TOPIC: GIVE CHEERFULLY.
MEMORISE:
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: For God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
READ: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
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.
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:
MESSAGE:
I see some people's reaction when it is offering time and I wonder if they know whom the offering is for at all. God is not broke and He is not a beggar. He doesn't need your money. We see in Haggai 2:8 that silver and gold are His. If you have the opportunity to give Him an offering, you should do so rejoicing. Imagine meeting one of the richest men in the world at a restaurant and he requests that you help pay for his meal because he did not have his wallet on him, with a promise to refund you. would you give him the money grudgingly? You know he is not asking for the money because he is poor; indeed, he would refund your money and most likely add some extra. In fact, you may not even be interested in getting the money back, you might just see it as a privilege that you had an opportunity to give to him. Why then do you treat God like a beggar when asked to give an offering?
I will never forget a Church I attended outside Nigeria. It was the first time I was attending that Church and the entire place looked very beautiful. All the members were shining as they came to Church. With the way everyone was looking so radiant I concluded "God must have really prospered these people". Then l observed something: when the Pastor got up and said, "It is offering time", everybody jumped up and began to rejoice. The Holy Spirit then said to me ''That is their secret; they are cheerful givers".
Many years ago, I was at a Church where they requested for several kinds of offerings. The offerings were so many that at a point I grumbled before reaching for my pocket and I heard God say in an angry tone "Keep your money". I quickly apologized for grumbling and immediately became cheerful. I became even more cheerful when He later on permitted me to give my offering. If you decide to never give offerings or tithes again, the work of God will still go on. When Elijah went to the widow of Zarephath and asked her for a meal, it was not Elijah who was in need, it was the widow. In 1 Kings 19 an angel brought food and water to Elijah. There was nothing stopping the angel from giving him food and water every day; however, God sent Elijah to her because He wanted to meet her need. The cattle upon a thousand hills belong to God. If He asks you to give Him something, it is because He wants to bless you.
I hope your attitude towards giving to God will improve from now.
KEY POINT:
Every opportunity to give to God is an opportunity to be blessed by Him; rejoice in it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 26-27
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 1: MUST I GO AND EMPTY HANDED
1. “Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
o Refrain:
“Must I go, and empty-handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty-handed go?
2. Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty-handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
3. Oh, the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow.
4. Oh, ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may.
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