GIVING

Rev. Dr. A. A. Obe (JP)
March 13, 2022

GIVING

TEXT: Proverb 11:24-25; Proverb 22:26; 2Corinthians 4:6-10; Luke 6:38
Proverb 11:24-25 – 24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.Proverb 22:26 – 26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
2Corinthians 4:6-10 – 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
Luke 6:38 – 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

DEFINITION: This is the process where we surrender what we have, what is in our hands or what is at our disposal to someone without expecting anything back.
BIBLICALLY, GIVING IS A PROCESS WHERE YOU GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE TO GOD, HIS WORK, THE CHURCH OR SOMEONE IN NEED, AND NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN, BUT BELIEVING THAT GOD WILL BLESS OR REWARD YOU BACK.

INTRODUCTION: Our giving is a reminder of the blessing(s) God gives us and gave to us through Jesus Christ. We find in John 3:16 three thoughts that should be the foundation of all our giving.
(1) God’s motivation for giving was love
(2)He gave Himself in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, and
(3) God gave in response to our need.

I. WHAT YOU MUST GIVE TO GOD
*1. Your life – Matthew 11:28; Acts 16:31
Matthew 11:28 – 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Acts 16:31 – 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
*2. Your time.
(a). In your service to God – Hebrews 10:25
Hebrews 10:25 – 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
(b). In your Prayer life – 2Timothy 4:2
2Timothy 4:2 – 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
(c). In your studying the Word of God – 2Timothy 2:15
2Timothy 2:15 – 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
*3. Your money (Finance).
(a) Your Tithe – Genesis 14:19-20; Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10
Genesis 14:19-20 – 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Leviticus 27:30 – 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s: it is holy unto the LORD.
Malachi 3:10 – 10 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.
(b) Your Offering – Luke 6:38
Luke 6:38 – 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
(c) Your seed faith – 1 Corinthians 9:11
1 Corinthians 9:11 – 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
(d) Give or pay your Vows – Deuteronomy 23:21-23
Deuteronomy 23:21-23 – 21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
(e) Your Donation or charity – 2 Chronicles 31:12; Hebrews 13:16
2 Chronicles 31:12 – 12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.
Hebrews 13:16 – 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
(f) Your First fruit – Deuteronomy 14:22; Proverb 3:9
Deuteronomy 14:22 – 22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
Proverbs 3:9 – 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
*4. Your material things e.g. Lands, Houses, mobility or anything that is within your person that is yours. Exodus 35:22; Exodus 36:3-6; Acts 2:45-47
Exodus 35:22 – 22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.
Exodus 36:3-6 – 3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.
4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;
5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.
6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
Acts 2:45-47 – 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

II. WHAT YOU GAIN WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD
1. Open doors and open Heaven. Genesis 14: 19-20
Genesis 14: 19-20 – 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
2. Joy and Happiness to your heart and soul. 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7
2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 – 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
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.
3. Spiritual Maturity
4. Divine Promotion. Proverb 18:16
Proverb 18:16 – 16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
5. Longevity. Psalm 91:16
Psalm 91:16 – 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
6. Your life becomes meaningful. Luke 6:38
Luke 6:38 – 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
7. It makes God to be pleased with you. 1Kings 3:10-15
8. 1Kings 3:10-15 – 10 And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

III. WHY PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO OR DON’T GIVE TO GOD AND HIS WORK
1. Lack of full Understanding of who God is – Jeremiah 32:27.
2. Lack of the knowledge of the word of God – Genesis 22: 15-18.
3. Stinginess. 2 Corinthians 5:6 – Proverb 11:24
4. Greediness and Covetousness – Luke 12:15-23
5. When you have not surrendered all. Luke 18:18-27

CONCLUSION
When we say we are saved, we should not find it difficult to do the will of God. All we have belong to God and there should not be anything that is at our disposal that we cannot give to Him. In so doing we are calling God’s blessing upon our life and family.

Rev. Dr. A.A Obe(JP)

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