April
The Big Give
Author: Craig Etheredge Date: 04.27.08
Matthew 25.14-30
- God is the ___________, I am the _______________.
- We will give an ___________________ of what we did with what we have.
“You are never more like God than _____ ______ ________.”
THE _______________________ APPROACH
THE ________________________APPROACH
Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ Matthew 25.24-25Matthew 25.14-30
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Leviticus 27.30
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9.7
THE OPEN HANDED APPROACH
THE CLINCHED FIST APPROACH
A clinched fist approach always leads to regret.
Matthew 25.14-30
Turn to Matthew 25.14 – parable of the talents – review what we have already learned:
- God is the owner, we are the manager – when we start thinking as managers, we look at life and money differently.
- Because God is the owner and we are the managers – we must give an account to God for what we did with what he has put in our hands. We are only accountable for what we have – but we are accountable for what we do with what we have. God’s three question: How did you manage what I gave you? How did you invest what I gave you? And how did you give back what I gave you?
- What I want to do today is take the story a little further. And focus on that last question: how did you give back what I gave you. Because the story ends with a big give. Kids have been putting this parable to use – later today going to give what they have earned. So today is the big give for them! I wanted you to hear this story from a kids perspective – watch this! (VIDEO)
The business owner left three servants in charge of his money, and when he came back he had responded to how they had managed what he put in their hands. And at the end of the story there is a big give – where they put it all back in the Master’s hands. Giving is a big deal to God! So many passages talking about giving. But the more I read the Bible, and the more I walk with God I have come to believe this next principle.
God is a giving God.
John 3 .16 “God so loved the world that he gave”
James “Every good and perfect gift come from the Father of lights”
Jesus - “Greater love has no one than this, than he give his life for his friends”
Everything that I have – everything that you have – is because God has given it to us!
And so when we learn to give, we become a little more like him. The more we give the more of his reflection is seen in our eyes. The more we give, the more the grip of greed is broken in our lives. The more we give the more we participate in what God is doing. The more we give the more we are a channel of blessing to other people. The more we give the more we experience the pleasure of our heavenly father!
That’s why I really believe, you are never more like God than when you give.
When you give your time to someone who needs you
When you give you compassion to a hurting friend
When you give your talents and abilities to serving God
When you give your money and resources to an eternal cause…you are never more like God, than when you do that.
story
when you look at the Bible, giving is all through it.
In the OT – God required an action. A tithe (10%) offering to be given to the Lord.
“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” Leviticus 27.30 It was an issue of obedience and confident trust in God.
NT – God looks at the heart – desire to give – tithe is not directly mentioned, but an attitude of abundant and generous giving. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9.7
Personal story here – how we have put these things into our lives
THE OPEN HANDED APPROACH - These are the people that understand God owns it all, they understand they are managers of God’s money. They understand that they are accountable under God for what they do. And they hold what God puts in their hands loosely – they hold it with an “open hand”. Look at what the king says to his servant.
- Approval: “Well done good and faithful servant”
· Increased influence: “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”
· Favor: Come and share your master's happiness!'
Open hand always leads to rewardTHE CLINCHED FIST APPROACH – instead of saying “God it’s all yours” they say, “It’s all mine”. Instead of seeing themselves as a manager –they think they are solely responsible for their money. Instead of living for the dot –they live for the line. Instead of giving freely they hoard their money.
This servant was a “clinched fisted man”. When he stood before God he made excuses:
I knew you were hard, and I was afraid I would lose it – so here it is!
Reasons why people clinch their fist: greed, power, control, anger – but for this man, fear.
Fear - “I was afraid” – fear is one of the great obstacles to giving. I’m afraid of what might happen. Misplaced security. Security isn’t in the money, it’s in the maker
Look at the response of the king.
Disapproval – “You wicked, lazy servant…” He was looking out for himself instead of his Master’s interest. He was lazy. He just buried it. He did the least he could do. He stayed comfortable. He didn’t stretch, risk, sacrifice. He took the path of least resistance.
Decreased influence - 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” The influence that he had, was taken from him. God is looking for faithful people. If you are not faithful with what you have, it will be taken from you. Use it or lose it! [talent is singing, teaching, giving your time, talents, abilities as well as money]
Dismissal – “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Ultimately he was removed from the kings presence. Some scholars see this as a description of hell. If that is true, then we have to conclude that this man’s actions was only symptomatic of a deeper spiritual problem. He really loved himself more than he loved God. You can’t love Jesus with clinched fists. You can’t embrace Christ with a clinched fist.
Clinched fist approach always leads to regret. He wasted his life and his chance to make a difference. He clutched his temporal things and missed out on the eternal. He missed his chance. And if he had been given a chance to do it over, he would have done things differently. Regret.
Which approach describes you?You have a choice to make now. You can live your life with a clinched fist, or an open hand. Which will it be? That is the message of Jesus.
You can embrace generosity.
You can give big – money, life, time, talents, experience.
You can make a difference.
Imagine what it would be like if we all lived generously.
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