“The Call to Worship God with our Finances” 10/08/06
Have you wondered: Does God really love me? Where is the proof? Is my worship to the Lord authentic? Do I really love God? Am I faithful in my relationships and in my marriage? Do I really have genuine faith in Him? Is my financial giving to the Lord pleasing to Him? Is it enough? Is serving God really worth it? Our study of Malachi will answer these questions!
Matt, Mark, Luke- 1 out of every 6 verses references $$$
POINT 1- The responsibility we have in giving needs to be RECOGNIZED Vv. 6-9
A. God hasn’t changed nor left them. He is still COMPASSIONATE
They have left God. He should have annihilated them, but He didn’t.
B. They left God and neglected their stewardship through ROBBERY
There is a portion of your money that belongs to God. Are you robbing Him?
C. Their finances were cursed by God for their UNFAITHFULNESS
“and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price” 1 Cor 6:19b-20a.
“for the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." 1 Corinthians 10:26
POINT 2- The responsibility we owe God needs to be RELINQUISHED V. 10b
A. God commands them to give to Him what they OWE
OT Law of the Tithe: 1) Tithe for Levites (Num 18:21-32; Lev 27:30); 2) Tithe for celebration (Deut 14:22-26), every third year to be used for welfare (14:28-29).
NT Giving: 1) Consistent (1 Cor 16:1-2); 2) Cheerful (2 Cor 9:7); 3) Sacrificial (Mark 12:41-44). Story of girl and quarter (below)
“I do not believe one can settle how much we should give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.” C.S. Lewis
“God judges what we give by what we keep.” G. Mueller.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
POINT 3- The responsibility we have in giving brings REWARDS Vv. 10b-12
A. God challenged them to examine their giving and take His TEST
B. God promises to protect their finances and make them BLESSED
Captain Levy, a believer from Philadelphia, was once asked how he could give so much to the Lord's work and still possess great wealth. The Captain replied, "Oh, as I shovel it out, He shovels it in, and the Lord has a bigger shovel."
“But this I say: He who gives sparingly will also receive sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38
A mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson. She gave the little girl a quarter and a dollar for church "Put whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the other for yourself," she told the girl. When they were coming out of church, the mother asked her daughter which amount she had given. "Well," said the little girl, "I was going to give the dollar, but just before the collection the man in the pulpit said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I'd be a lot more cheerful if I gave the quarter, so I did."