| Guides to our Generosity Much of Jesus' teaching
concerned the area of giving, for it deals with one of
the basic issues of heart-motivation. Having a proper
attitude as a foundation, Jesus emphasized that:
We must Choose between
Earthly and Heavenly Wealth
"... your Father
has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your
possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for
yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven
that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and
no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also" Luke 12:33-34 (see also v.16-21;
Luke 16:13-15; Matthew 6:19-21; 19:16-24).
Read carefully 1
Tim. 6:3-11É a major challenge to every believer.
We Should Not Be
Generous for the Sake of Reward
"So when you give
to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be
honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received
their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do
not let your left hand know what your right hand is
doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward
you" Matthew 6:2-4.
Our Giving Pleases God
Only When It Is Genuine
"Jesus sat down
opposite the place where the offerings were put and
watched the crowd putting their money into the temple
treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a
poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,
worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples
to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her
poverty, put in everything - all she had to live
on'" Mark 12:41-44.
Our Giving Determines Our
Receiving
"Give, and it will
be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to
you'" Luke 6:38 (Matthew 7:2; Mark 4:24-25).
The Starting
Point of Giving
1. God expects
us to begin with a percentage (Malachi 3:10).
2. We are to
give systematically and regularly (2 Chronicles
31:11-12).
3. We are to
give the first and the best to the Lord (Proverbs
3:9-10).
As children learn
from an early age to share with one another and be
generous, that same spirit of generosity becomes the
prevailing atmosphere of the family which then multiplies
into the wider Church family and ultimately effects the
whole community - this is the nature of God.
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