Josh's Stuff - Offering Part II

Good morning. Well, for those of you who where not able to make it out last week, we talked about tithes and offerings. And we discussed the fact that in the New Testament, it never commands us to tithe. But we did read in the Old Testament as well as in the New, that God liked the tithe, and that it was a good starting point for the Christian.

We also looked at how our salvation was not measured by how much we give on Sundays. But that whether you have to give the widow’s mite, or you can give above and beyond the tithe, it needs to be because you love God. As we continue today, we are going to take one last look at offering, and then next week we will hear from a guest speaker.

Before we get started, let’s open our time with a word of prayer.

Turn with me to Exodus 36:3-7. Here in this passage, it is talking about offerings. Listen to what it says. Exodus 36:3-7 says, “1”

Tony Campolo tells of being invited to speak at a ladies meeting. There were 300 women there. Before he spoke the president of the organization read a letter from a missionary. It was a very moving letter.

In the letter the missionary expressed a need for $4,000 to take care of an emergency that had crept up. So the president of the organization said, “We need to pray that God will provide the resources to meet the need of this missionary. Brother Campolo, will you please pray for us?”
Tony Campolo, who is very outspoken said, “No.” Startled, the leader said, “I beg your pardon.” He said, “No, I won’t pray for that. I believe that God has already provided the resources and that all we need to do is give. Tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to step up to this table and give every bit of cash I have in my pocket. And if all of you will do the same thing, I think God has already provided the resources.”

The president of the organization chuckled a little bit and said, “Well, I guess we get the point. He is trying to teach us that we all need to give sacrificially.”

Once again, he said, “No, that is not what I am trying to teach you. I’m trying to teach you that God has already provided for this missionary. All we need to do is give it. Here, I’m going to put down all of my money I have with me.”

He wrote in one of his books, “I only had $15 in my pocket so I wasn’t too worried about that.” So he put down his $15 and then looked at the president of the organization. Reluctantly, she opened her purse and took out all of her money, which was about $40, and put it on the table. One by one the rest of the ladies filed by and put their money on the table, too. When the money was counted they had collected more than $4,000.”

Tony Campolo said, “Now, here’s the lesson. God always supplies for our needs, and He supplied for this missionary, too. The only problem was we were keeping it for ourselves. Now let’s pray and thank God for His provision.”

It’s been said that where God guides He provides! Exodus chapter 36 is a thrilling example of that truth! 50 chapters of the word of God are given to the details and the craftsmanship that God wanted in the construction of the Tabernacle!

The Tabernacle or the Sanctuary was the most important religious shrine of Israel prior to the construction of the Temple of Solomon. It was portable and would always be placed in the center of the camp as a symbol of God being the center of the lives of the people of Israel. The entire Tabernacle was completed in 7 months. The contributions for its construction came from “willing hearts.” What is most amazing about this story is that these “free will offerings” were so generous that Moses had to tell the people to stop bringing them!

So, that brings up the question, “Can you give too much?” Well let’s find out. This morning, we are going to look at 3 points about our offerings, and then end with a few good thoughts. First, Our Giving Should Be Habitual. Second, Our Giving Can Be Influential. And Thirdly, Our Giving Should Be In Response To A Need.

First, Our Giving Should Be Habitual

Our passage told us that, “They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.”

When God expressed His desire to the people of God they responded in a major way! It’s apparent that everyone wanted to be part of the new sanctuary. As the sun rose each day their thoughts would turn to meeting the needs of Gods work. I can see them in my mind eagerly greeting a new day, a day God had given them, and wanting, no, desiring to give whatever they had to God! “They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.”

Contrast their devotion with our own. Does each new day find you ready for the challenge of service and the opportunity to give back to God what He has richly blessed you with?

It’s so important to begin immediately to give to the work of the Lord. Believers must get into the discipline and the joy of good stewardship. It seems that many are always waiting to give, thinking I will give when I do this or that. We wrongly assume that there will come a day when we finally have all our obligations met and then we can begin to give. However, let me tell you, that day will never come. Even if you reach distant financial goals you won’t give anymore then than you do now.

You say, “But Josh, they were giving to the construction of the Tabernacle, God was very direct in expressing His desires to them. I have a mortgage to pay and teenagers to feed and each new day greets me with a rush of activity and a crammed calendar. What does God expect of me?” With all my heart, I believe God wants us “to bring freewill offerings morning after morning”
Now not always do they have to be financial offerings, but we need to be able to offer ourselves each new day habitually to God. Day after day.

Here is a little poem that I found. It said:

“What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would give Him a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part.
But what can I give Him?
I can Give Him my heart!”

Have you made that gift to God? Do you make it each day…habitually? “They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.” Our Giving should be habitual.

Secondly, Our Giving Can Be Influential

Our text told us that, “They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.””

Let me read that part again. It said, “So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.””

The faithful giving of the people of God so influenced the skilled craftsman that they had to leave their work. Response to the request of God altered the work of the very people involved in getting it done. Make no mistake about it, when Gods people determine to be habitual in their giving (Day after day) it has far reaching affects.

Some one has said, “There are 3 kinds of givers: the flint, the sponge, and the honeycomb. To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver are you?”

So be an influential giver. Can you see the Sanctuary slowly taking shape? I mean, day after day skilled craftsman giving their best to the house of God. Before construction began, the people begin habitually bringing what they had. The building materials coming from the heart of people who knew what it was to have their own needs met by God, and when the opportunity to give something back came along to them, they acted.

They responded in such an overwhelming way that the work grinded to a halt. This work stoppage didn’t come from a labor dispute or an argument over the plans, or even from failed financial backing. No, for a moment in time came to a halt because of the sweeping generosity of the people of God.

As I have pondered this passage this week, I couldn’t help but wander what would happen if we respond like that. What would happen if we became so in love with God and so committed to His plans?

It seems that most Christians are forever getting ready. We attend church, and we study the latest discipleship courses which is all well and good. Yet if we never take the logical step and apply that knowledge we will discover that in some ways we are quite similar to the Children of Israel…wondering in the desert, so close to the land that God has promised, yet sadly distant in attitude, trust, and Faith.

“They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.””

So, our giving should be habitual. Do you give like that?

Our giving can be influential. When was the last time that your sweeping generosity influenced someone and changed their lives?

And Finally, Our Giving Should Be In Response To A Need

“They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

God has shown them clearly what was to be done, and now they respond! “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” You see, when they knew the will of God, they responded with what they had. I believe that wherever God guides He provides!

So let me ask you several questions this morning? Is your giving to God habitual? Are you faithful in supporting the work of the Lord? Have you had the joy of observing the influence of your giving? Has your faithfulness in meeting a need affected someone positively? When God points out a need, do you respond, or are you quick to say, “Someone else will take care of this…I can’t?”

There are needs all around you, all you have to do is take care of them. Find the need, and then give as God leads you to. Give of you time, of your talents, and yes, even of your money.

Stephen Olford may be one of the greatest Preachers in the world. Here is his story of becoming a preacher.

Son of a missionary to Africa. Did not want to go through the trials and tribulations of a missionary. Was mistreated by Christians in England and rebelled against God.

Studied to become an engineer. Developed a new carburetor and got into racing motorcycles. Remembers his mother praying and weeping for him. Injured in a motorcycle accident and was given 2 weeks to live. Refused to see the pastors who visited him, still rebellious.

Received a letter from his dad sent 3 months earlier with the following message: “Only one life ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Stephen’s response: “Lord, if You will heal my body, I will serve You anywhere, any time, and at any cost!” God healed Stephen! And his life, has been used by God all because of a sincere prayer, “I will serve You anywhere, any time, and at any cost!”

Can you offer your life to God, without limitations?

Now, let me end with just a few personal thoughts. Earlier I said, “Wherever God guides He provides!” and I believe that to be true. Do you think that God would lead you to something, only to see you fall on your face?

Let me share a couple of stories with you. When I was in college, one semester, mom and dad were asked to make a pledge to help with a building fund at our home church. They made their pledge knowing that it was going to be hard to meet that amount. Then things got even worse. My tuition for college went up.

Mom and dad decided to remain faithful to their pledge and rely on God to take care of the rest. It wasn’t one week after giving their offering, that I received a special one time scholarship from a church in Tennessee. So, do you think it is possible to out give God?

There have been countless times in my life that I have been given special things in the form of money to material things to meals out, that have shown me just how faithful God really is. If He leads you to do something, then He is going to provide for your needs in other ways. It is impossible to out give God!

So, as we bring things to a close, I want you to remember these thoughts, and the points that we have looked at this morning the next time the offering plate is passed, the next time you see someone in need, and the next time that you wake up in the morning. And remember the scripture that was on the slide during our offering time this morning. I am going to start displaying it every week at offering time. It simply said, II Corinthians 9:7, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Let’s Pray