Download Proverbs 3:9-10 - Ebenezer Baptist Church

[ ] 11/11/07 #747
HONORING GOD WITH OUR FINANCES
Proverbs 3:9-10
INTRODUCTION: How does the church fund the mission the Lord has given Her? Do we have bake
sales, car washes, bingo nights? Should we stoop to begging? Do we believe that businesses and lost people
should fund the church? The answer is found in the Bible. God’s plan is through the tithes and offerings of
His people. God will provide when Christians live by faith and obey Him. The tithe is the Lord’s. We are
only stewards of the Almighty. Tithes and offerings are a matter of faith.
I. FAITH IN GIVING
A. PLEASING GOD. Heb. 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that
he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb. 11:6
“The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1:17
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7
“. . . for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom. 14:23
B. PRAISE OF GOD. Psalms 96:6-9
“Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the LORD, O ye
kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his
name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear
before him, all the earth.” Psalms 96:6-9
C. PROVISION OF GOD. Mal. 3:10; Luke 6:38; 12:22-31
“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.” Mal. 3:10
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you
again.” Luke 6:38
II. FAITHFUL IN GIVING
A. PRACTICE OF GIVING.
1. Obedience in giving.
“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that
there be no gatherings when I come.” 1 Cor. 16:2
2. Obligation in giving. Matt. 22:21
“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
3. Opportunity in giving. Gal. 6:9-10
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have
therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Gal. 6:9-10
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” Isa. 32:8
B. PRINCIPLES IN GIVING.
1. Give regularly. 1 Cor. 16:2
“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that
there be no gatherings when I come.” 1 Cor. 16:2
2. Give generously. 2 Cor. 9:6
“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully.” 2 Cor. 9:6
3. Give cheerfully. 2 Cor. 9:7
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God
loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7
“Dr. Roy L. Lauren tells of a Christian businessman who was traveling in Korea. In a field by the side of
the road was a young man pulling a rude plow while an old man held the handles. The businessman was
amused and took a snapshot of the secene. ‘That is curious! I suppose these people are very poor,’ he said
to the missionary who was interpreter and guide of the party. “yes,’ was the quiet reply, ‘those two men
happen to be Christians. When their church was being built, they were eager to give something toward it;
but they had no money. So they decided to sell their one and only ox and give the proceeds to the church.
This spring they are pulling the plow themselves.’ The businessman was silent for some moments. Then he
said, ‘That must have been a real sacrifice.’ “They did not call it that,’ said the missionary, ‘they thought
themselves fortunate that they had an ox to sell!’ When the businessman reached home he took the picture
to this pasture and told him all about it. Then he added, ‘I want to double my giving to the church and do
some plow work. Up until now I have never given God anything that involved real sacrifice.’”
4. Give expectantly. 2 Cor. 9:8
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may abound to every good work.” 2 Cor. 9:8
It is said that one verse in every six verses in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke deals with money.
At least sixteen of the twenty-nine parables by Jesus deals with the Christian and his money. It is not the
money Christ was concerned with, but the effect money has upon the person.
III. FRUIT FROM GIVING
A. TREASURES IN HEAVEN. Luke 12:33-34
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that
faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also.” Luke 12:33-34
B. TESTIMONY ON EARTH.
1. Testimony to the children.
2. Testimony to the church.
3. Testimony to the community.
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. Spiritual maturity can be measured by the way we handle the money God has entrusted us to manage.
2. The church is supported by the tithes and love offerings of God’s people.
3. God is honored and glorified when His children give willingly, cheerfully, faithfully, and generously to
His work on earth.
4. The church does not have to beg or solicit the world for funds because the Heavenly Father has said,
“Ask and ye shall receive.”
5. Tithing is every believer’s duty. It is a life of faith in God.
6. The lost are never instructed to give money to God. The sinner must repent and trust Jesus for the gift of
eternal life. Are you saved?