PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
Session 24
INTRO. The British economy is nearly four times bigger than in
1952. The average household has
increased its spending power form £190 to £409 per week. In 1952 we spent a third of our income on
groceries – today only a sixth. Then we
spent a tenth on leisure pursuits – today it’s only a fifth.
We are more mobile, owning 23
million more cars, travelling 500 billion more passenger miles per year and
seeing a 100-fold increase in air travel.
So we’ve got the money, but what
are we doing with it?
A recent survey amongst committed,
church-going, Christian people showed that the average giving to church was
5%. What’s happened to the tithe?
1. Does
anything we do impress God? Yes, it seems that way. We’ve looked recently at worship as sacrifice
& service. God notices that, and
there are two other things as well – Acts
10:4 -
These things reveal what’s in our
heart; where our real devotion lies.
Look at Matthew 6: 19-21 and 2 Cor.9:12.
2. Four biblical principles for giving:
Ø get a life! “..God loves a
cheerful giver.” (2 Cor.9:7) see Acts
20:35.
Ø give a wad! Look at the example of the
Macedonian church and Paul’s admonition that the Corinthian church should be/do
the same (2 Cor.8:1-9).
Ø go for broke! These Corinthians are admonished
to “excel” (v.7). Giving is seen as an
act of grace, just like Jesus (v.9)
Ø guard the share!
Our giving is
not to be what is left over after our other expenditure. That is shabby giving. It is to be the firstfruits of our income, set
aside as a priority
(1 Cor.16:2).
M.o.T.
check-points
84. Do I find giving a joyful thing to
do, or do I count the pennies?
85. Am I on a journey towards tithing
(i.e. at least 10%)?
86. How shall I increase my
giving? By what
amount?
87. How shall I now make my giving to
God’s work a joyful priority?