What Are You Giving To God? by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

What Are You Giving To God? by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

The God we serve is One that gives. Before He created man, God had made sure that all man would need was ready, so that He gave them everything free of charge. The man was only to maintain that which was given.

God however always demand that the man give Him back something in return for all He must have done. For Adam and Eve, God wanted their heart, their trust, their loyalty, their devotion and their fellowship. They however failed God.

When man fell from grace. To restore man to Himself, God again had to give His only begotten Son, so that anyone that believes in this provision will be saved.

From that time on, even though God has universal blessings for all the works of His hands, He still looks for people who are willing to give certain things to Him, so that He can bless them even the more.

The tendency of man is usually to seek, receive and be blessed. But those who are knowledgeable in life know too well that those who give are those who are blessed the most.

– For example, in secular life, experience shows us that those employers who give more to their workers and customers tend to have more and more.

God is the Giver, Provider, and Sustainer of good and great things. The way to receive from Him is by giving to Him and giving to things He approve of.

We had a guest minister last week, we were taught certain areas of our lives as Christians that we will render account unto Jesus when we see Him:

– How we spend Our life (creation & redemption)

– How we use Our time (judiciously or anyhow)

– How we use Our talents (gain more or hide it)

– How we spend Our money (stingy or liberal)

– How we use Our possessions (selfish or charitable)

– How we treat the Gospel of Christ (not bothered or witnessing)

In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says we are created for good works which were ordained before we were born. The question is, are we walking in those works?

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

In I Cor. 7: 23-24, the bible again tells us that we are bought with a price. The precious blood of His dear Son. When you buy something, you expect it to serve you. If it doesn’t, you try and return it to the seller, if the seller refused to have it back, it’s discarded.

1 Corinthians 7:23-24 – Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

The God we serve is a jealous God. Been a Spirit, we cannot hide anything from Him.

We may claim that we love Him, whether we do or not, He knows.

God demands love that is greater than all other loves we may have.

If the percentage is less than that, He again knows.

The example of Peter readily comes to mind. We all know that Peter loved Jesus. Peter also expressed that to Jesus, which Jesus did not deny.

But Jesus was measuring the love Peter had for Him in relation to the love he had for his stomach and his business.

John 21:15-17 – So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Apostle James, the brother of Jesus gave us a crucial statement in James 2:14-17, that faith without works is dead.

We are all here today, because of our faith in God, which is good. But what or which work are we combining with our faith? And how well are we doing the work?

James 2:14-17 – What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jesus said to His disciples, to whom much is given, much also is required. Most times we concentrate on what God is yet to do for us. But God has given us a lot of things:

– The breath of life comes from Him (Job 33:4)

– Good health comes from Him (3 John 2)

– Power to make wealth comes from Him (Deut. 8:18)

– Power over serpent and scorpion comes from Him (Luke 10:19)

What do you give unto Him in return?

There are various examples of men in the bible who gave their all unto God:

– David facing Goliath was offering his life. Esther gave her life to God. Take my life…

– Abraham gave his only son. Hannah gave her first child. What is the best thing in your life? That Isaac or laughter? If God put His finger on it, can you give it?

– ObedEdom gave his property and the life of his entire household.

– Joseph Arimathea gave his tomb. Easy to give used thing. Something you haven’t used.

– The boy that gave his lunch to feed the multitude.

Even though God demand things from us. It is actually to find an avenue to bless us the more. There is usually a huge reward attached to such giving from us when it’s done willingly.

Apostle Peter asked Jesus a question that what will be the reward for all that they have given to God through Christ, the answer Jesus gave was very assuring.

Luke 18:28-30 – Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

As I conclude, I can only say that no matter what your age is today, time will not wait for you. Whatever you think you can do for God and humanity must be done now.

The reason been that your night and my night is fast approaching, and when the night comes, no one can work any longer.

John 9:4 – I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

On your way home this afternoon, continue to meditate on this sentence: ‘What am I giving to God?’ Is it the best you can? If you deceive yourself, remember God cannot be mocked. Let us pray.

Prayers

Father tell me exactly what to give to you

Father help me to obey you to give what you require of me

Father, help me to give the very best of what you require.

The sermon, What Are You Giving To God? by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye was delivered on June 18, 2017.