This Month's Notes

A. Giving is one way we demonstrate our trust in God. It generates abundant blessings.

1.  Financial giving is one of the main ways we express our trust in God.

•  Trust is the currency of the kingdom. Money cannot buy God’s favor.
• The issue is trust, not money. If we want to experience blessings, our trust in him causes what we want to show up in our lives.

2. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this, God will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake (Deuteronomy 15:10, ESV).

• When we give to God, he will bless us. We must give because we really want to, not out of a sense of obligation.
• This blessing empowers us to be successful in every area of our lives.

3. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22).

• This blessing will cause abundance not just financially, but in all other areas of our lives as well.
• Abundance is the hallmark of the giver (John 10:10).

4. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of God that he has given you (Deuteronomy 16:17, ESV).

• Everyone is blessed in varying degrees. God does not require us to do any more than what we have been blessed to do.

5. All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back (Proverbs 21:26, ESV).

• The reason why some people crave and want for things is becausethey hold back. By comparison, the righteous are givers because of who they are in Christ.

6. One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered (Proverbs 11:24, 25, ESV).

• God always provides us with opportunities to give. We must not be afraid to bless others through our giving.

B. Giving generously and in the right spirit is pleasing to God. Our motivation is important.

1. Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly (1 Chronicles 29:9, ESV).

• When we truly trust God, we find ourselves wanting to give.
• Giving is a characteristic of love. Our job is to love, and God’s job is to change others.
• Church should be a community of people wanting to help others who are hurting. 

2. “The poor” is anyone who is without the things they need. When we give to the needy, we influence others and impact their lives.

• Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor (Proverbs 22:9, ESV).
• Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse (Proverbs 28:27, ESV).

3. When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:3, 4, ESV).

• When we give, we must not brag about it or take credit for what we did. Giving to build ourselves up is wrong motivation. We should give because we are givers.

4. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? All things come from you, and of your own we have given you (1 Chronicles 29:14, ESV).

• Everything we give originates from God. We are not the source of our prosperity, and we did not acquire what we have on our own.
• God gave to us so that we could share with others.

5. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV).

• God loves us whether we give or not, but he delights in those who decide to give.

6. If the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12, ESV).

• We can give what we have, even if it is only a little. The amount does not matter, only the act of giving willingly.

7. Honor the Lord with your wealth and the first fruits of all your produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine (Proverbs 3:9, 10, ESV).

• No matter how this Scripture is worded or what translation is used, it refers to money. We can honor God with our financial income.
• To honor is to carry weight or to weigh in, to place in first priority. When we honor someone, their words carry weight in our lives.
• When we give, we prove that God carries more weight than cash. We must never trust money more than God (1 Timothy 6:10).
• We must have faith in this area, and this faith is developed by studying the Word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).