GIVE UNTIL

He, who is not liberal with what he has, does but deceive himself when he thinks he would be liberal if he had more. -Tulner

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. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

We give. We give our tithe. We give our offering. We even give our faith promise. But doesn’t God desire more from us than our money? I mean is God so broke that the only thing He desires from us is the money He has entrusted us with? I don’t think so. Don’t get me wrong, God does desire for us to give of each of those things. But, I believe God desires we give of ourselves; our time and talents as well.

Many people have the giving of their tithes and offerings down pat but isn’t that the easy part? Isn’t that the least we can do? Friend, when we give until God says stop, that’s when we know it’s enough. So, from here on out, do a little more for the Lord in the area of giving of our time and talents. And for a simple reminder, God loves a cheerful giver and we can’t ever out give God!

GIVE A LITTLE MORE

He, who is not liberal with what he has, does but deceive himself when he thinks he would be liberal if he had more. -Tulner

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.

I have heard most of my Christian life that you can’t out give God. Guess what, it’s true! The more time, talents, and treasure I have given God; the more He gives back!

What are you being stingy with this morning? Why not give a little more and see how God uses it and gives you more in return! Don’t do it for personal gain, do it because God desires to use your sacrifice to see others come to Him. Do it because God loves a cheerful giver!

WHAT ARE YOU GIVING TO?

Love is the only service that power cannot command and money cannot buy. –Anonymous

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

            God loved the world that He created so much that He sent His Son to redeem it from the very grips of Satan! How much should we invest in getting this message out? How much should we “sacrifice” in order that one soul might come to know Him? Is there any dollar amount that when spent we say enough is enough- Heaven forbid! We should never put a monetary value to the soul of man!

            Give to your local church with tithes and offerings. Invest in missions whether by faith promise or in faithful offerings. Each of us can do something. Maybe you don’t have the money to give; give of your time and your talents! Some can do more than others but all can do something to get the Good News of the Gospel out!

GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS

           I rather think there is an immense shortage of Christian charity among so-called Christians. -Truman

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.

            Have you ever been around someone that is as stingy as a hungry baby with a bottle? When an offering plate is passed, they ask for change for a five-dollar bill. Not because they don’t have the money to put it all in but because they are just that stingy! If they can’t get change, look out because the whining will begin. I knew I should’ve gotten change before I came! I won’t be coming back here! Why don’t they have change machines in the lobby of the church?

            Really folks, there are people that way. I truly hope you are not one of them. You see, God loves a cheerful giver! He loves it when we give our tithes and offerings! He loves when we give our time for the work of the Lord! He loves when we give our talents for the cause of Christ! Are you being stingy with what God has blessed you with? Are you robbing God?

GIVE IT UP!

           Greed gets you nowhere but hated!

Proverbs 3:27, Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

            There are many that live with the “Dog eat dog mentality.” They strive to be the winner at everything and at all cost. What they miss is the pleasure in giving, the pleasure in seeing others blessed by their generosity, and the pleasure in understanding how blessed they are.

            Hey friend, you want to be a blessing and see God work in your life? GIVE IT UP and be a blessing to others! You won’t have to look far! There are people all around us that could use a little of your time, a little of your talents, and maybe a little of your treasure! It’s amazing how far a little can go, when you GIVE IT UP!

SMILE WHEN YOU GIVE

  The problem with our giving is that we give the widow's mite, but not with the widow's spirit. –Anonymous

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

          I heard a preacher once tell the congregation of a story of a man giving his tithe check and he was laughing when he did it. Someone asked him, “Why are you laughing?” He said, “Because God loves a cheerful giver and I want Him to know how much joy it gives me in supporting what He loves! 

            Wouldn’t it be great if we all had that type of attitude when we gave unto the Lord?

GIVING IT ALL

It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving. –Braunstein

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. Mark 12:44

            How much are you giving to the Lord? Are you giving Him out of your abundance or are you giving Him your all? No need to answer the question because God knows the answer already. He knows our motives before we write the first letter on the check, grab the first dollar, or cast in our pocket change. God isn’t please when we “give what we can” and no He doesn’t understand when we give that way. What the Lord wants is for us to give it all to the point of giving out of faith. We could give every earthly possession we had but if we didn’t it in faith, God will not be pleased with it. The widow woman gave with a loving cheerful heart and God took care of her! I believe He can take care of you as well!

            Give Him your time! Give Him your talents! Give Him your treasures! Just give Him your life!

HELP THEM OUT

One said to a minister who preached a sermon, after which there was to be a collection, "You should preach to our hearts, and then you would get some money."  The minister replied, "Yes, I think that is very likely, for that is where you keep your money." –Spurgeon

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1 Timothy 5:8

Many have lost their way in the area of finances. They believe it is better to hoard up and save for a rainy day rather than to invest in their family, their community, or even in the House of God. The god of money has got them blinded to what is important. There was a time when family stuck together and took care of one another…not so much anymore.

Friend do you have family TRULY in need; help them out. Do you have friends TRULY in need; help them out. Does someone in your community TRULY have needs; help them out. If you don’t…don’t EXPECTa handout if you’re ever in need because you may not get one!

If you got it, be willing to give it!

He, who is not liberal with what he has, does but deceive himself when he thinks he would be liberal if he had more. –Tulner

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

If you have an opportunity to participate in giving, whether it is your time, talents, or treasures, then do it! Why, you may ask; because God loves a cheerful giver, because He wants us to give out of love and not duty, because that is how He gave to you and I! For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16