Four practical keys to Biblical giving:
I. Understand
I should give.
It is the
Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV84) “Honor the LORD with your wealth…”
It meets & supplies
2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV84) “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
It gives
2 Corinthians 9:13 (NIV84) “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”
It acknowledges
1 Timothy 6:17,18 (NIV84) “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”
It robs money of its
Proverbs 13:8 (NIV84) A man’s riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.”
It advances the
Luke 16:9-12 (NIV84) “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”
Additional Notes:
II. Understand
I should give.
Numbers 18:24 (NIV84) “Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord.”
2 .1 Corinthians 9:11-14 (NIV84) “…In the same way,…”
Additional Notes:Deuteronomy 12:6 (NIV84) “There bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings.”
III. Understand
I should give.
- Thank God for the
2 . The tithe was introduced
Genesis 14:18 (NIV84) “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
Genesis 28:20 (NIV84) “Then Jacob made a vow, saying … and of all that you give me I will give you [God] a tenth.”
3 . The tithe was confirmed
Leviticus 27:30-32 (NIV84) “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.”
Malachi 3:7-10 (NIV84) Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. “Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. But you ask, “How are we to return?”’ 8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, “How do we rob you?” “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
4 . The tithe was affirmed by
Luke 11:42 (NIV84) Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
5 . The tithe was affirmed by
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NIV84) “…And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.”
6 . Regardless,
Romans 5:15 (NIV84) How much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Additional Notes:
IV. Understand
to give.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV84) “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Additional Notes:Acts 20:25 (NIV84) [Jesus] “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Discussion Questions:
- Why is it hard to listen to a preacher talk about money?
- Describe WHY it honors God when we give a portion of our money back to Him. What good does it do?
- How do you practically determine how much money to give away?
- How much money does God DESERVE? How much money does the Bible say God PRESCRIBES? (Hint: Read Malachi 3:7-10)
- Why is the tithe (proportional giving = 10% of your income) a good, relevant, and helpful biblical concept?
- What factors make it difficult to give?