Giving to God Part 1 - Genesis Part 24

Well you don't pay as we continue in our series in the book of Genesis on going to be talking to you about money. Now I know what a sensitive topic. This is an you say will let you know how sensitive it is.

Why are you talking about, well, that's a good question and one of the answers is that God says more about money in the Bible than he does about any other single subject.

He says more in the Bible about money than he does about salvation or about prayer or about heaven or about hell, or about evangelism anything you say will Ahmed may be true but why in the world would you pick this very moment to talk about money. Well, that's also good question and the answer to that is because, as were moving through the book of Genesis, we come to Genesis 14 and here in Genesis 14 we see money being used for the very first time in the Bible as a tool for worshiping God.

So it only seems logical to me that this would be a good moment for us to stop and talk about that but it's more than that. It's also because one of our goals here at McLean Bible church is to turn you into a deep and seasoned and mature follower of Christ, and there's no way you and I can reach that goal without having a biblical worldview on money. So today I want to start a part series entitled giving to God and I want to make it absolutely clear that my purpose in doing this is biblical education. It is not fundraising or to put it another way for the next two weeks were going to talk about money, but I'm not going to ask you for a dive. Is that fair. The fair well better because this is the only message I brought today so visit what were talking about now. Just before we dig him to preliminary things I want to say number one. I think it's obvious that with all the Bible says about money. There's no way into messages that we can possibly cover that holds subject and so if you want more coverage get my CD series handling money.

God's way that I did several years ago, or you can go online to our website and downloaded a podcast. It and you get a lot more information. We're just going to Connie hit some of the high spots here. The other thing I want to say is a preliminary comment is that if you been coming to McLean Bible church for a long time. You may have already heard Psalm of the biblical information on the cover in the past year.

You may have heard it. Well that's okay. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church and said to them, it is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again and it is a safeguard for you to hear biblical truth again and again. I love how John MacArthur put it, he said and I quote spiritual growth does not always involve learning something new are most important growth often is in regard to truth. We have already heard but have not fully apply." Go back and review Genesis 14 just a little bit last week we saw that there was a coalition of four kings of from the East who put together an army and invaded the southern Jordan Valley around Sodom and Gomorrah.

They defeated the armies of Sodom and Gomorrah and they carried away all of the people in all of the material well of Sodom and Gomorrah, including Abraham's nephew Lot and when Abraham heard about this. He took his army. He pursued the invaders he defeated them in verse 16 of the chapter tells us Abraham recovered all the goods that had been taken as well as his relative lot and all loss, possessions, along with all the people so Abraham that now returns toward Sodom and Gomorrah and he's got with them all the people always got with the mold is moody in all of this does spoil all this material wealth that he's captured and that's where we pick up the story in verse 18 go then milk is the deck the King of Salem brought out bread and wine. Now he was a priest Melchizedek was of the most high God. The word to choose here for the most high God in Hebrew is the word Ehlo young and it's interesting that this very name for God Ehlo yo the most high God is used by Abraham. Speaking of his Abraham's God just a few verses later in verse 22, which means that obviously Melchizedek, whoever he was new.

The same God is Abraham worship to the same God is Abraham and was appraised of Abraham's God. Verse 19 then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, saying, blessed be Abraham by God most high Ehlo young Creator of heaven and earth and blessed be God most high, who delivered your enemies. Abraham into your hand. Verse 20 then Abraham gave him Melchizedek 110, or tie the of everything meaning of all the material wealth and spoil and booty that he had capture noun a couple weeks were going to spend the whole message talking about who is this guy Melchizedek and where did he come from and he's going to figure big time later in the New Testament to talk about all of that, but for today. Suffice to say that he was a priest of the most high God that he blessed Abraham and that he reminded Abraham that the glory for the victory that Abraham just had needed to go to God not to Abraham and so then look in response to this what Abraham does remember verse 20 we just read it and Abraham gave Melchizedek attempt to five of everything he capture the put it another way, Abraham used up money as they worship offering to God as a Thanksgiving offering to God in thanks for this great victory that God had just given him, and about which Melchizedek had just reminded him okay as I said a moment ago. This is the first time in the Bible that we see money being used as a tool for worshiping God as a means of worshiping God as they worship offering to God and it certainly is not the last time. As a matter of fact, the Bible repeatedly teaches us that using money to express worship to God is one of the cardinal principles of giving to God and want to take you to the New Testament now and I want you to watch the apostle Paul teach us this very same lesson. One of the book of Philippians chapter 4, and here's what Paul said. He said verse 18, but I have received everything you sent in full and I am amply supplied, having received from a pampered diet is gift you sent. Now Philippian believers had sent an offering monetary offering to the apostle Paul to support his missionary work. They had sent it by the hands of this fellow pampered -itis and look how Paul describes this offering.

He goes on to say, your gift is a fragrance aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God.

Paul's using imagery here fragrance aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God imagery that comes from the Old Testament sacrificial system in order to really understand this imagery so we get the full power and meaning of it. We need to go back just for a moment and remind ourselves a little bit about the Old Testament system of sacrifices so let's do that in the Old Testament there were two categories of animal sacrifices number one category number one were sacrifices that dealt with the issue of when a person sinned against God, and they realized it, they would bring an animal go lamb pigeon.

Whatever the temple and the priest would kill this animal and take you flawed and put it on the altar, and in response, God promised to forgive the authors then and to repair the breach in their relationship, but there was a problem and the problem is that these sacrifices were just a temporary fix. In other words, every time a person sinned, they had to do this all over again in all over again in all over again. Now today under the new covenant under the New Testament there is no longer any need for these kind of animal sacrifices for sin that need has been eliminated forever because of what Jesus did on the cross for you and me. Listen Hebrews chapter 10 verse 12 says he Jesus offered one sacrifice for sin, for all time on the cross and by this one sacrifice.

He, Jesus has made perfect for all time those of us who believe in him.

Verse 18, Hebrews 10 now where there is forgive this like this I want you to say the rest of the verse with me out loud here we go.

No further sacrifices for sin are needed. No further sacrifices for sin are needed.

My friend, when you and I sin as followers of Christ under the new covenant.

The reason that you and I don't have to go get a full or lamb or goat or pigeon and get on a plane and fly to Jerusalem and go up on the Temple Mount and kill this animal and spread of blood all over the Temple Mount is because our sin has been paid in full, once and for all, for ever and ever. In inevitably and irreversibly uncontrolled, nationally and unequivocably by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross one time they praise God for that. What he said the listen if you're here, let me just say you never trusted Christ as your Savior and you never relied on what he did on the cross for you is your one and only payment for sin folks. This is important information for you to have because what it means is that God is not accepting any other offerings. The paper sin anymore set what Jesus did on the cross that fit is not accepting animal sacrifices anymore. That's passé. It's gone. He's not accepting good works. He's not accepting your try to keep the 10 Commandments. He's not accepting your religious activity. He's not accepting your try to be a good person. He's not accepting bar mitzvahs art confirmations for first Communion. See not accepting anything but the blood of Christ shed on the cross. That's it.

And so if you want your sins forgiven my friend. That's what you gotta bring to him and that's what you gotta rely on.

The only thing that works anymore. So be careful that you're not trying to get into heaven based on something that's got no chance to work only the blood of Christ works.

Be careful think about now that was category number one of sacrifices there gone will do many more there over praise Lord.

But remember we said there were two categories of animal sacrifices in the Old Testament in the second category were sacrifices that were brought worship.

They were brought for me is a worshiper to be able to express my loyalty to God.

My love for God that my thanksgiving to God in here to the offeror would bring an animal to the Temple in here to the priest would kill the animal.

But instead of putting its blood on the altar, he would put its meat on the altar and cook it. He would burn it, you know, and the smell of this cooking flesh would rise into heaven as a fragrance aroma is not what Paul said in Philippians 418. Your offering was a fragrance aroma.

This is what he's talking about. Paul is saying that God regards your financial gift to me in the same way he regarded the fragrant aroma of a worship sacrifice in the Old Testament and we all get this I mean there is no better smell in the universe and hamburgers on the grill. You know what I'm saying man you can come outside you can have neighbors coming over.

I mean they don't get no better than that. Well, this is what the Bible is talking about. And now, as followers of Christ. We need to understand that the second category of sacrifices, worship, sacrifices are still around today is just that their formats has changed Peter explain that to us. He said, first Peter two 550 says we are to offer spiritual worship. Sacrifice is not animal worship, sacrifices, original worship, sacrifices which are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. That sound familiar.

What's exactly what Paul said. Philippians 418 fragrant aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God.

So under the new covenant under the New Testament we still bring God worship, sacrifices you with me is just that they're not animals anymore. There are other things and one of those things. Philippians 418 tells us is giving to God and you say well why is that, well, here's why. Worship simply means that were telling God communicating to God that is number one in our life that he's preeminent our life.

That's worship and folks, there's not a better tool to do that with the money you save. I'm not sure I understand why you say that listen think now the money that we give to God.

If we didn't give it to God, we could use it to go out and buy something for us through but instead of going out and buying some frost. We give it to God and when we do that, what were telling God is God, I might love money and God I might love money can buy for me. But you know what Lord I love you more and that's why I'm taking this money instead of using it on me, Lord. I'm giving it to you into the work of God. They say are long and that's worship right exactly sorry I got there but are you sure that you're not getting too much out of Philippians 418. I mean, you make an adverse walk on all fours. I mean, you sure you're not sure that's what it's really saying oh I'm positive I'll show you the same principle elsewhere in the New Testament about Matthew chapter 2 the story of the three wise men coming to see baby Jesus. Remember the story right. Yes I Christmas I know what you remember the story right. Okay. Are you good I so here's what the verse says it says verse 11, Matthew two when they saw the child with his mother Mary.

They bowed down and they want what's the next word, they worshiped him.

Now how did they worship you, you say they all stood around the manger and saying how great thou art humble, no that that would've been worship but that's not what they did look it goes on to say the verse they opened their treasures and presented Jesus with monetary gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. Some of the most valuable things in the world. In those days they gave them to Christ, they worshiped him, using monetary well just like we been talking about one more example Mark chapter 14 it says there while Jesus was in Bethany, a woman came with a vial of expensive perfume and she broke the violent toward it over Jesus's head, but some of those present were saying why this waste of perfume could've been sold for years wages and given to the poor stop. You really think they cared about the poor know okay but they was looking to criticize and they rebuked her sharply.

But Jesus said leave her alone. Why are you bothering her. He said, for she has done a beautiful thing for me for the poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. If that's your real motive.

Jesus said but you will not always have me here now friends certainly this file perfume was the most costly and valuable earthly possession. This woman had. I mean, the Bible says it was worth eight years wages this Bob file perfume was maybe worth I don't know 40,000 50,000 and $60,000, maybe more.

And yet she brought it and she gave it to Jesus freely and she gave it to Jesus excitedly and the people criticized her and grumbled and said why is he wasting this perfume and you know I love what Jesus says. Jesus says to them, fellas, you got it all wrong. She's not wasting she's worshiping because she's showing me that I mean more to her even her most costly earthly possession. That's worship folks, or would you got me down on the your with me. Yes, you understand now look for many of us as followers of Christ. This is a whole new slant on giving. Many of us have been taught to see church offerings is the way we pay the mortgage, the way we pay the bills. The way we pay the staff the way we you know run the programs the way we clean the parking lot with get the snow off and all this other stuff and and when that is the focus of our giving with when the focus of our giving is on the church in the bills and the building in the damp and the programs and the missionaries you know then we give out of duty. Then we give out of obligation. Sometimes we even give out of pressure and out of guilt friends. There is no joy in that kind giving. There may be resentment when that kind giving, but there's no joy in it.

God wants us to give and get joy out of giving the Bible says God loves a cheerful giver and the reason there's no joy in this kind, giving just because were given all were given for the wrong reason. I love Exodus 35 Moses is collecting money to build the tabernacle at Mount Sinai. If you check very carefully in that chapter 6 times. Moses talks to the people about this offering these collecting at God's command to build the tabernacle.

But you know what's interesting friends. Check it out. Not one single time does Moses call it an offering for the tabernacle. Not once know what he calls all six times an offering for the Lord because Moses did not want people given to some building. He didn't want them giving to the tabernacle, or any other building he wanted them giving this to the Lord from their heart as an act of worship.

What they did with it was inconsequential whether they built the tabernacle for baptismal pool didn't matter what they built with it. The offering wasn't for the building. The offering was for the Lord and in the same way as followers of Christ today when we give we need to be able to say Lord I'm not given this to a building. I'm not given this to a church.

I'm not giving it the missionaries are not given at the programs are not given at the parking lot Lord, whether it's a check in the offering plate or check your sending to a missionary or whether you're giving to the benevolence fund or the house or the Daybreakers Joe's house or pay it off your final rock ledge that matter.

Lord, that's just intermediate. I'm not even focused on. I'm giving this to you as an act of worship from my heart to your heart, Lord, as a way of letting you know that you mean more to me than money itself. Anything money can buy. You were number one in my life now friends when you give like that, let me just tell you something when you give us an act of worship to our great God, who died on the cross and saved us and has provided us with all the amazing blessings that he's provided us and were just trying to tell them we love them is when you give like that. There is joy in given like that.

There's excitement and given like that. There's a thrilling giving like that you're not getting out of duty and you're not giving out patient and you're not given out a deal you given because you want to do it to tell Jesus your love. Now that's exciting and that's what God wants.

Giving to be all about. So I lot. I got what you say but I still got a very important question to ask you know what it is all you people on the Internet you know what it is to so are you ready okay now this this is so, what unto the Lord. I well here we go. Are you ready are you ready all right here we go. Now come on, want to say you got good you got it you salon okay you know I understand the principal appreciated but I'm not really sure how this affects me okay let me help with that.

One of my very favorite television programs as the price is right. You like the price is right now I'm I mean I you know what I actually think the Drew carries doing a pretty good job, Bob Barker, man. I mean, I don't know what else to say. I just them so you say lawn you lay at home and watch the price is right.

A lot during the week 10. I'm busy during the week like you are, but every once in a while I get sick or something.

When I'm lying in bed and I turn on the Price is right so two years ago I was in bed sick as much price right and you know the big wheel you have big wheel works right. If you spit it and you get a dollar on your first spin, or total of a dollar on you to spend you win $1000 and you win a bonus and then if you get the dollar on the bonus spin you get $10,000 more for $11,000 you you know this yes how can you be an American and not notice.

You must know this yes yes okay good. Now, so Bob Barker had these three contestants standing there and before they spun. He said to them now. If you win $11,000 what would you do with it and the first was a young lady. The first contestant and she said I would take a trip around the world and I thought you know that's reasonable use of the second person was a young man and he said I buy a Corvette like telling this article think you can buy a Corvette for $11,000 located with $11,000.

Anyway, so in the third was more middle-aged woman and she said I put the money away for my children's education and only there and then I thought it was interesting by telling us how they would spend their money. These people have just revealed to us where their hardness with a value system is because the first two contestants.

It's clear their heart and their value system was completely centered on them. I think a trip around the world.

I buy myself a Corvette. All the third contestant. Her heart and focus was on somebody else and her children how these people spent their money told us where their heart is Hally there. Then I thought hot dog. The Price is right confirms the Bible how cool is this.

It does because the Bible's been telling us that for centuries that what we do with our money reveals where our heart is that our money is like a barometer of our heart, so let me say this, if you want to see where Christians love affair with Jesus really is. Let me tell you, don't look at how many hymns they sing. Don't look at how many prayers they pray, don't look at how many Bible verses they got memorized. Don't look at how many services they attended church every week and don't look at how many times a day they say, praise the Lord will appraise. Praise the Lord brought praise the Lord for you to and don't know many tensions that you look and see how they spend their money today.

Why because all these other areas same praise the Lord and how many times you show up at church friends. These are easy things were to paste on the plastic and just go through the motions but I'll tell you something. The level of our financial giving to God is the one area where people tend to fake it the least. That's why I say show me a Christian. Show me their financial statement and within about five minutes. I can tell you where that person really stands in their love and their devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ say lawn that is without a doubt one of the most judgmental statement I've ever heard anybody make well maybe so, but you know what, still true, still true. So I want to close of a question today. It's a very challenging question. It's a it's a very penetrating question. Here's my question for me any here we go. If the IRS was arresting people and putting them in jail for being deep and dedicated followers of Christ. Would there be enough evidence on schedule a of your 1042 conviction and what you think about that scheduling.

I tell you that question, Ron hits me the and he hit you do you know why because people see when you come to church people see when you say praise Lord people see when you sing hymns people see when you dog stuff nobody seizure 1040 but you and the Lord.

That's why say people fake it there because they don't worry about anybody seen it.

That's where you would know that's what you know and so our goal is to give to the Lord in such a way that an IRS agent would pick up schedule a look at it and say man I'll tell you one thing this person right here is the love of Jesus Christ until you penetrating well I hope today I given us all completely different Outlook whole different perspective on giving to the Lord a biblical perspective, a perspective that will transform our giving from an active duty in an active obligation in an active guilt into an act of worship and an act of excitement and an active boy. These that will launch.

I got everything you're saying but you know it leaves me still was some question. I mean like for example how how much does the Lord want me to give. I mean, Abraham gave Melchizedek 10%. I mean is that the does God want me to give 10%. Does God want me to give more than 10% does not want me to give less than 10% and you know window I given do I get out of my grocer, do I get out of my net and I got all these questions whether great questions, friends, and guess what were the answer next week. That's right that's right, we are and I hope after the day that you come next week. Okay I hope you'll be back next week and the and you know what I want you to know my heart friends. I'm not out to get to give more money to McLean Bible Church. Anything else I'm just out to teach the word of God in such a way that if you're going to give that you do it right and you get the joy that God built into it for you if you're not going to do that. Don't do it at all. Let's do it right will is not doing so. I hope you understand where I'm coming from and the thanks for your kind attention was pray for Jesus. So, we realize that what we talked about today is a touchy subject and yet here McLean Bible church, we can avoid one of the most common and important subjects in the Bible just because it's touching, we have to teach on it.

We have to teach on it properly. We have to teach on it righteously. We have to teach on it with integrity. The Lord we have to teach the Bible so I pray people today would understand my motive that it truly is to teach us how to give in a way that we get everything out of it you put in it for us, that we get the joy, the excitement out of that you've built to and the blessing so Lord use what we talked about today use that question about the IRS really challenge our thinking to bring us around to the point where we become biblical givers because we understand what the Bible teaches about and we conformed our behavior to the word of God. So Lord, we commit the teaching of the word of God that we did today.

Do you use it to change your heart and we pray these things in Jesus name. What are God's people say a man