THEY GAVE ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY (Ezra 2:69) A. The people of Judah were in Babylonian captivity for 70 yrs.

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1 THEY GAVE ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY (Ezra 2:69) Ezra 2:69 According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand minas of silver, & one hundred priestly garments. A. The people of Judah were in Babylonian captivity for 70 yrs. [There are some lessons we can learn from this text about our own giving to the Lord s work.] 1. They were allowed to return to their land by the decree of the Persian King Cyrus. B. Ezra (1-3) tells of the early stages of rebuilding of the temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. I. THEY GAVE A. Several hundred years earlier the Israelites responded to God s call for an offering. 1. Ezra (1): the decree of Cyrus & the provisions sent with those who returned. 2. Ezra (2): a list of captives who returned & what they did to prepare for restoring worship & rebuilding the temple. Exo 35:4-5 (Offerings for the Tabernacle) And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 5 Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, & bronze. (Read 36:2-7) B. This should impress on us that giving to the Lord s work is a privilege. a. Zeruababbel led the 1 st return (1-6), & Ezra the 2 nd (7-10). 1. And as with all privileges, we should be anxious to do it (to go above & beyond). 1

2 C. There are at least two ways to give for the Lord s work. 1. Our first day contribution (1 Cor 16). a. The apostles directed giving for the support of preaching (1 Cor 9:3-12) & for physical needs in the church (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; Rom 15:25-26). 2. There is an individual aspect to giving that we must not overlook. Acts 20:35 (Paul quoting Jesus) I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Eccl 11:1-2 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Give a serving to seven, & also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth. Prov 14:31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him [his Maker] has mercy on the needy. Prov 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, & He will pay back what he has given. Prov 21:13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself & not be heard. Prov 22:9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. Prov 28:27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses. Prov 29:7 The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge. Prov 31:20 (Worthy Woman) She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. Luke 10:33-36 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. a. A Christian who thinks that by giving to the work of the church he has fulfilled his obligation to the Lord better think again! b. Because there are limitations placed on the work of a local church, which are not placed on the work of a Christian (1 Tim 5:16). [Back to the Israelites in Ezra s day, the text says, they gave. And so must we, but HOW did they give?} 2

3 II. ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY 1. David had the opportunity to give something to the Lord that would have cost him nothing. A. Ability : a being able; power to do. 1. Able (having enough power, skill, etc. to do something). 2. Jesus illustrated ability (Matt ). 2 Sam 24:24 I will surely buy it from you for a price, nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing. a. David gave [to the Lord] according to [his] ability. 3. Paul wrote that God has given us unique abilities (Rom 12:4-8) B. But the principle of giving according to one s ability is that God knows what we are capable of giving & He expects us to give accordingly. (Acts 11:27-30). [We cannot put a dollar amount on giving according to ability or a time clock or an effort meter. We simply have to follow our consciences while reflecting on what the Scriptures teach in that regard. The Israelites gave according to their ability, but WHERE did they give?] 2 Cor 8:12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, & not according to what he does not have III. TO THE TREASURY FOR THE WORK 1 Pet 4:11... If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory & the dominion forever & ever. Amen. A. There was a work to do: rebuilding the temple. 3

4 1. That work required funds, so a treasury was established. 2. God has given the church a work to do: evangelism, benevolence to saints, edification through teaching He authorized a treasury from which to do that work (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Rom 15:25-26; 2 Cor 11:8; Phil 4:15-16; 1 Tim 3:15). B. Like the rebuilding of the temple, the work of the church requires funds, so God has authorized each congregation to establish a treasury. 1 Cor 16:1-2 (Collection for the Saints) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up (put into a storehouse) as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 1. This passage also establishes a precedent for us to follow: the only way for a congregation to obtain funding for its work is by the free-will offerings of its members on 1st day of week. C. A church will be able to do the work that God wants it to do ONLY to the degree that the members are willing to give into the treasury of that work. 1. How did Christians give in N.T. times? a. As they were prospered by the Lord; liberally, beyond their ability, willingly, bountifully, as purposed in the heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity, cheerfully. (1 Cor 16:1; 2 Cor 8:2-3; 9:6-8). [The hearts in Israel were stirred up & they gave freewill offerings to the point this it was too much. It would take a lot of giving up on our part for us to give like that wouldn t it? So when we give into the treasury, it shouldn t be said that we are giving only a portion to the Lord, because if we are giving according to our ability, then we are giving generously for the work of the Lord s church. The congregation should be informed as to where their contribution is going; it will motivate them to that end.] 4

5 CLOSING There was a group Christians traveling together. While visiting brethren in Korea, they saw a field by the road & a boy in the field pulling a crude plow while an old man steered the plow through the rice paddy. They commented on this unusual sight & they were told by the local preacher (who was serving as their tour guide) that the man & boy in the field were father & son, & they are Christians. When the church building was built they were eager to give but had no money; so they sold their only ox & gave the money into the treasury of the church. Now they re pulling the plow themselves. Then the preacher added, They thought it was fortunate they had an ox to sell. A. All our Father has ever expected us to do is what we are able to do. 1. But before we give, He wants our hearts first: the churches of Macedonia first gave themselves to the Lord, & then to the will of God (2 Cor 8:5). [The contribution we make on the first day of the week is no more or less important than other acts of worship. There should be an obvious distinction made between our giving (collection) & the Lord s Supper. Furthermore, we are not making a solicitation (urgent request) of funds when we pass the trays. We do not solicit funds from those who are outside of Christ, nor do we solicit funds from our members. We, the members of this congregation, should have already determined (purposed in our hearts) what we will give. The passing of the trays is just an expedient way to collect the funds.] 5