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Giving As God Gave Introduction: Yesterday a lot of people had "Christmas" which usually includes the giving of gifts. We often talk about giving, the attitude of giving, when to give, etc. The best example and pattern of giving is from our Heavenly Father. We want to look at some passages that speaks of what He gave to us and then make some application to how we should give. I) James 1.17 A) Context 1. We receive a lot of things in this life. Some good and some bad. a. Trials and temptations can be either good or bad. It depends on what we do with them. b. Many blessings can be either good or bad; again it depends on what we do with them. 2. Verses 12-16 serves as a warning to our inward temptations and lust. These things may have a proper place and way of fulfillment. Sexual temptation, hunger for food, etc. can be fulfilled without sin; but can lead us to sin. B) Key is verse 13. God does not "tempt us" He does give us the freedom of choice. 1. We must master ourselves, our bodies, and our desires. 2. But "every good and perfect gift comes from God" 3. I do not observe December 25th as the birthday of Jesus. a. The only memorial we are to observe is the Lord's Supper, Luke 22.19; Acts 2.42; Acts 20.7. b. I do understand the importance of Jesus' birth as it leads to His death. 4. I do recognize that every good gift I receive is either directly or indirectly from God, Acts 17.28 a. Even when I forget God, He still sends the rain and the sunshine, Matthew 5.45 b. When I sin, God wants me to repent and do His will, 2 Peter 3.9 c. The problem we often have is God gives us so much we start to take them for granted. II) John 3.16 A) Context 1. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, John 3.1-7 a. Man to enter the Kingdom of God must be born again. b. Jesus is speaking of a spiritual birth and not physical. 2. The Son of Man has descended from Heaven, in order to be lifted up, vv. 13-14. B) God gave with a purpose, John 3.16 1. The redemption of mankind, v. 15 (not to feed the crowd, not to heal all the sick or lame or blind, not even to raise the dead). But to take care of man's spiritual sickness. a. Throughout the Old Testament we read of God's plan of redemption. b. Setting up the nation of Israel, the Priesthood, the tribe of Judah, etc. c. Prophecies of the coming Messiah, His life, and His death. 2. Does anyone think these events happened by accident? 1 Peter 1.20 3. Our giving should be with a purpose. a. To please God; not to please man or receive praise from man, Matthew 6.1-4 b. To show love, and compassion. C) He gave the best He had to give 1. The Son of God, Immanuel with means God with us. a. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, James 1.17 b. Perfect in never sinning, Hebrews 4.15 c. Perfect in revealing to us the will of the Father d. Perfect in His sacrifice; He gave Himself. 2. While we may never be perfect as Jesus was perfect (never sinning) we can strive for perfection. a. Give our best to God, 2 Corinthians 8.1-5 b. The poor widow gave her best; 2 mites, Luke 21.1-4 c. Can we say we are giving our best to God? D) God gave what man needed; not what man wanted 1. The Jews wanted an earthly Messiah, John 6 2. The Gentiles wanted earthly wisdom. 3. Man did not need an earthly kingdom or wisdom for neither one could redeem him. 4. Man needed redemption-- Ephesians 1.7 5. As God gave so should we give what is needed not necessarily what we want. a. We may want to give the leftovers or second best to God. Acts 20.35 b. It is in giving we learn about love, sacrifice; and to appreciate what God gave to us. c. We are to give willingly and not grudgingly, 2 Corinthians 9.7. Conclusion: Hopefully you will have noticed that except for a few passages I have not talked about money. I have talked about something more important, giving our hearts to God. Which means we then give our lives to Him. Jesus spoke of a man who found a pearl of great price. This man sold all he had to obtain this pearl. What if you had found the pearl and had to give all the money you had, all your possessions, an even your very life for this pearl? Only if you considered the value of the pearl to be greater than the cost. The value of our soul is greater than the whole world. Are you willing to give your life to God? |