A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Have you ever7 thought of your giving to the Lord as worship? Pastor John Randall says, you should.

John Randall: You want to do it as unto the Lord. That that is the goal. It's an act of worship.

Guest (Male): Welcome to a Daily Walk. We're about to bring to a close John Randall's series in Philippians. Now maybe you've really never linked joy with giving before. Perhaps you feel as though it's more along the lines of something you just have to do cuz the Bible says so, and you're sort of reluctant. When the offering plate comes by and it's time to give, this can be a thrilling experience where we express our gratitude, worship, and joy to the Lord. Our study is based in the last chapter in Philippians. That's where we join Pastor John Randall for his message on giving and receiving.

Paul said you did well to handle my distress. You were you were the only ones that supported me. And even when he should have been supported by others, he wasn't. In fact, when Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he actually used the church in Philippi as a model, a template for how they should give. An example really for believers. One thing you might find unique if you are new to Calvary Chapel is that we do not get up here on this platform and beg for money. And that just doesn't happen. We we have never done that.

We will never do that. There are times, however, when we may make you aware of a need or something that it the Lord is doing and give you opportunity to partner with and be a part of it. But that's really about it. We we like to share about how the Lord is using the generosity of us collectively as a fellowship to minister far outside of this community, into other parts of the country, even into other parts of the world. The Lord is doing marvelous works through this fellowship. But we never use or will use methods that are carnal or manipulative.

We don't have thermometers. We don't have swag bags for those givers or whatever I don't know. Whatever whatever they're doing these days. You'll never have somebody call you and ask you, hey, where's where's the money? You'll never have somebody interview you and ask for your W-2. That won't happen to let you know whether you can be a part of this church or not. We believe that if you've been here long enough, you see that God does provide and that he provides through his people. And I could tell you countless stories of how God has faithfully provided for the church.

When it comes to giving, hear me on this. Everything that we have is a gift from God. It it actually all belongs to him. I think that's something that we sometimes take for granted. We don't realize hey, it's all his. It's all his. Secondly, that when it comes to giving, it's an act of worship. It's an act of worship. That's what it is. It's offering back to God that which I have been given. If it's I don't give to God so that he'll bless my life. The Lord has blessed my life. And it is a privilege to give back to him.

And I'm in awe of that. In fact, Paul would say here in verse 17, please look with me. He said not that I seek the gift. Don't misunderstand. I'm not seeking the gift here. But I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Paul said, we don't seek the gift. We seek the fruit that's coming to you. Anything that is given to the Lord, anything that we give to the Lord, you give to the Lord, I give to the Lord. There's not going to be a plaque that says check it out. Look what look what he gave.

Cuz that'd be the only reward you get. We're not going to parade you up here and say ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up. Best giver right here. Let's go. Come on everybody. In fact, let's stand and let you know no no one's going to do that. Rather, we receive our rewards when we get to heaven. And listen, when you when we give faithfully unto the Lord, you're not going to get to heaven one day and be walking around and they're thinking, you know what? If I wouldn't have given to that church, I could have got that new barbecue from Home Depot.

It would have been the one with the smoker. I mean, I just think what a waste. No, you're not even going to be thinking about that. It's not going to be a thought in your mind. We can't take it with us folks, but we can send it ahead. If if we are being blessed spiritually, then we support the ministry. If if you are not being fed, listen to me, if you're not being fed spiritually, if you are not being taken care of spiritually, and you you don't feel good about giving, then then don't. But find somewhere where you can and support some work in some ministry.

Why? Because it's fruit to your account. There's something attached to it. No no one is coercing or whatever. You you want to do it as unto the Lord. That that is the goal. It's an act of worship. Paul uses the church in Philippi as an example, a great model. In fact, for a moment, I want you to see this. Turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 8, would you just a few pages back to the left. 2 Corinthians chapter 8, and let me draw your attention to the first verse. The best commentary on the Bible by the way is the Bible, if you didn't know that.

And here we find 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1. Look at Paul as he cites these folks as an example. He said, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches in Macedonia. That would be Philippi. That in great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and even beyond their ability, they were freely willing and implored us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. Paul draws the attention of the Corinthians in the north to the example of their brothers in the south, churches of Berea, Thessalonica, Philippi, and what they were doing. And to observe their example of how they gave generously. And there's a few things that he points out concerning these churches that I think are a good model for us. First of all, they gave in the midst of difficulty. That is what Paul said. In great trial of affliction.

In other words, they were going through it. They were experiencing hardship themselves, but they didn't let that stop them from being a blessing to others. He points this out even in the midst of their trials, in their own poverty, he said. There was a tremendous testimony as they gave what they could. I don't know if you've observed this or not, but I have seen over the years that some of the most generous people that I have ever met are not those who are flourishing monetarily. They just are generous and give. Many times it's those who don't have a lot give the most.

I don't know why that is. But it is something that I have observed. When Jesus was with his disciples one day in the temple area, they were observing the gifts that people were bringing. And there were those that would bring a band and send it before them and you just hear the wheelbarrow of cha-ching cha-ching cha-ching and everybody would just be wow. Look at that. Then they they they had an entourage of people as they brought in their gifts. But Jesus was not just observing how much people were giving, but rather the way in which they were giving.

And there was one person there that Jesus noted. In fact, in Mark chapter 12 verse 43, here's what Jesus says to his disciples concerning one widow woman. He said in verse 43, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those who have given to the treasury, for they put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood. Most people were looking at the amount. Jesus was looking at the heart, the way in which it was given. And here this poor widow woman gave what she could.

And Jesus commended her and said she put in more than everybody else, even though she hadn't, but in from the heavens perspective, she had. And she would not lose her reward for doing so. From time to time, people will ask me the question on this subject. I've been asked on radio programs. I 've been asked personally in the congregation. What do you think about tithing, John? What do you think about 10% as the Bible refers to it? What is tithing anyway? Tithe comes from the Old Testament. It refers to a tenth. And in the Old Testament, under the law, the people would give a tithe to the Lord.

What most people don't understand is because they don't maybe study the Old Testament thoroughly to understand that it wasn't just 10% under the law. Actually, if you do the math, it was 25%. They're like wow. Yeah. I just give the tithe 25%. I mean, this is what they did under the law. This was required for them. But when you come to the New Testament, there is no set amount. God doesn't give us a percentage. You'd be hard pressed to find it. It it's not there in other words. So the question then becomes, well, what does a person give?

If we give 10% under the law, what am I supposed to give under grace? I need to ask the Holy Spirit that question. 10% for someone who makes $10,000 a year is a lot. 10% for somebody who makes millions, it really isn't that much. So I have to ask the Lord, if if if that's what they gave under the law, what am I to give under grace? Here's a good rule of thumb for this. 2 Corinthians 9:7. Make a note of this passage. 2 Corinthians 9:7. This is what it says. Let each man do or give according as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The word actually is hilarious. A hilarious giver. Ask the Lord. What is God saying? What does God want you to do? For us in our family, and again, I don't want to get too much into it, but it just comes out automatically. And I'm not like, oh man, are you serious? We got to do that again? It's just it's the Lord's. I here's what I'm amazed folks. I'm amazed at how much he lets me keep. I'll say that. Why does he it's all his anyway? Like you let me keep that? That's crazy. And so I want to give as I purpose in my heart and I don't want to do it grudgingly.

If this might come as a shock to many of you today. I don't know that you'll hear this sermon anywhere, but if if you if you can't give to the Lord cheerfully. You ready for this? You know what I'm going to say? Keep it. Keep it. You're like so glad you said that. I'm relieved. I love this church. You know, if you the reason why I say that is if you can't give cheerfully, you give grudgingly, it doesn't do you any good because God looks on the heart. Rather, give cheerfully to the Lord because he's given you so much just in response.

But not only did they give in the midst of difficulty, but I also want you to know they gave willingly. It says here verse 3, I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing. The apostle Paul points out to the church in Corinth that those in the south, in spite of difficulty, they gave willingly. It was of their own free will. Paul Paul didn't need to force them to make a pledge, get them to sign a card, do this and that. No, he just he gave them the opportunity they they just gave not out of constraint, but they they wanted to do it.

Listen. We're not going to today after, you know, just because we're talking about giving, we want to have an application. Ushers, lock the doors. We are now going to you know you know what I'm saying? We're going to we're going to give. I feel the Lord telling me right now that someone outside has you know I mean this is just cheap carnival tricks. This is this is not this is not how God wants his church to operate. That we shouldn't be doing that. We we should just this if you if you're being blessed, then praise God.

Give willingly. No one's going to twist your arm and hey, did you how much do you I was noticing that. No, it's not going to happen. In fact, Mark Twain, I read about Mark Twain. You've heard the name. Mark Twain was so frustrated as he attended a service once where the preacher continued to make appeals for money that when the plate came by, he took a dollar out. And that's why we don't pass the plate anymore. But these people they just gave willingly. They gave willingly because it was for the Lord. But also you'll notice Paul highlights that they gave insistently.

He said, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. Paul knew these churches were struggling, having difficulty. And so it seems that he was hesitant to say, listen guys, it's okay. And they were saying, no, you you take it. You better Paul, you take this. Urging us. And Paul would not rob them of their blessing. The Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive. And there is a blessing that is attached to giving. And I've learned that you can never outgive God.

I hope you've learned that lesson as well. God is so faithful. And they were giving and and just insistently. And I'll say this. Sometimes I don't know if you've been on this end, but sometimes it's hard to be a gracious receiver. Like with somebody like no no I'm good. No no mm mm mm. You know, you're actually maybe you're saying, no, I'm a very gracious receiver and if you know anybody. No, but but this sometimes it's hard. It's easier sometimes to give to people than it is to to receive. I it is sometimes for me as well.

Um because you never want them to have a have a misunderstanding or or or you think, okay, now I owe them. Now I 've got a you know I've got to one up them. You know uh that's not the case. They gave earnestly, insistently. And then most importantly, they gave spiritually because it says not only as we had hoped, but this is important, they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. In other words, before a scent was given to God, they gave their lives to the Lord. And and folks, that's the first step.

It's it 's giving your life to the Lord because God doesn't want your money. He wants you. He wants your heart. He wants your life. He wants to spend eternity with you. And he was And God is so loving and so generous that he gave his only son so that we could be with him. That that's what he wants. He wants your heart more more than than your financial resources. But but I think you have to give yourself to the Lord. And my question this morning, even today, in the light of this context is have you done that?

Have you actually given your life to Christ? Have you committed your life to him? Cuz there's people that write checks, but they're not ready for heaven. And And that is far more concerning is your salvation. Do you know that you're going to heaven? And that is something you cannot purchase, but was purchased for you by Jesus. Prayerfully you can say my life belongs to the Lord. I heard an interesting story that there was a man who was attending some services where there was an evangelist. He was preaching and this this man had recently given his life to the Lord.

And again, in that setting, they would go around as so often they would do with uh uh offering plate. And as they came to this newborn Christian, brand new, he told the usher, lower the plate. Lower it. Lower it. In fact, put it on the ground. Put it on the ground and it said that the man got out of his pew and then he stepped inside of it and said, I want God to have all there is to have of me. It was just kind of this picture. Whether it's a true story or not, I don't know, but it didn't move me.

I I felt like I read it somewhere. Again, another reason why we don't have plates. We don't have people stepping in. That's not why. But you understand the illustration. I've I've given myself to the Lord. And that's really what God wants, guys. He says to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. It's holy acceptable. It's reasonable. There's another misconception I think sometimes that people have. And that is because I serve in some capacity, I do not give. Hey, listen. I do some things around here and they don't pay me. So uh that's my that's my hey, that's between you and Jesus.

That's between you and the Lord. But I think sometimes there is a misconception there. You have an example, a model of how to give, the way in which God desires us to give. Taking us back now to Philippians chapter 4 verse 18 as we continue here and wrap this up. In verse 18, Paul said, indeed, I have all and abound and I'm full. And I receive from Aphroditus the things sent from you. Notice what Paul calls what he received. A sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God. Again, for a third time, Paul is expressing his heart of gratitude to the people as Aphroditus came from the church and gave to Paul the gift.

And Paul said, listen, I am I'm in essence I'm so blessed. I'm filled, overflowing the fact that you would give in that way. I I am I am blessed. And I want you to know, Paul said that what you gave from heaven's perspective, it was like a sweet smelling aroma. What what does that even mean? Again, this is an illusion to the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, when sacrifices were offered, they would be placed on the altar and they would be consumed on the altar and the fragrance from the altar would rise to heaven and the smell as it were was pleasing to the Lord.

The Lord loved that smell in other words. And Paul said the way in which you gave like like a sacrifice, like an act of worship, it's it's well pleasing to God. God is pleased when we are generous and give to the work of the ministry. It's an act of worship. And I think it's important for us to remember that, to see it in that way. I just wanted to be pleasing to the Lord. And then finally, Paul adds this promise. And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Oh, I have that underlined. I have that highlighted. But again, I think it's also important to notice the context in which it is written. Paul is saying to these people that were blessing others and providing Paul said, hey, God's going to continue to provide for you too. God's going to take care of you. God has a name in scripture that he revealed himself to Abraham. It was Jehovah Jaira, the God who provides. And how many of you today, just in your own heart, you know and you've experienced the faithful provision of God. And you didn't necessarily know where it was going to come from, how it was going to come through, or even if it would.

And he has been Jehovah Jaira for you and for me. He has been our faithful provider. This is a promise given. God will provide for you. And maybe you're in need today. Where do you look? You look to the Lord. You ask the Lord to provide. He is our great provider. Today we're wrapping up our series of studies in Philippians here on a Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall. Did you miss one or more studies in previous weeks? If so, you can catch what you missed online at adailywalk.org or listen to us at oneplace.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

We'll get back to Pastor John in a minute. Since Father's Day falls within the month of June, we picked out a book for you guys. It's called Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes. Men, prepare to work up a spiritual sweat as you read this bestseller and accept the challenges of Godly living. You'll receive Biblical wisdom, memorable illustrations, and practical suggestions to help you grow in your Daily Walk with the Lord. We'll send it your way for the special price of $11. You can order it online at adailywalk.org or call us at 877-242-0828.

Again, 877-242-0828 or adailywalk.org. And please remember that your gifts help us to bring these shows to the radio every day. We can't do it alone. So please consider standing with us so together we can get the good news of Jesus Christ out over the airwaves. Again, visit us at adailywalk.org or call 877-242-0828. It never grows old hearing of the good things God is doing in our listeners' lives through the teaching of the word. Share your story today by email at adailywalk@gmail.com. That's adailywalk@gmail.com. We'll leave you now with these words from Christ in Luke's Gospel.

John Randall: Let me give you these words of Jesus as we conclude. In Luke chapter 6 verse 38, here's what Jesus said. Jesus said, give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. What a blessing to to be able to give to the Lord. And it's an act of worship. It's for his glory. It's motivated by love. It should never be coerced. It should never uh feel manipulated or uh forced. It's it's just a blessing to be able to to do that.

It's more blessed to give than to receive. And church, it's it's my prayer um that the Lord would just as he has always done, continue to provide for our needs. And he does. He is faithful. And I am grateful that we collectively as a church are able to not only support the work that is here in ministering to the people in our community, but in other parts of the country and even the uttermost parts of the world, this church because of the faithfulness and the generosity is is ministering to to places all over the world.

And it's amazing to think that. Um and I'm so grateful that God allows us to do that. And I pray that we would continue to be faithful in that well. I hope that gives you some insight into what the Bible has to say about giving and receiving.

Guest (Male): Tomorrow we'll begin a new series in Colossians. Be sure to join us as we go verse by verse through this wonderful epistle on a Daily Walk with John Randall. This program is brought to you by Calvary Salt Lake City and made possible through your generosity.