Let’s say, you want to build something - something big
-like a house, or cabin, or business
What does it take - to build something big?
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? MONEY! Right?
Maybe, you thought - it will take a plan - or it will take a vision - maybe time
-but high on the list of things needed for most building projects - is money
We started a study in the O.T. book of Ezra & our theme has been rebuilding
-however, we’re not talking about building a house or even a church building
-we’re talking about building our lives
-building our lives up to what God wants them to be
Ezra is about the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem
-it was all broken down & destroyed some years earlier
-at the hands of the Babylonians
-& that was all a part of God’s judgment on the nation of Israel
-they were suppose to be God’s special people
-people who were to be witnesses to the world of God’s glory
-yet, over the years, they had fallen away from God
& lived for & worshipped idols
-they got carried away by the sinful practices of the non-believing people
-of the world around them
What’s been amazing to us,
-even as God is announcing this punishment
-He has promises to wonderfully bring His people back
-to their promised land
-& so, this book is about rebuilding
-as we see how God’s people rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem
We’ve been contemplating the very real possibility that we may, at times,
-or even all the time - need a rebuilding of our lives
-physically
-emotionally
-socially
-spiritually
-it’s not hard to think of ways in which our bodies get worn down
-we easily feel the weight of our emotions being broken
-we always seem to be struggling with some kind of relationship breakdown
-& how about our relationship with God - it could be built up much better
-& there are those major periods where we go through long desert stretches
-of spiritual dryness
-times where we’ve neglected the important maintenance required
-to keep our spiritual house standing - & so things get broken down
-in our relationship with God
-& so, once again, it’s a time for rebuilding - rebuilding of our lives
-& by extension - our church
-God wants to build the church or believers - through us
As we look at the rebuilding of Jerusalem & think of our own lives
& own church that need to be rebuilt by God
-ask the question again - What does it take to build & rebuild?
One important thing, is MONEY!
-look at the rebuilding of Jerusalem
-remember, how God had raised up the king of Persia, just for this purpose
-God was, of course behind this all
-however, though God is the ultimate builder,
-it takes sacrifice & giving on our part
Ezra 1:2-4
"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
"'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Anyone of his people among you — may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.'"
Cyrus gives the royal decree to rebuild Jerusalem
-to the glory & praise of the true living God
-but it is going to take some giving
-& when we think of giving for the Lord’s work
-think of basically three aspects
1. Time
2. Talent
3. Treasure - or money
-it’s all needed
-all three are needed from us, in our building of our own lives
-of our own church
-& all three will be demonstrated in the process of re-building Jerusalem
Today, we’re going to focus on the need to give of our finances - our treasure
Where did the money come from to build the temple?
-it came from three basic sources:
1. Offerings from the brothers & sisters who were supporting the mission
2. Offerings from the King
3. Offerings from those who were on the mission themselves
The king instructed/commanded the people who didn’t go
-to help out with offerings & they did
Ezra 1:5-9a
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites — everyone whose heart God had moved — prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. 7 Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god. 8 Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
Not only did this king, who wasn’t necessary what we’d call a believer,
-as far as we know
-not only did he instruct God’s people to share in this mission
-he sacrificially gave himself
9 This was the inventory: . . .
gold dishes 30
silver dishes 1,000
silver pans 29
gold bowls 30
matching silver bowls 410
other articles 1,000
11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along
when the exiles came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
So, those going on this mission to rebuild Jerusalem
-were greatly supported by those who were staying
-& they were, let’s say, supplemented by the government - the king gave
-& ultimately, they made a huge sacrifice from their own savings
& belongings
Ezra 2:64-70
The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 200 men and women singers. 66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
68 When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments.
70 The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.
Let’s take this opportunity, to consider a few points that have to do with giving
-financial giving to the Lord & His work of building
-His Kingdom - His Church
There are a few principles & points to make
1. We should give sacrificially
-that’s an overall - overriding principle when it comes to living for the Lord
-we give of our time, talents & treasures to serve God
-we give our lives for & to God - completely & wholly
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
When we think of giving financially to help support God’s work - in our case
-the building of the church
-even the building of our own lives
-it will come with some sacrificial giving
-God calls on us to give financially for what He’s building
Let’s also look at one of my favorite passages
-that help us understand some great principles on giving
2 Corinthians 8:1-5
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 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.
2. It’s a joy to give financially to the Lord’s work
You see that in these people from Macedonia -
-they made big sacrifices - which is our first point
-but, they were overflowing with joy as they gave!
-this is the way God wants it to be:
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Give with joy
-& our third point - God blesses the giver!
3. We’re blessed by God when we give - ultimately, God takes care of us
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Accordingly, God, in some ways, makes us rich!
Maybe not financially - but in blessings
-Paul quoted Jesus: “It’s more blessed to give than receive”
We are blessed by God when we give
4. Financial giving should be done in the greater context
-of the giving of our lives to the Lord
-I think you see that in the people who were rebuilding Jerusalem
-& you see that in Paul’s writing to the Corinthians
2 Corinthians 8:5 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.
God wants mainly our lives
-we give our lives to God - then our financial giving is a byproduct
-of our giving our lives
-we give our lives to God - then we give whatever it takes for God’s work
-our time, talents & money
2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Now, how much should we give?
5. Our giving is motivated by God’s giving to us
-we don’t give because we’re forced to give
-we give because we want to give - motivated by God’s giving to us
-His grace motivates us - not His law
2 Corinthians 8:8-9
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
God loved us & gave us His all - His everything
-that motivates us to give for Him
So, how much should we, therefore, give?
6. We should give according to our means - a percentage of what we have
-with the rebuilding of Jerusalem:
Ezra 2:69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work
-in Paul’s writings to the Corinthians:
Ezra 10-15
And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."
In the O.T. - they were mandated by law to give a tithe of 10% of their earnings
-& then, as in Ezra, special gifts were given beyond that
-& these added up to quite a bit
Ezra 2:68-69
When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments.
-that’s ½ ton of gold & 3 tons of silver!
Now, in the N.T. letters to the churches
-there is no mention of an actual percentage or tithe to be given
-we’re just encouraged to give according to our means
-to give regularly
-& as already stated, to give cheerfully
We are not motivated to give according to the law - that mandated 10%
-but we should pick a percentage
-& since in the law it was 10% to begin with for the tithe,
-it would make sense to us today, now motivated by God’s grace,
-to give at least 10% on a regular basis & then special offerings in addition
I believe that’s how believers in the church over the years have figured giving
-at least a 10% tithe of gross income - mainly to the local church
-& then special gifts - like to missionaries & those in special need
-though, of course, the church also gives to missionaries & special needs
-in fact, that’s how we’ve tried to keep our budget in our church
-since we began 20 years ago
-we give around 10% of our budget to support missionaries & missions
7. And here’s one more principle - our giving pleases God
-God is blessed when we give - & that’s the best way to have it
-when God is blessed
-of course, as we bless God - we’re blessed in return
2 Corinthians 9:12-15
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
So, there you have some basic principles on giving
1. We should give sacrificially
2. It’s a joy to give
3. We are blessed as we give
4. We should give ourselves to God
5. Our giving is motivated by God’s giving to us
6. We should give in proportion to our earnings
10% is a good basic place to start
7. Our giving pleases & blesses God
God promised to rebuild Jerusalem - & this is the beginning
God moved through a king & rallied His people to this important mission
-rebuilding the Holy City
-& rebuilding the nation of Israel
-& therefore, rebuilding the people of God
-though it was God at work
-it took a considerable work of the people - giving by the people
-giving of their time - certainly - they picked up their lives & families
& journeyed back to a broken down place
-giving of their talents - we’ll see this in the building of the temple
-& also, the giving of their treasures - their finances - it took money
Is there a need for some rebuilding in your life? In our church?
-it will take some giving on our part
-it doesn’t just happen as we neglect our responsibility to follow God
-& it doesn’t just come magically
-there’s no magic Genie who gives us three wishes
-it takes sacrifice on our part
-sacrificial giving is a way of life when it comes to following God
-but with giving - there come blessings
-we’re blessed & God is blessed & that’s the most very best way to have it
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