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You Mite Not Give Enough Mark 12:41-44

1. Giving to the church matters

• 41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury
• This is at the temple. In the temple there were 13 different giving locations where people could give. There were required temple taxes and money that was to be giving for sin offerings and money that was going to as free will offerings
• The money was used by the temple to pay for the Levites and the upkeep of the temple
• Tithes weren’t an option, they were a requirement- it kept the wheels turning
• Numbers 18:21 “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
• Some would argue that the modern day pastors are not levites and this isn’t a tabernacle
• But its curious that the Synagogue isn’t mentioned in the OT, yet Jesus taught there, went there, and ministered there. As did the Apostle Paul
• Tithing was biblical before it was in the Mosaic law- Abraham tithed to Mechilzedek

• The biblical idea of established public meeting places has been around for thousands of years and the support of them was through the tithes and offerings of the people
• See- the people of Israel had a collective idea of being a called out group of people, never as individuals, hence why Jesus said “our father” it wasn’t “my father” we are a collective congregation- and a meeting place was an extension of that- a gathering place to worship
• Ephesians 2:20-22 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
• The church is a holy institution that was established and designed by him and giving money supports it- that’s why this widow was in the temple giving her money and Jesus was watching Because its important.
• For thousands of years- there have been public meeting places of God’s holy people, supported by the people, with professional clergy who led the people.
• I’m always curious what Jesus doesn’t say- here’s an opportunity for him to destroy temple worship and tithes and offerings, yet he lets it happen in front of him and teaches from it
• Its new Testament as well-
• 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
• V 41 and saw how the people put money into the treasury.
• Why would Jesus be at the treasury watching how people put money into the box if it weren’t important? The money that goes towards God is a big deal- it provides a spiritual connection for the giver and a tangible means by which the church can do her work.

• What does it mean to you?
• Do you take the giving to the church seriously or have you become complacent in it?
• 2 cor 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
• Its always interesting to me when you must convince Christian people to be generous with their money towards God and the church. The only people uncomfortable in this room is non-givers
• Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
• Jesus said tithing was important- and in the NT 10% is just a start- God wants it ALL-
• Its cosmically important what we give to the church to accomplish God’s mission on this earth
• Yes it pays for a building to meet in- Just like people met in a building in the Bible
• Yes it pays for full time clergy-just like the clergy in the Bible
• Yes it pays to help people in need- Just like it did in the Bible
• That’s how God uses your money- for people to congregate, for pastors to lead you, to administer help to those IN THE CHURCH who are in need of the ministry of the church
• People will come to me in need- they stopped- I’m like ‘do you tithe’? So you don’t believe in tithing, but you want those people who do tithe to support you? You don’t believe in church?
• Jesus uses life to make a sermon- I use life to make a sermon.
• People have become a want all the benefits with none of the cost society- freeninetyfree
• Have you had any spiritual growth from this ministry? Adult, kid, youth, there’s nothing that you touch, see or experience that isn’t connected to $. We help but cant say. Rent, help
• Exodus 25:2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.
• This is why we tell you to not give until you’re ready- I want you to WANT to give- Its my greatest honor to give God my money- and its IMPORTANT

Here’s the other part-

1. Jesus watches your generosity

• 41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans
• Jesus is standing there watching who is giving what- how much and discerning their heart
• You can’t impress God with your wallet- he knows where your heart is at-
• God actually does keep records of things-
• The Works of All People Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.He records the
• The Names of Christians Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
• He records the Hairs on Our Heads Mt 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
• He records your tears Psalm 56:8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?
• He records every Spoken Word Mt 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
• He records Those Who Fear God Malachi 3:16 So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.
• He records Every Godly Work Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
• He records Investments Made in God’s Kingdom Matthew 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
• God knows who and what is doing what to whom and where
• This lesson of the widows mite would have only been possible if Jesus was watching who was giving what to whom.

• What does it mean to you?
• If you’re not generous- you should ask yourself why you’re not generous?
• Do you not have an awareness of who gave what to whom? Who gave you your skills?
• Have you forgotten what you’ve been saved from?
• Acts 20:35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• But even on a different level- often times there are mental and spiritual barriers to generosity
• What if I am generous to the point where I don’t have enough for myself?
• What if I am no longer able to pay for X then where will I be?
• I want to purchase (insert personal toy or experience) if I am generous I will not get that
• Often times its our family upbringing that teaches us to be stingy and closed- our parents weren’t generous and we interpret that as how we are supposed to be-
• You’ll notice a theme- lack of generosity is typically connected to fear of provision.
• Its easy to be generous with what you do not need or want- its difficult to be generous with that which you greatly desire. Not just MONEY- but your TIME as well.
• Matthew 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
• You can’t give because you want back, because you want to be seen, because you want prestige from it. You give because you want to have the heart of God- generosity
• Ask God- am I generous enough? What is in me that needs to be changed that I can be more generous?

1. Giving all is giving more than giving what you can

• v43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
• I can’t count the amount of people that have tried to tell me that giving 2 pennies to God is the same as giving God 2 thousand. That’s NOT what this scriptures is saying
• Jesus is saying that this woman gave more because she gave EVERYTHING.
• She didn’t give her leftovers. She didn’t give her “I don’t need this”, “ I can spare this” or her “this is what I have left at the end of the month” She gave everything that she had. All of it.
• It was all that she had. It was her livelihood. Her means to take care of herself
• And she was a WIDOW- she didn’t have any other means of support.
• Jesus is silent on why she gave, but the fact remains that she gave everything even tho she was poor
• This is the NT standard- Giving of everything. Not just 10% but ALL of what you have
• When you give God 100% of who you are, giving him your finances becomes easy
• Its like marriage- never understand why married people have separate accounts- we’re one flesh. We have one account. There’s no hers and mine. Its ours. I don’t even know what she does with the money- but I know she loves me and she always takes care of me
• Who gives you your ability to create wealth? Who is driving your bus?
• Deuteronomy 8:18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
• When you understand that you are nothing without the Lord- you will always want to bless him for what he has done and is doing in you.
• What does it mean to you?
  Are you giving out of your abundance or are you giving out of your poverty all that you have?
• Yes, this is talking about money and your wealth. This isn’t a time when we’re going to soften the scripture and say “well God wants your all” and that can be in the form of whatever you want to give
• Jesus was watching money go into the temple box and we’re using that as a modern example of Jesus watching how much you are giving to his church-Are you giving out of your abundance only? When you can afford it? Or are you giving him your all?

• How to learn how to be generous
• One- Start tithing. Fasting breaks you of your love of food. Tithing breaks you of your love of money. Have you noticed? God wants you to love him more than anything!
• Two- start giving to missions. Missions giving is above Tithing
• Three- Start giving people money- After tithing and giving, always be listening to the Holy Spirit about what to do with your money-
• Giving to lady at gas station- I didn’t give her God’s tithe- I gave her my extra- that aint tithing and that aint giving- that’s learning to be generous.
• Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.
• You want happiness in your life? Put God first in your finances.
• We’re in a fast- breaking you of the love of food- break you of your love of money as well
• When you’re broke of love of money- love of God is easy- its all his anways
• Proverbs 21:26 He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare
• Luke 6:38 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.”