Overflow - Why We Give
“My prayer is that when I die, all of hell rejoices that I am out of the fight.” - C.S. Lewis
Big Give Offering: PRAY, Plan, PARTICIPATE.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8,10-11 (NIV)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 10 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. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 10 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. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Exodus 35:21 (NIV)
…And everyone who was WILLING and whose HEART moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.
…And everyone who was WILLING and whose HEART moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.
7 Reasons Why I Give:
1. There is more JOY in GIVING than GETTING.
Acts 20:35 (NIV)
. . . the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
. . . the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
More money just makes you MORE of what you already ARE.
2. God has COMMANDED me to be GENEROUS.
Malachi 3:7-12 (NIV)
Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
We give God our FIRST and BEST and trust him to BLESS the REST.
Matthew 23:23 (NLT)
Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
3. To position myself for God’s PROVISION and PROTECTION.
Luke 6:38 (NIV)
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.
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.
Money PROMISES only what God can PROVIDE.
4. I LOVE our CHURCH.
Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
“…I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
“…I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
5. We’re a FAMILY and we’re BETTER together.
Romans 12:5 (NLT)
Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.
Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.
6. To be an EXAMPLE to my children and church.
Exodus 13:14-15 (NIV)
“In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery… This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’”
“In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery… This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’”
7. To hear my SAVIOR say, “WELL DONE.”
Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”