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GOD-CENTERED GIVING

1 Chronicles 29.10-17

INTRODUCTION

                      1.  King David wanted to build God’s temple. 2Sa 7:1-2  And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

                      2.  God allowed him to raise the funds, but not build it. 2Sa 7:12-13  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

                      3.  This passage is David’s prayer at the end of the temple fund-raising campaign.

                      4.  In our giving it is a struggle to be God-centered instead of self-centered.

                      5.  This passage reminds us of three essentials for being God-centered in our giving:

             I.  WE MUST REMEMBER WHAT GOD OWNS, 11

                      1.  God owns greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty.

                      2.  God owns all that is in the heaven.

                      3.  God owns all that is in the earth.

All the earth is mine. Exo 19.5

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God. Deu 10.14

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psa 24.1

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. Hag 2.8

Behold, all souls are mine. Eze 18.4

Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1Co 6.20

** God is exalted as head above all. 11

** This is the God-centered thinking that leads to God-centered giving!

           II.  WE MUST REMEMBER WHAT GOD GIVES, 12

                      1.  God gives riches. If you have it, God made it.

                      2.  God gives honor. Honor is more valuable than riches.

                      3.  God gives greatness. This is noble, Godly character.

                      4.  God gives strength. This is the opposite of weakness and ungodliness.

** Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 13

** This is the God-centered thinking that leads to God-centered giving!

GOSPEL: Joh 3.16, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son

         III.  WE MUST REMEMBER WHAT GOD RECEIVES

                      1.  God receives what we give. 14, who am I, and what is my people

                      2.  God receives what we give willingly. 14, that we should be able to offer so willingly  (6x: 6,9,9,14,17,17)

                      3.  God receives what we give generously. 14, able to offer so willingly after this sort, 29.7, talent=75 pounds, 187 tons of gold, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of brass, 3750 tons of iron

                      4.  God receives when we affirm His ownership. 14, all things come of thee & of thine own have we given

                      5.  God receives when we know our weakness. 15, our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. We remember how short life is.

                      6.  God receives what we give to His work. 16, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name

                      7.  God receives when we give from an upright heart. 17

§ thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness

§ in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things

CONCLUSION

                      1.  God owns everything you have.

                      2.  God gives you everything you have.

                      3.  What are you willing to give to God?

                      4.  Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. 1Ch 29.9