Well, we are into message five. How time flies. So, this evening, we are going to look at another aspect of giving, based upon the resources that we are given. Please. I'm giving. And also tithe and offering. Okay, let us begin a word of prayer. Let us pray.
Almighty God, our, our loving heavenly Father, how we praise and thank Thee for Thy goodness and faithfulness in our lives. We thank You, Lord, for salvation, so rich and free. We thank You for good health and strength. And we are so thankful for the privilege and honour to be able to come before Thy throne of grace, to learn of Thy word, and how we may be wise unto salvation.
One after Lord, the wisdom that we need, the understanding that we may know Thy word, and also to apply Thy word in our lives, that we may be a blessing to the people around us. Cleanse us, O Lord, from our sins. We commit this time unto Thy loving hand. In Jesus' name we pray.
Now, we will go into two separate sides soon: giving alms, and then after that, I will deal with tithe and offering. If what I deal with, alms giving.
Now, we know that alms giving is not restricted to Christians only. If you understand what is alms giving, it is a form of charitable giving, helping the poor, helping the needy, looking after the physical needs, or the basic needs, of those who are poor, of those who are in need.
Now, anyone can do that. Any religion can do that. You talk about... I need to talk about organisations. It can be religious, it can be non-religious. It can be Christian, it can also be non-Christian. The very general understanding of alms giving.
I'm talking in our Christian context. The way we do alms giving must be different. We cannot be the same, because we are supposed to be the shining light. We must not forget that after salvation, God did not call us home immediately. We are purposefully intentionally left behind for a purpose, for a mission.
So we have the Great Commission. We are called to go into all the world, now to preach the gospel, to make disciples. So we have the Great Commission. We are to go forth to share the gospel to those who are in darkness. Now, they may come to Christ and find salvation in Him.
So when we do alms giving, we must do so with that purpose. Okay, we must always do that with that purpose. But how do we do alms giving? Now, let us look at the passage that teaches us about alms giving. Turn to Matthew chapter 6, verses 1 to 4.
Okay, Matthew chapter 6, verses 1 to 4. Okay, let us read all these verses together. Okay, ready to go.
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, Himself shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:1–4)
Amen. May the Lord bless the reading of His holy and trusted Word.
After the practice of almsgiving, it is taught by the Lord Jesus Himself. It is not an option. Okay, because Jesus says, in verse 1, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men." And then, in verse 2, He says, "Therefore, when thou doest thine alms." So it's not something which is an option. We should do alms, which we must do alms, as much as the Lord bless us. It doesn't matter how much, we must do our, okay? So expected of art, another word.
Now, 1st for your age, you do not have the earning power. But it's good to be prepared. It's good to have this knowledge, not just as giving tithe and offering. No, you do not have the earning power yet. But the time will come when you are given the 1st paycheque of your life. This 1st paycheque is important. Okay, what are you gonna do with this 1st paycheque?
So, the giving, the giving towards God in the right attitude is what we must learn. So the practice of almsgiving must be done with the right purpose, with the right attitude. And one of the dangers in giving alms for Christian is compromising the true gospel of Jesus Christ. And this compromise compromised data is very subtle. It is so subtle that you may not even realise, because when you give, the one who we see will not complain about you. You will be full of gratitude.
In fact, in fact, those who receive from you, they will remember you for your kindness, for your goodness, for your generosity. And because they remember you, you feel that, wow, you know, you feel the world. You feel that you have done something good. But what is a godly purpose? What is the Christian weakness that you ought to impact this person, more than just a physical thing?
So that's why almsgiving ought to be done in a Christian way. It's not to be done in our way, okay? Or in the world's way. Okay, so we need to have the foundation of such giving.
So what is giving alms or almsgiving? You know, it simply refers to the acts of charitable giving directed to those who are in need. And the word alms is closely connected with the word mercy, or even the word compassion. Okay, it's more than just generosity, it's done with the heart. The heart of compassion. You feel for the person. That's why you give.
Okay, so it is intentional giving to really suffering. Or even to make a life better. Okay, to make someone's life better. So almsgiving may include giving food to the hungry, helping the poor financially, those who are widows or often they need further support. So you look after them. And then those who are sick, those who are disabled, you try to provide the help that they need.
Providing shelter, providing clothing, or even helping big themes of crisis or disaster, and supporting those who are unable to care for themselves.
So these are some practical, the thing that we see in almsgiving. But these are all general definitions of upkeeping, which we can participate. But when we do almsgiving, it must be done according to God's will. So God must be in the picture when we do almsgiving.
It is not because not our resources, not yours, not mine, but God's resources. We are going to use God's resources to do almsgiving. So we cannot, anyhow, huh, we cannot, uh, do the same as others. Others referring to unbelievers or even other faith.
Okay, I hope I set this foundation of almsgiving clear. Now, how do we get this biblical teaching on almsgiving? Now, almsgiving is also taught in the Old Testament. Turn your Bible to Deuteronomy chapter 24, verses 19 to 21.
Okay, Deuteronomy chapter 24, verses 19 to 21. Now, we need to know this because... The testimony is real. It's called to be the national witness. So what they do is of great importance. So it's not given to them for fun. It's not given to them with all the rules to make their life miserable. No, it is so that they may shine.
Because they are to be different from the world. So that when they do all these things, obeying all the laws, when they shine, the world will see the light, and they will look to the God of Israel. And that's how they are to be the national witness.
So what are they supposed to do? Deuteronomy chapter 24, verses 19 to 21.
"When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow." (Deuteronomy 24:19–21)
That is the picture.
Let us not have the negative picture of this passage. What is a negative picture? Not a negative picture is, well, because you have forgotten a sheaf in the field. When you do your harvesting, then suddenly you left something behind. You forgot to harvest this part. It's an oversight on your part. That's a negative, isn't it?
Same thing for the olive tree. When you try to harvest the olive tree, there will be some part that you miss. Is that also an oversight? And then when you gather the grape of vineyard, I don't want to pass through, there may be some that you may miss. Again, it is also an oversight, isn't it?
Though from men's perspective, this is all human error, human oversight. Though your work is not complete in the sense. But from God's perspective, God sees through. Because of your weakness, because of your error, because of your oversight, all these that you have not harvested, let it be.
Why? Because they can be for the poor, for the needy, and even for the stranger. What the strangers would refer to... non-Jews living in the land of Israel. Okay? That is a positive picture. Okay, when you look from God's perspective, it is positive.
But if you look from man's perspective, it is negative. So which perspective do we look? Now, by the way, when we look from God's perspective, it doesn't mean that God therefore condone callousness. No, that's not what God is saying. Due to your callousness, yet I know you want to go back and fulfil your responsibility. But God says, okay, so now because of a carelessness, these, they have not been harvested. Let that be reserved for the needy.
The wisdom of God has been put into man's carelessness. I hope you can see that. Though the Lord wanted the both one in me to be careful. Because the wisdom of God is so marvellous. It's beyond this world. But otherwise, how to care for these people. Either it. Forgotten is higher wisdom. Gave such an instruction. Oh, it's interesting how God provided for the hungry and the needy in the Old Testament.
So the idea here is no need to be so thorough, to be covering every area, to be coloured a bit. Leave some, they are unhumpeted for the poor. Deliberate for the holy intent, in other words. Not encouraging caliph nerd, but if you are if you are fully coloured, then let it be. Okay, that is a way out, and that is, to give to the poor.
Okay? That is a message. The message is not deliberately big colour. Because you can purposely be coloured, and then just do a bit of the harvesting. No, you are supposed to do the hard thing. S, your responsibility is. But if you have made a mistake, okay? Not intentional. That's something that is not harvested. Then just leave it be. God has intended that to be reserved for the poor. Okay? So that is the wisdom of God.
Now, now you need that, okay? Not only that. Okay, that is only one part of how God cared for the needy. Let us turn to activate opportunity 3 verse 11. Just one verse. Just one word. Because in the context, it tells us that Jewish farmers in Israel were instructed not to cover every corner of their fields. Part of the crop was to be remained available for the poor and the strangers.
So when we look at October 23 verse 11. But the 7th year, thou shalt let it rest, and lie still, that the poor of thy people may eat, and what they leave, the beast of the field shall eat, in like manner, doubt of deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive yard.
The seventh gear is the cyber drive for the land. So what has already been grown there? Must be given to the poor, and the strangers. Now, for the poor, we understand, there are poor people among the Jews. Okay, for whatever reason, they probably have fallen stick to therefore they cannot work. They got to pay for their medical expenses. So as a result, they are poor. They could not find work because of their sickness. So they are poor, you know, their own people. The Jews.
What about strangers? The strangers are not their own people. They are the they are the Gentiles. But probably auto needy. And probably also in the same condition that other poor Jews, having no work, no work means no income. And so these poor dental have left their own country, probably auto for the same reason, to come and to look for food and for a living.
Okay, when they come to Israel, you cannot find food. So God's people are here to show compassion to them. And let them be fat. But how are they going to know? I mean, these people, how are they going to know that there are these things not harvested? There are these crops, not harvested.
The poor and the strangers will be informed. That will be made known. Not because when God gave to them all these instructions, the stranger do not know this instructor. But the Jews themselves know. Until the Jews must let these poor expect the Gentile, the strangers, know that these are for them. Yeah, that's how they shine as national weakness. And that's how they come to know the God of Israel, who also have compassion over the poor.
Okay, so that's how Israel shine in the Old Testament. This is just one part, how they are taught to shine for the Lord. In arm giving, I'm giving. And of course, in the New Testament, we have just read in Matthew chapter 6, verse one to verse 4. Okay, we have to turn to this password.
Atokia, we see that I'm giving it expected of every believer. I think that I expected of every believer, how are we going to do, um, giving? The way it is going to be done matters. I thought there are three principles for us to learn.
First, arm giving is seeking God's approval. Not meant approval.
Now, as we see in this passage in Matthew chapter 6, verse one to verse 4, the Lord warn his disciple not to perform this righteous act to gain men's admiration. Because there are some people who gave in order to be recognised. They want people to applaud, to clap the hand, not to show their, their approval, huh? Their admiration.
Now that you have done a good thing. Instead, this giving should be done humbly. Sincerely before God, as much as possible behind the scenes. The least people know, the better.
And a lot used vivid language, not when he said not to sound a trumpet before giving. It is exaggerated. Who will want to blow a trumpet? Now when you blow a trumpet before giving. If like a very foolish way, isn't it? But it's exaggeration. There are those who purposely make known. I'm giving this out.
No, I mean, that's how I'm just I'm author exaggerating. How are you gonna give when the offering back path around, for example, later we will talk about giving tithe and offering. You show your currency, all the numbers, 100, 200, like, all the. Then the offering back is path. Okay, just put it.
Of course, now you are doing online, huh? But after we, after COVID, we resume our physical passing the opening back. I thought if you want to show off, you can, isn't it? All the ushers bring the offing, but you just... Whoa, you come with me, you come. No more. $100. And then after that, before that, you, then you slow motion, you know, as if there is some, some remote.
You just put it into the opening bag. You can show off, isn't it? If you want. I'm exaggerating. If there are those who want to show off, they will be able to do it some way, somehow. In some way, somehow.
In fact, I know of a member of another church, not in our church. How these arrivals, one of the, I think one of the congregational meeting. He foolishly stood up. And he said, I have given so much, he didn't say the amount, but he implied that he had given much to the church. I have given so much to the church, contributed much to the church, not given so much money. I should be entitled a parking lot under my name.
Oh, you see? Indirectly telling the people he had given a lot to the church. And so Ace will be entitled a parking lot that no one will park except him. Because his car probably quite big. Okay, and with the parking lot, every Sunday when we come to church, there will be a lot for him. Just because he gave months to the offering bank.
Now, some people can show off in this way, isn't it? But the Lord hates hypocrite. Because the hypocrites of the Lords, not the in the time of the Lord, desired man prays rather than God's approval.
Now, the focus is not secrecy for secrecy's sake, but the purity of your motive. God, the Father, who sees in secret, notice, we will notice every sincere act of mercy. People may not notice, never mind. But God knows. God knows, and it is all that matters.
You don't have to let anyone know. When you give people offing back, let this act be done in secret. Don't have to show off. Yeah, of course, when you do it electronically, no, you can't help. Your name will be there. The amount will be there. Okay? The one who receive it will know. So that one can't be helped before accountability sake. For record safe. Okay, so that all these will not go to somebody's pocket, then after that, you will surely go to the church account.
So, so we are living, living in such an era. So that's why for us, we have passed that. So we return. We return back to orphan back physical offering back. Okay, so that people will be able to give, I want to give, so that no one will know. so that I can give out of a cheerful heart.
Now, beside, not giving offering, you just one example. Maybe if you know of someone, in me. Can you buy a meal for the person? You can. Okay, maybe you can offer to buy some food. Maybe just now. Well, you see, the person is maybe very hungry. Offer your drum take.
You offer a drum take, you know, that we have a lot of drum takes. Each one has one drum pick. Are you willing to offer your dump thing? Oh, that's my only dumb take. Very precious. But are you willing to offer? If someone is hungry? I thought you can do that, right? You can do that.
Now, of course, we, over here, I trust none of us, uh, really in me. But we think of those who are really in need. Are we able to think of them? Remember also when we think of them, think also how we can share the gospel with them.
They took... I'm giving. I'm kidding. So this 1st seeking man's approval must be removed from us. We must only seek God's approval, not man's approval, the approval. And so when we do alms, okay, when we do alms, we must be compassionate. The reason is because God is compassionate. I thought we must learn to be compassionate, just that God is compatible.
Now, to be compassion is something from the heart. Because all these acts, you can see from the outside. So no one will be able to tell for sure whether you are sincere or not in giving.
Okay, but putting others aside, you know, whether people see or not, put them all aside. It is you. Because what you are going to do will be seen. If you are not giving out from a heart of compassion, your giving will be hypocritical, isn't it? And we do not want our giving to be hypocritical. We want our giving to be done in sincerity.
Okay, God evaluate the heart. Okay, let not something that is done outward be done in vanity. But rather, let it be done with sincerity, according to what God has commanded us.
Do you know why the Lord bless you? The Lord bless you so that you can bless others. The Lord bless you, not that you, wah, enjoy yourself, and you hold it all these resources for your own comfort. The Lord wants you to share. The Lord wants you to be compassionate.
Well, how many of us have more than one ticket? Okay. Or one, one shirt, not that we like. I'm sure we all have our wardrobe may be full of our clothes. And some we did not even, we are not even wearing anymore. Whether shirt or pants. But it is there.
Have you ever noticed anyone who wears the same shirt? Again and again. Don't we need to be observant? All these are not... You know, the way that God blessed us is so that we may observe people around us so that we may be able to help them. Find ways of opportunity so that we can share the gospel.
So when we do alms, it is for the gospel's sake.
About today, probably the church is in a better position to help the needy one. Now, if they are able to come into the church, the trust leaders will be the first contact, not to dig people.
So I remember a few years before COVID, but we still come into office. And after, after, after COVID, we are to stay home.
And of course, after COVID, we work from home. So now we don't go to church as often. But before COVID, I'm always in the office. Thought I was a few times, people knock on the door. You can from the upward, you can tell that the person, you know, you know, the person is in need.
So when a person open a mouth, you know that the person will ask for money. Of course, before I gave, I would ask, you know, what happened to you? What is the situation? Then you was there. Well, have you have a lunch? Let's go for lunch. Don't worry, I'll pay for your lunch. Then we have, then we will talk over lunch. Then I will get to share the gospel.
But then he reject, he said, You have to give me the money. Huh? I don't eat lunch. Then why do you need the money for? Oh, because I'm hungry. That's why we go for lunch.
Oh, no, no, no need, no need. You just give me the money, I will just go. Then you know that that person is up to no good. Why can't I buy him lunch? You're hungry?
I thought we have to be wise. And there are those whom you can see from outside. Oh, bloodshot eyes. And then when you stand near, you can smell the smoke. And then the person does not stand steadily. You know that the person is drinking. When you ask for money, you know.
If you were to give him money, the money will be spent on smoking and drinking. So were you gay? You won't gay. I thought, at time, you have to be white, but they are genuine cases, not genuine cases, that the person is really in need.
And these are the ones are willing to be helped. When I invite them for lunch, they will go for lunch. And then when I share the gospel with them, they are willing to listen. When I invite them to church, they come. They hear the gospel.
I probably do not use any tricks, not to force them to believe. Everything is free will, if we will, we don't pause them. But we use that as an opportunity.
Okay, we do alms giving in that manner. Well, I believe that will be no difference. So we make sure, okay? We make sure the primary duty of the church of every church member. Every 2 believers, to know that we are the pre-cospel.
So what we do, I'm giving, I'll be ready to shut it off, but they be ready to shut it off. They'll be compassionate. Even a god is compassionate.
Okay, so that is almsgiving. Okay, so I'll leave it to you. Okay, I will not force it upon you, because you, the allowances that you have come from your parent.
Okay? They may not give you mark. What they have given you may be sufficient for your consumption. But just take note that there is this almsgiving. Okay? The day that you are able to do any almsgiving, whether it be ¢10, ¢20 to help someone in need, you must do so, having the gospel in your mind.
Because this person may go away fat, go away being helped, but he will still end up in hell without Christ. No, we must always remember this. So, do not let them go away without hearing the gospel, or at least give a tract. Give a gospel tract. So that the person will come to know that we give because of Christ. God's love is our motivation.
Why we help those who are in need? Okay, so that is almsgiving.
Now, we come to giving tithe and offering. The tithe and offering. Now, tithe and offering in our mind, oftentimes it's a money form. Well, I remember in Africa, a lot of in Thailand. I can only say for Africa and Thailand, because this is something I experience.
So in Africa, in Kenya, I was in a worship service. And then the people come forward with their offering. You know what is the offering? The offering is sweet corn, pineapple, watermelon. I put the altar table is very big. Okay, I think I can't remember how big. But they put all their offerings on the table. Okay? Before the service, everything there.
And some even brought car, you know, the car, you will not bring into the sanctuary because you may dirty the place. So they bring it behind. Although that's the 1st time. When it come to offering, these are what the people give.
So there are those who give money. Okay, of course, money. But there are those who give in kind, all these crops. So that's your giving, also same for Thailand. For is the 1st time, it was an eye-opening experience for me.
So whether money or in kind, the Lord desire us to give our tithe and offering. Okay, as a form of worship. That is why it is done during worship. Okay, it's done during worship.
So that's why even COVID time, we are not allowed to have any contact. So that's why, I believe, from that time onward, better follow how we are able to give online. We also did that online. Whether you QR code, you have a QR code very big projected on the screen so that people can give electronically online.
So that's no need for any contact, you know, because when we have contact with things that we pass around, during COVID time, very simply, isn't it? I told that's why there is a law that ban such collections. But of course, after COVID, it's up to individual churches, to whether continue or go back to the traditional way. There's nothing wrong, okay, there's nothing wrong.
Now, what is tithe? We want to look at the definitions. Like the distinction between tithe and offering.
So what is the tithe? A tithe means a tenth. So the principle of giving one tenth, or one tenth of the income to God. So that is the tithe.
Now, in the Old Testament, tithing got practised, even before the giving of the law. They just now was sharing with you about how the children of Israel, they are to be a national witness.
So whatever laws are given to them is for that purpose. Okay, it's for that purpose. So that they may shine. The giving of tithe is also one of them. But tithing has already been practised, even before the giving of the Ten Commandments. Okay, even before the birth of the nation of Israel. Okay, so just take note of this.
But tithing is definitely taught in the law of Moses, and they are found in several passages. I'm not going to go into any of them. Okay, so just take note of the passages that talk about tithing. Leviticus 27:30 to 33. Leviticus 27:30 to 33. Numbers 18:21 to 28. I thought we have the teaching in Leviticus 27:30 to 33. We also have the teaching in Numbers chapter 18:21 to 28. And also in Deuteronomy chapter 14:22 to 29. Deuteronomy chapter 14:22 to 29.
Okay, so tithing is taught to the children of Israel as part of their national witness. So tithing is also a way to shine. How to shine by giving tithe? Now, this is something we need to think through, isn't it? The support of God's work.
Because the tithes are not given how to give to God. You are giving to the Levites. Huh? Who are the Levites? The Levites are those who take care of the temple and take out the sacrificial system in the temple. And because the Levites are not given any inheritance, whereas all the tribes of Israel, they all have land, and with the land, they can grow the crop, and from the crop, they can survive.
What about Levi? No land, how to survive? From the tithe of the whole of Israel. Okay? So they survive from the tithe that is given to them. And that is also to say the tithe is also meant to upkeep the maintenance of the temple.
So whatever that is needed to support God's servant, God's house, God's work, will all come from a tithe. Okay? I try to make it as simple as possible. I don't want to go to all the verses. You can go back and read for yourself, and it will be what I summarise. Okay, so it's for God's work, for God's servant, for God's house.
Okay, go take note of this. So what is the difference between tithe and offering? I haven't explained to you. A tithe is one tenth. Anything outside of the one tenth, we call it offering. Okay, I hope that is clear enough.
So that's why in offering, the chairman now will say, oh, let us give our tithe and offering. You're not restricted, just the one tenth. No, you don't have, no, some people are very calculative, not even to the dollars and cents. You can, okay, but let us not be so rigid. Okay? Now let's be open.
Then I give our tithe and offering at the same time. Maybe you can round it up. Of course, there will be always a number that you will limit it.
Okay? You're allowed to give more. Why not? But when you give, let a gift in the right spirit, let us give cheerfully. Yes, so tithe and offering.
And what is a purpose? Again, the purpose is always toward God. Okay, so the giving must give honour to the Lord. There are at least three important purposes. Why we give? A, why we give?
First, honouring God.
In Proverbs chapter 3:9. Very clear, this, usually some chairmen will, will quote this, this verse. Okay, this is just one of the verses that the timeline will use to encourage people to give and to give rightly, give in the right spirit.
Proverbs chapter 3:9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of thine increase. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thy increase.
So when we give, we give honour to God. We don't give because I am God so poor. Now we give to the give to God. No. We give honour to God.
Remember God is owner? Ah, don't, don't say, God, God need this money. So I'm helping God, man. I'm doing my part to help God to do his work. No, don't don't say it in this way.
God is owner, he doesn't need us. He is all self-sufficient. It is us who need him. So when he gave to us, and then he gave all these commandments for us to give, so that we may give him the honour.
What place is it in our heart? Is it the thing in our heart, or is it God in our heart? God thought, give us the thing to make this thing to be in our heart. God want to be in our heart. Even as we receive all these things. So that when we obey him, honour him with our substance, we do so cheerfully, happily.
Have you ever seen anyone giving the offering, or then, after that? Wah, my money had been passed. My money, you know, that's my money. You have not given... No, you have not departed from the money. You are still following the money.
Now, of course, I'm exaggerating. But it's true. When, when Lot brought his family out of Sodom and Gomorrah, who looked back? Lot, why? Why did he look? Why did he look back?
Oh, all my treasures are there. My house. Everything that I love, I have left behind. But I want it back, I want them. That's why you look back.
But I thought the way we honour the Lord. He thought it's important for us to honour God. Okay, so that's the 1st thing, very important.
Then secondly, we are to support God's work. So when we give, we are supporting the work of God. As I mentioned just now in the Old Testament, the tithes were used to support the Levites and the ministry of the temple.
We look at Malachi chapter 3:10. Okay, Malachi chapter 3:10, which is the last book of the Old Testament.
You says, "Yeah, bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house," huh? So, the tithe, in terms of the crops, even of the animal, there will be a storehouse for this, okay? But for what?
Not for the Levites. How are they gonna survive without the tithe? They are not, well, only, eh. No, the Lord provided for them. Who the tithe? Okay, the Levites will use the tithe for God's purpose.
Okay, so the general principle is God's people must support God's work. And the work of God requires resources. Earthly resources.
In fact, in 1 Corinthians chapter 9:14, Apostle Paul taught this principle.
1 Corinthians chapter 9:14. "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel."
So, the Lord will provide, and through God's people, the Lord will work over His servant. Go to teach God's word. Okay. The Lord's servant.
Okay, so in the supporting of God's work, your 1st honouring God, 2nd supporting of God's work.
Okay, and of course, the last is what we, I've already been emphasising again and again. It's for the advancement of the gospel.
The giving of our tithe, for the advancement of the gospel, is for the lost soul. It's how souls will be led into God's kingdom.
You know the church, not in all the collection. The bulk of it, in fact, all of it must be used for the advancement of God's kingdom. It's not how we do. Wow, I know we must have better facilities. No, it's for advancement of God's kingdom. For the gospel.
So if the Lord has blessed us much, well, we must always be thinking outward. We have to be a mission-minded church. It doesn't matter whether better is a big church or more church. As much as the Lord has blessed, better be mature.
As much as the Lord had blessed every member of Bethel BPC Church. We give, happily, cheerfully.
Do the Lord's work. So that this collection will be used for the advancement of God's kingdom. Whether it be locally or overseas, well, locally, it will be all the ministries. Like right now, you know, the YPG is the ministry of Bethel BPC. Now, all this require money. It's not free. It has been paid for. It paid for. So if the church say, oh, cannot, no, cut, then we cannot have a camp here. Then maybe no camp. Yeah, because there's no budget, because if the church has, it's not a gospel centre. Okay, has nothing to do with, we must have nothing to do with ministry.
Then we must only keep collecting so that the church account will look healthy. When we present ECM one, the people will be, how rich the church is. But we have lost the witness. We have, in fact, we have not been good stewards of God with the money that has been collected.
It is to be used. It is not for us to, huh, to hold up as much as we can. It is to be used for God's kingdom.
I thought that's why we need a session. To come together, you know. In fact, when we were in such a meeting, 80% talking about money. Or money related.
Because the ministry need money. This mission requires support. How much money must be allocated? We are talking about money.
Don't say, ministry, we are very holy. We don't talk about money. We talk about how to conduct Bible study, how to study the Bible, how to pray for one another. Yeah, all these are important.
But handling money, allocation of fund, in a biblical way, in God's wisdom, all these are also required. Although we must pray for the session. Pray for the leaders. Because they are they are given the responsibility. They are accountable.
Because all these are God's money. It is not their money, not for them to, wah, no, wah, so much money. We can enjoy ourselves, no. They are to be for the advancement of God's kingdom.
Okay, to be used locally or overseas.
Well, that's how we give, huh? When we give, we don't give with ulterior motive. We give with trust. Knowing that this money, when a session comes and meet together, this money will be used for the advancement of God's kingdom.
And I have a part to play because I also gave. I not only give, I want to pray. And if possible, I ought to go. I get involved in all this ministry. Then I will know which ministry requires money.
And I know where the offering goes to. For those who are not out of parts, they only gave, then in the end, they say, wah, how come the church spent too much money?
It is because they are not involved in the work. When they are involved in the work, they know how much it costs. When they go to overseas mission, they saw the needs. They will be able to understand how the offering is used to support God's people.
So for the advancement of God's kingdom. Okay, so know the purpose in giving.
And then what is our attitude in giving? The 1st attitude in giving is cheerful giving.
Let us look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 9, verse 7. Okay, also another verse that chairman, yeah, usually will code to prepare the heart of the congregation when they give.
Second Corinthians chapter 9, verse 7. "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Our giving will be deliberate. Not by the way. That's why you need to prepare. Well, no, on Sunday, you take, take your wallet, and then you realise, eh, no, no money. Because you didn't prepare. Oh, you must be bad.
Well, even for electronic, well, it must be pair. But otherwise, oh, no, no, yeah. Not because I have to give. That's why I give. But rather, I love to give. I want to give.
No, naturality means I am compelled. I am forced to give. But I don't really want to give, but since you say so, I give. No, that's how I want to give in this manner. Don't be compelled to give.
Huh? Just because so and so say, I might be. So therefore I have no choice. I give. I give to please you.
Well, this kind of giving is not accepted. So what's the point of giving? God does not want us to give gradually. You give accordingly, you give away. What will the church do with the money? You give God the name.
Ah, yeah, I have taken it back. Aiya, you know, it should be used for to be put into better use. Ah, yeah, no, the kind of regret, you know, you give right gradually. I shouldn't have given.
No, don't do that. But to give cheerfully, a cheerful giver, give willingly. Lovingly.
Oh, God, love. So when you give, wah, you give, now you know that this collection will be used to support God's work. And you're happy that God's work is being supported.
So when you hear reports, ah, it's because the Lord has provided for them. The Lord had provided for me. The Lord had blessed me, and I returned what the Lord has left me for the support of his work.
That is how we can all be part of the Great Commission. We can pray, we can give, and we can go. These are the 3 active, not active on our part. You know how we can all be involved in the Great Commission attitude.
So, the Great Commission is not for the leaders only. It's for every one of us, who are part of the church.
Okay, so cheerful giving is very important. And then sincere giving. We have looked at Matthew chapter 6, verses 1 to 4. We are to give sincerely.
Okay, sincerely. Not to show off. Not to grow a trumpet so everybody will hear and see how much we give. To give with the right heart. Give humbly. Don't give hypocritically.
And then it must be sacrificial giving. Okay, sacrificial giving.
So this will be the last passage that we are going to turn to. Mark chapter 12, verses 41 to 44. I think this passage will put up the same. They will certainly put up the same. Mark chapter 12, verses 41 to 44. The last week together. Mark chapter 12, verses 41 to 44.
Okay? Let us read together.
Where do you go? And Jesus sat over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury. And many that were rich, cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow. And she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."
Is there a difference? Uh, between this group of rich men, cast in their tithes as often. And this type of offering is out of their abundance. So it's peanuts to them, out of their abundance.
But for the poor widow, we don't know whether it's a young widow or old widow, just a poor widow, that poor widow. And this poor widow, two in, two mites. And these 2 mites compare to what the rich has given. Peanut of the peanuts. Maybe not even the peanuts, maybe the skin.
The, or the, or the, I don't know what. The unwanted, the covering. Maybe cannot even see.
Two mites. What is 2 mites? But that is all that a poor widow has.
The rich casts in out of the abundance. But this poor widow, she gave her all, even though that's only two mites. You gave all. I thought a lot focus on her heart giving. The Lord noticed. And brought out the lesson. Sacrificial giving. Sacrificial giving.
Well, I don't believe when the poor widow gave, she gave, after they told the two mites, "My heart pain." No, that's some charismatic picture. How should you give? You must give under your heart pain. Don't believe that. I don't believe that.
Because if you give until your heart pain, where is your cheerfulness? There's no cheerfulness. I'm sure when the poor widow gave, she gave cheerfully. Well, I'm just, you gave cheerfully. Happily, willingly, lovingly. And God noticed, that is more important. God noticed.
So here, we know, giving is not measured merely by the amount. But the heart behind the amount. That is more important.
But regardless of the amount, what is our heart when we give?
So, stewardship. So much for us to learn, isn't it? Giving alms, giving tithe, giving offerings. As much as the Lord has blessed us. Is it too much to give to the Lord? For the support of His work?
Do not think that God need, God doesn't need.
He is all self-sufficient. And so, for us, it is the privilege. It is an honour that we can be a part of the work of God.
So when we give, we give truthfully. We give sincerely. We give sacrificially.
So may the Lord help us? The time when the Lord has blessed us, the ability to earn our 1st paycheck, I hope you will remember this lesson.
Because the 1st paycheck is the test of your pay. Remember, God is your owner. Remember. Huh? Remember the time that God has given us?
Remember, we are all blessed with spiritual gifts to be able to serve the Lord. Remember the resources. The paycheck is the resource that God has given to you.
And of course, he gave us a good brain that we may think, the strength that we may earn our living. Even now, he has already started blessing you with a mind, a good mind to study. I learn the heart to study hard. With the right attitude. Honouring God in all your studies.
And that you all can be a part of the church by your simple giving. Simple giving of your tithe and offering.
Whatever you receive from your parent, you can set apart a 10, okay? Or even a little bit more, tithe and offering. Okay? Let that be a starting point. Okay, to have that as a habit in giving.
So may the Lord help us to give in the right way. To be a good steward, that we may be found faithful when we meet Him face to face.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee for Thy word, that put us to shame how we have not given in faith. How we have sought to hold back the thing the Lord has blessed us. That we have not used them for the blessing of others.
Oh Lord, help us. Help us to be doers of Thy word and not hearers only, and to prepare our heart to give cheerfully, sincerely, sacrificially. For Jesus' sake.
Because we acknowledge that Thou art the Owner. Without Thy blessing, we have nothing. Without Thy grace and Thy mercy, we are lost.
Help us, O God, through Thy word, that we will always do the right thing. That we will be a blessing to the people around us.
We commit all this unto Thy loving hand, that Thou will help us, even in almsgiving, giving of tithe and offering, to be done according to Thy will, to the glory of Thy name.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.