CHAPTER 29: THE ART OF GIVING 2024

Those of us who have kids know what happens when you ask your little ones to share their toys. Usually, it’s a fight and it’s never easy and in the end toys are shared begrudgingly and probably with a tantrum or two.

Then the other end of the spectrum. Those who give just to be “THE” Big Shot in the room, showing everyone how “humble and giving one can be.” And then there is Chapter 29, the Art of Giving. Let’s begin on what to do by noting what not to do.

Luke 18:11-14 New International Version (NIV)
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I can safely say the Tax Collector is still blessed today. Look, if you’re going to give, it’s better to give too much than too little. Sometimes if you’re going to be stupid when giving just don’t, it’s better that you remain invisible rather than incompetent. And I’m not talking about Christmas bonus to the employees, that is a payroll expense that is almost a mandatory minimum requirement. I’m talking about something that is so much more.

Yes, to your church, one. Two, yes to those people who have helped you without a measure, things money can’t buy. Honor, integrity, fellowship, support, money can’t buy such things, when you have them respect them.

When God has given you, give to Him, but do it correctly, with Honor and direction by Him. You are CEO’s and you have been given more responsibility than most. Give with that in mind, I must understand in my own mind what is happening with funds in a church and God has given me eyes to see. Give to church that is doing the work, clearly. For those of you on bible study Tuesday morning, Pastor Jason’s church is accountable to God and I honor that as does the Lord’s work in the rebuilding of a neighborhood in the deep south where five dollars feeds a homeless man for a week, and that leaves a person nearly dead. If you do not understand The Art of Giving, how can you understand the following scripture?

Psalm 149:5-9 New King James Version
Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment—This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!

Do you understand that passage? Of course you don’t and neither did I until I’d studied scripture a long time. It is saying that in the second coming of Christ, you and me, will be part of God’s wrath against a disobedient and evil people on Earth. How could any of us do that without a heart of truth and fairness? An opportunity taught to us by Him, right here in our own lives, hopefully before we die. And for those of you saving your money for retirement, be advised, you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow, much less retirement. Take care of who you have in your life right now, in the now.., things I’ve learned. How did I learn? How many people have I known that are not here anymore? They died, long before they had a chance to say thank you to those who had helped them beyond measure. Listening to your broker is a lot different than listening to the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 1:18-19 New King James Version But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.

There are a number of important ways to give. Let’s talk about money, first. Why? Money is always the issue I have seen. All in the name of what is good and honorable. But it’s not. Not really. Everybody pretends until they actually believe it themselves. I’m old, I’ve seen it, I’ve done it, I know. Money is an asset, depending on how one uses it. Be grateful for what has been given, yes, and then what? Let’s start with an obvious reality. We’re all stingy, and selfish and will give, if push comes to shove, but secretly begrudgingly, no different than a child, with one exception, now we have grown up and learned all about entitlement.

Oh yea, the old and most greatest word in the loser library. “I earned it, I keep it, it’s mine.” Kind of sounds like a Christmas Carol. It’s Christmas, my name is Scrooge and I’m a professional grumbler. “Merry Friggin’ Christmas, begger, taste the sole of my boot!” Right? Am I right? We totally feel like that, just not brave enough to say it? Or are we. Yes, we are, in a state of entitlement, absolutely we would say such things. Oh yea, absolutely.

On the other hand, we’d rather give to those who “we need,” rather than those who deserve it. Kind of like a bribe. Those who make our lives convenient, big shot employer. We go on vacation while all the minions work and send money. As an example, instead of giving to the church or to those critical allies who keep my family safe, and support me in love and wisdom, instead, pay an employee an exorbitant amount of money so said employee stays at my shop, works like the dog I think he is, while I prance around as “the man” handing out bribe money.

Unfortunately, if the truth be know, said employee thinks I make too much money anyway, is envious, takes the money and quits anyway, flips me off, steals more from me before said employee leaves, saying all the while that “that bastard could’ve been giving me all that money all along.”

Expectations of giving, they can be very disappointing and ruin relationships. The art of giving is a slippery slope. Genuine is the word to guide the heart, unselfish, gracious, respectful always when giving money. Honest yields respect to see the truth of what God has given in your life and how selfish I have been in the course of it. What’s the answer? Chapter 29 is the answer. The Art of Giving. Giving to those who need or do not need, those who do not expect the gift, to those who have given to you and your family. And what they’ve given to you is more than was ever necessary, but it was needed and your whole life was made better from the relationship. Now, what will you do when the harvest comes in? Yea, think about that. God does that for you, what are you going to do, for Him and those He has brought to you?

Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Do you know what that means? No, you don’t, and again, neither did I, until I did. When you do know what it means, your knees will become weak, and your head dizzy from the weight of what truly has been done for you. At that very moment you’ll know what it means to manipulate people for selfish gain with cash money blessings the Lord has provided to you. He knows your heart, and you know your heart. Listen to me, this lesson is huge.

Sharing the blessing is a test of character and what God will create in me is infinite, only restricted by what I fail to do, knowing the right thing. Stubborn and selfish, all for personal gain, that is a problem. There is no style or love in begrudgingly giving or Big Shot giving. It’s all selfishly motivated, and if honest, manipulative with consequences. Still we fool ourselves into “all that we’ve done” and an indignant attitude if we don’t get what we want, including adulation. Saying things like “after all I did for you, blah, blah, blah..”

Job 5:8-9
“But as for me, I would seek God, and to Good I would commit my cause..Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.

How can I pay it forward if I stubbornly stay the same as I’ve always been, even after all the Lord has done for me? How can I graciously, wonderfully and lovingly tell my story if I still live my way, without the Word, with God’s name only, not His precepts. How can I give, like Christ, even a little bit if I don’t truly know Christ? What scripture would I use to describe the heart I wish I had in God? Where is God taking you, if you’ll let Him? To a city, a very special city…, listen to this description.

Revelation 21:11, 23-24, 26
(The City of God) Having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

That passage describes the New Jerusalem, in the thousand year reign of Christ on this Earth. A Jerusalem above the land of Jerusalem, where God will reside, sharing fellowship with His people. He gives residence there for you. Only a saint can live there. God says we will all go there as believers in Christ. Believer in Christ is the key word, the operative word, the essential word. Does God expect anything in return for your salvation? Only that you believe in the cross, the resurrection and Christ across the board.

“There should never be a spirit of payback, or manipulation in giving. Rather a spirit of “great blessing and honor for another ““that you are in my life, may I assist your family in a way suitable to the heart I have for you, whether you need or not, ask or not, it is my gift to you.””

Pretty elegant set of words, right? Try it. It’s nearly impossible.

There’s an old joke about a guy lost at sea. His boat having sunk, he promises a long list of items he will do if the Lord will only save his life. As he begins to swim he sees land and the closer he gets to the land, the less and less he keeps his verbal promises. Upon actually arriving on the beach, the list has been reduced to a lot of “best efforts” promises and “maybe if I have time” phraseology instead of the deal originally on the table. Let’s not be that guy. What kind of person do I hope I am?

Luke 10:30-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

What if the guy on the side of the road wasn’t a guy at all. What if he was an angel of God and this was a test for all the pious people that walked by. Hmm, food for thought. There are wonderful quiet individuals that do the financing and the work of God’s church behind the curtain, under the radar, busy about the Lord’s work. You may find them setting up chairs on Sunday morning, Wednesday mid-week they may be on a greeting committee, or walking the halls of church as a security team member. So, I’ll just help the church or my allies with my time instead of money? Yea, there we go, there’s the jack-ass in me.

When it comes to money, that is an entirely next level of giving. Why? Because the devil is all over that. Chapter 29 is about an artful way of giving, a brilliant, creative way of surprising another soul with complete and total gift of giving. The art of giving. What does that sound like? Well, for God, it’s easy, you and Him talk about it and you then know what to do and do it, hopefully. When it becomes about people in your life, well that’s very different. Let me give you an example. I call my buddy Bob on the phone, who has been there for me and my company through all the trials and tribulations of my work and my family through it. Bob, could be anything in my life, a professional, teacher, child care, ally in the most difficult of times and for a long time. Here we go. Example #1.

“Bob, you’ve been very special in my life and I’d like to do something for you as you’ve always been there for me. I’m giving you quite a sum amount to express to your family and God what a blessing you’ve been in my life. I couldn’t of done it without your help, so there’s no reason not to share in the harvest. I know you don’t necessarily need it, but you didn’t necessarily need me when we met, but you stayed with me anyway. I’d like to keep this between us, I’m grateful we met. Be blessed, brother, from me to you.” That is honor, kids. Let’s try another one.

“Ralph, when you go home tonight, I want to apologize in advance. You know that fence around your house, it’s definitely seen better days and you been talking about it for a long while. I took the liberty of replacing the fence and resurfacing your driveway, it’s the only way I could say, you rock, buddy, forever. I hope you’ll forgive me for the intrusion, but dude, you’ve always been there for me and I couldn’t done any of this without you, I appreciate you and I hope it’s enough, but I don’t know how it could be, you da’ man, dog.” That is honor, believe it.

Proverbs 18:24 “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”

Honor or loyalty cannot be bought. It either is or it is not in a person. Satan causes division, dissension, broken hearts, disappointment and so on in the area of giving. Now, let’s talk about Christmas bonuses again. Company bonus scenarios are a normal course of payroll, the boss would like to believe that the employees are singing “all hail to the boss”, but they’re not, it’s expected, not too much, not too little. Never forget that.

Elegance and humility, is given as a reflection of God in the mirror, the Holy Spirit is inside of you. If there’s anything else in the mirror, change it, right now. Search yourself, find God’s you.

Psalm 138 You have exalted Your name
and Your promise above everything else.
3 On the day I called, You answered me;
You increased strength within me.[b]

I’ve always said, if you want to make a jerk, throw a man in a glass of water, add money and stir. Given the opportunity to give, do it right, keep your selfish nature out of it.

Proverbs 3:9-10
New International Version (NIV)
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Malachi 3:9-11 New Living Translation 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Mark 12:41-44 New International Version The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

What if I just don’t feel like it. That my friends is self righteous, a vicious spirit, kill it inside of you, never let it breathe again.

Proverbs 11:24-25
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.  The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.

Every Pastor has learned to help those in need. Often those people who are so grateful for the help at the beginning, as things get better, they turn their back on God and the Pastor Marriages that had been on the rocks, businesses, and sometimes children, lives at stake and all restored. Then, after everything’s okay, people forget…

Proverbs 26:11 New American Standard Bible  Like a dog that returns to its vomit, So is a fool who repeats [a]his foolishness.

Oh yes, my friends with God there comes great responsibility and that responsibility there comes great personal testing.

James 1:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

You’ve been given so much kids, look for the opportunity to give too much, quietly, to those who truly matter to your family, when matter meant everything. Chapter 29 The Art of Giving.

Paint a picture with the hand of God. Title it:
“colors in my life, painted because of You, let me be Your example…”
Is this chapter for everybody? I don’t know, make sure it is for you…Amen.