2020.02.16 - Taking A Step Closer to God (1 Ch. 29:14 & 2 Cor. 9:7)

Text: 1 Chronicles 29:14 & 2 Corinthians 9:7 Opening Statement: Stewardship is not fund-raising; it’s basic discipleship. But in a similar sense, each believer must come to understand that giving is not just about “doing their duty.” Giving is actually a deeply personal indicator of our spiritual maturity as well as our love for God. Step #1 Learning to Trust God through Giving The ultimate outcome is that those who give as stewards experience a sense of intimacy with God that all followers of Christ long for. Giving becomes worship. Giving becomes a way of saying thanks to God for His grace and promised provision. Giving becomes a deep part of our personal connection to God. Consider these Three Widows who grew in knowledge of God through giving The Widow of Zarephath – 860 BC (1 Kings 17:7-14) It should be no surprise to us that God uses the area of financial giving to test our heart and then to draw us close as we trust and obey Him. Let’s just make a few observations about this widow that might fit our situation: She was a believer in the true God. She had serious financial needs herself. She was asked to give away a big part of the little she had. She heard God’s promise to provide for her if she gave. She believed God’s promise and first gave obediently to God. God show His care by providing for her needs miraculously! The Widow and Jesus at the temple – 30 AD (Mark 12:41-44) This is how God views giving today. God always sees the sacrifice of giving. That’s where the worship of giving really happens. It costs. King David once said, I will not sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing (1 Chronicles 21:24). Again, let’s learn some basic lessons from this incident: We are never too poor to give. Giving generously means trusting God for the future. God is honored by our degree of sacrifice, not the amount. Giving is worship that expresses our relationship to God. The Widow and God’s business (1990’s) This story took place in modern times. It’s told