In the beginning…God created the heavens and the earth Genesis 1:1
All that we possess is entrusted to us by God for his service.
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else…
For in Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 1 7: 24, 25, 28
Abraham’s response to God
“And He blessed Abram saying,
Blessed be Abram by God most high,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And blessed be god most high
Who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave Him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14 : 19 – 20
Free-will giving
God said to Jacob: “I am the Lord, I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.”
The Jacob made a vow, saying: “Of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.
” Genesis 28 : 13, 20, 22
The Lord said to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.” Exodus 25 : 12
The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they have given freely and wholeheartedly
1 Chronicles 29 : 9 to the Lord.
The came the law
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord.
The entire tithe of herd and flock…..will be holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27 ; 30, 32
Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. Exodus 23 : 19
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness….for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Wealth and honour come from you. Everything comes from you. 1 Chronicles 29 : 11, 12, 14
God gives a Saviour
The Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world for our sins. 1 John 4 : 14
This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4 : 10
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God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5 : 8
God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3 : 16
God has given us eternal life, and this is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life 1 John 5 : 11, 12
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich 2 Corinthians 8 : 9
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9 : 15
God gives to all
He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. Acts 14 : 17
God gives generously to all. James 1 : 5
God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6 : 17
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. 2 Corinthians 9 : 8
God’s promises
The Lord God said: “ Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me.” But you ask, “How do we rob you?” In tithes and offerings. Br ing the whole tithe into the storehouse. “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.” Malachi 3 : 8, 10
The Lord Jesus said: “ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”
Luke 6 : 38
God’s desire
Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12 : 1
My Son, give Me your heart. Proverbs 23 : 26
The Lord has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. Micah 6 : 8
Jesus said
You cannot serve both God and Money. Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6: 24 – 26
We must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “ It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20 : 35
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The Lord Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6 : 19 – 21
Attitudes to guide us
As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21 : 1 – 4
According to ability 2 Corinthians 8 : 12 According to income Deuteronomy 16 : 16, 17
Without ostentation Matthew 6 : 3
With simplicity Romans 12 : 8
Freely
Regularly
Matthew 10 : 8
1 Corinthians 16 : 2
Cheerfully 2 Corinthians 9 : 7
Giving for others
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
Out of the lost severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For
I testify that they gave us as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 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.
2 Corinthians 8 : 1 – 5
God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His
Hebrews 6 : 10 people and continue to help them.
Consequences
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver. 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. As it is written: “He has scattered His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures for ever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 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.
2 Corinthians 9 : 6 – 12
Each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14 : 12
It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4 : 2
The Lord Jesus said: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16 : 10
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! Matthew 25 : 21
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A selection of Biblical passages to preach on
God Gives
John 3 : 16 God so loved the world that He gave…..
2 Corinthians 9 : 15 Thanks be to God for His ind escribable gift……
The challenge of the tithe
Genesis 14 : 19 – 20 Abram and 13, 20, 22 Jacob
Leviticus 27 : 30, 32 Tithes
Exodus 23: 19, 25 : 12
Malachi 3 : 8, 10
Moses
Robbing God!
Total giving
1 Chronicles 29: 9, 11, 12, 14
Yours Lord….
Romans 12 : 1 – 3 Living sacrifices
Good practice
2 Corinthians 8 & 9 The grace of giving (Macedonians)
Acts 17 : 24, 25, 28
All things….
Wise words
Proverbs 5 : 8, 6 : 12, 22 : 7, 23 : 23, 30 : 7 – 9
Matthew 6 : 24 – 26 God of money?
John 6 : 12 Use Gods resources wisely
Attitudes to giving
2 Corinthians 8 : 12 According to ability
Matthew 6 : 3 Without ostentation
Romans 12 : 8 With simplicity
2 Corinthians 9 : 7 Cheerfully
Matthew 6 : 19
Luke 6 : 38
–24 Treasures in heaven
Give good measures
1 Timothy 6 : 6 – 10 Seek contentment
Luke 21 : 1 – 4 Widow’s mite
Matthew 10 : 8 Freely
1 Corinthians 16 : 2 Regularly
Luke 16 : 21 Rich young ruler
Deuteronomy 16 :16,17 According to income
Matthew 25 : 21 Parable of the talents – what do we do with what we have?
Jesus’ teaching – highlights the importance of our attitude to money and possessions
Matthew 25 : 14-30 Parable of the talents
Luke 12 : 13 – 21 The rich fool
Matthew 13 Hidden treasure
Luke 18 : 18-29 The rich young ruler
In fact, two thirds of His parables are about our attitudes to money and possessions. Clearly it was a problem then as it is now.
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