A GIVING PEOPLE

We live in a world that rejoices when people feel blessed. Check out any social media platform and you will see people use the tag #Blessed.  Did you get a brand-new car? #Blessed. Did the person in front of you in the drive-thru at Starbucks pay for your order? #Blessed. What about that beautiful sunset? #Blessed.  I think you get the picture. 

The good news of the gospel is that there is no such time as a Christian who is not #Blessed. The Lord has blessed you in more ways than you can measure. There was an old hymn that said “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done.” We should do this more and more as blessed sons and daughters of the King. 

First, we should thank the Lord for Jesus. All Christians have all been blessed richly by God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3 says that God has blessed us “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” No matter the size of your bank account, you are filthy rich for all eternity in Christ.

Second, we should thank the Lord for all the other ways he blesses us through Jesus. God has blessed us with salvation. God has blessed us with family. God has blessed us with this church. God has blessed us with money. God has blessed us with various gifts to serve. God has blessed us with passion for his glory. God has blessed us with time. 

Our Church Covenant reads: “We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry that the gospel of Jesus Christ might go forth into our city and to the ends of the earth.”

The question is not whether or not our church has been blessed. The question is, how are we stewarding the blessings that God has given we? Are we stewarding them for God’s glory or are we stewarding them for our own glory? Are we loving others with these blessings or are we using them for ourselves?

The Lord has a purpose for everything that he has given you. The Lord wants you to steward all of these gifts for his glory and for the good of others. So ask yourself today, are you using your money for the glory of God and the good of others? Are you using your spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the good of others? What about the gospel? What about your time? What about your passions?

Here’s the deal: God cares more about how you give than what you give. The Bible makes this clear when Paul tells the church at Corinth: “God loves a cheerful giver.” 

God doesn’t want his people to give reluctantly.  God doesn’t want us to give and then regret it. God doesn’t need a church full of Eeyores from Winnie the Pooh. God wants a church full of joyful Christians who gladly give for his glory and for the good of a watching world. 

Meditate on God’s Word

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”  - 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” - Romans 12:13

Questions for Application

1. How have you been blessed by God? Let’s go around and count together the many blessings of God in our lives.
   
   
2. In what ways can you more faithfully steward the blessings that God has given you? Think about how you use your time, your money, your gifts, the gospel, etc.
   
   
3. Why would God be more concerned with how we give rather than what we give?

Close by praying as a group that God would find our church faithful as good stewards.

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