SACRIFICIAL GIVING

PROCLAMATION

“As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  ‘Truly I tell you,’ He said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others.  All these people gave gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.’ ”  Luke 21”1-4 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Luke, the physician.  While He was in the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus observed the people as they gave their gifts to the temple treasury.  He made no comment about the gifts of the rich as they gave.  However, He was impressed by the gift of a poor widow who put in two coins.  He commented to His disciples about her because she gave all that she had. (Luke 21:1-4)  Her gift was a sacrificial gift.  The remainder of chapter twenty-one of The Bible Book of Luke presents the future destruction of the temple and the signs of the end of times. (Luke 21:5-36)

 

APPLICATION

In The Bible we are taught to give.  “… Remember the words of The Lord Jesus, how He said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)  We are to give to support the poor and weak.  He that gives and blesses others will himself also be blessed. (Proverbs 11:25)  As you give, so shall it be given unto you. (Luke 6:38)  He that gives sparingly will receive sparingly; and he that gives bountifully will also receive bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)  We are to give to help the less fortunate, and to support of the church and the kingdom building efforts here on earth.  The real issue is not the amount which we give, but rather proportionately how much of what we have do we keep for ourselves.  To be really generous, we should “give until it hurts.”  Giving a little when we have a lot is not as impressive as giving a lot when we only have a little.  Giving out of our excess is good, but it is more pleasing to The Lord God when we step out on faith and give sacrificially.  While we are living under grace and not under the tithing system, giving one tenth of our increase is a good indication of where our giving should start.  All gifts to the church above the tithe are considered freewill offerings.  Not giving to the church at all is considered robbery. (Malachi 3:8)  Not sharing our blessing with others will result in negative outcomes for us. (Luke 12:16-21 and Luke 16:19-31)  Give, and give generously.