More thoughts on Sacrificial Giving…..

More thoughts on Sacrificial Giving…..

I ended my first blog on Sacrificial Giving with the following paragraph and four points:

So the question for me comes down to this, is it reasonable for me to be asked to give sacrificially? I would say yes, and I must give. God’s Word demands it. However, it is necessary that I choose wisely as I direct my sacrificial giving. In this pursuit of following God’s Word that calls me to be a living sacrifice, I am personally considering these four points:

• God’s purpose—Is my time, efforts, gifts, and/or money going to further God’s purpose rather than man’s agenda?

• Godly repentance—If sin was committed, in other words, if Scriptural principles regarding debt were ignored, has true repentance occurred and has the acknowledgment of the repentance been made public?

• Honesty and Integrity in leadership—Is there honesty and integrity in these dealings which create and/or convey the greater need? Is there responsibility and accountability?

• Modeling leadership—Is the leadership leading by sacrificially giving of their own resources? Are they modeling the response they desire to see?

The question is not whether I will give, nor is it whether I will give sacrificially. The question is: How and where and to whom? And then that I do it, with all my heart, and all that I am, and all that I have.

I would like to further address the idea of Modeling Leadership, leadership that leads by example. This is a Scriptural concept. How many times did the Apostle Paul admonish believers to follow his example and encourage those he was mentoring to be an example to those over whom they had been entrusted with leadership? Here are a few instances.

1Corinthians 11:1—Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Philippians 3:17—Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

2Thessalonians 3:7—For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.

1Timothy 4:12—Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Titus 2:7-8—In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned….

I think it’s fair to say that Paul led by example, his life was marked by integrity and he could say with confidence, “Don’t just do what I say, do what I do! Follow my example as I model my life after Christ.” That is what I mean by Modeling Leadership; leadership that leads by example, maybe even to the point where words become unnecessary.

I find it interesting that this concept is also clearly portrayed in the Old Testament. I direct your attention to 1Chronicles 29:

Then King David said to the whole assembly: "My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God--gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble--all of these in large quantities. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?" Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided

David led by example. He not only gave out of his resources, but it says he gave out of his personal treasures of silver and gold. He gave willingly, freely and in a way that demonstrated that he knew he was a steward of the possessions God had entrusted him with. He realized that the LORD had provided what he was giving and he was giving back what really belong to Him in the first place. But also notice that the people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders. The willingness and example of giving demonstrated by the leadership caused great joy among the people and encouraged them to do the same. That, I believe is to be the example of Modeling Leadership....leadership that is willing to not only say “Do what I say, but....do what I do.”