Now turning your Bible once again
to Mark chapter 12. Mark the 12th chapter. The title
of the message today is the joy of giving. The joy of giving. Found in Mark chapter 12. Verse
41 down to verse 44. We see this poor widow woman
who came to give her offerings unto God. That's what it says
in Luke 21. And she cast in all that she
had. Two mites, or we might say two
pennies. The Lord acknowledged her, acknowledged
that gift and said that she cast in more than all that had cast
in to the treasury box that day. A joyful giver. The time of the
message is the joy of giving. Notice the stark contrast between
what is said in verse 38 concerning the scribes, beware of the scribes
which go in long clothing, love the greeting places, love the
chief seats, which devour widows' houses. These men were takers,
takers, takers, not givers. You see the contrast between
these Scribes, these self-righteous, pious, arrogant, religious scribes,
the Jewish people, the Jewish religious people, they were devouring
all the time, devouring and taking. And here comes this poor little
woman giving, giving, giving. Do you see the contrast? This
poor widow. Maybe had no family. Certainly had no husband. Humbled
by the grace of God. Looking to God to provide for
her, her daily need. Humble. I can't help but think
she believed God. The Lord took notice of her.
Now these Pharisees and these Sadducees, they loved to make
a big religious show, didn't they? They took advantage of
poor widows. They devoured houses, devoured
their substance, and maybe even took away any peace of mind they
had by putting them under the bondage of the law. These men
acted in a cruel way and did so in the name of God, didn't
they? It says in the last part of verse
40, these shall receive greater condemnation. Greater condemnation. The Lord Jesus Christ, having
put all the attackers to silence, after all the accusers had departed
from the battlefield, the Lord of Glory sits down by one of
the offering boxes in the temple and takes notice how the people
were giving their offerings unto God look at verse 41 and the
Lord of glory sat down he sat down right by the offering box
or one of the offering boxes in the temple and he's beholding
how the people cast money into this box And many that were rich
cast in much, much. And then there came this poor,
poor woman. Many that were rich cast in a
lot, much, he says. Those that were blessed with
riches certainly ought to give richly, shouldn't they? This
is seldom the case, but it should not be. The Lord took notice
not so much as How much they gave, but rather how they gave. That is the all-knowing Lord
that looked on their heart. He knew their motive. He knew
why they put their offering in the box. He knew their reason
for giving. We look on the outward countenance,
don't we? God looks on the heart. The Scriptures teach us that
the Lord loves a cheerful giver. I trust when you came to worship
this morning that you worshiped God with your offering and you
did so as you put your offering in the box with a, oh Lord thank
you, with a cheerful heart. Giving thanks unto God for all
that He has blessed us with. It says in the Word of God that
we give not out of necessity, nor grudgingly, but God loves
a cheerful giver. I want to give, don't you? I
want to give. The Apostle Paul told those elders
at Ephesus, he said, I've showed you all things, how they're so
laboring, you ought to support the weak, as you remember the
words of the Lord Jesus Christ, how he said, it is more blessed
to give than to receive. Now, have you experienced that?
Isn't it more of a blessing to you personally in your heart
to open up your pocketbook and open up your hand and to give
than it is to receive? It's a blessing to have a willingness
and a want to to give. And it's not only giving in money,
it's giving of yourself. It's giving of yourself. Look
at verse 42. Here comes this poor woman. She
threw in two mikes. And the Lord's looking on her
hard. The Lord fixes His attention
on this poor woman, giving her offering unto God. She only gave
these two mites. We say only, but she gave all
she had. Very small and insignificant
amount compared to the riches that were cast in the offering
box that day, but the Lord of Glory considered it of a higher
and greater value than all that had been given. She cast in more. Look at verse 43, as He teaches
His disciples and us. Verily I say unto you that this
poor widow, this poor woman, hath cast more in than all they
which have cast into the treasury. All that had cast in money that
day, she gave more. For all they did cast in of their
abundance, but she out of her poverty did cast in all that
she had, even all her living." Now what's being said there,
all that the Lord had provided for her that day, her daily living,
she gave it all away. Now listen to these instructions
as the Lord teaches us about giving. These, who were many,
cast in a part of what they possessed apart. She gave all that she
possessed. All of these gave some. She gave
all that she had. They gave a portion, only a portion. She gave all her daily provision. They gave out of their abundance
and wealth. She gave out of her poverty and
need. They gave and had much remaining. She gave everything and had nothing
remaining. They gave out of a sense of duty.
She gave because she wanted to give as unto the Lord. They gave to be seen of men.
She gave because she loved the Lord. They gave to get glory
unto themselves. That's why a lot of people give
in our day. You ever notice in certain churches
how on the end of a certain pew they'll have a name? They give to be recognized, don't
they? They gave to get glory unto themselves. She gave to
glorify the Lord. They gave what they did not need.
She gave what she very much needed. That is, she gave sacrificially. That's how we're to give. Now
what an example. What an example. I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed in front of this
woman. My giving compared to hers. I'm
embarrassed. What an example the Lord sets
before us on how to give, how to worship the Lord in giving. Little did this woman know that
she would be held forth as an example of giving. And we'd be
talking about it today. How the Lord gave her a willing,
loving, cheerful, believing, giving heart. I want to give
that way, don't you? For the believer, now listen,
for the believer there is great joy in giving. Great joy in giving. Now many, I fear, in religious
circles have robbed believers of the joy of giving. They have
made it a commandment of law. The believer is not under the
law. Many religious circles have made
giving a commandment of law. Give your 10% or God will curse
you. That's not what the New Testament
teaches. That's Old Testament law. We're not under the law. We're under grace. They've robbed
believers. They've robbed people of the
joy of giving by making it a command. Or in the form of a tax. Or in
the form of a threat. If you don't give, God will punish
you. That's not the motive for giving. Not at all. You see,
that robs the joy of giving. We give unto the IRS. That's a tax. Do you enjoy doing
that? I don't. We all have to pay taxes. But I don't enjoy giving that
way. But I certainly do enjoy giving unto the Lord. Not because I have to. Because
I want to. The chief motive in giving for
the believer is not law. Is it? Love. Love. Listen to these. The heavenly
Father gave out of love. God so loved that He gave His
only begotten Son. God so loved that He gave the
jewel of His heart, God the Son. Well, I want to give like that,
don't you? The Lord Jesus Christ gave out of love. He willingly,
lovingly laid down His life for His own. He said, no man takes
my life. He said, I give it. I give it
away. Having loved his own, he loved
them to the end. You see, the Father gives out
of love. The Lord Jesus Christ gave his whole life blood out
of love for his people. And believers love to give. Believers
delight in giving and forgiving because they have been forgiven
of God. They have received mercy. Therefore
they delight to show mercy. We can give to others in so many
ways. It just doesn't have to be in
a way of money. There are so many ways that we
can give back to our family, our friends, our community, and
where we worship. We can give back. Say, well,
I don't have much. How about a kind word? Do you
have that? How about helping out a neighbor
when sickness comes to his house? You see, there's so many ways
we can give back. Give to those who are in need.
This is love, not in word, but in deed and in truth. Now, I
trust you who support the ministry here, and I thank God for you. I trust you who support the ministry
here. Do so out of love for Christ and for the furtherance of the
gospel. I trust you don't give because you feel like it's your
religious duty to do so. I trust that you give because
God has burdened your heart to worship Him by giving as we come
to worship. Now listen to this. Every believer
has the privilege of giving. Everybody is able to give. Some
may be this way, some may be that way. Some may be able to
give more, some able to give less, but every believer is able
to give. Is that right? You know it is. What do we have to cast into
the treasury? What do we have to cast into
the Lord's treasury? What do we possess? I was reading
Robert Hocker on this point, and I think he makes a very good
point. Now listen to me. This woman cast in two mites.
Every believer is able to give his two mites, as his poor widow
did. These two mites, Hocker suggested,
are symbolic of giving ourselves unto the Lord. You remember what we studied
in 2 Corinthians 8? They first gave their own selves
to the Lord. Every believer possesses these
two minds. We have both soul and body. Two minds. That has been purchased
by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a great privilege
then to give unto Him what He has bought. What's already His. Our two minds. Soul and body. He has bought us with His own
blood. Listen to this verse. Know ye
not that your own body is the temple of the Lord, which you
have of God, and you are not your own? You are bought with
a price. Oh, it's a great price, isn't
it? Therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which
are His. What a privilege to serve the
Lord Jesus Christ. Now, I want you to use your Bible
and I want you to turn back to Matthew chapter 6. I want to
give you five Bible truths about giving. Five Bible words about
giving. Five Bible truths about giving. Here's the first one. Found in
Matthew chapter 6. Matthew chapter 6. Here's the
first one. Give as unto the Lord, not unto
men. Do you see that? Verse 1, Matthew
6, Take heed that you do not your own before men to be seen
of them, otherwise you have no reward with your Father which
is in heaven. Therefore when you do your arms,
your alms, don't sound the trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites
do in the synagogues and in the street, that they may have glory
of men. Verily I say unto you, They have
their reward. But when you do your alms, your
giving, don't let your right hand, your left hand know what
your right hand is doing. That thine alms may be in secret,
that thy father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee
openly. So we give as unto the Lord. Now our God looks in here. He
knows us through and through. What we give to support the work
of the ministry here and elsewhere is given unto the Lord to the
fervence of the preaching of the gospel, and the support of
His people in need, and to support our missionaries as they take
the gospel to others. As in all we do, let us do it
as unto the Lord. in all that we do, help us to
do it as unto the Lord. In our worship, God help us to
worship Him in spirit and in truth as unto the Lord. In our
preaching, I pray that we can preach the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ to the glory of the Lord and to the good of His
people. In our worship, in our preaching,
in our service, and in our giving, Help us to give as unto the Lord. Do you see what he's saying?
Not to be seen of men. Don't do it to be seen of men, but
as unto the Lord. As unto the Lord. So that's the
first thing. Here's the second reference I want you to find
in your Bible. Find Hebrews 13. Hebrews 13.
Here's the second thing. Giving as unto the Lord is well-pleasing
in his sight. This is Hebrews chapter 13, look
at verse 12. Wherefore Jesus also that he
might sanctify the people with his own blood suffered without
the gate. Verse 13, Hebrews 13. Let us go forth therefore unto
him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no
continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him, therefore,
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that
is, a fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name, but to do
good, to communicate." You know what that word is? Give. To give. Forget not. Share. Give. For with such sacrifices
God is well pleased." Given as unto the Lord now. Well pleasing
to the Lord. When it is given in faith, believing
Him, without faith it is impossible to please God. Resting in the
Lord to provide all things for us. Now let me show you an example
of this. Find Philippians chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4. Notice verse 18. With such sacrifices,
such giving, giving as unto the Lord is well pleasing in his
sight. Now, I want you to find Philippians
chapter 4, look at verse 18. Paul is in prison in Rome for
the gospel sake. He said in verse 18, that I have
all and abound, I am full, having received of Aphrodite the things
which were sent from you, an odor and a sweet smell, a sacrifice
acceptable, well-pleasing to God." These believers had taken
up an offering and had gathered together a care package and sent
it all the way to Rome to help the Apostle Paul, and he says,
such sacrifices, giving as unto the Lord, Sacrifice acceptable,
well-pleasing to God. Given in faith. Given in faith. Now here's the third word. I
want you to find 2 Corinthians chapter 8. We were studying this
morning. 2 Corinthians chapter 8. Here's
the third word. Willingly. We give as unto the
Lord. We give in faith, believing Him,
which is well-pleasing. And then we give unto the Lord
willingly. Believers have joy in giving. Now, notice if you will, this
is 2 Corinthians 8, verse 12. Let's read verse 11 as well.
Now, therefore, perform the doing of it, that as there was a readiness
to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which you have.
For if there first be a willing mind, give willingly, it is accepted
according to that a man has, not according to that he does
not have. For it be not that others be
eased, and you be burdened. So we give unto the Lord whatever
the Lord has been pleased to give us, we give away to Him
willingly. In a matter of giving, the motive
and the spirit in which we give are of greater importance than
the amount we give. There first must be a willing
mind. If what we give springs from a generous, cheerful heart,
In faith, believing God, it is accepted of the Lord whether
it is little or much. It is the attitude, the motive
in which it is given. You see what I'm saying? Oh,
for grace to willingly give, to willingly serve the Lord,
that is what being a servant of the Lord is. That's a willing,
loving, bond servant unto Christ. Thy people shall be willing in
the day of his power. Willing to give. Now stay right
there in 2 Corinthians. Find 2 Corinthians 9. Here's
the fourth word. Give as you have purpose in your
heart to give. Give as you have purposed in
your heart to give. Now look at 2 Corinthians 9 verse
6. But this I say, he which soweth
sparingly shall reap also sparingly. He that soweth bountifully shall
reap bountifully. That is, if you are going to
have a lot in your garden, In the fall, what must you do in
the spring? Well, you better scatter a lot
of seeds. If you sow sparingly, you're not going to have any
crop in the fall. That's what you purpose in your heart, is
it not? Every man according as he hath purpose in his heart.
Verse 7. So let him give, not grudgingly,
not or of necessity. God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency
in all things, may abound to every good work. Give as you
purposed in your heart to give. Now every believer, every man,
every believer, everyone, notice what it says in verse 7, every
man, every believer, everyone, is to participate in giving,
not just a select few. Give as you purpose in your heart
to give. I'm not to tell you how much
to give, when to give, what to give. Just as simply as the Word
of God says, give. Give as unto the Lord. But give
as the Lord burdens your heart about the matter. Pray about
the matter. Pray and ask the Lord to give you wisdom concerning
giving. Proverbs 22 says this, He that
hath a generous eye shall be blessed, for he giveth his bread
to the poor. Give, give, give, give. We've
been given so much. I tell you, a believer does not
have a stingy heart. He has a generous heart. He gives
of himself in so many ways. Give yourself away into service
to the Lord. Now here's the last word. Find
1 Corinthians 16. I want you to stay right here
in the book of Corinthians because we're going to come back to another
one. 1 Corinthians chapter 16 now. Here's the last word. Give as God has prospered you. Give as God has prospered you.
Now, 1 Corinthians 16, let's look at verse 1. Now concerning
the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the
churches of Galatia, even so do you, upon the first day of
the week, every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered
him." Now how has God prospered us? I tell you, God has prospered
us in a multitude. manifold many blessings as God
has prospered him that there be no gathering when I come and
when I come whosoever you shall approve by your letters then
will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem give as the Lord
prospers you When our gracious and great Lord does this marvelous
work of grace in our heart, making us new creatures in Christ Jesus,
He gives us a generous spirit, He gives us an open hand, He
gives us an open heart to those who are in need. Just as we are
needy beggars before God, He makes us willing and generous
to help those who are in need. Those who believe the grace,
of the gospel, those who believe the gospel, those who believe
grace, are gracious, kind, loving, forgiving, generous people, knowing
all they have is the gift of God. All that I am, all that
I have, all that I know, all that I ever will be, is by His
grace. By His grace. I am what I am
by the grace of God. Now, let me give you these scriptures.
Now, stay right here in 2 Corinthians. Find 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. 2
Corinthians 8 and 9. Now, let me give you these scriptures
about what we have being the gift of God. John 3, 27. A man
can receive nothing except it be given from heaven. 1 Corinthians
4, 7. Who maketh he to differ from
another? What do you have that you didn't receive? Now, if you
did receive it, as God's gift of grace, mercy. Why do you glory
as if you've earned it and not received it as a gift? Now the
great example set before us in the Word of God, the great example
of giving, giving sacrificially, and giving is found here in 2
Corinthians 8-9. Now mark this in your Bible if
you don't have this scripture marked. You see 2 Corinthians
8-9? Now, when Paul tries to motivate
the believers there in Corinth, and that's what this chapter
is about. We talked about that in our Bible study this morning.
But when he tries to motivate those believers there in Corinth,
his chief motivating tool is not only using the believers
there in Macedonia and how they took up an offering, but his
chief motive tool is this. Consider how the Lord Jesus Christ
gave. Look at verse 9. For you know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Saved by His grace. Chosen by
His grace. Redeemed by His grace. Kept by
His grace. He knows the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ. That though He was rich, can
you describe His riches? He's rich in holiness. Rich in
eternality. Rich in power. Riches beyond
the unsearchable, Paul called them the unsearchable riches
of Christ. rich beyond measure, beyond comprehending. Yet for
your sake He became poor. He took upon Himself our flesh,
became a servant, became obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross. For your sake He became poor. That you through His poverty,
through His sacrificial debt, through His blood, that you might
be blessed with all spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Now,
give considering what He gave. What He gave. He gave everything. I want to give that way. Giving
as unto the Lord. His sacrifice was unto the Lord.
1 Peter 3.18 For Christ also once suffered for our sins, that
just for the unjust that he might bring us unto God. He has given
unto us spiritual prosperity in the kingdom of God through
his glorious sacrifice. He has blessed us with all the
spiritual blessings in the heavenly in Christ Jesus. And you know this scripture by
heart, God made him sin for us who knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him. He is our substitute,
took our sin, brought him to total poverty, and yet through
his glorious sacrifice we have the richness of pardon, redemption
by his blood, the righteousness of God in him. Now my prayer
for us, that the Lord will make us joyful givers you know the
Lord Jesus Christ it says of Him concerning His sacrifice
you know what it says of Him in Hebrews chapter 12 for the
joy that was set before Him endured the cross laid down His life
for the joy that was set before Him my prayer for us as a congregation
of believers that God would make us joyful givers to His glory. That God would give us a joy
in giving. There is a joy in worship, isn't
there? David said, I was glad when they
said unto me, man, let's go to the house of the Lord. It's a
privilege to be here. Believers don't say, oh no, it's
Sunday, I've got to drag myself out of bed. No, that's not our
attitude. Stay home. If that's your attitude, don't
come. There's no worship there. But our attitude is, man, it's
Sunday morning. Thank you, Lord. Let's go worship.
Let's go hear the word of God. Thank you, Lord. There's a joy
in worship. There's a joy in preaching. It's
not a dread for me to stand here week after week, service after
service, preaching the same thing over and over and over again
to you. It's a joy. There's a joy in preaching. Remember
what Paul said in Philippians 3? To me, the same things I preach
to you week after week is not burdensome unto me, but there's
a joy in serving Him. So there is a joy in worship.
There is a joy in preaching. I delight to tell you the gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And there is a joy in serving
Him. There's a joy in serving Him. We joy in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. And my friend, there is a joy
in giving unto the Lord. Giving unto the Lord. Give yourself
unto the Lord. Wholeheartedly in worship and
service unto the Lord. May God help us to grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.