Text: Isa 44:17
Introduction
A. The residue he made a God - Man’s needs come first while the remainder belongs to his god.
B. Does this sound familiar? Do we give to God the residue? Do our needs come first?
C. Definition: Residue – remainder, leftovers, scraps.
D. Questions:
Who gives life to the seed for it to grow into a tree?
Who provides the sunshine and rain for the tree to grow?
Who gives us life? Eccl 12:7
Who provides the food for us?
What have we given back to God?
Discussion
A. A story about gratitude.
God is the Giver of TIME. Gen 1:5; Job 14:14; Eccl 3:1-8; Eph 5:16
God is the Giver of HEALTH. Eccl 6:2; 2 Sam 12:15;
God is the Giver of LIFE. Gen 2:7; Lk 12:20; Job 14:14; Heb 9:27
God is the Giver of our TALENTS. Exo 31:2-3; James 1:5; Matt 25:14-15
God is the Giver of our POSSESIONS. Eccl 5:19; 1 Cor 10:26
God is the PERFECT GIVER. James 1:17; Eph 1:3; John 3:16; Mal 3:10
B. Some who gave God the best.
King David. 2 Sam 24:16-24
Hannah. 1 Sam 1:23-28
Abraham. Gen 22:1-12
A widow. Mark 12:41-44
Barnabas. Acts 4:36-37
C. How some give to God.
The Rejected. Mal 1:8
Costs Nothing. Mark 12:44
Pretentious. Acts 5:1-10; Matt 6:1-4
D. What our giving says about us?
Faith. 2 Cor 8:1-5; Acts 4:36-37; 2:44-45; Matt 6:33
Love. John 3:16; Luke 10:33-36;
Personality. Gen 18:1-8; 19:1-3; Matt 25:41-45; Jas 2:14-16;
E. How do you give to God?
Costs Nothing. Mark 12:44; Mal 3:8
The Rejected. Mal 1:6-8;
The Residue (Leftover, Scraps).
Thirty pieces of silver. Zech 11:12; Matt 26:15; Exo 21:32
The Best. Mark 14:1-8; Phil 3:8; 2 Cor 8:1-3
F. God deserves the best.
A Residue is not good enough. Luke 9:23
A hundred percent commitment. Mark 12:30
Because He gave us the best. John 3:16
Conclusion
A. We are known by our giving to God – Service and money.
B. We are known by our hospitality towards our brethren. Heb 13:2; Gal 6:10
C. Our Friends – God has given you His only begotten Son.
Will you give yourself to God?
How? Take Jesus as Your Saviour and Lord through faith, repentance, confession of faith, and be immersed in water for the remission of your sins.