Worship the Lord in our finances…becoming cheerful givers…

1Ch_16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the
LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the
table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Pro 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Pro 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he
delighteth.
Pro 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the
Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant,
whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for
he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi,
and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in
righteousness.
Mal 3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the
days of old, and as in former years.
Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the
sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that
oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the
stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Mal 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have
not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye
said, Wherein shall we return?
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?
In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and
prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of
your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the
LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,
that there be no gatherings when I come.
2Co 9:1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2Co 9:2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of
Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
2Co 9:3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf;
that, as I said, ye may be ready:
2Co 9:4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we
say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
2Co 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto
you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same
might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
2Co 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which
soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of
necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2Co 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness
remaineth for ever.
2Co 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and
multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
2Co 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us
thanksgiving to God.
2Co 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is
abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
2Co 9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed
subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all
men;
2Co 9:14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in
you.
2Co 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
HOW GIVNG REVEALS MY SPRITUAL MATURITY
II Cor. 8:7
In the key wrods that are used in the Bible, the word “believe” is used 272 times. The
word, “pray” is used 371 times. The word “love” is used 714 times. But the word “give”
si used 2,162 times. God is a giver and God wants us to become like Him.
Why God Wants Me To Give?
1. Giving makes me More like God.
2. Giving draws me closer to God.
Matt.6:21. That means wherever I put my money shows my priorities.
3. Giving is the antidote to materialism
What is materialism? It’s get. Get all I can, can all I get, sit on the can, spoil the rest.
Get, get, get.
What is the opposite of getting? Giving.
4. Giving strengthens My faith.
Faith is like a muscle. And God uses finances to test your faith. The issue is a lot of
people don’t give is that they don’t just believe. They just don’t believe that God will
take care of them.
5. Giving is an Investment for eternity
Giving happily with those in need, and always be ready to share whatever God has
given you. In doing this, you’ll be storing up real treasures for yourself in Heaven. It
si the only safe investment for eternity. You can not take it with you but you can send
it on ahead by investing in people who are going there.
6. Giving blesses me in return
There are so many promises in giving than anything else. A generous man will be
blessed, a
generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others will be refreshed.
7. Giving Makes me happy
Here is a quote by a manager, one of the top psychiatrist in the nation. He
says, “Giving is a criterion of mental health. Generous people are rarely mentally ill. The
question I have is” “Should anybody be sitting next to you? The more healthy you are,
the more unafraid you are to give away. That the more you hold things and afraid to give
away that’s in the case you need to stir in your life.
1. In the NT, Jesus and His apostles call us to a high standard of
"giving"...
a. The teaching of Jesus - Lk 6:30,34-36; 14:12-14
b. The example of Paul - Ac 20:33-35; Ga 2:9-10
c. The teaching of Paul - Ga 6:9-10; Ep 4:28; 1Ti 6:17-19

2. The NT is also filled with notable examples of liberal giving...

a. Churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, Macedonia, etc.
b. Individuals like Barnabas, Dorcas, etc.

3. Today, however, it is common for people to give "sparingly", and

even then, it is often "begrudgingly"...
a. But Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive - Ac
20:35
b. I.e., giving can be a joyful experience, even when one is poor
himself - cf. 2Co 8:1-5

4. What is the secret to giving joyfully and willingly? I.e., how can
we truly become "cheerful givers"?
a. In 2Co 9:6-15 Paul discusses the matter of giving to help
needy Christians
b. In this passage, we find several principles and truths which,
when kept in mind, can help us become "cheerful givers".

[The first principle to remember is...]

I. GOD "LOVES" A CHEERFUL GIVER (2Co 9:7)

A. SINCE THIS IS TRUE...

1. A "cheerful giver" can rest assured that God will watch over
him and provide for his own needs!
2. Note how God cares for the one who gives to others...
a. As David taught in Ps 41:1-3
b. As the LORD spoke through Isaiah in Isa 58:6-11

B. SINCE THIS IS TRUE...

1. One who gives in service to God need not worry - Mt 6:30-33
2. For "God loves a cheerful giver", and watches over those He
loves! - cf. Lk 12:6-7

[Understanding this principle should certainly encourage us to give

more cheerfully! Here is another principle to keep in mind...]

II. GOD PROVIDES SEED FOR THE SOWER (2Co 9:6,8-11a)

A. VERSE 6 IS OFTEN MISUSED...

1. By those who teach "the gospel of health and wealth"
2. Who seek to motivate people to give (sow) more by saying this
passage teaches they will receive (reap) more
3. Implying that if you give more so you can have more for your
own consumption!

B. THE CONTEXT TEACHES OTHERWISE...

1. What's the purpose of reaping "bountifully"?
a. Look carefully at verse 8...
1) To have all sufficiency (what you need), yes...
2) But then to "have an abundance for EVERY GOOD WORK"!
-- I.e., not to spend the abundance on one's self, but to
help others!
b. Now consider verse 9...
 1) This quotation is from Ps 112:9; yet note the context
- Ps 112:5-9
2) Paul uses this verse to further confirm that the
abundance would be for every good work (not self-
consumption)!
2. And so in verses 10 and 11...
a. Paul prays that God will supply and multiply the seed sown
1) Supply the seed to SOW to begin with
2) And multiply (REAP bountifully) the seed
b. Why?
1) To increase the fruits of their righteousness (to
increase their good works!)
2) To be enriched in everything "FOR ALL LIBERALITY" (so
they can give even more to others!)

C. HERE IS THE POINT...

1. We ought to be willing to give cheerfully...
a. Because the more we give...
b. ...the more God will enable us to give!
2. Now bear in mind that giving is not limited to money
a. It may be that God may empower us to give, not financially,
but in other ways
b. Such as with our talents, time, etc.
3. But the point remains the same...
a. The more we give ourselves to others in the service of God
b. The more He will bless us to be even more useful!

[Indeed, the ability to give (because we have been materially blessed)

is a gift from God, one that should be used liberally (Ro 12:6-8).
Knowing that those who give liberally will be blessed to give even more
should help us become "cheerful givers"!

Here is something else that ought to encourage us...]

III. GIVING PRODUCES THANKSGIVING & GLORY TO GOD (2Co 9:11b-15)

A. OFFERED BY THOSE WHOSE NEEDS ARE BEING MET...

1. Not only thanking God, that their own needs were supplied
2. But also glorifying God, because of His grace at work in the
lives of the givers
a. Note that "cheerful giving" is an indication the grace of
God has been active in one's life
b. This is point stressed by Paul repeatedly - cf. 2 Col 9:8,
14; 8:1-2,6-7
-- Thus the people we help will be moved to thank God and praise
Him for His working in our lives!

B. SHOULDN'T THIS HELP US TO GIVE MORE CHEERFULLY?

1. For what disciple is there who does not want to give glory and
thanksgiving to God?
2. Like any good work, we can bring glory to God by our giving!
- cf. Mt 5:16

[Another thing to remember to be a "cheerful giver" is that...]

IV. GIVING INCREASES AFFECTION (2Co 9:14)

A. ESPECIALLY WHEN GIVING TO HELP YOUR BRETHREN...

1. They understand that your giving is a sign of God's grace in
you
 2. And this causes them to love you and long for you even more
3. As a case in point, consider Paul and the Philippians - Php 1:
3-8

B. BUT IT CAN ALSO HAVE THE SAME AFFECT AMONG NON-CHRISTIANS...

1. They see the truth of what you teach by your example
a. We teach a gospel concerning One Who became poor, that we
might become rich - cf. 2Co 8:9
b. Who would believe such a story? Perhaps those who have
seen it illustrated in the lives of His disciples, that's
who! - e.g. 2Co 8:1-2
2. They may be more receptive to the gospel when they hear it,
even though they may first ridicule you - cf. 1Pe 2:12

[One last point I wish to glean from our text as to how we can become
"cheerful givers"...]

V. PURPOSEFUL GIVING LEADS TO CHEERFUL GIVING (2Co 9:7)

A. PLANNING ONE'S GIVING IS KEY TO GIVING CHEERFULLY...

1. They are less likely to give "grudgingly or of necessity"
a. Because they have already set aside what they want to give
b. They are not caught off guard when someone asks them to
give
2. This is how Paul instructed the Corinthians in their giving
a. To lay by in store on the first day of the week - 1Co 16:
1-4
b. To prepare their gift beforehand, so when it was time to
give, the resources were ready - cf. 2Co 9:5
3. An early Christian apologist, Aristides, wrote of how even
slaves were able to give cheerfully through purposeful
planning: "And if there is any that is a slave or a poor man,
they fast two or three days and what they were going to set
before themselves they send to them (Christians in prison),
considering themselves to give good cheer even as they were
called to give good cheer." (Apology 15)
-- So plan your giving if you wish to give cheerfully!

B. A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION FOR PLANNED GIVING...

1. Plan your giving to help needy people the same way we plan our
giving to provide for the collection for the saints
2. As you prosper, set so much aside for "individual benevolence"
a. E.g., start a separate account into which you put aside a
certain amount each pay period
c. E.g., or send that amount to some charitable organization
-- However you plan your giving, it is much easier to give when
you are PREPARED to give!

CONCLUSION

1. In our text, then, we find the key to "Becoming A Cheerful Giver";

it involves keeping in mind that...
a. God loves a cheerful giver
b. God provides seed for the sower
c. Giving provides thanksgiving and glory to God
d. Giving increases affection between giver and recipient
e. Giving becomes one of generosity when it is planned

2. I hope that I have challenged your thinking in regards to your own

giving, and how we can become "cheerful givers"
3. To a great extent, what kind of givers we are depends upon what kind
of recipients we are!
a. For unless we receive the grace of God in our own lives, we will
be unlikely to give gracefully to others
b. With that thought in mind, please remember this warning:

We then, as workers together with
receive the grace of God in vain.
time I have heard you, And in the
you." Behold, now is the accepted
salvation. (2Co 6:1-2)
Him also plead with you not to
For He says: "In an acceptable
day of salvation I have helped
time; behold, now is the day of

Have we received the grace of God "in vain"? Have you received the
grace of God "at all"? - cf. Ac 22:16

I. WHAT IS TITHING?
1. The Old Testament says the tithe is the Lord’s. It has always been God’s plan that one-tenth
of the income of the believer belongs to God. This was true in the Old Testament as Abraham
gave tithes to Melchizedek. See Genesis 14:18-20. Jacob gave a tithe to the Lord, and God
commanded a tithe of all Israelites under the law. Jesus commended tithing in Matthew 23:23.
Tithing has been practiced by New Testament Christians since the founding of the church.

Tithe means a tenth part. So where did God used all scriptures and in the Bible, God tells
us that we are to give the first 10% of all we earned back to God. So giving less than 10%
is not tithing. Tithing means 10. A Tithe is giving my 10% of my income. What is the
difference between a tithe and an offering? Tithe is giving 10% of my income. And then
offering is anything I give in addition to my tithe.

2. The tithe is not only money; it is any increase we have. One-tenth of all we have is the Lord’s.
3. Proportionate giving is taught in I Corinthians 16:2 and is to be practiced by everyone. This
is to be done on the first day of the week.
4. Failure to tithe is robbing God and shutting the windows of Heaven. Read Malachi 3:7-10.

II. THE PURPOSE OF THE TITHE.

There are 8 reasons in God’s Word:
1. God commands it. Lev. 27:10. It’s holy. God say 10, simply because He says it, we
are to obey it. But He does gives us other reasons.
2. Jesus commanded it. Matt. 23:23.
3. Tithing demonstrates that God has first place in my life. Deut. 14:23. The way I
used my money and the way I used my time really indicates what’s the first place in
my life.
4. Tithing reminds me that everything was given to me by God. Always remember
that there is larger God who gave you the ability to produce wealth.
5. Tithing expresses my blessings. Ps. 116:12; Deut.16:17
6. God says that refusing to tithe is robbing from Him! Mal. 3:8-10. The Bible say
when I use money to pay bills that I ought to be tithing with, thenI’m robbing from
God, I’m paying my bills with God’s money.
7. Tithing gives God a chance to prove that He exist. And He wants to bless you! Now
this is one of the most amazing promises in the Bible. God actually offers you a
challenge.
8. Tithing proves that I really love God.

1. The tithe is to go to sustain those who work in the Lord’s house. (Numbers 18:20-24) The
Levites and priests were those who cared for the work of the tabernacle, and they were the
 ones who did the offering of the sacrifices, caring for the furniture, cleansing of the tabernacle,
and other things. They were not to work for a living outside of the temple. The tithe was to
provide for their sustenance. This would include the pastor, assistant pastors, the secretaries,
the custodians—all of those employed at the church to keep the work going. It is scriptural
for them to be paid from the tithe. Nehemiah 10:38 says that the Levites themselves were
also to give the tithe.
2. In Deuteronomy 14:28, 29, we are given other purposes for the tithe.
1) It was given to the stranger. “The stranger” would include people served by
missionaries, rescue missions, etc. People we do not know also need the Gospel of
Christ.
2) It was given to the fatherless. In other words, boys and girls need the Gospel. Orphans,
if you please, were recipients of the tithe. Once again, this concerns our gifts to
missionaries, orphanages, our own Sunday school work, the bus ministry, and other
things.
3) It was given to the widows. Notice that the tithe was given to the widow. Much money
in our church is given to help the needy.

III. HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN TITHING AND ALL BIBLE GIVING.

1. We are to give ourselves first to the Lord. (II Corinthians 8:5) God wants us more than He
wants what we have, for He knows when He has us, He can have what we have.
2. Bible giving is a grace just like faith, diligence and love. Notice carefully II Corinthians 8:7.
(Read also the first six verses of that chapter.) It is a part of our Christian growth. God does
not need our money, but God knows we need to have a part in His work. A person cannot be
a good Christian and not grow in this grace.
3. Tithing proves our love. (II Corinthians 8:8) This fact is also found in II Corinthians 8:24 and
Matthew 6:21.
4. Tithing makes us Christlike. (II Corinthians 8:9) Giving is the greatest attribute of Christ. He
was so willing to become poor for us. No one can be Christlike if he does not give the Lord
what is rightfully His.
5. Tithing is simply a savings account for eternity. (II Corinthians 9:6) Just as many families lay
aside a certain percentage of their income for the future, even so God commanded the
Christian to lay aside a certain percentage of his income for the future. Matthew 6:19, 20
explains this very carefully. Someone said, “The only thing that you can keep forever is what
you give.”
6. We are to give cheerfully. (II Corinthians 9:7) The word “cheerful” here actually means
“jumping up and down, clapping of hands, and clicking of heels.” God wants that kind of
giving.

CONCLUSION: No person can be a good Christian and rob the Lord. No person will receive the blessings
of God, get his prayers answered or have power with God until he gives God what is rightfully His. May
God help us to grow in this grace.

HOW TO REMEMBER

- keep a ledger book (Acct#1: My Tithe

- use weekly envelopes
- Teach your children to tithe

GIVING WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDES

- GIVE WILLINGLY. II Cor. 9:12

- GIVE UNDER-PRESSURE II Cor. 9:7
- GIVE GENEROUSLY II Cor. 8:3-4
- GIVE EXPECTANTLY II Cor. 9:6
Deu 26:1 And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth
thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;
Deu 26:2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of
thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto
the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.
Deu 26:3 And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I
profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD
sware unto our fathers for to give us.
Deu 26:4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar
of the LORD thy God.
Deu 26:5 And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was
my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a
nation, great, mighty, and populous:
Deu 26:6 And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:
Deu 26:7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and
looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
Deu 26:8 And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an
outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:
Deu 26:9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that
floweth with milk and honey.
Deu 26:10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD,
hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD
thy God:
Deu 26:11 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto
thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.
Deu 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year,
which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and
the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
Deu 26:13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed
things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the
fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded
me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:

A. Cheerful Giving is (v.7):

1. A matter of Attitude— “not grudgingly.” The Bible tells us to give our all not with
a heavy heart. “Hindi dapat masama ang iyong loob sa pagbibigay.”
2. A matter of Instruction—God instructed us to give cheerfully. Rightness comes
from obedience and obedience comes from instruction.
3. A matter of Motive— “nor of necessity” – let us not do it like having a business
where we expect to get a return of investment.
B. The Accomplished Giver is:
1. One who gives his TITHES obediently;
2. One who gives his INCREASE lovingly;
3. One who gives his FIRSTFRUITS thankfully; and
b One who gives his SACRIFICIAL offerings joyfully.