth toward our tithe. Tithe is considered a tenth part of anything.

Even though we may think we are in such financial hardships that we can not give our tithe, the Lord says that He will bless us beyond our expectations for our tithe. Look with me in Malachi 3:10-11, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. (11)And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts."

Here it shows us that we are to bring our tenth to the storehouse, or the church, that there will be enough in the house of God to send out the word that souls have the opportunity to accept Christ as their saviour.

If you will also notice that if you give your tithe as it shows, then the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings so much that we can not hold it all. This is the one area where you can actually test the Lord. The more you give the more the Lord will give back to you so that you may give more. It does not matter your financial stature, if you give; you shall receive that you may give even more.

There was the story of a man who had a job making $500 a week. Every week faithfully he would give $50 to the church as his tithe. The Lord started increasing the man's finances so greatly that soon the man was earning from his job $5000 a week. This was an increase beyond the man's wildest dreams. Once the man started making this type of money, he thought to himself, $500 a week is too much money to you have to just give away. The man kept giving his original $50 a week, and the Lord stated that since he only wanted to give the tithe of $500 a week then that is all he would make. The man received a demotion and was back to his original salary of $500 per week. Because of this man's way of thinking in the beginning, he was blessed beyond anything he could dream. But then because of his greed and way of thinking, he was also decreased in the same manner.

The Lord will not ask of your surplus, but of your need. What I mean is that whatever you need to survive, the Lord will ask of this, so that through your faith and trust in Him, you will give and He will supply for you.

To fully understand this revelation turn with me to Mark 12:41-44, "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (42)And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. (43)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: (44)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."

If we look at this story, the rich were giving much because they had much, and this much that they were giving was from their abundance. The widow it states was poor and she gave all she could give, all she could give insomuch that it was even all of her living. This was true faith on her part to be able to give everything she had, knowing that the Lord would supply for her. We must also know that God will not ask of us what we have. What I mean is, from the rich God will ask for time, and from the poor God will ask for money. Why you may ask? Use your faith and that will answer your question. God wants you to use your faith. Your faith is what will carry you through. A rich man never has any time to spare and a poor man never has any money to spare. Through the faith of either of them, they will give and God will supply.

This is a true faith to fully believe that no matter how much you give, even if it is your all, the Lord is gracious and will give you what you need that you will make it and more that you may give more back.

What do you have to give? What are you willing to try to use to test God and His giving power? We all can give something, the thing is how much do we believe that we can give that God will supply for us? I am here to tell you that no matter what you give, there is no way you will ever out give God. He will supply you more every time you give that you may in return give even more. Take the test, give all you think you can give, and see what it is God will do for you for your giving.

I never close a message without offering you the opportunity to know my friend and the way for you to reach everlasting salvation. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour, all you have to do is say a simple prayer with me.

Say this simple prayer with me, Dear Lord, take over my life and forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.

If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
 

With Love in Christ,

Pastor Stone