Why Do You Give?

Psalm 62:9-12 The Message

⁹ Man as such is smoke,    woman as such, a mirage.
Put them together, they’re nothing;    two times nothing is nothing.

¹⁰ And a windfall, if it comes—    don’t make too much of it.

¹¹ God said this once and for all;    how many times
Have I heard it repeated?    “Strength comes
Straight from God.”

¹² Love to you, Lord God!    You pay a fair wage for a good day’s work!

I remember when Steve and I were first married, life immediately changed.  It was so strange to now live life with someone.  We were now supposed to make decisions together. I loved being able to share my life and its responsibilities with Steve.

One of the first decisions we made together was the decision to tithe.  Being a good steward of what God gave was important to us.  We were already on a good path with our time and talents.  We loved serving God in the church and outside the church.  But we had not yet tithed our treasures.

Why was tithing important to us?  It was not to impress man. Psalm 62 says, “Man as such is smoke”  No, we decided to tithe because we loved God.  The Psalm also says, “Strength comes straight from God.”

Steve and I had an understanding right from the beginning that what we have comes from God, and we find it an honor to return those gifts right back to him.

Why do you give?  It is an important question to ask. Giving shouldn't be a burden but a blessing given with a joyful heart.  That does not mean it won't be a sacrifice. Anything good cost us.  But the price is worth it when we think of all God has done for us and what he wants to do with our giving.

Giving from the Heart

Today's scripture keeps our focus on generosity. 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 talks about what happens when we live generously. Living generously cannot be merely an act of obedience.  True generosity is a matter of the heart. It is not always something you can plan.

I love how The Message interprets this passage. Verse 9 says,  “As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon.”

Have you ever thrown caution to the winds? It’s fun to do if we think of going on an adventure, but when we think of giving our resources we definitely tend to be cautious.

We say we are being a “good steward” with what God has given us when really our hearts don't want to give.  While I don't think God wants us to waste our time, money or talents, when I read this passage I can't ignore where it says God wants us to give with, “reckless abandon” so that people will come to know Christ through our generosity.

Last weekend my family and I were out in a really poor neighborhood, that our church has adopted, knocking on doors seeing if there are any kids we could provide Christmas presents for.  While we were out one of the residents, an elderly woman was taking out her trash.  I told my ten-year-old to run over and take the bag of trash to the garbage for her.

She insisted that he didn't need to do that for her, but I just winked at her and said please let him give her his time.  My son was extremely happy to be able to help in some way. The woman was touch when she saw how he really wanted to help and allowed us to stay for a bit and talk.  Before we left we were able to pray with her.  

Generous living isn't just giving your money.  It is giving what is needed recklessly and with abandon if need be. “God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.”

Ready today's passage here 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Elite Athletes

Psalm 8

  

Two weeks ago a record number of Ohio State University football players were drafted by the National Football League. Each one is an elite athlete in his own right. Each one exceled at the top of the college level and those that know talent best, believe they will excel at the next level.

 

However, not everybody that plays football has that kind of talent. In fact, most people don’t. According to the NCAA website, of the total number of NCAA student athletes playing football, only 1.9% will play professionally. Basketball is even a smaller percentage.

 

These are not very good odds. In fact, for the majority of high school athletes, they could easily feel intimidated and overwhelmed. They could feel like a miniscule nobody in an eternal universe of stars.

 

^3 “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”             NIV

 

One of the life lessons of being on a sports team is that every player contributes; from the starters to the last player on the bench. The same is true for us as believers in Christ. Every person has an important role to play. Every person has God given talents that they are to use to share and build the Kingdom of God.

 

^5 “You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. ⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: ⁷ all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, ⁸ the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”    NIV

 

Because God has created us in His image, we hold a position of great honor. He has called us to serve Him with authority and responsibility.

 

In the Parable of the talents, Jesus tells the story about the master who gave talents to his three servants while he was away. To the two who invested their talents, the master responded by saying, ²³ “Well done, good and faithful servant!” But to the third servant who hid his talent he said, ²⁶ “You wicked, lazy servant.”        

 

In the world of following God, we are all elite athletes as long as we use the talents He has given us. Will you be a responsible steward of your time, talent and treasures? Will the Lord say to you on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?

 

 

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%208&version=NIV;NLV

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Ps.8

 

 

 

 

 

Living Sacrifices

Romans 12:1-8

Our school district nurse uses the following as her e-mail signature line. “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”       Maya Angelou

The way we worship is contained in the way we live our lives. How we respond to various situations, and the approach we take with those we encounter speaks to the world of whom we serve.

 “We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8

Using our undeserved, God given gifts is worship in itself. Serving the children of the Lord through our strengths is honoring HIM.

First Peter 4:10 also reminds us;  “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

We all have our own personality and style, but as we grow as Christians we become more aware of the importance of living our lives in the way Christ did, as we are a reflection of Him.

As we share our talents and gifts with this world, may we be gentle in the way we display the love of our God, thoughtful in the way we reflect His grace, and sensitive in the way we reveal His mercy.

Read/Listen to Romans12:1-8 

Using Our Gifts

Acts 6: 1-7

We are all gifted. Some of us seem to have gotten in the right line and received many more gifts than others, but the fact is, we have all been blessed with the talents God intended for us. At what point we discover, and put these talents to use is our choice.

1 Peter 10:4 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

In today’s passage, seven men were chosen because they were known to be “full of the spirit and wisdom.” They combined their energy and together caused the number of disciples in Jerusalem to increase rapidly.

We do not have to be “full of the spirit and wisdom” to be a warrior for Christ (though it might help).  We simply need to make ourselves aware of the grace of God, and what vehicle he has given us to use as a means to serve Him, serve others, and bring honor and glory to Him.

In order to live a life of service, we are not required to be missionaries, pastors, or elders. We must be who we are, growing where we have been planted, and sharing the good news with a sincere heart. 

“Let The Glory Of the Lord Shine Among Us!”

Read/Listen to Acts 6:1-7

Matthew 5:14-30 The Parable of the Talents

The gifts we have been blessed with are immeasurable! Splendid mountains and oceans, indescribable sunsets and starlit nights, sunshine, birds, butterflies, and fireflies, waterfalls, and fishing. Closer to our hearts and to varying degrees, we are all offered health, love, peace, family, and the ability to express our beliefs and faith. Still deeper within each one of us, God has strategically placed unique gifts-talents he urges us to use for good.

Matthew writes "The Parable of the Talents" as a lesson for us. A reminder of what God expects. No matter how large or small the gift we feel we've been given is, there is a purpose for it and an expectation.

In this gospel reading, the master went away (as God did) and entrusted his property to his servants(as God did). He gave the three of them "talents" according to their ability (as God has). He returned with expectations (as God will) that his servants had done something with the talents they'd been given, that would increase his wealth (God's heavenly kingdom perhaps)? How are we using our talents? Are we burying them for safe keeping as the third servant did, or investing what we have in His name, with the greater picture in mind?

Matthew 25:14-30

Want to go on a treasure hunt? When I read a parable I am on a search. Jesus challenges me with hidden messages. I dig through clues to discover new insights into living life as a Christian.

Jesus tells a story of a master who gives each of his servants some talents. He expects them to invest the money to make a profit for him. The obedient servants take a risk with the money and bring additional cash to their master. The master shows his appreciation by allowing them to have greater responsibilities and share in his happiness.

The third servant makes no effort to honor his master. The money is hidden in the ground. The only work he does is digging the money up to return to his master. The master, irritated by the laziness and disobedience of his servant, says, “…throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (v 30)

Jesus' message is: We are expected to work hard using what God gives us for the benefit of His Kingdom. Our life will be worth nothing if we live it only for ourselves. We make an investment in eternity when we step out and join Him in His work.

Has God given you something to invest that is similar to the talents handed to the servants? Are you doing something that benefits His Kingdom? This is what God expects of lives lived for Christ.

Read today's text, Matthew 25:14-30, on Biblegateway.