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The Faith of Giving. Mark 10:17-31. Recap: Abounding In Grace. Grace: a disposition created by the Spirit: a type of extreme kindness
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The Faith of Giving Mark 10:17-31 The Church at Mesquite
Recap: Abounding In Grace • Grace: a disposition created by the Spirit: a type of extreme kindness • Abounding in grace: “performing kind and bountiful actions": which are done freely, and for which a person expects no return from the person to whom he does them • Since God gives freely to all through His grace, and since we have been freed from sin through His grace, we are free to give, give abundantly, and with the right Spirit through faith. The Church at Mesquite
Scriptural Text – Mark 10:17-31 • 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " 20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it isto enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." 28Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first." The Church at Mesquite
Scriptural Background • Jesus goes to a region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan river. • There He began to teach the multitudes (v. 1) • The kids in the crowd are brought to Jesus so that He might touch them and bless them, but His disciples rebuke those who do so, causing Jesus to reprimand them and use it as an opportunity to teach them something about the Kingdom. (v. 13-16) • A wealthy young ruler comes running to Jesus as He is leaving. (v. 17) The Church at Mesquite
The Man’s Story • He approaches Jesus wanting to know what he can do to inherit eternal life. (v. 17) • He tells Jesus he has kept the commandments since his birth. (v. 19-20) • Jesus tells him he lacks 1 thing: sell what he has and give it to the poor, then come follow Him. (v. 21) • The man walks away sorrowful, because of his great accumulation of possessions. (v. 22) The Church at Mesquite
What was this man’s problem? • Apparently this was a good Godly Jewish man • He kept the commandments • He had been doing so since he was a child • Why then can he not follow Jesus? • This man had a faith problem: one that only manifested itself when he was forced to give. • He couldn’t follow Jesus because he already had faith in another master (Matt. 6:24) The Church at Mesquite
What is faith? • Faith: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Heb. 11:1) • Faith is substance and evidence • Without any tangible evidence, or any truth behind what you profess to believe, there is no faith. • Without faith, you can’t please God (Heb. 11:6) The Church at Mesquite
Problems with his faith • What were the problems with his faith? • This man hoped for eternal life, and did all that he thought was require of him, but failed the ultimate test of his faith in his giving. • He professed to have kept all the commandments, but he didn’t realize he was covetous, and therefore couldn’t follow after Jesus w/o his stuff. The Church at Mesquite
Problems with our faith • There are also things that impede our faith in being able to give like we should: • We don’t believe that God will provide for us • We don’t trust those who we’re giving our money to • We believe we’re paying for more blessings (and giving grudgingly or expectedly) The Church at Mesquite
Faith in our giving is: • We must believe that God is who He says He is (our provider). • 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:25,33) The Church at Mesquite
Faith in our giving is: • We must give cheerfully b/c of what He has already done, not because of what we expect • 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.(II Cor. 9:6-7) The Church at Mesquite
Faith in our giving is: • We must give when we can’t see how giving makes any sense • 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (II Cor. 9:8) • If we can see it and understand it, then it isn’t faith. The Church at Mesquite
Conclusion • It isn’t enough to just give: if we can’t give in faith and with the right mindset, our giving is in vain. • We can’t allow a lack of faith in God in regards to our giving be the one thing that keeps us from the Kingdom of God. The Church at Mesquite
The Faith of Giving Mark 10:17-31 The Church at Mesquite