Beautiful Giving | Colin D Cruz

This message was preached by Colin D Cruz at Word of Grace Church  Pune, on the 27th October 2013. 

 Every year we have a Gift Day when we bring an Offering to help fund all we do in this nation and Regions Beyond. 

Why should we give? How should we give? Should the church be talking about money?

Read and listen to this  message.

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When it comes to money, many are hesitant to talk about it. We consider it a very personal matter and quote “don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is giving”

But notice that Jesus felt no such compulsions and He spoke openly, intentionally on money and greed. 15% of what Jesus spoke about was on possessions and giving. The bible has more to say on giving than on prayer, heaven,hell and discipleship.

What does this tell you? Its significant and it matters.

Let’s look at what are God’s thoughts on giving.

Mark 14:1 the Alabaster Jar. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead and now he is visiting again. A dinner is prepared in his honour at Simon the leper’s house. Simon must have had leprosy but has since been healed. Mary comes with the Alabaster jar and breaks it at his feet. This got people’s attention.

What was the jar worth? One year’s wages (v5) think of how much you earn in a year. But she just took it and expended the whole thing on Jesus. She was lavish, extravagant and generous. This shocked the daylights out of everyone. The strange thing is that the others rebuked her and criticized her harshly.

WHAT DOES JESUS THINK ABOUT THIS EXTRAVAGANT GIVING?

John12:3  She is expressing adoration and devotion She was not thinking with her head but doing it with her heart.

1    .    Mark 14:6 “Leave her alone” She has done a beautiful thing to me. He did not think it was a waste but recognized it as worship. The poor you will have- but there is a time for worship.

2.    So it was not just beautiful but was a prophetic action and Jesus recognized it. She was preparing him for his burial. This happened two days before his death.

3.    Therefore our giving should be timely. Make 26, Luke 24 They went with spices to embalm the body of Jesus verse 2 there was no body to anoint now. They missed their chance. So let’s not miss out on the chance to give . You don’t know if you will be here next year.

4.    Mark 14:9 What she done will be told – she is immortalized for this act.

5.    But here we also have a betrayer. Judas. He feigned worship i.e a kiss of betrayal. Both doing acts of love: one was genuine and the other not.

We can go through the motions of giving but it’s not heartfelt.

2013  Beautiful giving. Is our giving beautiful? i.e we are giving our first fruits and not our leftovers. She did not give something she got in month. She must have saved this over some time and she gives it all.

Jer. 17:9 “the heart is deceitful” We need to put things in perspective. We can spend on ourselves, buy a phone worth 40,000 and give a fraction to the offering. Remember where your treasure is there your heart will also be.

A framer sows looking forward to harvest. 2Cor 9:6  So also as we sow, we will reap. God loves cheerful giving without any compulsion. Jesus will look at it and say it’s a beautiful thing. You can give via cheque, NEFT or an IOU that you will redeem in time. I want faith to rise in our midst this morning.

Jesus said we store up for ourselves treasure in heaven when we do this.

       Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log ontowww.wordofgracechurch.org.

    English Language Service Sundays at 10am. Please check google maps for directions!