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Giving is an acknowledgement that God owns everything.
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it." - Psalm 24:1
Giving is our recognition of God's gift of His abundance.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:17
Giving is our response to God's goodness to us.
Giving is a "fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." - Philippians 4:18b
Giving is Worship
"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." - Matthew 2:11
Giving is recognizing God's priorities.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:19-21
Giving is to provide missionary support.
"How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.'" Romans 10:14-15
Giving is for special needs.
"We want you to know about the grace God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity...they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." - II Corinthians 8:1-4
Giving is a demonstration of commitment.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." - I Timothy 6:6-9
Giving is to be faithful.
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." - Luke 16:10-13
Giving is to be joyful.
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." II Corinthians 9:7
"The people rejoiced at the willing response of the leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly." I Chronicles 29:9
Giving is to be sacrificial.
"I insist on paying for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." II Samuel 24:24
Giving is to support God's work.
"The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living
from the gospel." I Corinthians 9:14
"And everyone… came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the sacred garments." Exodus 35:21
Giving is to be planned.
"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give..." II Corinthians 9:6-7a
Giving is to be regular.
"Now about the collection for God's people... On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..." I Corinthians 16:1-2
Giving is commanded.
"I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in the land." Deuteronomy 15:11
Giving is sowing.
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." II Corinthians 9:6
Giving is rewarding.
"...the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35
Giving is receiving
"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
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