Today, is a sermon about “giving.”  But it is a sermon about so much more than just giving money!

It is a sermon about giving your life (your ‘self’) to others to help others along life’s journey --- for the glory of God & just how Jesus gave His life to others for the glory of God the Father.

But whenever you talk about “giving” anything, the same questions seems to pop into the conversation.

So, let me make an attempt to answer this common, million-dollar question regarding giving?

Here’s the question:

“How do you know if you are giving enough?”

To God?  To the Church?  To Others?…whatever it is, what is ‘enough’.

Well, today, I have the answer to this age-old question.  Finally!   We’re going to get the answer from the pages of scripture.  But I’ll just give you the answer right at the beginning of the sermon.  This answer that should guide your entire thinking about “Quantity” or “How Much” you should give.   Here it is…and the answer comes in the form of a question.  The Ultimate Question about Giving:

“Is your giving changing your life?”

In other words, when your giving changes your life about the blessings of God, your attitude about others, grows your faith in God, making a real change in people’s lives, and is a profound enough example of giving to teach your children indelible lessons about giving…THEN, you are giving enough!!

So, today, I want to talk about Biblical principles on how to Give your Life to Change your Life

…principles of being generous to & with others out of your ‘stuff’ & ‘life’.

First, I want to talk about How to Give your ‘Stuff’ (physical things) then How to Give your ‘Life’ (your ‘self’ to others)

1.   Give without regrets.

Don’t say to yourself, “you know, I don’t know if I should do this.”  Rather, think it through thoroughly, make sure it is the right decision, then go for it – wholeheartedly.

II Corinthians 9:7  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

“cheerful” (hill-lar-ROSS) which we get our word “hilarious”, “full of laughter”…which should be a picture of our hearts feeling about giving.  Happy.  Joyful.  Enjoying it.

“grudgingly” (LOO-pay) is a word that actually means “annoyed,” “grieved,” “remorseful/mourning”  -- like someone “feeling compelled and pressured to give…but regretting every minute of it.” And like someone who mourns the loss of his money & stuff like someone who mourns the loss of a loved one.

That is a sign of how sometimes we feel about stuff!  But our hearts ought to be “cheerful” & no regrets.

2.  Give to make a change in someone’s life.

Luke 10:33-37  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Don’t simply give symbolically to someone in need.  If you are committed to help them, go the extra mile to help them so that it makes a difference & a change in their life.

How to Give your ‘Life’

1. Give with your Time

Titus 2:1-8  But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: ² that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; ³ the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— ⁴ that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

⁶ Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, ⁷ in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, ⁸ sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

2. Give with your Hands

It is interesting that the Psalmist often refer to the “Hand” of God sometime to depict God’s power & authority, but often used metaphorically to depict God’s protection, love, and care for His children.

Psalm 95:7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.

Psalm 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.  ²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Psalm 104:28 What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.

3. Give with your Words

Proverbs 15:23b “…a word spoken in due season, how good it is!”

And,

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

But what if you don’t know what to say?  Well, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you find yourself at a hospital bedside…emotional, torn, & stirred.  And, you know what you should say?  Nothing.

4. Give with your Heart

…and show them you love them just by being there.

…in the form of encouragement

II Corinthians 7:5-7 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. ⁶ Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.

…in the form of friendship

Philippians 2:19-22 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. ²⁰ For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. ²¹ For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.

…and with your prayers

Ephesians 6:18-19  [Pray] always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.

5. Give out Hope

…which is the Gospel, which is much more important than giving someone money, houses, or lands!

In Acts chapter 3, Peter and John noticed a man at the gate of the Temple who was lame from his birth. This man was begging for money, but Peter knew he could give him something far more valuable.

Acts 3:6-9 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸ So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

You see, as we begin giving out Hope is when we are quickly reminded that we have the heart to give because Christ first gave to us!!!

Jesus gave us Salvation!

Galatians 1:3-5  Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.