the truth about giving viii

The Truth About

Giving

God’s Dare to Give Scripturally

1. Giving is the most frequently discussed subject in the Bible.

2. The more you give the happier you will be! (Acts 20:35)

3. Giving is essential to salvation. (Mk. 10:17-22)

4. Money can rule our lives. (I Tim. 6:9-10)5. Everything belongs to God (Psa. 50:9-12)6. There is no record in the Bible where God

ever accepted less than 10 percent from any of His followers.

7. We must give to God first. (Mt. 6:33)8. Giving involves unwavering commitment (II

Cor. 9:7)

The Blessing of Scriptural

Giving

What does the Bible say?

Proverbs 3:9-10

Proverbs 11:24-25

Malachi 3:10

Luke 6:38

II Corinthians 9:6

The Curse of Unscriptural

Giving

Many people do not believe God will curse them for not giving liberally.

They may not have formulated that thought in their minds clearly, but their giving shows that is what they think.

They do not give scripturally because they think they will be happier if they use the money for other things instead of giving it to God.

They think a nicer car will make them happier than giving money to the Lord. In their hearts they believe a bigger house or a more padded bank account will bring them contentment and more joy than giving scripturally.

In essence, they believe that if they give as God as asked them to, they will be sadder, less content and worse off, which is to say that God will actually curse them for giving properly.

But this thinking could not be further from the truth.

Acts 20:35!

What does the Bible say?

Haggai 1:2-9

Malachi 3:8-9

God’s Dare

Malachi 3:10

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Look at it in context

Malachi 3:8-108 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Give to God what is right, and He will bless you with more blessings than we can receive.

People really don’t believe this. For some reason, they believe if they hold on to their money, spend it on themselves, save it for retirement, or invest it for a profit, they will be happier than if they give it to God.

God knows how His people would think, so He issues a challenge to His people.

Give to God what is right, and He will bless you with more than you can receive!

The ½ percent elder

Objection!

Just giving for reward!

Romans 2:7

The great reward that comes by living the Christian life is nothing of

which to be shamed.

A Matter of Trust

God Always Keeps His Promises

Hebrews 6:9-19