Offerings
Gtcotr/ws102203
Please turn in your bibles to Mark Chapter 12
Key Scripture: Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
The Sunday morning sermon which began this series was entitled:
A Chance To Hear & A Choice To Make
September 7, 2003
Three Categories Of People
* The Righteous
* The Unrighteous
The lukewarm group
Those most often given a chance to hear and a choice to make
* The Wicked
Three Indictments & Three Denials
1. You have gone away from and not kept My ordinances
Malachi 3:7 ¶ But you said, “Wherein shall we return?”
2. You have said that it is useless and unprofitable to serve Me and keep My ordinances.
Malach 3:13 But you said, “What have we spoken so much against thee?”
3. You have robbed Me.
Malachi 3:8 But you said, “Wherein have we robbed thee?”
Tonight I am completing this series on Tithes & Offerings and tonight we will be specifically looking at the subject of:
I. Offerings
Mark 12
41 ¶ 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.
Evidently Both God In Heaven And Jesus On Earth Are Taking Account Of How Much People Give
II. In Order To Make The Giving Of Offerings More Easily Understood, I Have Divided The Subject Into:
Three Easily Identifiable Categories Of Offerings
And Attached A Catch Phrase To Each Category:
A. The First Is:
* Follow The Lead
B. The Second Is:
* Meet The Need
C. The Third & Final Category of Offering Is:
* Sow The Seed
If you can remember these three things, you can quickly measure your life and adjust your giving where necessary.
III. Following The Lead
A. Genesis 4
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 ¶ And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
B. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
C. Luke 16
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
D. 1 Kings 17:13 “Make me one first …”
E. John 14:15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.
God has not obligated Himself to accept just any old offering when He has already specifically spoken to a person what to give.
IV. Meeting The Need
Each and every person should have some benevolent deeds in their spiritual portfolio.
* Matthew 25:31ff
I was hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick & in prison …
* Acts 10:4 Your prayers and your giving of offerings to help the poor have come up as a memorial before God
A. Planned Giving
* Deuteronomy 24:21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
* 1 Corinthians 16
1 ¶ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 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.
* 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.
* Nehemiah 10:32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
B. Spontaneous Giving
* Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Note: Pizza Hut I-30 & Hwy 8, New Boston, Tx
* 1 Timothy 6
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
V. Sowing The Seed
A. Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
B. 2 Corinthians 9:6 ¶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
C. Luke 6:38 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.
D. Proverbs 19:17 ¶ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
E. Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
F. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
G. There is a return on sacrificial giving
* Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
* Mark 10 After the encounter with the young rich ruler:
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
* Luke 6:38 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.
VI. Remember The Three Easily Identifiable Categories Of Giving?
A. Follow The Lead
B. Meet The Need
C. Sow The Seed
* Take inventory of your life and make sure you are not stealing from God by keeping back your tithes and withholding offerings, all in an attempt to get what you can and can what you get.
Trusting in uncertain riches will prove disastrous.
Not passing your wealth by the altar will leave it vulnerable.
