Giving: A Heartfelt Investment in God's Kingdom
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Trinity Church. Today, we delve into the topic of giving, not as a lecture but as a teaching moment. Drawing from the infallible Word of God and Jamie Dunlop's insightful book, "Why Should I Give to My Church?", we explore the motivations and spiritual significance of giving. Despite an uptick in general charitable giving since 2022, church giving has seen a decline over the past 30 years. The average Christian household now gives only 2.5% of their income to the church, compared to 3.3% during the Great Depression.
We often give out of obligation or need, but these motivations can become mundane and joyless over time. The core message today is that God doesn't want our money; He wants our hearts. When we join a church, we invest our time, treasure, and talents into the local body, and in return, we receive spiritual nourishment and community support.
The concept of tithing, often pegged at 10%, is rooted in the practices of patriarchs like Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. However, the New Testament, particularly Paul's teachings in 2 Corinthians 9:7, emphasizes that giving should be a heartfelt decision, not done reluctantly or under compulsion. Paul encourages us to be cheerful givers, seeing giving as an opportunity rather than an obligation.
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount also addresses giving, urging us to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Our giving reflects our spiritual temperature; a generous heart indicates a vibrant faith, while stinginess suggests spiritual coldness. This is not about prosperity gospel; it's about investing in the truth, community, and the Kingdom of God.
Finally, even if you're in debt, giving can still be a sustainable part of your budget. The goal is not just to get out of debt but to serve Christ and advance His Kingdom. Remember, God wants your heart, not your money. Discuss with your family and friends how you can best utilize your time, talents, and treasures for the church and the Kingdom.
### Key Takeaways
1. God Desires Our Hearts, Not Our Money: The essence of giving is not about the monetary value but the condition of our hearts. When we give, we are investing in the local church and, by extension, the Kingdom of God. This investment is not just financial but also involves our time and talents. [54:03]
2. The Joy of Giving: Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 9:7 emphasizes that giving should be done cheerfully and not out of compulsion. When we give joyfully, it transforms the act from a mundane obligation to a spiritually enriching experience. This joy in giving reflects our gratitude and love for God. [56:54]
3. The Spiritual Thermometer: Jesus' words in Matthew 6:19-21 serve as a spiritual thermometer, gauging our faith by our giving. Generosity indicates a heart on fire for Christ, while stinginess suggests spiritual coldness. This perspective helps us understand that our giving is a reflection of our spiritual health. [01:00:27]
4. Investing in the Kingdom: When we give to the church, we are investing in truth, community, and the Kingdom of God. This includes supporting pastoral staff, necessary staffing, buildings, grounds, worship, missionaries, and community outreach. Our giving has a tangible impact on the church's ability to fulfill its mission. [01:02:03]
5. Giving Despite Debt: Even if we are in debt, giving can still be a sustainable part of our budget. The goal is not merely to get out of debt but to serve Christ and advance His Kingdom. Debt should not constrain our contributions to the Kingdom; instead, we should seek ways to balance both responsibilities. [01:04:54]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:30] - Introduction to Giving
[1:15] - Prayer
[2:00] - Trends in Giving
[3:00] - Motivations for Giving
[4:30] - The Decline in Church Giving
[5:30] - God Wants Our Hearts
[6:30] - The History of Tithing
[7:30] - The Pauline Approach to Giving
[8:30] - Jesus on Giving
[9:30] - The Spiritual Thermometer
[10:30] - Investing in the Kingdom
[11:30] - Giving Despite Debt
[12:30] - Action Steps and Conclusion
[13:30] - Final Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 9:7
2. Matthew 6:19-21
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 2 Corinthians 9:7, how should Christians decide how much to give? ([56:54])
2. What does Jesus say about where we should lay up our treasures in Matthew 6:19-21? ([01:00:27])
3. What are some of the motivations for giving mentioned in the sermon? ([52:43])
4. How does the sermon describe the decline in church giving over the past 30 years? ([51:02])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that giving should not be done reluctantly or under compulsion in 2 Corinthians 9:7? ([56:54])
2. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:19-21 serve as a "spiritual thermometer" for our faith? ([01:00:27])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between giving and spiritual health? ([01:00:27])
4. How does the concept of investing in the Kingdom of God differ from the prosperity gospel, according to the sermon? ([01:02:03])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own motivations for giving. Do you give out of obligation, need, or joy? How can you shift your perspective to become a more cheerful giver? ([52:43])
2. Jesus teaches us to lay up treasures in heaven. What are some practical ways you can invest in the Kingdom of God this week? ([01:00:27])
3. The sermon mentions that even if we are in debt, giving can still be a sustainable part of our budget. How can you balance your financial responsibilities with your desire to give? ([01:04:54])
4. Discuss with your family or friends how you can best utilize your time, talents, and treasures for the church and the Kingdom. What specific steps can you take this month? ([01:07:54])
5. The sermon suggests that our giving reflects our spiritual health. How can you use your giving as a way to gauge and improve your relationship with God? ([01:00:27])
6. Think about the various areas your church invests in, such as pastoral staff, worship, and community outreach. How does knowing where your contributions go impact your willingness to give? ([01:02:03])
7. How can you cultivate a heart that sees giving as an opportunity rather than an obligation? What changes can you make in your daily life to foster this mindset? ([56:54])
Devotional
Day 1: God Desires Our Hearts, Not Our Money
When we give, it is not the monetary value that matters to God but the condition of our hearts. Giving is an act of worship and a reflection of our commitment to the local church and the Kingdom of God. This investment is not just financial but also involves our time and talents. By giving, we are participating in the life of the church and contributing to its mission and outreach. God wants us to give out of love and devotion, not out of obligation or guilt. This perspective transforms giving from a mundane task into a spiritually enriching experience. [54:03]
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"
Reflection: Think about your current approach to giving. Are you giving out of obligation, or is your giving a reflection of your love and commitment to God? How can you align your heart with God's desire for cheerful and heartfelt giving?
Day 2: The Joy of Giving
Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 9:7 emphasizes that giving should be done cheerfully and not out of compulsion. When we give joyfully, it transforms the act from a mundane obligation to a spiritually enriching experience. This joy in giving reflects our gratitude and love for God. A cheerful giver understands that giving is an opportunity to participate in God's work and to bless others. This perspective helps us to see giving as a privilege rather than a burden, and it brings joy to both the giver and the receiver. [56:54]
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you gave joyfully. How did it make you feel? How can you cultivate a cheerful heart in your giving today?
Day 3: The Spiritual Thermometer
Jesus' words in Matthew 6:19-21 serve as a spiritual thermometer, gauging our faith by our giving. Generosity indicates a heart on fire for Christ, while stinginess suggests spiritual coldness. This perspective helps us understand that our giving is a reflection of our spiritual health. When we prioritize storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, we demonstrate our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His Kingdom. Our generosity is a tangible expression of our faith and love for God. [01:00:27]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: Examine your spending and giving habits. What do they reveal about your spiritual priorities? How can you shift your focus to storing up treasures in heaven?
Day 4: Investing in the Kingdom
When we give to the church, we are investing in truth, community, and the Kingdom of God. This includes supporting pastoral staff, necessary staffing, buildings, grounds, worship, missionaries, and community outreach. Our giving has a tangible impact on the church's ability to fulfill its mission. By investing in the church, we are contributing to the spread of the Gospel and the growth of God's Kingdom. This investment goes beyond financial contributions; it also includes our time and talents, which are essential for the church's ministry and outreach. [01:02:03]
1 Timothy 6:18-19 (ESV): "They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."
Reflection: Consider how your giving supports the mission of your local church. How can you invest more of your time, talents, and treasures to advance the Kingdom of God?
Day 5: Giving Despite Debt
Even if we are in debt, giving can still be a sustainable part of our budget. The goal is not merely to get out of debt but to serve Christ and advance His Kingdom. Debt should not constrain our contributions to the Kingdom; instead, we should seek ways to balance both responsibilities. By prioritizing giving, even in times of financial difficulty, we demonstrate our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His work. This approach requires careful planning and a heart that is willing to sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom. [01:04:54]
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV): "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."
Reflection: If you are in debt, how can you create a budget that allows you to give while also managing your financial responsibilities? What steps can you take to ensure that your giving remains a priority?
Quotes
1. "The point is God doesn't want our money. God wants our hearts. Please allow that to sink in. God wants our hearts. Do you see that when we join a body of believers when we become a church we need to be expected to give and why well because we are investing into the local church we are pumping our time we're pumping our treasure we're pumping our talents into the local church and we receive and we get back because of that gift." [54:03] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Isn't it weird that the world can have its way and it can come in it can creep in and it can diminish what we do that giving becomes obligatory that giving becomes mundane and sadly again over time that giving can become rote that it can become programmed the joy of giving is replaced with complacency and sadly stagnation." [52:43] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Think about worship, how we are gifted this, this gift to be able to come into union with God on a Sunday with the fellowship of worship. It's unbelievable. Think about the missionaries. We, we just had the Holins here a few weeks back and think about what you're, what you're investing in and think about community outreach and don't even forget about little as much or the benevolence. Fund about what you are investing in." [01:03:25] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The Christian walk is not about getting, it's about glorifying. It really is. We want to glorify God. Think of what we have been given, by God. Think about that. We've been given freedom. We've been given life abundantly because of our freedom through Jesus Christ. And think about the love of the father and what he did for us by surrendering his son." [01:06:20] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If we take a look in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. 5, 6, and 7, the greatest sermon ever given. It's called the Sermon on the Mount. If you haven't taken a look at that, it's unbelievable. And it's a sermon that is, it covers some really, really divisive stuff. Some really tricky stuff that is relevant to all of our lives. And isn't it amazing? What does Jesus discuss at the three-quarter mark of the greatest sermon ever given? Giving." [01:00:27] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Do you understand that when you give to the church, what you're investing in that, that think about that. Here's what you're investing in. You're investing into the truth. You're investing in a pastoral staff that is going to give you the truth. They are. And pastor Ryan, pastor Tim, pastor Bart, pastor Wayne, you know, that they give us the truth." [01:02:03] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Remember the great thermometer. Remember, it's not only what I give, but how I give it. Do I give it announcingly and telling the world and proclaiming my goodness? No, hopefully it's glorifying God in humbleness and that we're doing it to perpetuate the kingdom. Better yet, the Christian walk is not about getting, it's about glorifying. It really is. We want to glorify God." [01:06:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, I want to be specifically clear. I am not perpetuating or teaching prosperity gospel. I am not doing that. If you become a humongous giver, you're not going to be living in the Hamptons 10 years from now. I'm not promising you that. I'm not. I won't. But what I'm telling you is what you see, please see your investment of what you're investing into." [01:02:03] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "And better yet, if debt is sustainable in your life, then giving can also be a sustainable part of your budget. I hope you would believe that. So as I wrap up here today, please consider the following. Remember the great thermometer. Remember, it's not only what I give, but how I give it. Do I give it announcingly and telling the world and proclaiming my goodness? No, hopefully it's glorifying God in humbleness and that we're doing it to perpetuate the kingdom." [01:06:20] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "And remember that you are going to get in terms of investing into the church. As I already noted, you get teaching, you get worship. Better yet, you're investing in your nest egg in heaven, that that's a reality. I hope you believe that. I hope you believe that. And remember again, how we give, given humbleness and given faith. Partner with us, partner with us to do that, to again, perpetuate the kingdom." [01:06:20] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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