Giving as the response to Grace

Opening Story: Scandals in the church that involve the misuse of money are, unfortunately, not rare. It is not difficult to find a TV preacher who routinely begs for money. Not only do they ask for money, they manipulate the audience with a distorted view of biblical principles involving the law of the harvest.

How does giving relate to worship? ()

Explanation: In this series on worship we have already examined several other ways of worship. We have looked at Praise / Adoration; Prayer; Bible Intake; and worship through the Ordinances. in each of these 4, the connection to worship is easily seen. Many struggle seeing the connection between giving and worship.

Illustrate: The age-old quandary of High School math teachers is giving a satisfactory answer to the question: “why do I have to know this? I don’t plan on using this in real life, so why does it matter? Without understanding the purpose, students are less likely to engage in the process of learning

Argument: The same type of question is being asked of church members: “why should I give my money to the church?” The answer lies in the area of whether you have a biblical worldview. Those with a developed, biblical worldview understand that God is the source of all blessings: spiritual, material, health, intellect, etc. When one personalizes the truth that God is the source of everything, then stewardship is emphasized rather than ownership.

Consider the account of the Rich Young Ruler (). He saw his possessions as his own, and he treasured them greatly. He actually worshiped his possessions, and therefore had no room to worship Jesus.

Application: You do not give because God needs your money; He doesn’t. You give when you understand more of who God is: He is the only One worthy of our praise and adoration, and He is worthy of receiving gifts that acknowledge Him in His role as Creator and Provider.

What are the results of giving to the church?

Explanation: This question is primarily asked by those who are motivated by pragmatism. While not voiced in this fashion (at least not out loud), the question becomes, “what’s in it for me?” The one asking wants to know the possible outcomes, whether positive or negative. With this information, the person gives so he or she can correspondingly gain a blessing (the positive) or can avoid punishment (the negative)

Illustrate: TV Preachers with their “seed of faith” theology. It works like this: a person gives “seed” money to the ministry, and then God will bless the giver with a “harvest” according to the giver’s level of faith. If the giver doesn’t receive a blessing it is due to lack of faith. The TV preacher, however, is always blessed by the gift to the ministry!

Argument: One who gives should give based on obedience and thankfulness, not for a specific result. Your giving to the church allows you to partner in the ministries of the church. Paul declared that we are God’s fellow laborers () and he stated that we are created for good works in Christ ().

When you give you become a part of international missions,

When you give you help feed the hungry through the Food Pantry,

When you give you take a stand for life through Caring Hearts PC,

When you give you free up your Pastors to focus on the Word and ministry

When you give you provide literature for Bible Study

Application: Give from a grateful heart knowing that God is not a terrorist. He is not looking to punish church members for holding out.

Give because it is an act of worship, not because you get anything back.

How much do I have to give to be in good standing with God and the church? ()

Explanation: This is another question that is phrased incorrectly and displays a rather limited view of God. The most important point for the NT Christian goes back to motive and attitude. In the Old Testament the law clearly defined the tithe, but it also provided for offerings as well. Those who stress “we are under Grace, not Law” need to remember that while the tithe is not stressed as much in the NT as in the OT, it was not abrogated. But to be legalistic about the tithe is to miss the main point: under Grace we have the privilege of giving back a portion of how the Lord has blessed us.

The second point deals with the amount. In the OT the tithe was limited to 10%, plus offerings. Under grace, the percentage goes way up: it is 100%. We are called to surrender all of ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. The 10% mark is a good starting place for our tithes, but it should not be our limit.

Example: The account found in is instructive at this point. Jesus was not impressed with the amounts the rich were putting in the treasury, but He did draw attention to the poor widow’s offering. The principle is equal sacrifice, not equal amounts.

Argument: The reality is that we do what we really want to, and we spend the money accordingly. We fund what is important to us. A look at a person’s checkbook will reveal priorities rather quickly.

When you ask “How much do I give in order to satisfy God?” you are really seeking the minimum amount to avoid feeling guilty. King David had a much more appropriate mindset when he insisted on paying full price for the land on which the Temple was to be built. () see especially v. 24

Application: The first place to start is in prayer. Pray about your level of giving.

If you aren’t giving at all - determine to be obedient and start giving

If your giving is sporadic - pray for consistency. Make giving a regular part of your worship practice

If you can’t give because of other financial constraints - change your lifestyle. God would not have you in that position. It is a poor witness, and reflects misplaced priorities.

If you are giving on a regular basis, but the amount is only a small percentage of your income, pray about growing in your giving.

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