Zion Grover Hill United Methodist Church

28 June 2015 message 2 Cor 8 7 15 Why do Christians Give?

The Grover Hill food pantry that we are a part of serves about 100 families a month and there are always a need. Many people give of their time and talents and gifts so there can be a food distribution to those in need.

I want you to think for the next few moments why as a Christian you give. Why do Christians give?

I was reading some of the history of this congregation and in a booklet from the 75th anniversary in1988. It was pretty clear that as a people of God they were a generous people because they had found the joy in giving. Giving, Jesus talked more about your treasure than he did anything else and yet some of us are sensitive in talking about our treasure, aren’t we?
The window back there says this is a giving church.

Why do Christians give? I need your help in providing some answers for the next few moments.

Why do you give to the Fire Dept. or to the Park to the food pantry? Why do you give to the church?

No one said anything about giving to control an organization or claim space for themselves. Utilities or salaries or building maintenance.

We recognize people from time to time in the community for their giving don’t we? Perhaps you can think of someone who just keeps on giving? Why do they do that?

Calvin Coolidge, 29th Pres. US said that no person was ever honored for what he received. Honor is the reward of what one gives.

We hold in high esteem people who give to make other people’s lives better don’t we. I think of Mary Callow as being a wonderful example of one who just kept on giving to help others. There are people in Grover Hill who just give and give and give and you know many of them. Why do they do that?
A little boy had Three birthday dollars and he Could have bought a special toy
But He heard the preacher say A single dime can feed A hungry boy or girl
With nothing to eat So he pulled a dollar From the pocket of his jeans
And he asked his mama How many will this feed? She just smiled
And when she told him ten He reached back again
What if I give all I have? What will that gift do? My child, a gift like that
Could change the world It could feed a multitude
He didn't close his eyes Or turn away I can see him standing tall
He saw the need And I can hear him say What if I give all
Paul encourages Christians to give with a heart like that little boy and you will know and receive the riches of the kingdom.

Mary Jane was given two nickels as she about to leave for the morning service. One was for the collection plate and one for herself. As she trudged along to church, she dropped one of her precious nickels and it rolled into the sewer. Mary Jane looked down through the grating and came to the sad conclusion that it was lost forever.
“Well, there goes the Lord’s nickel,” she murmured.

Some folks have that attitude when it comes to giving to God, don’t they? Some folks say we don’t want have enough yet for ourselves so we can’t give, but if we wait until we have enough, we will never have enough. Exodus 16—gathering manna and quail, some gathered much and some not so much. No one had to much or too little.

I have been with a number of people who say when they die they are going to give a certain amount to the church. I usually say why don’t you give it now so you can experience the joy of your giving. They invariably say, “I just can’t part with it now.” They have more than they need, but they just can’t let go of any of it. They miss the reward of the joy of giving.

As the Apostle Paul writes this letter to the Corinthians false teachers are challenging his personal integrity and his authority as an apostle saying that he isn’t a real apostle. They accused Paul of putting into his own pockets money they collected for the poverty stricken believers at the mother church back in Jerusalem.

In countering these false teachers, Paul reminds the Corinthians that they have been leaders in so many things: in faith, in learning, in enthusiasm, in love and he wants them to be leaders in the spirit of cheerful giving just as the Macedonians were.

Then Paul says this is not an order, I am not saying you must do it, but there are others in need of your giving. Giving is one way to prove your love that goes beyond mere words.
When we love someone we give gifts to them, don’t we? So we show our love by what we give and not by just mere lip service.

Paul also reminds us of how rich Jesus was and he began his sacrifice leaving the riches of Heaven behind him to come to earth and how poor he became so that we who are poor could become rich, rich in grace and love and mercy.

He continues, “If you are eager to give, how much you give isn’t important. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have.
Some people can give money. Some people can give time and some people can give of their talents, but all can give from their heart.
Paul writes if you help those in need now, then when you’re in need they can help you.
No gift is a real gift unless the giver gives something of themselves.

For my sister: There is a true story of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. The doctor explained that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance of recovery was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was an ideal donor.

“Would you give your blood to Mary?” the doctor asked.

Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble.
Then he said, “Sure, for my sister.”

Soon the two children were wheeled into the hospital room. Mary, pale and thin. Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned.

As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny’s smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube.

With the ordeal almost over, Johnny’s voice, slightly shaky, broke the silence.

“Doctor, when do I die?”

Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip trembled when he agreed to donate his blood. He thought giving his blood to his sister would mean giving up his life. In that brief moment, he had made his great decision.
You should give out of love.

In the final analysis Paul isn’t saying you must give in order to win God’s love or favor. Instead Paul describes how much God gave through the Son Jesus. God is a giving God and Jesus gave everything out of his love for us.
It is the desire of every believer to become more like Jesus, so the more we try to be like Jesus the more giving will become a part of who we are.

To be like Jesus, that is a pretty good reason for giving, isn’t it?


The Message: “Why do Christians Give” by Mike Waldron