1. THE CONTRIBUTION I CORINTHIANS 16:1-2

2. In II Samuel 24, David takes a census of Israel.Why? PrideTo see how many people he had for his own personal security. God has always opposed the proud. David should of trusted in the Lord for security. For whatever reason he did it, he sinned against the Lord. God gives him three punishments to choose from. A famine for seven years. Being pursued by his enemies for three months. A pestilence in the land of Israel for three days. As part of his repentance he is also told erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah. When Araunah sees David coming he runs out and bows down to him.

3. II Samuel 24:21-25 Then Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" And David said, "To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be held back from the people.“ Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept you.” However, the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the LORD was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.

4. In the Bible there is about as much information concerning giving as there is on FaithRepentanceConfessionBaptism The contribution is one of our acts of worship. Covetousness and stinginess are condemned along with FornicationIdolatryEnvyDrunkenness Extortion When it comes to our contribution we need David’s attitude. “For I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." In our worship to the Lord we should not offer Him that which cost us nothing.

5. Bible Examples Of People Giving To The Lord Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek, Genesis 14:20. Jacob made a vow to the Lord to give Him a tenth, Genesis 28:20-22. The wise men brought gifts to the Lord, Matthew 2:11. The widow gave her to mites, Mark 12:41-44. Zaccheus vowed to Jesus to give half of his possessions to the poor, and to repay anyone he defrauded four-fold, Luke 19:8 The Jerusalem Church sold their possessions and laid the proceeds at the apostles feet, Acts 2 & 4.

6. What The New Testament Teaches About Giving We should be good stewards of what the Lord has blessed us with. Psalms 24:1; I Corinthians 10:26 The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. I Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. FreelyHumblyCheerfullyIt is to be done II Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

7. The New Testament Plan I Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. It is to be: Periodic Every first day of the week. PersonalEach one of you. ProportionateLay something aside. ProvidentialAs he may prosper. Preventive That there be no collections when I come.

8. We Will Prosper For Our Giving II Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 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 lap. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.'' Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

9. When we give-up things for the Lord we will be blessed. Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life. Matthew 6:19-21 "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.” If not in this life then in the next. We should lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. II Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

10. In Malachi 3:8 God asked the question: “Will a man rob God?” The Jews were robbing God by their offerings and tithes they were giving to Him. When it comes to our contribution we should ask ourselves ARE WE ROBBING GOD? Every member of the Lord’s Church should work out their own bookkeeping system and give a certain percentage of their income. It is one of our acts of worship.

11. The key to our contribution or any service we offer to Lord is found II Corinthians 8:5 And this they did, not as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. HAVE YOU GIVEN YOURSELF TO THE LORD?

12. Given by David Hamlin on 7-26-09 am Hollister, Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.orgwww.hollisterchurchofchrist.org