On Jesus’ birthday we are reminded of how much God has given us – everything.
How much it cost him.
When I give Hamish a bone or treat, as soon as he gets it he runs away from me to examine and enjoy it on his own. If I walk near him, he eyes me to see if I am going to take ‘his’ bone away. If I did go over and take it, he would let me (he doesn’t guard or growl etc) but he wouldn’t be offering it to me.
If I wanted a piece he would let me have a bit of his leftovers if I asked him.
Every time he does this I am amazed as doesn’t he realise I just gave him the treat seconds ago and now he acts like it is his? It’s amusing as it’s so ludicrous and yet I am always reminded of how we act the very same way with what God has given us!
When I was a child I remember my mum sitting down with me on or very soon after my birthday; telling me what money I got for Christmas and my birthday. And explaining how God had given me this so I then give some back to Him.
baby step 1 – God has given everything to me, so I give some back to God.
In our church there was an older man called Mr Frank Smith. He gave birthday cards with a bookmark to those who gave to the BMS.
He had a unique gift, his handwriting was amazing. To this day it’s the nicest calligraphy I have seen. He wrote beautifully in the card and on the back of the bookmarks, bible verses.
I don’t know anything else about him but I always remember his ministry as it helped me as a child to learn this concept of giving in an easy way.
As I looked forward to my birthday - to getting that bookmark and card.
We love because God first loved us and continues to do so. We give because God first gave to us and gives us everything we have.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
‘You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth...’
God doesn’t want to stand over us like I do over Hamish hoping he will give me some scraps. He gives us our pay cheque, allowance and gifts.
Do you run away like Hamish, see it as yours to eat what you want, and if there are any scraps left over you give those back to God?
God just wants us to be thankful in what we have, to recognise it is from Him. Then out of the overflowing thankfulness we WANT to give back to him, joyfully, generously. God uses that money to further His kingdom – to spread the gospel, encourage and teach us as believers through preaching and ministry.
Do you have the attitude of ticking a box - OK that’s 10% given, the rest is mine?
And see it as an obligation rather than having an attitude of joy, that’s not what God wants.
Luke 18:12; Luke 11:42 – "What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God.
You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”
These verses show us we can and should obey but if we don’t have the right attitude in our giving it’s not pleasing to God. Giving shouldn't be a ritualistic thing we do.
Or when the offering plate goes round at church, do you scramble to see what is in your purse or wallet and give that, without thinking about and deciding about it beforehand, that’s not what God wants either.(2 Corinthians 9:7)
It’s God’s money. Mark 10:21 gives us a glimpse into this. We have to always be ready to give God all the money we have if He asks that of us. Jesus saw this man’s heart knowing that is what the man loved more.
It’s not wrong to be rich if your attitude is right and you see it as a responsibility to give back to God.
I read “God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but our standard of giving.”
Sometimes it’s when we are poor that we can have a problem with money – being jealous, wanting more. God says we have to be content with what we have (Philippians 4:12). This is an attitude of the heart – when God gives us a lot or little we are contented with what He has given us.
Are you a Pharisee – giving out of your abundance? After you pay your taxes, mortgage, bills, pension you give something. Luke 21:1 (the rich in the temple were mostly Pharisees)
Or are you like the widow – out of poverty, she gave what she had to live on. She gave out of faith. Luke 21:4
Giving - it’s all about the attitude of the heart.
Are you joyful, generous and see giving as a privilege? (2 Corinthians 8:2-5)
How much it cost him.
When I give Hamish a bone or treat, as soon as he gets it he runs away from me to examine and enjoy it on his own. If I walk near him, he eyes me to see if I am going to take ‘his’ bone away. If I did go over and take it, he would let me (he doesn’t guard or growl etc) but he wouldn’t be offering it to me.
If I wanted a piece he would let me have a bit of his leftovers if I asked him.
Every time he does this I am amazed as doesn’t he realise I just gave him the treat seconds ago and now he acts like it is his? It’s amusing as it’s so ludicrous and yet I am always reminded of how we act the very same way with what God has given us!
When I was a child I remember my mum sitting down with me on or very soon after my birthday; telling me what money I got for Christmas and my birthday. And explaining how God had given me this so I then give some back to Him.
baby step 1 – God has given everything to me, so I give some back to God.
In our church there was an older man called Mr Frank Smith. He gave birthday cards with a bookmark to those who gave to the BMS.
He had a unique gift, his handwriting was amazing. To this day it’s the nicest calligraphy I have seen. He wrote beautifully in the card and on the back of the bookmarks, bible verses.
I don’t know anything else about him but I always remember his ministry as it helped me as a child to learn this concept of giving in an easy way.
As I looked forward to my birthday - to getting that bookmark and card.
We love because God first loved us and continues to do so. We give because God first gave to us and gives us everything we have.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
‘You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth...’
God doesn’t want to stand over us like I do over Hamish hoping he will give me some scraps. He gives us our pay cheque, allowance and gifts.
Do you run away like Hamish, see it as yours to eat what you want, and if there are any scraps left over you give those back to God?
God just wants us to be thankful in what we have, to recognise it is from Him. Then out of the overflowing thankfulness we WANT to give back to him, joyfully, generously. God uses that money to further His kingdom – to spread the gospel, encourage and teach us as believers through preaching and ministry.
Do you have the attitude of ticking a box - OK that’s 10% given, the rest is mine?
And see it as an obligation rather than having an attitude of joy, that’s not what God wants.
Luke 18:12; Luke 11:42 – "What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God.
You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”
These verses show us we can and should obey but if we don’t have the right attitude in our giving it’s not pleasing to God. Giving shouldn't be a ritualistic thing we do.
Or when the offering plate goes round at church, do you scramble to see what is in your purse or wallet and give that, without thinking about and deciding about it beforehand, that’s not what God wants either.(2 Corinthians 9:7)
It’s God’s money. Mark 10:21 gives us a glimpse into this. We have to always be ready to give God all the money we have if He asks that of us. Jesus saw this man’s heart knowing that is what the man loved more.
It’s not wrong to be rich if your attitude is right and you see it as a responsibility to give back to God.
I read “God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but our standard of giving.”
Sometimes it’s when we are poor that we can have a problem with money – being jealous, wanting more. God says we have to be content with what we have (Philippians 4:12). This is an attitude of the heart – when God gives us a lot or little we are contented with what He has given us.
Are you a Pharisee – giving out of your abundance? After you pay your taxes, mortgage, bills, pension you give something. Luke 21:1 (the rich in the temple were mostly Pharisees)
Or are you like the widow – out of poverty, she gave what she had to live on. She gave out of faith. Luke 21:4
Giving - it’s all about the attitude of the heart.
Are you joyful, generous and see giving as a privilege? (2 Corinthians 8:2-5)
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