Generous Giving
Acts 4: 32-37
“How much should I be giving every week, in Church?”
Lets consider the average giving, World-wide, in Churches, per person = 2-3% of a persons income
Single person income: $500 per week
Giving = about $15 per week
2 Income Family: $800 per week
Giving = about $25 per week
Q. Is the average giving, World-wide, generous giving?
No – of course not!
Lets consider the O.T tithe, giving10% of our income
Single person income $500 per week
Giving = $50 per week
2 Income Family $800 per week
Giving = $80 per week
Q. Is the O.T tithe, giving 10% of our income, generous giving?
No – of course not!
The O.T tithe was the accepted level of giving 2,000+ years ago
N.T giving is more than the average giving, World-wide, per person, and more than the O.T tithe
The N.T principle of giving = called generosity
N.T Generosity is a higher principal – if you are giving generously, your giving should exceed the average giving World-wide, per person, and exceed the O.T tithe
2 Corinthians 8:7 ‘… I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving.’
1/ Generous Giving helps needy people
Acts 4: 32, 34-35
The early Christians in Acts gave generously
These generous Christians didn’t live for money – they lived for God and used their money to help the needy
There are some difficult situations when people cannot give anything at all, or very little – these are the needy people that the Church needs to help!
2/ Generous Giving supports those people who are serving God, full-time
Acts 4: 33
Without the financial support of the Church, the Apostles would have to give up their ministry and return to their farming and fishing businesses to support themselves and their families
And, without the ministry of their full time Leaders, the Church would grow weak and die
Because the people gave generously, God honored their giving and…
Acts 4: 33a ‘The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus…’
Acts 4: 33b ‘…and God’s great blessing was upon them all’.
3/ Generous Giving reveals new Leaders
Acts 4: 36-37
Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus
He probably came to Jerusalem for Pentecost and stayed on with his relatives, his Aunty Mary and Cousin John Mark
(Acts 12: 12 & Colossians 4: 10)
During these few short months in Jerusalem, he probably became a Christian and joined the Church – becoming a generous giver!
Barnabas matures into a prominent Leader in the Church…
Mentoring the great Apostle Paul
‘Planting’ new Churches
Preaching and teaching about Christ throughout the Mediterranean area
Barnabas Leadership emerged, with his decision to become a generous giver
In my 27 years of Pastoral Ministry I have never seen a person become a Leader in a Church without them first becoming a generous giver!
Generous giving, for every Christian, is not an option – it is normal practice
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 ‘And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.’
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