The First Thing First

Intro: The usual questions:

A. How much?

B. How Many?

C. How often?

I. The Biblical Approach

A. Not Assets and Liabilities

B. But Heart, Spirit, and Attitude.

II. How does one measure service that is patterned after God’s love for us?

A. Mk. 12:44: “All that she had!”

B. Lk. 14:33: “Forsake all…!”

C. Acts 7:59: God gave life to Stephen, and when called upon to do so, he gave it back!

III. A Christian does not dole out an hour or two, a few dollars

or a pound of mercy for God:

A. 2 Cor. 8:5: He first gives himself to God.

B. Mt. 16:24: “…let him deny himself!”

C. Rom. 12:1-2: “…a living sacrifice.”

IV. Service is limited only by our ability and opportunity -2 Cor. 8:12

– in keeping with what God has given to us - 1 Cor. 16:1-2

V. Jn. 4:24; Mt. 22:37