Time, Treasure and Talent

1. Stewardship How Much is Enough Time, Treasure and Talent

2. During His earthly ministry, Jesus challenged His disciples to give... Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 Luke 12:13-34 Act 20:33-35

3. In his epistles, Paul commanded Christians to give... Now I want to deal with the offering of money for God's people. Do what I told the churches in Galatia to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you should put some money away. The amount should be in keeping with how much money you make. Save the money so that you won't have to take up an offering when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

4. Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work. Eph. 4:28 (msg) Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. 1 Tim. 6:17-19 (msg)

5. Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets. Hebrews 13:16 (msg)

6. A question that often comes up is "How Much Should I Give?"... The Law of Moses was very explicit (tithing commanded of Israel) Deuteronomy 14:22 Make an offering of ten percent, a tithe, of all the produce which grows in your fields year after year. The New Covenant is not as explicit (there is no command for Christians to tithe)

7. Yet Christians are not left without assistance regarding giving. Consider first what we do have. Examples from the Old Testament Abraham gave a tithe (ten percent) to Melchizedek And blessed be the God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:20 (NIV1984)

8. Jacob promised to give a tenth to God on his safe return Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD[a] will be my God 22 and[b] this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28:20-22 (NIV1984)

9. Israel's freewill offerings for the tabernacle Moses spoke to the entire congregation of Israel, saying, "This is what God has commanded: "Gather from among you an offering for God. Receive on God's behalf what everyone is willing to give as an offering: gold, silver, bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goats' hair; tanned rams' skins; dolphin skins; acacia wood; lamp oil; spices for anointing oils and for fragrant incense; onyx stones and other stones for setting in the Ephod and the Breastpiece. Exodus 35:4-5 (MSG)

10. David and Israel's freewill offerings for the temple Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple 1 Chronicles 29:3 (NIV1984)

11. Israel's tithing to God One tenth to the Levites (who in turn gave a tenth to the priests) "I'm giving the Levites all the tithes of Israel as their pay for the work they do in the Tent of Meeting. Starting now, the rest of the People of Israel cannot wander in and out of the Tent of Meeting; they'll be penalized for their sin and the penalty is death. It's the Levites and only the Levites who are to work in the Tent of Meeting and they are responsible for anything that goes wrong. This is the regular rule for all time. They get no inheritance among the People of Israel; instead I turn over to them the tithes that the People of Israel present as an offering to God. That's why I give the ruling: They are to receive no land-inheritance among the People of Israel." Numbers 18:21-24

12. One tenth for the festive celebration Instead find the site that God, your God, will choose and mark it with his name as a common center for all the tribes of Israel. Assemble there. Bring to that place your Absolution-Offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and Tribute-Offerings, your Vow-Offerings, your Freewill-Offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. Feast there in the Presence of God, your God. Celebrate everything that you and your families have accomplished under the blessing of God, your God. Deuteronomy 12:5 (The Message)

13. One tenth every third year for the poor At the end of every third year, gather the tithe from all your produce of that year and put it aside in storage. Keep it in reserve for the Levite who won't get any property or inheritance as you will, and for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow who live in your neighborhood. That way they'll have plenty to eat and God, your God, will bless you in all your work. Deuteronomy 14:28 (The Message)

14. Israel's guidelines for the land Leave that which grows of itself in the seventh year to the poor. "Sow your land for six years and gather in its crops, but in the seventh year leave it alone and give it a rest so that your poor may eat from it. What they leave, let the wildlife have. Do the same with your vineyards and olive groves. Exodus 23:10-11 (The Message)

15. Allow people to satisfy their hunger When you enter your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want until you're full, but you may not put any in your bucket or bag. And when you walk through the ripe grain of your neighbor, you may pick the heads of grain, but you may not swing your sickle there. Deuteronomy 23:24-25 (MSG)

16. Leave the corners and gleanings for the poor "When you harvest your land, don't harvest right up to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings from the harvest. Don't strip your vineyard bare or go back and pick up the fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am God, your God. Leviticus 19:10 (MSG)

17. When you harvest your grain and forget a sheaf back in the field, don't go back and get it; leave it for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow so that God, your God, will bless you in all your work. When you shake the olives off your trees, don't go back over the branches and strip them bare—what's left is for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. And when you cut the grapes in your vineyard, don't take every last grape—leave a few for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. Don't ever forget that you were a slave in Egypt. I command you: Do what I'm telling you. Deuteronomy 24:19 (MSG)

18. The Lord's release: debt release for the poor every seventh year At the end of every seventh year, cancel all debts. This is the procedure: Everyone who has lent money to a neighbor writes it off. You must not press your neighbor or his brother for payment: All-Debts-Are-Canceled—God says so. You may collect payment from foreigners, but whatever you have lent to your fellow Israelite you must write off. Deuteronomy 15:1-3 (MSG)

19. The Old Testament provided Israel with a rich history of giving, HOWEVER: "Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. "You ask, 'How have we robbed you?' "The tithe and the offering—that's how! And now you're under a curse —the whole lot of you—because you're robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers."Malachi 3:8-11 (MSG)

20. Examples from the New Testament Zacchaeus, who gave half to the poor Luke 19:8 (NIV1984) But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

21. The widow and her two mites Luke 21:1-4 (MSG) Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all!"

22. The meticulous tithing of the Pharisees Matthew 23:23 (NIRV) "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You give God a tenth of your spices, like mint, dill and cummin. But you have not practiced the more important things of the law, like fairness, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the last things without failing to do the first.

23. The Christians in Jerusalem Acts 2:43-45 (MSG) Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met

24. Acts 4:33-35 (NIV1984) With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

25. Barnabas, who sold land Acts 4:36-37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

26. The disciples in Antioch Acts 11:27-30 (MSG) It was about this same time that some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem. One of them named Agabus stood up one day and, prompted by the Spirit, warned that a severe famine was about to devastate the country. (The famine eventually came during the rule of Claudius.) So the disciples decided that each of them would send whatever they could to their fellow Christians in Judea to help out. They sent Barnabas and Saul to deliver the collection to the leaders in Jerusalem.

27. The churches in Macedonia and Achaia Romans 15:25-26(TNIV) Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.

28. The brethren in Philippi, who helped Paul once and again Philippians 4:14-16 14 But it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 And you believers at Philippi know what happened when I left Macedonia. Not one church helped me in the matter of giving and receiving. You were the only one that did. That was in the early days when you first heard the good news. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help when I needed it. You did it again and again.

29. The New Testament provides us with a rich history of giving, the greatest example being the gift of Jesus Christ John 3:16(NIRV) "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. 2 Corinthians 8:9(NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

30. With such examples to inspire to us, we should want to give! But again we ask, "How Much Should I Give?" Instead of any set percentage (e.g.,tenpercent), in the New Testament we have...] Principles to Guide us

31. AS WE PROSPER Paul charged Christians to give as they prosper 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

32. He instructed them to give according to what they have 2 Cor 8:12-13,15 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

33. B. SEEK TO EXCEL... 2 Cor 8:7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us see that you abound in this grace also. 2 Cor 9:8-9 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “ He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

34. Jesus tells us: Matthew 23:23 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin……… Matthew 5:20 (NKJV) 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

35. We should give freely not out of a grudging obligation or necessity 2 Corinthians 9:5 (NIRV) 5 So I thought I should try to get the brothers to visit you ahead of time. They will finish the plans for the large gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a gift that is freely given. It will not be given by force.

36. I am poor and I have no education, No job, no income, My children need to eat and I have to pay the electricity bill. Which is already 1 month past due. What am I to do? Give my last dollar to God or I will be unacceptable to him? NO Remember the Title of this lesson is Time, Treasure and Talent

37. We worship the God of LOVE (Jn 3:16) “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that all who believe in him should not Perish. But, receive everlasting life. You / I / We have difficulties? God tells us (Rm 8:28) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”.

38. 1 Corinthians 12:14-18 I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.

39. So What are we to do? Here are a few simple instructions from the word of God to remember God Still Wants Us To Go The bible tells us that the word to Elijah from God was "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." (1Kings 17:9, NIV)

40. You Can Be Used By God The Lord told Elijah to go because a woman was instructed to provide food for him. However, what Elijah did not know was how God would be using him to transform the woman’s life. When Elijah met the woman, she was not only a widow, but a poor widow and a widow that is about to eat her last and die, along with her son (1Kings 17:14-15 NIV)

41. 2. God Still Wants Us To Share The bible stated that with regards to the widow…“ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family” (1Kings 17:14-15 NIV) “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13 NIV)

42. 3. God Still Wants Us To Care The text tells us that later on the widow’s son died and that Elijah began crying unto the Lord on behalf of the household, as a result we are told that… “The LORD heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived” (1Kings 17:22 NIV) “He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:15 NIV)

43. We have each been given gifts and it always seems that the “other guy” has so much more than we do. He or she has more resources, is better looking, has a better job. We are only responsible for the gifts God has given us. And we will be rewarded for how well we use the gifts Matthew 25:14-30. Can you sing? Can you teach, or cook, or clean, or paint, or do carpenter work or even just lend a sympathetic ear to a Brother or Sisters daily difficulties and share their successes and Joy. There are 24 hours in a day, 168 in a week and 8,760 in a year. In the last 12 months. Of those opportunities. How have you done and can you do better. Christ gave his life for you. What will you give back?