The Widow's Offering

Luke 21-1-4

"Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

New Testament Guidelines for Giving

01
Give
  1. The act of giving is a vivid reminder that our life is all about God, not about us.
  2. We are saying, “I am not the point; God is the point. He does not exist for me. I exit for Him.”
  3. God’s money has a higher purpose than my affluence.
  4. It dethrones me and exalts HIM.
  5. Giving does not strip me of my vested interest; rather, it shifts my vested interest from earth to heaven from self to God.


02
Give Generously

1. When a grateful woman anointed Jesus with Costly ointment, some observers rebuked her. (Mark 14)

  • Jesus says leave her alone. Some may consider her gift a waste, but Jesus called it LOVE.
  • Love generates lavish giving.
03
Give Regularly

1. Systematic giving is central to biblical giving

  • Unless you give systematically, rarely will you give substantially.
  • Sadly, Protestant households give an average of less than 1.5%

2. Give to God first. Give to God before you spend His money.

04
Give Voluntarily

1. II Cor 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in His heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loaves a cheerful giver.

  • This is talking about a special offering, above and beyond the regular needs of their local church.
  • Do not give under the conviction of a man but under the conviction of the Spirit.


05
Give Sacrficially
  1. Give when the bottom line says we shouldn’t.
  2. It means to give away not just the luxuries, but also some of the necessities.
  3. It means living with the faith of the poor widow.
  4. Giving beyond our means would appear to break us, but it won’t because we know GOD is faithful.
  5. King David says in II Samuel 24:24 “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.”
  6. Sacrificial giving makes no human sense. But we are to think like Christ, not the world.
  7. A disciple does not ask, “How much can I keep?” BUT “How much more can I give?”

* When we start to get comfortable with our level of giving, it’s time to raise it again.*

06
Give Cheerfully

1. II Cor 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver

  • Nothing in this world can satisfy one’s desire more than to have God literally use your giving to spread the Gospel.

2. How many blessings have we robbed ourselves of in the last year by failing to give as we could have?

07
Give Worshipfully
  1. Worship and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth.
  2. Worship evokes gratitude like the voice of an echo
  3. Gratitude follows worship like thunder follows lighting
  4. Christian giving is not just individual but corporate.
  5. Its relational implications are like fellowship both vertical and horizontal.
  6. God looks not only at what we Give but also at what we keep.
  7. We will give an account for all of it.
08
God entrusts us with HIS money to build His Kingdom not ours.


Bold Community Church