Living Church: Giving Generously

Chapter 29, starting at verse 10, and that's on page 434.

434.

1 Chronicles chapter 29, beginning at verse 10.

1 Chronicles 29 · chapter mention

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our Father Israel, and from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power, and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom. You are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you. You are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?

Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers.

Our days on earth are like a shadow without hope.

O Lord, our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your holy name,

it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.

All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent.

And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.

O Lord, God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,

keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.

O Lord, God of our fathers, Abraham, and Israel,

So, verses 10 to 20 of chapter 4.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.

Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel,

when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only.

For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

I have received full payment and even more.

I am amply supplied now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.

They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Amen.

Thanks very much.

Well, please keep your Bibles open at that passage there in Philippians.

And chapter 4.

We're thinking this morning of giving.

Do you have it?

Oh, wonderful.

Thank you.

Magic, isn't it?

We've been looking at different aspects of what we do on a Sunday morning.

So we've been looking at things like singing, prayer, hearing from God's word, meeting together, what we did last week.

And then this week, we're going to be looking at giving.

The collection, or as some people do it, by standing order.

And as I've said, if you want to know more about giving, there's that sheet, which has just kind of a big overview of where the giving goes to, what comes in, what goes out, and how it is all used.

Because we want to be up front.

We don't want to be hiding anything from anybody, but that you all know what is happening in regards to our finances.

But what about giving for ourselves?

Well, that's what we have to think through this morning.

So let's pray.

And then we're going to look at the book of Philippians as we think about giving.

Let's pray together.

Father, we thank you for giving to us your grace, for giving to us your Son, the Lord Jesus, for giving to us the gift of your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, living within all those who trust you and love you.

Father, we thank you for your many gifts, and we pray for your help, for your enabling, for your grace to be poured out upon us through your Spirit, that we may better grasp what it is to be a giving people, how we give, what we give.

Please teach us.

And may your words shape our lives.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, as you sit, you must be thinking, Johnny, you must be mad.

How can I begin to think of giving when I don't even have enough to be paying my bills?

You must be living on a different planet or be best buddies with Bono.

Don't you understand the trouble that we're all in?

The increase in tax, the cut in benefits, the introduction of levies, and the reduction in pay.

What are you going on about giving for?

The government are taking enough of our money, and now it seems like the church are wanting a bit more.

Well, before you all leave in protest, let me say this very clearly.

This is not a demand for more money.

And this is not a desire to make anybody feel guilty.

Okay?

So do you hear that?

It is not a demand for money, and it is not to see anybody feel guilty.

For two reasons.

Firstly, as pastor, I'm aware of people's generosity and their sacrificial giving.

In fact, as a church, we have been able to give.

Not only have we been able to give, but giving has increased when the economy has been going down.

You can have a look at the sheet and you will see that.

At the end of last year, we managed to balance out at a time when businesses are going bust.

And not only have we been able to give week by week or month by month, but we've been able to give as certain needs have arisen,

such as many who is going to Korea or to the work of compassion.

People are and people do give despite tough times.

So I want to recognize that.

Second, on a surface reading of this text, we find ourselves in different circumstances.

Paul knew this very well in verse 12.

He says,

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

So each person here and every family represented goes through different seasons.

Sometimes we're people who are in need,

and sometimes we are people who have plenty.

We're all in different circumstances,

and therefore we have to respond accordingly.

So this is not an attempt for me to get myself a white suit and some nice gold rings and a nice gold necklace,

get myself on the God channel and say,

sow those seeds of financial giving and the Lord is going to bless you richly.

It's not about that at all.

So our aim this morning is to see if our attitude and our approach to giving is in line with what God has to say.

Is our attitude and our approach to giving in line with what God has to say?

And to do that, we're going to look at these closing comments in Philippians chapter 4,

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

this letter to the church in Philippi to help us be clear about giving.

So four things we're going to look at about giving.

And if you pay attention, you might even hear me say,

we don't want your money.

So pay attention.

So the first one, partnership in the gospel of Christ.

Giving is about our partnership in the gospel of Christ.

Look at chapter 1 of Philippians, verse 3.

I thank my God every time I remember you.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

Why is he thankful and why is he joyful?

Verse 5, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

In business terms, partnership simply means a commitment to a shared vision or a joint venture.

Now I think that helps us understand the partnership between Paul and this church at Philippi.

They both have a commitment to a shared vision, a joint venture.

They want to see the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ, go to every nation and every people group in the world.

That's their vision.

They are partners in this gospel to see it go across the world.

Now the church's commitment to this vision is seen in their sacrificial giving.

In two ways.

Firstly, in the presence.

So as Paul is writing this letter, he's actually in prison.

So look at chapter 1, verse 12.

He says,

So even though he's in prison, the gospel is going.

But how did they partner Paul when he was in prison?

Well, look at chapter 2, verse 25.

And we get the answer.

Chapter 2, verse 25.

He says,

So here's Paul in prison.

How did they partner him?

By sending one of their own people, Epaphroditus from their own church, to go to where Paul was to take care of his needs.

And as a result of this partnership, the gospel continued to advance, even though he was in prison.

But not only did they give people to Paul, they also gave gifts.

Look at verse 29.

Chapter 2.

He says,

So he's talking here about the fact that the church had sent a financial gift.

That was as much as they could give.

And because there was no electronic banking in those days,

Epaphroditus was the guy who was going to bring that gift to the church.

To Paul, rather.

In prison.

And he was going to go along and take care of his needs.

So in response to their giving, Paul could say in chapter 4, verse 10.

He can say,

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.

Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

Verse 14.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

So we can begin to see their partnership in the gospel.

They were committed to seeing the gospel advance,

and they gave of people,

and they gave of their finances to make sure that that happened.

So this was in the present circumstances for where Paul was.

But it also happened in the past.

Look at verse 15 of chapter 4.

Moreover, as you Philippians know,

in the early days of your acquaintance,

and the same word there, acquaintance,

is partnership.

Okay?

So in the early days of your partnership with the gospel,

when I set out from Macedonia,

not one church shared with me

in the matter of giving and receiving,

except you only.

For even when I was in Thessalonica,

you sent me aid again and again

when I was in need.

Now if we went back to Acts 16,

there's no need to turn to it.

We have this great account of how the church started in Philippi.

And as soon as the church started,

Paul then moved off from Philippi,

and he went off down to a town called Thessalonica,

where he continued to preach the gospel

and start new churches.

And amazingly,

this new church in Philippi,

these baby new Christians,

as Paul moved away from that church,

they were the first church

to support him

and to help him

in his church planting work.

So verse 16,

he says,

when I was in Thessalonica,

you sent me aid again

and again

when I was in need.

So that's why Paul can start his letter

by thanking God

for their partnership

in the gospel

from the first day

right up until now.

Together,

they are committed

to the same vision.

They have this joint venture

to see the advance of the gospel

and the planting of new churches.

Now,

if we have faith in Christ,

we together here

are also partners in the gospel.

We're partners with each other

and with the wider church of God's people

all around the world.

So as a church,

we make sure

that all our giving

goes to the advance

of the gospel

and the starting

of new churches.

So check out those sheets

and make sure

that that's what happens,

that all our giving

goes towards

the advance of the gospel

and the starting

of new churches.

Of course,

there are bills to pay.

There's rent

and there's insurance.

We have to meet

somewhere like this.

We have to pay

for the lighting

and all the rest of it.

But all of that

is geared down

to making

mission

happen.

The training up,

the building up

of people,

the advancing

of the gospel

and the starting

of new churches.

So let me make

this crystal clear.

Only give

if you want

to see

the gospel

advance.

If this is not

your vision,

if you are not

concerned about

the good news

of Jesus going

into all the world,

then please

don't give.

We don't want

people giving

their money

to something

that they don't

believe in.

And it's really

important that

we get that.

Unless you are

a partner

in the gospel,

unless your vision

is to see

the gospel advance

and to see

churches planted,

then it's much

better to give

your money

to something

else that you

do believe in.

We want

and we encourage

people to give

those who are

partners

in the gospel.

Unashamedly,

we make it

a focus

within this church

to see the

gospel advance

and to see

churches planted

and that's

where we

encourage people

to give.

If that's not

your vision,

then give

to some

other cause.

So that's the

first thing,

we are to be

partners in

giving.

The second

reason for

giving is

about sharing

in the grace

of Christ.

Sharing in the

grace of Christ.

chapter 1

verse 7.

He's been

talking about

their partnership.

He says,

it's right for

me to feel

this way

about all

of you.

Since I

have you

in my

heart,

for whether

I am in

chains

or defending

and confirming

the gospel,

all of you

share in

God's grace

with me.

So whenever

Paul went

to Philippi,

he told them

the good news

about Jesus

Christ,

about the

grace they

had received.

That through

our faith in

Christ and

everything that

Jesus has done

for us,

we're forgiven

of all of

our sin,

all of our

guilt is dealt

with,

we're set free

from God's

wrath because

Jesus took

that and we

are now welcomed

into his

family.

So he's

reminding them

of the grace

that they share

in together.

In fact,

he reminds them

of the outworkings

of that grace.

Look at

chapter 3

verse 20.

This is an

aspect of

sharing in

the grace.

Chapter 3

verse 20.

But he says,

our citizenship

is in heaven

and we eagerly

await a

saviour from

there,

the Lord

Jesus Christ,

who by the

power that

enables him

to bring

everything

under his

control,

will transform

our lowly

bodies so

they will be

like his

glorious body.

So this

grace that

they share

in has

dealt with

their past

and the

grace that

they share

in has

secured

their future.

The grace

that they

have received

is so rich

and so

generous

that their

lives have

been radically

changed and

transformed.

Now the

grace that

they share

in is now

being worked

out in

practical ways

of giving.

And for

this church

it meant

giving to

support Paul

in his

gospel work.

So look at

chapter 4

verse 18.

He can say,

because they've

shared in this

grace together,

he can say,

verse 18 of

chapter 4,

I have received

full payment

and even

more.

I am amply

supplied now

that I have

received from

Epaphroditus

the gifts,

or if you

like the

word there,

is the

graces

that you

sent.

So the

church's

giving was

in response

to God's

amazing

generosity

to them.

The gifts

that they

had received

from,

the gifts

that Paul

had received

from the

church

was in

response

to the

grace

that they

were sharing

in.

Receiving

from God

gets worked

out in

giving back

to God.

And let's

be clear

that their

giving was

not to

try and

earn God's

favour or

try and

earn God's

blessing.

Look at the

end of verse

18.

He says,

they are a

fragrant

offering,

an acceptable

sacrifice,

pleasing to

God.

So this

was in

response to

God's

amazing

generosity

to them.

It was

their means

of expressing

their thanks

and their

joy,

to God

for everything

that God

had given

to them

and in

response to

his grace

they share

generously

with those

around them.

Now we're

people who

share in

God's grace.

In fact

the only

genuine

way,

the only

generous

way that

giving

happens

is when

we experience

God's grace

for ourselves.

The more

we experience

his grace,

the more

we understand

his grace,

our giving

will be

genuine

and generous.

So that's

the second

thing.

First,

it's about

the partnership

in the

gospel of

Christ

and second,

it's about

sharing in

the grace

of Christ.

Now I'm

just going to

pause there

very briefly

because I

understand these

plastic chairs

are not very

comfortable,

they're not

the blue

ones,

so I'm

going to

say if

you want

to have a

stand and

a stretch

and move

your back,

please feel

free to do

that.

If you want

to, if

you want

to, stay

where you

are.

The third

one then is

giving is

all about

contentment

in the

sufficiency

of Christ.

Paul himself

had learnt

to be

content.

Look at

verse 11.

He says,

I am not

saying this

because I

am in

need.

So he's

not giving

them all

the thanks

and all

the praise

so that

he can

receive more.

It's kind

of like,

oh you

are so

generous,

so kind,

and if

he wanted

to give

me a bit

more I'd

be very

happy.

No, he's

not saying

that.

He's just

wanting to

thank them

for, he

says, I

have learned

to be content

whatever the

circumstances.

I know

what it

is to

be in

need, and

I know

what it

is to

have

plenty.

Now in

this context

Paul is

the receiver

but he's

not the

giver.

But I

think we've

got a

principle

here about

contentment

that affects

our attitude

towards giving.

Now generally

speaking our

giving is

dictated by

our circumstances.

Isn't that

right?

So if we

have plenty,

well we're

able to

give.

But if

we're in

need, then

we don't

give.

But I

don't think

it's not

about how

much we

have or

how little

we have.

It's about

being content

in the

sufficiency

of Christ.

That's what

should shape

our giving.

So look at

the rest of

verse 12.

He says,

I have

learned the

secret of

being content

in any

and every

situation,

whether

well fed

or hungry,

whether

living in

plenty or

in want.

You see,

for Paul,

his life

is not

dictated by

circumstances.

He is

content

with all

that he

has from

Christ.

Christ is

his contentment.

Christ is

his sufficiency.

So look

back at

chapter 3

verse 7.

This is

what he

can say.

whatever

was to

my

profit,

I now

consider

loss

for the

sake of

Christ.

What is

more,

I consider

everything

a loss

compared

to the

surpassing

greatness

of knowing

Christ Jesus

my Lord,

for whose

sake I

have lost

all things.

I consider

them rubbish

that I

may gain

Christ.

Christ.

So for

Paul in

his life,

Christ is

sufficient.

Christ is

the one

who fills

us.

Christ is

the one

who satisfies

us.

So all

we ever

need is

found in

Christ.

So Paul's

life is

not changed

whether he

is well

fed or

hungry,

whether he

is living

in plenty

or in

want.

Christ is

sufficient.

That's the

principle.

Now I

think we

can apply

that same

principle to

our own

giving.

Our

giving is

not dictated

by our

circumstances.

Our

giving is

being moved

by what

brings us

contentment.

So our

concern is

not whether

we are rich

or poor,

but that

Christ is

sufficient.

If Christ

fills us

and satisfies

us, if

Christ is

better than

anything we

have or

we don't

have, then

our approach

to giving

is going

to be

very, very

different.

So let's

apply this

with a

couple of

questions.

If we're

in a

position of

plenty and

it was

suddenly taken

away from

you, all

right, just

put yourself

in that

position.

If all of a

sudden you

had to

downsize your

house, you

had to sell

your car, you

had to go on

the dole, how

would you

cope?

If all of

a sudden

everything had

to be

narrowed down,

you had to

sell a

house, sell

your car, go

on the

dole, what

would it be

like?

If the

very thought

of that

devastates

you, then

your contentment

is in

material things.

that means

we won't

give for

fear we'll

lose what

we do

have.

It's saying

that Christ

is not

sufficient so

that we must

desperately hold

on to what

we do have.

But it

applies also to

the opposite

end.

If we find

we're in a

position of

need and

imagine that

suddenly you

became very

wealthy, who

knows, you

win the

lotto.

more cash

in your

pocket, more

resources at

hand, how

would you

cope then?

What changes

would it bring

to your life?

If the very

thought of

having more

money sends

your head in

a spin of

how much

better life

would be and

how much

more happier

you would

be, then

your contentment

is also in

material things.

That means

you will not

want to

give because

you'll always

be wanting

more.

Christ, you'll

be saying, is

not sufficient

because you're

always on the

ways to look

out for how

I can get

more money.

So contentment

is independent

of our

circumstances and

also our

giving needs

to be independent

of our

circumstances.

We give

because Christ

is sufficient.

He is greater

than having

plenty and

he is greater

than being

poor.

He is all

that we

ever need.

So,

partnership in

the gospel of

Christ,

sharing in the

grace of

Christ,

contentment in

the sufficiency

of Christ,

and then

forth, giving

is about

trusting in

the riches

of Christ.

Christ.

Look at

verse 19.

And my

God will

meet all

your needs

according to

his glorious

riches in

Christ Jesus.

Now, there's a

promise, isn't

it?

We read it

again.

My God

will meet

all your

needs

according to

the glorious

riches in

Christ Jesus.

God

is

so our

giving is

based on

the fact

that God

has promised

to meet

all of our

needs.

Let's be

clear, this

is not a

promise that

God is going

to make us

all wealthy

and healthy.

This is a

guarantee that

God will meet

all our

needs, not

our grieves

or our

wants.

And again,

Paul knew

this from

experience.

Look at

verse 13.

chapter 4.

He says,

I can do

everything

through him

who gives

me strength.

Again, this

didn't mean

that Paul in

his difficult

circumstances

could suddenly

just click

his fingers

and get

money from

nowhere.

He could

do anything

he wanted.

No, it

means whatever

his circumstance,

whether he's

in plenty or

whether he's

in want,

whether he's

hungry or

whether he's

well fed,

he is able

to do

everything

that God

calls him

to do.

Whatever

circumstance

of life

he's in,

he will be

able to do

everything that

God calls

him to do.

He is not

going to be

lacking at

any point

because God

is going to

give him the

strength that

he needs

to deal with

whether he is

well fed

and in a

nice big

house or

whether he

is hungry

and in

prison as

he is in

this circumstance

right now.

Now in the

same way we

have this

amazing promise

from God.

He will

meet all of

our needs

according to

the glorious

riches that

are in Christ

Jesus.

He doesn't

give us what

we want or

what we think

we need.

God will

give to us

what he

knows we

need.

And I think

because God

made us,

he knows

us far better

than we know

ourselves.

And whatever

that need

is that we

may have,

his glorious

riches,

and I don't

think there's

any limit to

God's glorious

riches since

he owns the

whole world,

they belong to

him, he is

able to meet

that need.

And once

again this

promise shapes

our attitude

and approach

to giving.

Our concern

is to be the

needs of

others, the

advancement of

the gospel,

the planting of

churches and

the needs

within this

church.

We are not

to be so

tied up with

our needs

because God

looks after

our needs.

Well, you

say, how do

you know if

that promise

is true?

Because this

is a promise,

verse 19.

Well, apart

from Paul's

experience, he

could say this

was true for

him.

The only way

that we're

going to

experience if

this promise

is going to

be true for

you and

for me, is

if we step

out in

obedience and

trust and do

what God

says.

We give

trusting in

God's generosity

towards us.

But let's be

crystal clear in

this again.

This does not

mean guaranteed

comfort or

better salary.

If we decide

to give more,

it doesn't mean

to say that

you're going to

have more.

it means that

Christ is

sufficient and

he will meet

all of our

needs.

It's a

promise.

So we are

not asking for

more money

and we're not

demanding for

more money.

We're not

wanting anybody

to feel guilty.

We've

recognised that

as a church

people give

sacrificially and

generously.

we simply

want to hear

what God

has to say

about our

attitude and

our approach

to giving.

Giving is not

a thoughtless

matter, a

thing we just

do as the

bag is being

passed around

in front of

us or

something we

decide off a

whim.

It's not

about that.

Our giving

is about

these four

things.

It's about

partnering in

the gospel

of Christ.

It's about

sharing in

the grace of

Christ.

Christ.

It's about

our contentment

in the

sufficiency of

Christ.

And it's

about trusting

in the

riches of

Christ.

We need

to align

ourselves to

these four

priorities and

to live our

lives in

response.

Let's pray

together.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Our Father

God, you

are incredibly

generous.

There is not

one of us here

this morning who

is hungry.

There is not

one of us who

is needing a

home because we

all have one.

You have

blessed us and

given us so

much.

and we

want to thank

you for every

gift that we

have received

from you.

Every euro

and every

cent.

All signs of

your generosity.

We ask

and we

pray that

you would

help us to

be a people

who are

partners in

the gospel.

That we

share generously

of your

grace.

That we

find ourselves

daily content

with all

that Christ

is.

Never wanting

more,

never wanting

less,

but being

content with

what he gives

us.

And that you

would enable

us to be

a family

who trust

you and

trust your

promises

promises that

you will

provide

according to

our need.

We thank

you for

your goodness,

for your

blessings.

We thank

you for your

faithfulness to

us as a

church family.

Thank you for

all that we

have been

able to do

over 2010

or 2011.

Please help

us to be a

people who go

on generously

giving,

not just to

the needs

here at

home,

but to the

needs around

this world.

Father, we

thank you for

your faithfulness,

for your love.

Please help us

to be good

stewards.

Please help us

to be honourable

with all that

we do.

we trust you

for the future

as we look

back in

thankfulness for

all that you

have done.

In Jesus'

name,

Amen.