Title: Give Cheerfully
Memorize: Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 1 Corinthians 9:7 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Malachi 3:8-12 (Nkjv)
[8] “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
[9] You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
[10] Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
[11] “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;
[12] “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Message:
In today’s Bible reading, God invites us to bring our tithes into His storehouse. He promised that when we do this, He will pour out blessings that are so abundant that there won’t be room to receive them. This reveals a key principle about giving: it is not about losing but about creating room for God’s provision in our lives.
Contrary to the belief of some people that tithing is a scheme by pastors to defraud people, it is a divine instruction that is backed up with a promise. However, simply paying your tithe or giving to God is not enough; God desires that you do it with a cheerful heart. Our heavenly Father is not a beggar; therefore, when you give to Him, do so wholeheartedly, trusting that He will bless you abundantly.
My dear child, whether you give God your time, resources, or talents, do so generously and joyfully, knowing that He will reward you bountifully. True giving is not measured by the size of the gift but by the heart behind it.
Key Point:
Giving to God is not enough; you must do it with a cheerful heart.
Hymn 30: When We Walk With The Lord
1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
Bible In One Year: Mark 9:31-50, Numbers 28-30
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye