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Donation and Giving
Giving
A little girl was given two dollars by
her father. He told her that she could do anything she wanted with one and that
the other was to be given to God on Sunday at church. The girl nodded in
agreement and asked if she could go to the candy store. With visions of all
that she could buy with her dollar
she happily skipped toward the store
holding tightly to the two dollars in her hand. As she was skipping along
she
tripped and fell and the wind blew one of the dollars into a storm drain at the
curb. Picking herself up
the little girl looked at the dollar still in her
hand and then at the storm drain and said
“Well
Lord
there goes your
dollar.”
Sadly
many of us Christians have the
same attitude toward giving . First me
then God. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Giving
Years ago
The Sunday School Times
carried the account of a Christian school for the children of “untouchables” in
India prior to World War I. Each year the children received Christmas presents
from children in
Giving
Givers can be divided into three
types: the flint
the sponge and the honeycomb. Some givers are like a piece of
flint—to get anything out of it you must hammer it
and even then you only get
ships and sparks. Others are like a sponge—to get anything out of a sponge you
must squeeze it and squeeze it hard
because the more you squeeze a sponge
the
more you get. But others are like a honeycomb—which just over flows with its
own sweetness. That is how God gives to us
and it is how we should give in
turn. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Giving
Dwight L. Moody understood the place
of money in the
Mr. Farwell said
“Mr. Moody
must you
always be coming to me for money?” Moody replied
“Mr. Farwell
you grew up on
a farm
just as I did. Did you ever take a pail to a dry cow?” ── Michael P.
Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Humorous Giving
A pastor was talking to his farmer
friend
and he asked the farmer
“If you had one hundred horses. Would you give
me fifty?” The farmer said
“Certainly.”
The pastor asked
“If you had one
hundred cows
would you give me fifty?” The farmer said
“Yes.”
Then the pastor asked
“If you had two pigs
would you give me one?” The farmer
said
“Now cut that out
pastor; you know I have two pigs!” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Humorous Giving
A family sat down at the dinner table
following church one Sunday.
“The sermon was boring today
” said
the teenage son.
“Yeah
could you believe how the
pastor stumbled over the reading of the Scripture?” his sister chimed in.
“I’ve got to admit it was an
uninspiring day
” said Mother. “The choir was terrible.”
Finally
father
showing his
leadership
said
“Hush
you guys. Quit complaining. What did you expect for a
quarter?” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Humorous Giving
A rich man once asked his friend
“Why
am I criticized for being miserly? Everyone knows I will leave everything to
charity when I die.”
“Well
” said the friend
“Let me tell
you about the pig who was lamenting to the cow one day about how unpopular he
was
‘People are always talking about your gentleness and your kind eyes
’ said
that pig. ‘Sure
you give milk and cream
but I give more. I given bacon
ham
bristles. They even pickle my feet! Still
nobody likes me. Why is this?’ The
cow thought a minute and replied
‘Well
maybe it’s because I give while I’m
still living.’” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Humorous Giving
For Cure of Cirrhosis of the Giver:
The disease cirrhosis of the giver was discovered in A.D. 34 by the
husband-wife team of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1~11). It is an acute condition
that renders the patient’s hands immobile when he is called on to move them in
the direction of his wallet or her purse
and from thence to the offering
plate. This strange malady is clinically unobservable in such surroundings as
the golf club
supermarket
clothing store
or restaurant. Some try to use a
fake remedy
pointing out to the patients that income tax deductions can be
claimed for giving. The best therapy
and that which leads to a sure and
lasting cure
is to get the individual’s heart right with God. This affliction
is actually a symptom of a more basic need of the soul.
Prescribed Medication: Frequent doses
of Romans 12:1 and Luke 9:23
accompanied by a dash of 2 Corinthians 9:7. This
dosage will become quite pleasant if swallowed with a heaping tablespoon of
Philippians 4:19! ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Humorous Giving
A wealthy Texan was in the habit of
giving his dad unique gifts on Father’s Day. One year it was lessons on
hang-gliding. The year before that it was the entire record collection of Slim
Whitman’s hits. But this past year he felt he had outdone himself. He purchased
a rare kind of talking bird that could speak five languages and sing “The
Yellow Rose of Texas” while standing on one foot. The talented bird cost ten
thousand dollars
but he felt it was worth every penny. This would be a
Father’s day gift his dad would never forget.
A week after Father’s Day he called
his father. “Dad how did you like the bird?” His father responded
“It was
delicious!” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Missions Giving
Many years ago a certain woman was
preparing a box to be sent to some missionaries in India. A child gave her a
penny
which she used to purchase a tract for the box. Eventually this tract
reached a Burmese chief and was used to lead him to a saving knowledge of
Christ. The chief told the story of his conversion to his friends
many of whom
believed. Eventually a church was established there and over 1500 natives were
converted to Christianity.
The lesson is plain: no gift for God
is too small for him to use. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Motivation for Giving
A missionary returned to his home
city
where he announced a collection for foreign missions. A good friend said
to him
“Very well
Andrew
seeing it is you
I’ll give five hundred dollars.”
“No
” said the missionary
“I cannot
take the money since you give it
seeing it is me.” His friend saw the point
and said
“You are right
Andrew. Here is thousand dollars seeing it is for the
Lord Jesus.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Motivation for Giving
A long time ago a very godly and
generous businessman in London was asked for a donation for a charitable
project. Very little was expected because the businessman had recently
sustained a heavy loss from the wreck of some of his ships. To the amazement of
the leaders of the charity
he gave about ten times as much as he was expected
to give to the project.
When asked how he was able to give so
much in light of his business difficulties the businessman replied
“It is
quite true
I have sustained heavy loss by these vessels being wrecked
but
that is the very reason why I give you so much; for I must make better use than
ever of my stewardship lest it should be entirely taken from me.”— George
Muller
Motivation for Giving
John Bunyan
author of The Pilgrim’s
Progress
wrote
“A man there was
and they called him mad; the more he gave
the more he had.”
Of course Bunyan was writing of the
Christian. To the world
such a principle of giving is nonsense. Only to the
Christian
who understands that true worth is also spiritual
does this make
sense. Hence
in giving to God
the Christian looks for spiritual returns. ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
Motivation for Giving
But our tokens of compliment and love
are for the most part barbarous. Rings and other jewels are not gift
but
apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for
me. Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd his lamb; the farmer his
corn; the miner a gem; the sailor
coral and shells; the painter his picture;
the girl
a handkerchief of her own sewing.”— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Motivation for Giving
Charles Spurgeon
the great English
preacher
was once invited by a wealthy man to come to preach in a certain country
church
to help the membership raise funds to pay off a debt. The man told
Spurgeon he was free to use his country house
his town house
or his seaside
home. Spurgeon wrote back and said
“Sell one of the places and pay the debt
yourself.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Proportional Giving
A well-known philanthropist was asked
“How is it that you give away so much
and yet have so much left?”
“I suppose it’s like this
” he
replied. “I shovel out
and god shovels in
and he has a bigger shovel than I
do!” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Proportional Giving
A man came to his pastor for
counseling. He felt convicted that he had not been faithful in giving God a
portion of the generous thousand-dollar weekly salary he was making. The man
explained
“I had no problem thanking God and giving him a liberal offering
when I was making just two hundred and fifty dollars a week. Please pray for
me.”
The pastor then prayed
much to the
man’s dismay
“Father
please bring this man back to a two-hundred and
fifty-dollar salary so that he can get back into your will.” ── Michael P.
Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Regular Giving
I have a regular time for washing my
face
combing my hair
dressing
and brushing my teeth.
I do not have a regular time for
washing my car. It shows.
Giving is like that. If it
is not done regularly
it doesn’t get done. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Selfishness in Giving
During a sermon
the country preacher
said to his congregation
“Now let the church walk.” Deacon Jones said
“Amen
let it walk.”
“Let the church run
” said the
preacher. “Let it run
” echoed Deacon Jones.
“Let it fly
” said the preacher.
“Amen
brother
let the church fly
” said Deacon Jones.
“Now it’s going to take money to let
it fly
brother
” said the preacher. “Let it walk
” said Deacon Jones. “Let it
walk.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Selfishness in Giving
The pastor of a large and wealthy church
in Texas broke out in laughter in the middle of singing a hymn during the
Sunday-morning service. After the service was over
has wife asked what could
have caused him to do such a thing. “Well
” he said
“I couldn’t help it. We
were singing ‘Take my life and let it be consecrated
Lord
to Thee
’ and I
noticed the words of the third verse: ‘Take my silver and my gold
not a mite
would I withhold.” It suddenly struck me
with all the millionaires sitting in
the congregation
what if God would answer that prayer right then? Some of them
would be very upset and angry with him. I’ve been encouraging them to give
their silver and gold for a long time
but they’ve not been willing. But now
they’re singing
‘Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.’” ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
Selfishness in Giving
Martin Marty
in his Context
newsletter
quoted Yale professor-preacher Halford Luccock: “You remember that
among the Franks
whole armies were sometimes given baptism at one stroke
and
many warriors went into the water with their right hands held high
so that
they did not get wet. Then they could say
‘This hand has never been baptized
’
and they could swing their battle axes just as freely as ever. The modern
counterpart of that partial baptism is seen in many people who have been
baptized
all except their pocketbooks. They held these high out of the water.”
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
Proportional Giving
Give according to your income
lest
God make your income according to your giving. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Humorous Giving
Do your givin’
While
you’re livin’
Then
you’re knowin’
Where
it’s goin’.
── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
If thou art rich
then
show the greatness of thy fortune; or what is better
the greatness of thy
soul...support the distressed
and patronize the neglected. Be great; but
let it be in considering riches as they are
as talents committed to an earthen
vessel. Thou art but the receiver.
Laurence Stern.
Do all the good you can
by all the means you can
in all the ways you can
in all the places you can
at all the times you can
to all people you can
as long as ever you can.
John Wesley
The true meaning of life
is to plant trees
under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
Nelson Henderson.
In a recent survey by the
Asso. of Life Underwriters of Washington
D.C.
it was shown that for every
dollar reaching the needy
the sick
the underprivileged child
and the aged
adult
the cost of channeling it through the church is just eight cents
while
the cost of channeling it through voluntary charitable organizations or the
federal government is 27 cents and $3
respectively.
Rev. Thoman R. Petty
quoted in His
May
1976.