CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP (PART 1) – WHY DO WE GIVE TO GOD?: PASTOR MENSA OTABIL – SUNDAY 2ND MAY, 2021
SUNDAY SERVICE BY DR. MENSAH OTABIL (GENERAL OVERSEER INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH (ICGC) ACCRA, GHANA)
TOPIC: CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP (PART 1) – WHY DO WE GIVE TO GOD?
DATE: 2ND MAY, 2021
TEXT: LUKE 12:42-43
Amen! Let’s rise up together, as we make our DECLARATION OF FRUITFULNESS in this Year of Fruitfulness:
Are you ready? Say with me:
The Eternal God is our refuge. He opens Rivers in desolate Heights.The Lord makes the wilderness a Pool of water.
The LORD God is my Sun and Shield; The LORD gives Grace and Glory.
Therefore, I delight myself in Him. Those who are Planted in the House of the LORD shall be fresh and flourishing.
Though the Earth be shaken; the Name of the Lord is my Strong Tower. By Faith I affirm that: In Christ alone is my Salvation. In Him I live, and move and have my being.
It is written: The Righteous are like trees Planted by the waters; bearing fruits in its Season.
So I boldly declare: As for me, my God has made me EXCEEDINGLY FRUITFUL.
In this Season, my Spirit bears Fruits of Righteousness, my Talents make Way for me. With my hands, I will Plant, I will Build, I will Harvest – Day by Day, Step by Step.
In Jesus’ Name – Amen!
This morning, I’m going to start doing a Series every First Sunday of the Month Titled: “CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP”.
Now, when we attend Church Service, we Participate in a number of activities: We Pray, we sing, worship, we hear the Bible read, we hear a Message Preached from the Bible, we give an Offering, we Partake in Holy Communion and we Fellowship with other Believers.
… And in some Churches, other activities are included!
All of these things we doing in Church are not as controversal as only one – GIVING.
People have no Problem when a Church Prays, People have no Problem when a Church sings, worships and dances, and Preached, reads the Bible.
But, anytime it comes to Giving or Giving an offering, there is some discomfort!
And unfortunately, because of that discomfort, People are not able to fully express their devotion to the Lord!
So, in the CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP, I’m going to address Questions that People have about Giving an Offering.
I’m going to address Questions such as:
- WHY DO WE GIVE?
- WHAT DO WE GIVE?
- WHOM DO WE GIVE TO?
- WHERE DO WE GIVE?
- WHEN DO WE GIVE?
- HOW DO WE GIVE? And
- WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GIVE?
And that’s quite a bit for the Year! And I will be doing it every first Sunday of the Month, as God helps me!
Today, my Message is Titled: CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP – PART 1.
And my Sub-Title is: WHY DO WE GIVE TO GOD?
It is Possible to do something Religiously in Church, without fully understanding the Biblical basis for why you do it!
Sometimes Christians are guilty of what we do – A lot of things!
But we are not able to determine why we do them.
So, I will address why we Give!
But let me start by defining what I mean by STEWARDSHIP.
And I’m going to read from Luke 12:42-43 (NKJV).
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that Faithful and Wise Steward, whom his Master will make Ruler over his household, to give them their Portion of food in due Season?
43 Blessed is that Servant whom his Master will find so doing when he comes.
… It’s interesting a Steward is also called a Servant.
You can also listen to the audio here: Christian Stewardship (Part 1) – Why Do We Give To God?: Pastor Mensa Otabil
WHO IS A STEWARD?
“A Steward is a Person employed to manage another’s Property or Resources”.
So, a Steward is not the Owner – A Steward is a Caretaker or an Agent of a Principal. Somebody that has been given responsibility and has to execute that responsibility.
That is a Steward!
Generally speaking, that is what a Steward is – “A Caretaker or a Manager of another Person’s Resources”.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP?
… That’s what I’m focusing on today.
CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP is how Christians manage God’s Gifts and Resources.
It is the Practice of Systematic and Proportionate Giving of our Time, our Abilities, Material Possessions, based on our Conviction that these are things that God has entrusted to us to manage for Him.
Our Gifts, Opportunities, Time, Money, Abilities – All of these, are things that God gives to us, including our own lives. They are things that God gives to us to manage for Him.
If God gives us something, He gives us life, our life is not our own.
If He gives us Health, our health is not our own.
If He gives us money, our money is not our own.
… They are things He had given to us to manage for Him!
Christian Stewardship is very broad; but to focus Properly, I’m going to focus for the time being on: CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP IN RELATION TO MONEY.
Because that is where People have issues!
So, I’m going to spend time explaining from the Biblical Point of view, why we do what we do.
WHY DO WE GIVE?
… I’m going to give you six (6) reasons why we Give
Why does a Christian go to Church and Give an Offering – Why do we do that?
- IT IS TO PROCLAIM GOD AS CREATOR.
… He owns everything in Creation!
Anytime we give, we are making an announcement that God is the Creator.
Deuteronomony 10:14 says: Indeed Heaven and the highest Heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the Earth with all that is in it.
We believe that God is the Owner. He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He owns everything! And as the Owner of all Resources, visible and invisible; we owe God Tributes.
If we acknowledge that He created all Things, and we are Living in His World; then we owe Him Tributes.
… Even if He doesn’t demand it, we owe Him Tributes!
In Ghana (for example), we Practice several Land Tenure Systems.
So, you go to farm on somebody’s Land and there is a responsibility you have towards the owner of the Land.
In some Places, after your crops have yielded, you have to divide the crops into three (3) – One goes to the Land Owner, and the rest two (2) belongs to you!
In some Places, you divide the crops into four (4); and in some Places, you actually do it fifty – fifty.
Why? – Because you are recognising that this Person is the Owner of the Land; and you owe him Tributes.
In fact, if you go to several Parts of our Country (Ghana), you will realised that even hunters go out to the forest to hunt, they give Part to whoever they considered to be Owner of the Land.
When we come to Give an Offering to God, we are Paying Tributes to God.
Why? – He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
In Haggai 2:8; God says: ‘The Silver is Mine, and the Gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of Hosts.”
So, we recognise Him as our Sovereign God, as our LORD, and the One to Whom we owe Tribute.
If you truly believe this Earth belongs to God; if you truly believe your Life belongs to God; if you believe all Creation belongs to God, then you owe Him something!
You cannot recognise that and just go ahead and do nothing about it! – You are Farming in His Land, you are Working on His land, you are Producing on His land. So, you owe the Owner Tribute.
Anytime we give an Offering, we are saying: ‘God, we recognise You as the Sovereign Creator of everything we have”.
That is the first reason why we Give: TO PROCLAIM GOD AS CREATOR.
- IT IS TO PROFESS GOD AS OUR PROVIDER.
He gave us everything!
Not only has He created the Earth, not only has He created the Heavens, not only did He create us; but, we also recognise Him as the One Who has Provided for us.
In Genesis 24, there is a very interesting Story there – When Abraham wanted to get a wife for his son Isaac, he sent his Servant to go and look for a wife for Isaac.
And when his Servant got to the Place where the wife was, and he was introducing his Master Abraham; I want you to listen to what Abraham’s Servant said.
Genesis 24:34-35; So he said: “I am Abraham’s Servant. The Lord has blessed my Master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, Silver and Gold, Male and Female Servants, and Camels and Donkeys.”
Abraham’s Servant said, God has blessed my Master Abraham.
What is the evidence?
God had given to him flocks, herds, Silver, Gold, Camels.
Now, when Abraham’s Servant said God has blessed my Master and given him flocks and goats, Silver, Gold, Camels;
Is he saying that God rained Camels from Heaven for Abraham? Is he trying to say Abraham was just sitting down and one day Camels came down, and flocks down and goats rained on him?
NO!
… Everything Abraham had, he worked for it!
He worked hard for it, he sweated for it. He fought sometimes for it.
So, this is his toil.
However, the servant of Abraham recognised, although Abraham was the toiler and the worker; the Provider is God.
Anytime we give an Offering to God, we are saying: ‘Lord, not only do you own the whole of Creation; but everything we have in our hands is from You.
It doesn’t mean we just receive them without working – We worked for them, we toiled for them; but because You are the Sovereign, everything we have, belongs to You!
So, we know that God is the Source of all our Resources; the Earth is His; our lives are His, our Gifts are His, out days are His, our Opportunities come from Him.
And all we did was use what was given to us: The Wisdom, the brains, the ideas.
If you are a Christian, anytime you Give, that is what you are saying – God, I acknowledge that what I have was Provided by You!
As a result, David says in Psalms 116:12-14 – “What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits towards me? I will take up the cup of Salvation, And call upon the Name of the Lord. I will Pay my vows to the Lord Now in the Presence of all His People.”
David says, if God has so benefitted me, what should I do?
I. He says, I will call upon His Name.
II. And then he says, I will give my Vows to God.
III. I will Worship Him by lifting up my hands. But not only that!
IV. The benefits He has given to me, I will give back to Him.
Why? – Because God is the Provider!
So, we Give because we are Proclaiming He is the Landlord of the Earth and the Heavens and we owe Him Tributes.
When we Give, we are Professing that, although we work hard and we labour, we recognize that it comes from God.
And whomever you recognize as the one who facilitated what you have; you give back to that Person.
- WE GIVE TO PROVE THAT WE TRUST GOD.
… He has Promised to take care of us!
Every Giving is an expression of Faith in God.
I mean, it doesn’t make sense for you to have money and give it away! Then, what are you going to live on? How are you going to survive? How are you going to make it?
Anytime you Give, you are saying: I trust God. Not only do I owe Him Tributes, but I trust Him.
Why do I Trust Him?
Because He has Promised to take care of me!
In Luke 6:38, Jesus says: “Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, Pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
When we give, we demonstrate that God is our Source of Supply, and that He will Provide for us.
So, whenever you Give an offering, you are expressing that God is the Creator, He is your Provider, and that God will keep Providing for you – You Trust Him.
Christian Principles are very different from the way the world thinks.
That is why People who don’t know the Lord and have not submitted their lives to the Lord cannot know Christianity.
Christianity has Principles that go opposite the way we think:
- In Christianity, we Live by DYING:
Jesus says, if you want to live, give up your life. Nobody teaches that!
- In Christianity, you become Great by SERVING:
Whoever will be Great, let him be a Servant.
Who teaches that? – JESUS!
- In Christianity we Lead by FOLLOWING.
- And in Christianity, we Receive by GIVING:
In the Wisdom of the world, you receive by taking!
… In Christianity you receive by Giving!
In the Wisdom of the world, you live by trying to live; in Christianity, it is by dying!
It is in going down that we go up. It is in surrendering that we receive.
That is Christianity!
And if you want to follow Jesus, that is your mindset!
And when you have that Mindset, then Giving is logical because we receive by Giving.
… That is the logic of Christianity!
So, when we give, we are Providing evidence to the world that we Trust in God’s logic, more than the Learning of the world.
In Matthew Chapter 6, Jesus talks so much about God’s Provision.
And He says in Matthew 6:26 -33:
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his Glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
When we Give, we are telling God: ‘We trust You to clothe us, we trust You to give us food, we trust You to Provide for us, we trust You to take care of us.’
And He says, which one of you by worrying, can take care, by adding to his Stature?
… There are People who wish they would have a few more inches to their stature, and it has not happened!
- WE GIVE TO PRESENT OUR HEART TO GOD.
… He sees our hearts in our Giving!
How does God know your heart?
In Matthew 6:19-21, He says:
“Do not lay up for yourselves Treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your Treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Your Giving reveals your heart to God!
Beyond our necessities; we spend money on things based on how important they are to us.
We have necessities in life, such as:
Food, to keep us functioning, necessary clothing, a comfortable Place to live, Healthcare, responsibilities to our families – Spouse, children, wards.
… These are necessities!
Beyond these what we spend money on reveals the condition of our heart.
… So, we spend money on what is important to us!
If Pleasure is important to you, you spend your money on things that give you Pleasure.
If impressing People is important to you, you spend your money on things that will help you impress People.
If you lust after money, you spend your money on things that give you short cut to world – Like Gambling because you are lusting after money!
You spend money on something! Everybody spends money: People spend money on Sports, on Entertainment, on Luxury. Others spend money on weird life, on their environment.
Why do they do that? – Because that is what their heart wants.
Why will somebody spend money on Whales? I wouldn’t leave a lot of money in my Will for Whales because they are not
on my heart!
I’m not going to spend money on some other things.
Why? – Because they are not on my heart.
So check your spending; it shows your heart!
If you want to show God your heart; you remember where Jesus sits when He goes to Church? He sits there watching what People are doing with their money!
That’s how He could judges widow’s heart, and tell His Disciples, this woman has the heart that loves God because she gave everything.
And then He checks the heart of People Pouring in monies, and He says, they have no heart for God because they are impressing!
The way you Give and what you Give to God reveals your heart to God.
Everyday Offering Time, God is watching your heart (I didn’t say it)!
In Matthew 6:24 Jesus says:
“No one can serve two Masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
… Mammon is the Money god. You can’t serve both at the same time.
- WE GIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN GOD’S WORK.
He had made us Labourers in His Field.
The reference is Exodus 25:1-8.
When God wanted to build a Place to meet His People, He told them to bring several things.
In Exodus 25:8; He says: “And let them make Me a Sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”
And He told them they should bring: Gold, Silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate (Exodus 25:3-7)
… Bring all of these, that I may dwell among them.
When God wanted to build, He invites People to Participate in what he wanted to do.
He Provided the Pattern of the building to Moses, but He called the People to Provide Resources to build the Pattern He had Provided.
Anytime we give (In the Church), we are Participating in God’s work; we are becoming Part of God’s work.
… And God’s work needs to be taken care of.
In the Book of Matthew 28:11, there is a Story there, of what happened after Jesus resurrected.
The Jewish Leaders Paid bribe to the Guards who were there! – The first Witnesses of the Resurrection.
In fact, the first Witnesses were not the women, not Peter, James and John. None of the Apostles – It was Soldiers at the Tomb.
They saw what happened!
Tthey went to report to the Chief Priest – ‘Something amazing has happened today!’
And they said: You can’t spread that information. You can’t tell anybody about that.
And they gave them money and said, keep quiet!
And if you need more money we will give you. And if it goes anywhere else, we will Pay our way; but we must make sure this News never comes out!
- How did they try to stop the spread of the Message with money?
- How do we counter it?
… It is to spread the Good News by spending Money.
When we spend Financially, we are Participating in God’s work.
- WHEN WE GIVE TO GOD, WE GIVE TO PLEASE HIM.
I mean, if you forget anything I have said today: Remember, we give: TO PLEASE GOD.
He enjoys the Sacrificial Giving of his children.
2 Corinthians 9:7: So let each one give as he Purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a Cheerful Giver.
… God takes Pleasure in a Cheerful Giver.
As Christian Stewards, we must live life totally committed to the Lord.
Does it mean that we can just live anyhow; and go to Church and think we can just give to God?
… No! Christian Stewardship is not bribery;
It is the Stewardship of your heart, of worship, of your devotion and everything you have; Proclaiming that God is Sovereign over your Life.
It is amazing how People have Problems when it comes to Giving. And the most important thing that amazes me is that the Problem is not from those who Give; it’s from those who don’t!
So, ask yourself: “Why should somebody who doesn’t go to Church, who doesn’t believe in God, who thinks Christianity is a scam; why should he be worried when Christians are Giving their money? And thinks Christians are throwing their money away!
They should even be happy that these Christians are crazy – They are throwing their money away!
Why is it that Somebody who doesn’t Give, who doesn’t believe in God, who doesn’t believe in Christ, who doesn’t believe in the Church, who doesn’t believe in the work of God; be worried that People are Giving when it is not his money?
… You should only be worried if it is your money.
Could it be that their worry goes beyond just worry?
Could it be that there is a deeper worry, that the work of God must not go on, that God must not be honoured, that People must not Proclaim that God is Sovereign, People must not show that God is the One that Bless them?
Because they understand, every Giving is the Proclamation of God’s Sovereignty, it is a Prove that we trust that God is the One Who Provides for us. That God is our Source, He will take care of us!
Is it Possible that the real hatred is that the People have Problems with God, not just with Christians?
Because I don’t have Problem when Somebody supports Arsenal with his money. I don’t have Problem of Somebody gives all his money to Chelsea.
I don’t have Problem if a widow leaves all her money to a Cat.
I mean I should be worried: ‘why should a Cat inherit money?’
Why don’t People go on campaign against that: “DON’T LEAVE MONEY TO DOGS AND CAT.”
Why are they not bothered!
And why do People have Problems only, when People Give in Church?
I suggest to you: It is not because they are concerned about the Church.
Yes, we know there are challatants and People who misuse Church money but that is not the reason!
In fact, People don’t care much about that because there are a lot of things that People throw away money after.
There are People who have stayed in Lotto for ten (10) Years.
They have won too miserable wings.
Do People complain about that?
There are a lot of Betting going on now – Do People complain about that?
Why do People have Problems only with those who give in Church?
The same Old Ancient Problem is what we have today: When Mary honoured Jesus with her fragrance, there was a Particular individual who was very upset.
And the Bible Commentary was: He was not upset because he loved Poor People. He was upset: ‘Who is Jesus to be honoured this way?’
And that same Person started a Process to betray Jesus.
Guess what? – For Money!
… Thirty (30) Pieces of Silver.
Could it be that this hatred of Christian Giving is deeper than just Logic and common sense?
Because, in terms.of Logic and common sense, it doesn’t make sense!
… So I have given you six (6) reasons why Christians Give.
And if you want to find the reason(s) why you should Give an Offering, look at these Six (6) reasons.
- Do you think they are Biblical?
- Do you think they correspond with what the Bible teaches?
- Do you think it’s just a Teaching to manipulate you?
- In your heart, do you really believe this is what should be the reason why you Give?
If you can come to that conclusion, then as a Christian, you have no excuse; but to be a Generous Giver in the House of the Lord.
Amen!
Now, I have not answered all the questions about: Where to Give, How to Give, What to Give? – I will be taking it one after the other.
Today, I just gave you the Reasons why we do what we do.
And if anybody should ever ask you: ‘Why do you go to Church and Give Offering?’ Give him or her these Six (6) Reasons.
And if he is still not convinced, then you know that there is a deeper reason than just he is concerned about your well-being and future Prosperity.
It’s just that he can’t believe why anybody would honour God the way you do.
Let us Pray!
Just ask God to help you to Honour Him with what He has Given you.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father we Thank You that you OWN the Earth and You OWN us. And You OWN what we have.
And so Lord, in recognition of Your Ownership of our lives, we give to You out of the Resources You have blessed us with as Good Stewards of Your Resources.
And may You help us Lord, as Good Christians, to be Stewards of all the Blessings that You have given to us. And to honour You and to put you first, in all the affairs of our lives.
In Jesus’ Name we Prayed – Amen and Amen!
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