042. Contributions

042. Contributions

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CONTRIBUTIONS

INTRODUCTION We should be interested in thePRACTICEnot aTHEORY.

Hard to get people to learn a thing they DO NOT WANT to do. My reason for preaching this subject . (Php 4:17.) I. GOD HAS ALWAYS REQUIRED A SACRIFICE 1. Cain and Abel. (Genesis 4:3-8; Hebrews 11:4.) 2. Noah. (Gen . 8:20.) The first thing Noah did AFTER the flood.

3. Children of Israel offered a t least twenty kinds of sacrifices.

II. OUR RELATION TO MA TERJAL THINGS 1. The earth and the fullness of it, the Lord’s. (Psalms 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26.) 2. We brought nothing here, take nothing away.

3. We are just OVERSURE of what we POSSESS. (Job 1:21; Ecclesiastes 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 6:7.) 4. What we give is already God’s. (1 Chronicles 29:14.) 5. We must give God the best.

III. HOW MUCH SHALL WE GIVE?

1. First give ourselves; the other is easy. (2 Corinthians 8:5.) 2. Law of Moses required one tenth for priests. (Leviticus 27:30-32; Numbers 18:24.) 3. Give LIBERALLY, FREELY, WILLINGLY as PROSPERED. (1 Corinthians 16:2.) 4. Give as there is need of giving.

5. May be responsible for not having something to give.

6. Labor for two purposes.

(a) Support self. (Titus 3:14.) (b) To give. (Acts 20:35.) IV. EXAMPLES OF GIVING.

1. Jerusalem church gave all . (Acts 4:32-37.) 2. God approved this because there was a need.

3. The churches of Macedonia gave beyond their power. (2 Corinthians 8:3.) V. WHEN AND HOW SHOULD WE GIVE?

1. When.

(a) Regularly. (1 Corinthians 16:12.) (b) As occasion demands. (1 John 3:17.)

2. How.

(a) Through the church. (Php 4:15-17.) (b) As individuals . (Acts 20:35; Galatians 6:10.)

CONCLUSION Any person or church seeing a needy person or needed work must divide what he has regardless of its prosperity to help.