Why We Give, Part 2

Why We Give, Part 2

Sermon Notes: November 15, 2009

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 - (480) 895-8766

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 NRSV

¹When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, ²you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. ³You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, “Today I declare to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.” ⁴When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the LORD your God, ⁵you shall make this response before the LORD your God: “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. ⁶When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, ⁷we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. ⁸The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; ⁹and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁰So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me.” You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God. ¹¹Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 NRSV

⁶The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. ⁹As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; ¹²for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. ¹³Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, ¹⁴while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

A. Introduction

1. Divorce Court

a. A cowboy known as Curly Jack was in court suing his wife for divorce. Curly said to the Judge, “Ever since we got married all she ever does is hound me for money! Day and night all she ever says is: ‘Give me money, money, money!’” The Judge asked, “Curly, what does she do with all that money?” Curly replied, “I don’t rightly know, Judge, I ain’t given her none yet.”

b. Some folks proclaim great love for their family and then don’t give them much. Likewise some people proclaim great love for the Lord, but then give little to either His Church or to help other people.

2. Holy Scripture: John 3:16 & Hebrews 13:16

a. Yet we know that God is the greatest giver of all, and that the Almighty calls us to be givers. The Bible tells us: “For God so loved the world that he GAVE his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 RSV) And the author of Hebrews states: “Do not neglect to do good and to SHARE what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16 RSV) Believers are called to be givers.

b. This morning, I continue a two part series lifting up five Biblical reasons for giving. Today we cover three more of these reasons for giving.

B. Give, rejoicing in the happiness it gives you!

1. Hymn: “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated Lord to Thee”

a. Last Sunday we sung the hymn: “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated Lord to Thee.” This hymn was written by Frances R. Havergal, who for much of her life was a rich and spoiled woman. She lived a very selfish life, but was not a happy person. Frances knew that something was missing. One day she went to a Church. She heard the altar call and gave her life to Jesus. All was changed in her life.

b. She began to give her money and possessions away to the poor. Suddenly she found the joy that had been missing in her life. She no longer found pleasure in her expensive jewelry. So she made arrangements to donate her jewelry to the Church that the jewelry might be sold to raise money for missions. Then she sat down and wrote the well known hymn. After that Frances wrote the following in her diary: “Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold, now means shipping off all my ornaments, including my jewelry cabinet which is really for a countess, to the Church Missionary Society. I don’t think I ever packed a box with such pleasure!” There is joy in giving!

2. Holy Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7 & 13 & Matthew 25:21

a. Today’s New Testament Scripture tells us that: “Men will praise God for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” (2 Corinthians 9:13b,d NIV) Whenever you are giving person there is a harvest of thankfulness and joy. The people you help are grateful and they praise the Lord! And likewise, the kinder you are the more abundant is your joy! As Scripture says: “Whoever sows generously will also reap generously!” (2 Corinthians 9:6b NIV)

b. Giving people hear the voice of God affirming them with the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21b RSV) And those who are kind feel joy as they hear the Bible proclaim: “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7c NRSV)

C. Give in remembrance of all that God has done and will do for you!

1. “Thank you, Dr. Edson!”

a. Many years ago, the Reverend Doctor Edson was the pastor of Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church in Lowell, Massachusetts. Dr. Edson liked to walk to work, and as he walked through town on the way to the Church he would greet all that he saw with a cheery: “Good morning, and how are you today?” One morning a man responded, “I’m very well, thank God!”

b. Now the man was probably using the Lord’s name in vain and not as a prayer of thanks. However, Dr. Edson chose to take it as a prayer, and responded: “I am so delighted to hear you thank God for it! For twenty years I have heard everyone in Lowell thanking me. They always said, ‘I’m very well, thank you, Dr. Edson.’ It’s nice to hear someone thanking God.”

2. Holy Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 & James 1:17

a. In Deuteronomy 26 the ancient Hebrews remembered to thank God for all of the Almighty’s gifts and blessings. How about you? Do you have your health? Do people love you? Do you have a place to stay? Do you know that Jesus died to save you from your sins?

b. Remember and understand what James tells us: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV) We all have much to be thankful for. And we know that we owe it all to God.

D. Give as a reminder that God is number one in your life!

1. Holy Scripture: The Prophet Haggai

a. At one Church our Women’s Bible Study decided to study the shorter Old Testament books of prophecy. And so we began a study of what the Bible scholars call the Minor Prophets. Haggai is one of those shorter books by a prophet. Haggai was a prophet who spoke to the Jews after the Babylonian Captivity. The Persians had conquered the Babylonians and they allowed the Jews, who had been enslaved in Babylonia, to go home. The Jews came home a battered, beaten and disillusioned people. They struggled to rebuild their homes that had been destroyed so long ago, and they toiled to make a go of the land. It was difficult. The crops failed and their homes stood half built. And the Temple remained in ruins. There was no time to rebuild it the people cried.

b. That’s when Haggai the prophet stood up and speaking for God demanded: “Rebuild the Temple, now!” God was saying to the people, “The problem is your priorities.” When we worry first about taking care of ourselves, then with what is left over look for time or money to serve God and help others, guess what happens? The result is that we have precious little time or money for God. On the other hand, if we first decide to put aside time and money for God, we suddenly discover that we find enough time and resources for ourselves! The Jews made the rebuilding of God’s Temple a priority. And not only did they rebuild God’s House, they found the time to rebuild their own homes and farms. They discovered this truth: When God is first the rest of life falls into place.

2. Holy Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (“Fit to be Tithed!”)

a. Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to put God first? Deuteronomy 26 calls us to give God the firstfruits. Are you willing to first set aside a portion of your time, talents, and money for God? Your Church needs you to step up. Costs continue to go up, and the needs are great.

b. Let me suggest to all of you to prayerfully consider doing as the Bible says and giving one-tenth of your income to the Lord. Your Church is in real financial need. Quite frankly, our Church is fit to be tithed! So please fill out your pledge card and get it in by November 22^nd.

E. Conclusion

1. Recap: Why we give. We give for the following reasons:

a. Give as a remedy to the enslaving power of wealth.

b. Give in response to the needs of others.

c. Give, rejoicing in the happiness it gives you!

d. Give in remembrance of all that God has done and will do for you!

e. Give as a reminder that God is number one in your life!

2. Our Church costs too much!

a. I close with this story: Valerie and Bill were active members of their Church. Bill served on the Finance Committee and they volunteered to help with the Every Member Canvas Stewardship Program. They called on one home and even before they sat down the husband lifted up that tiresome old objection: “Our Church costs too much. They are always asking for money.” Bill was going to try to explain to this couple about the rising costs the Church was facing. However, Valerie spoke first to the couple. She said, “Some years ago a beautiful little boy was born into our home. He cost us a lot of money from the very beginning. He had a big appetite and always needed new clothes. He cost us a lot in medical bills. In addition, we thought he ought to have a pet and his dog cost a lot too. Later our boy went to college and that cost us a small fortune. But in his senior year of college he died, and since the funeral has not cost us a penny. Now which do you think we’d rather have?”

b. There was a long pause and then Valerie spoke again: “As long as our Church lives, it will cost. When it dies for want of support it won’t cost anything. A living Church makes a difference. Bill and I would have never made it through our grief without the support of our Church. Therefore, I am going to pray and give with everything I have to keep our Church alive.” How about you? Are you willing to pay the price to keep this the Lord’s Church funded, effective, and alive?

Why We Give!

1. Give as a remedy to the enslaving power of wealth.

2. Give in response to the needs of others.

3. Give, rejoicing in the happiness it gives you!

4. Give in remembrance of all that God

has done and will do for you!

5. Give as a reminder that God is number one in your life!

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 NRSV

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 NRSV