Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
January 27, 2002 AM
Why We Give
(Budget Remarks)
What a joy to be a part of this spiritual family. There are many reasons to count our blessings as a church family in Bella Vista. But perhaps the most appreciated is our unity... The love that flows and the tie that binds us together. Even though it is not perfect... It is beyond any other I've ever known. May God bless us... As we work to protect this loving fellowship.
Secondly... We are blessed with Loving... Caring... Concerned Shepherds. Elders who have a genuine interest in souls and their ultimate salvation. What a joy it is to see how much of our budget is spent on Teaching... Preaching... and Missions. Again, I know of no other congregation that has this kind of percentages dedicated to missions. Thank you for being so generous... Which allows these good works to be done year after year.
This brings me to the remarks I want to make about the reasons we give... Let me suggest five rather quickly...
First... We give because it is commanded. There is not a person here this morning that does not want to please God in obedience to Him. We wouldn't be here if we didn't... RIGHT? Our God has always demanded giving in worship to Him...
- Abraham paid tithes to his priest... Melchizedek.
- The children of Israel supported the poor... and the priesthood of Aaron.
In the New Testament... Paul clearly instructs the Corinthian church... and us to...
- Give on the first day of the week.
- To give as we have been prospered.
- To give sacrificially.
- To give as we have purposed in our heart..
- And to give generously and cheerfully.
Secondly... We give as a means of saying... Thank You to God.
God has given us Life... Strength... and Health.... God has saved us through His Son Jesus. New Testament scripture tells us that His love compels us... our King James says... Constrains us. God's love demands that we become... His INSTRUMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS... His LIVING SACRIFICE. We do that by giving of our Time... Talent... Treasure... and Energy... According to His truth.
We give because our generosity blesses us. Listen to these scriptures that affirm such a faith statement...
Acts 20.35...
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Luke 6.38...
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
2 Corinthians 9.10-11...
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
May we individually and corporately as a church continue to enjoy the benefits of His blessings... AMEN?
Fourthly... Giving is an indication of our heart condition.
Jesus said... For where your treasure is... There will your heart be also. When King David was collecting materials for building the TEMPLE. In First Chronicles 29.9... It was said of the people who gave... Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart... (The King James says... With a perfect heart)... They had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.
You see... Giving is an indication of what is going on in our heart... God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. If we genuinely love... We will give of our Time... Talent... Treasure... and Energy according to His truth. Jesus said... If you love Me... You will. We must know that it is true... We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.
Then finally... Our giving is a way of laying up treasures in heaven.
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.
We may not completely understand... Or be able to explain these words from the lips of Jesus, but we do know that we can lay up treasures in heaven. In another place... Jesus said... Not a cup of cold water will be given in My name without its reward.
May God continue to bless your generous giving.
If you are here this morning and not a child of God... We give you the opportunity... by Faith... Repentance, and New Testament Baptism... Immersion in water for the forgiveness of your sins.
Perhaps we just need to examine our hearts this morning... Making sure we are giving God those things that are rightly His.
Maybe as a baptized believer you would like to become a part of this very special church family.
The Lord's invitation is ours... As we stand and sing together... Will you come!!
