Money! It’s Not About the Money! ~ Part 2 ~ The Character of Giving

Money! It’s Not About the Money! Part 2
The Character of Giving

By Pastor Gary Wayne

In the parable of the sower, what is it that Jesus says chokes the Word of God – the seed? (The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches) Mat.13:22, Mr 4:19
Let’s think Kingdom – The Great Commission, as a backdrop.

The Great Commission aligns my giving. Review = Phil.4:11-20
1.v.15 Giving & Receiving are Connected – When we give, something happens.
2. v.17 Its Not About The Gift - What was important was the fruit that comes as a result of being a giver.
3. v.18 Giving Is Not Just Financial – It is about the heart. God is smelling our offering, He is not counting it.
4. v.19 My God Will Supply – God is our source.

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (Read in NIV)

In talking about the character of giving, let’s talk about our character.
What is it God wants to develop in us as we give?

Using money as a tool to shape our lives, what is God developing in us?

So when God set up the principles of tithes and offerings, He isn’t trying to raise money, He is trying to raise children.

1. Our giving must be rooted in willingness.
Ver.7 – our giving is planned, not based on a whim of the moment.
“Give as he purposes in his heart.” This indicates their giving was based on a past decision.

I think we should come to church prepared to give. (1Co.16:2)
Pray before every offering, asking God if the amount we have planned is what He wants - but our giving is rooted in wanting to give.

Note the attitude of a giver in ver.7 – God loves a cheerful giver. Why?

Think in terms of a parent watching their child.
Every parent enjoys seeing their kids act like them.
When we see our kids do selfless acts, we get excited. Why?
When God sees my cheerful giving, He loves to see His character demonstrated in my actions.

Money is a tool God uses to shape our character – but it is not about money.

God works on my character, the softness of my heart towards His will for me.

2. Our giving must be rooted in expectation.
Remember the phrase – “You can’t out give God?”

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Hear this from the tree of life, not from the tree of knowledge.
Hear this from God’s excited hart, not from a place of condemnation.

Luke tells us the measure we use to determine how much to give is the same measure God uses to give back to us.

No matter how much I choose to give, God is watching with excitement proclaiming blessing back onto the giver.
The amount is not the issue – it’s the heart.
When we imitate God in giving, He gets excited.

Think with me in terms of a master supplying seed to his servants so they can have all they need to sow and reap. The servant goes to the supplier to get seed to sow. Ver.8-10

Hear the Master ask, where have you sown today? How much?
Now let Me bless what you have sown so it can multiply.

How big is your seed bag you are using? Can I give you a bigger one so the increase will yield more?

Getting me to give my money is not the end goal – what is?
Why does God want me to increase my giving? What is the end purpose?
V.8-11

Kingdom thinking needs to constantly be running in the background of why I do what I do.

When I go to the Valley Market, to the post office, to my job, when I work with my family, when I interact with my neighbors, with my friends, when I go to church, when I give an offering – KINGDOM PURPOSE is why I do life.

Pray This: God set me free from self-centered, secular mindset about money.
Reprogram is us Your Word – Your Truth about giving.

Pray ver.11: Make me rich in every way so I can be generous on every occasion, so my generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.