Sermon Illustrations on Faithfulness in Giving

I May Be Dead

Faithful giving continues despite uncertainty of life, trusting God's work must be done.

A missionary in the West Indies having called on the people for help in spreading the gospel, a negro man came forward, and putting his hand in one pocket, pulled out some silver, saying, “That’s for me, Massa;” and another parcel from another pocket. “That’s for my wife, Massa;” and another still—in all, upwards of twelve dollars—”That’s for my child, Massa.” When asked if he were not giving too much, he-said, “God’s work must be done, Massa, and I may be dead.”

Blind Girl’S Offering

Sacrificial giving can come from unexpected sources, valuing what is saved over what is lost.

A poor blind girl brought a clergyman thirty shillings for the missionary cause. He objected, “You are a poor blind girl, and cannot afford to give so much.” “I am indeed blind,” said she, “but can afford to give these thirty shillings better, perhaps, than you suppose.” “How so?” “I am, sir, by trade, a basketmaker, and can work as well in the dark as in the light. Now, I am sure in the last winter it must have cost those girls who have eyes more than thirty shillings for candles to work by, which I have saved.”

Giving Pays

Faithful giving leads to God's blessing and multiplication of resources.

A rich merchant, who was supporting several native missionaries in India, was asked how he could do it. He replied, “At my conversion, I promised to give away a certain part of what business brought in; and, every year since, it has brought me in about double what it did the year before; so I keep on multiplying my gift to Christ’s cause.”

Where It Was

True riches are found in what is given to the poor, not in earthly wealth.

When a gentleman who had been accustomed to give away thousands of dollars was supposed to be on his deathbed, his presumptive heir inquired where his fortune was to be found. He replied that it was in the pockets of the poor—a deathbed confession of very rare occurrence in modern times.

Credit Seemed Long

Delaying generosity risks missing God's promised reward before death.

A wealthy gentleman was waited on by the advocates of a charitable institution, for which they solicited his aid, reminding him of the Divine declaration, “He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.” To this he replied, “The security, no doubt, is good, and the interest liberal; but I cannot give such long credit.” Poor rich man! Not a fortnight had elapsed before he received a summons which he could not refuse. He died.

Giving

Faithful giving honors God even when it requires personal sacrifice and commitment.

See ALMSGIVING; BENEVOLENCE; GENEROSITY; GETTING AND GIVING; HAPPINESS; PERSONAL PREACHING.

GIVING, FAITHFUL

In the station over which Mr. C. T. Studd ministered in China every man who was a Christian gave one-tenth of his annual income to the Lord. One day a young man who was earning seventy-two shillings a year came to Mr. Studd and said, “Pastor, I want you to give me a few days’ grace. I have not yet got together quite all my tenth.” He handed a good sum to him, and the pastor asked, “Haven’t you been helping to support your father and mother?” “Yes.” “And kept your little brother at school?” “Yes.” “Well, that is more than your tenth,” said Mr. Studd. “You need not bring any more.”

“No,” said the young man, “I have promised God my tenth, and no matter what I give beside, I am going to give my full tenth to God.” And he did. (Text.)

Missionary, A Little

Small faithful gifts can multiply greatly to support missions and kingdom work.

“I can not afford it,” said John Hale, the rich farmer, when asked to give to the cause of missions.

Harry, his wide-awake grandson, was grieved and indignant.

“But the poor heathen,” he replied; “is it not too bad they can not have churches and schoolhouses and books?”

“What do you know about the heathen?” exclaimed the old man testily. “Do you wish me to give away my hard earnings? I tell you, I can not afford it.”

But Harry was well posted in missionary intelligence, and day after day puzzled his curly head with plans for extracting money for the noble cause from his unwilling relative. At last, seizing an opportunity when his grandfather was in a good humor over the election news, he said: “Grandfather, if you do not feel able to give money to the missionary board, will you give a potato?”

“A potato?” ejaculated Mr. Hale, looking up from his paper.

“Yes, sir; and land enough to plant it in, and what it produces for four years?”

“Oh, yes!” replied the unsuspecting grandparent, settling his glasses on his calculating nose in such a way that showed he was glad to escape on such cheap terms from the lad’s persecution.

Harry planted the potato, and it rewarded him the first year by producing nine; these, the following season, became a peck; the next, seven and a half bushels, and when the fourth harvest came, lo, the potato had increased to seventy bushels. And, when sold, the amount realized was put with a glad heart into the treasury of the Lord. Even the aged farmer exclaimed: “Why, I did not feel that donation in the least! And, Harry, I’ve been thinking that if there were a little missionary like you in every house, and each one got a potato, or something else as productive, for the cause, there would be quite a large sum gathered.”--_Friend for Boys and Girls._

7 Sermon Illustrations on Faithfulness in Giving