GIVING

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. God, Himself, tries or tests the righteous. Psalm 11:5; Mal.   
      3:3; 1 Pet. 1:7
   B. One way God tests our faith is in the matter of "laying by in  
      store on the first day of the week."
      1. According to a study done in January of 1997, Americans are
         now spending more money on lotteries than they give to
         churches. (The Church Around the World, Vol. 27, Jan.
         1997, p. 2).
   C. Let us all put forth our best that we might measure up as God
      Himself would have us.
      1. Let's examine some things regarding giving. Please consider
         the following chart. The words starting with the letter "P"
         tell the whole story.

The Manner of Giving - 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-11
Purpose - "For the saints"
Periodic - "Upon the first day of the week"
Personal - "Let each one of you lay by him in store"
Proportionate - "As God has prospered him"
Preventive - "That there be no gatherings when I come"
Planned - "Let each one give as he purposes in his heart"
Pleasurably - "Not grudgingly nor of necessity, for God loves a
cheerful giver"
Provisions - "God is able to make all grace abound toward you"

I. OUR GIVING SHOULD BE WITH PURPOSE.
   A. If we remember our purpose, it helps us to respond in a        
      favorable way.
   B. In 1 Cor. 16:1, it was "for the saints."
      1. Some have raised the question, "Doesn't 1 Cor. 16:1-3 give
         authority only for collections for poor saints?"
      2. Answer:
         a. Psalm 119:160 - The entirety ("sum" ASV) of God's
            Word is truth.
         b. Inasmuch as this is the only verse in the N.T. on how the
            church is to obtain its funds, it constitutes God's will 
            in this matter.
      3. We are also to give so that the church can support the
         preaching of the gospel. Phil. 4:15-16; 1 Cor 9:1-14 esp.
         verse 14; 2 Cor. 11:8-9
         a. Since 1 Cor. 16:1-2 is the only verse concerning how
            the church is to obtain its funds, it obtains it funds   
            for evangelism in this way.
      4. A certain Christian was heard complaining, "The church
         costs too much. They are always asking for money." Another
         lady answered, "Sometime ago a little boy was born in our
         home. He cost us a lot of money from the very beginning; he
         had a big appetite; he needed clothes, medicine, and toys.
         Then he went to school, and that cost a lot more. Later he
         went away to college, and that cost us a small fortune. But 
         in his senior year at college he died, and since the funeral
         he hasn't cost us a penny. Now, which situation do you think
         we would rather have?"
         a. As long as this church lives it will cost. When it costs 
            us nothing, it is dead.
         b. We are a living church with a vital message that all the
            world needs.

II. OUR GIVING SHOULD BE PERIODIC - ON A REGULAR BASIS.
   A. 1 Cor. 16:2 says, "On the first day of the week."
      1. There is no authority for collections on any other day.
   B. The need for preaching continues on a regular basis; thus, we
      should continue to give on a regular basis.

III. OUR GIVING SHOULD BE PERSONAL - "LET EACH ONE OF YOU LAY BY HIM  
  IN STORE."
   A. Paul emphasized the personal responsibility of every member to
      give of his means to the Lord. 
      1. It is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to
         give back to the Lord.
      2. The story is told of a little boy with a nickel in his hand,
         who was sitting in church beside a well dressed, dignified  
         lady. He watched the contribution plate being passed down   
         the pews, and became alarmed as it got nearer, because the  
         lady next to him made no effort to get any money out of her 
         purse to give into the treasury. Just as the plate got to   
         her, the boy handed her his coin and said, "Here, Ma'am, put
         in my nickel, and I'll look embarrassed and ashamed in your 
         stead."
         a. The child had been taught about his individual
            responsibility of giving to the Lord.

IV. PROPORTIONATE - "AS GOD HAS PROSPERED HIM."
   A. Thus, in the N.T. we are not told exactly how much to give. We
      are told only "as God has prospered him."
   B. In helping us to decide, we might consider what was required
      under the Old Covenant
      1. Tithes - One tenth of seed, fruit, flocks, etc. Lev. 27:30; 
         Mal. 3:8-10
      2. Of course, we realize that the Old Covenant has been done
         away in Christ. Col. 2:14
   C. Some Bible Principles to Consider:
      1. Things written in the Old Testament were written for our
         learning. Rom 15:4
      2. Christians have it better than those under the Old Covenant.
         To mention only a few:
         a. Better hope. Heb 7:19
         b. Better covenant established upon better promises. Heb
            8:6
         c. Better sacrifice. Heb 9:13-14
   D. No one can tell you how much to give.
      1. All of us need to examine our own hearts, and our own
         earnings, and give accordingly.
      2. Just as the people of Israel robbed God in not giving as    
         they were required (Mal 3:7-8) we, too, can rob God in our
         giving.
         a. How about you? Are you truly giving as God has
            prospered you?

V. PREVENTIVE - "THAT THERE BE NO GATHERINGS WHEN I COME."
   A. Paul did not want to go from house to house taking up          
      collections when he arrived in Corinth.
   B. 1 Cor. 16:2 gives authority for the church to have a treasury. 
      1. The word, "in store" "storing up" is the from the root word
         "treasury" in the original Greek.

VI. PLANNED - "LET EACH ONE GIVE AS HE PURPOSES IN HIS HEART"
   A. Our giving should be a planned effort.
      1. Let me give my own personal example on how I do it. First
         of all, my wife and I decided what is the proper percentage
         of our income we will give, and then, when we are paid, we
         write the checks for that amount, and put them into a
         drawer. Each first day of the week, we simply pull out the
         check for that day and give it.
      2. If we waited until later, often there would be none left to
         give.
   B. All of us are to give with liberality. Rom. 12:8
      1. Some are especially blessed with good-paying jobs and can
         excel in this virtue.
   C. What place does God have in your budget?
      1. Do you give Him priority over everything else, or does He
         just get the leftovers?

VII. PLEASURABLY - "NOT GRUDGINGLY NOR OF NECESSITY FOR GOD LOVES A  
   CHEERFUL GIVER."
   A. To give "grudgingly and of necessity" is to give with          
      reluctance and unwillingness. We need to give willingly,       
      liberally, and heartily.
      1. There are three kinds of givers -- the flint, the sponge,   
         and the honeycomb. To get anything out of a flint you must
         hammer it, and then you get only chips and sparks. To get
         water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you
         use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just
         overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver are
         you?
      2. One brother, not knowing what to say before the collection
         plate was to be passed, said, "The Lord loves a cheerful
         giver, but He'll even accept it from a grouch!"
      3. There is a story about a preacher who was trying to get the
         congregation to give for a special cause. As he made his
         exhortation, he looked straight into the eyes of one of the
         wealthiest but stingiest men in the congregation. The man
         hesitated, then said rather grudgingly, "I'll give $25."    
         Just then a small piece of plaster fell from the ceiling and
         hit him on the head. "I'll make that $50.00," he quickly    
         declared. At that point, someone in a low voice said, "Hit  
         him again, Lord. Hit him again."
   B. Cheerful giving destroys a demon called "greed." James 5:1-6

VIII. PROVISIONS - "GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TOWARD YOU."
   A. God, Himself, will bless those who cheerfully give. 2 Cor.     
      9:8-11; Luke 6:38; Phil. 4:18-19; Prov. 3:9-10
   B. It takes a personal sacrifice on our part to be a true disciple
      and follower of Jesus. 
      1. However, God, Himself, will abundantly bless those who
         thus serve Him.

Concl.
   A. Let us give as we have been prospered.
   B. Through our giving, we are laying up treasures in heaven.
      1. Generous giving proves our allegiance, demonstrates our
         faith, and shows where our hearts are.
   C. How about you? Are you laying up for yourself treasures in
      heaven?
      1. Is Christ really first in your life?
   D. May God help all of us to give as He, Himself, has prospered   
      us.

Chart:
The Manner of Giving

Purpose - "For the saints"

Periodic - "Upon the first day of the week"

Personal - "Let each one of you lay by him in store"

Proportionate - "As God has prospered him"

Preventive - "That there be no gatherings when I come"

Planned - "Let each one give as he purposes in his heart"

Pleasurably - "Not grudgingly nor of necessity for God loves a
cheerful giver"

Provisions - "God is able to make all grace abound toward you"