Giving to our Heavenly Bank Account

Short Talk (SHT044) Giving to our heavenly bank account © Jane Hulme 2015 1 © Jane Hulme 2015 SHORT TALK: “GIVING TO OUR HEAVENLY BANK ACCOUNT” Aim of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Props: (SHT044) To encourage people to think about how much they are investing in their heavenly bank account. Giving, Generosity, Money Matthew 6:4, 6:19-21, 1Corinthians 16:2, 1Timothy 6:18 Two pieces of large card. On one piece write the word, “BANK.” On another piece write the word, “HEAVENLY BANK.” Bank notes (eg £5, £10, £20), bag containing a pound’s worth of 2p’s ........................................................................................................................ This morning I am going to need two volunteers to come and help me.  The first volunteer could be someone who likes maths. (Give them the sheet that says BANK, and get them to hold it so that the word isn’t showing)  The second volunteer can be anyone. (Give them the sheet that says HEAVENLY BANK, and get them to hold it so that the word isn’t showing) (Turn first sheet around that says BANK). Let me introduce you to N (name of child)  I want you to imagine that s/he is the bank manager of Lloyds bank.  How many of you here have a bank account or a building society account; somewhere where you can keep your money? As those of you with bank accounts know, we can put money into our bank account – (Give the child who is the bank manager the bank notes)  and we can take money out of our bank account – (take the money back) What you may not realise is that we all have something like a Heavenly bank account (Turn round sheet that says HEAVENLY BANK) - where we can put our money too.  The difference between this bank account and a Lloyds bank account is that you only ever put money in......  you don’t ever take your money out in this life! The wonderful thing about this Heavenly bank account is that Jesus tells us that when we put money into it,  our Heavenly Father notices and promises to reward us.  We don’t know whether the reward will be in this life or the next, but we will be rewarded. Not only that but if we store up money in this bank account it will last for ever,  whereas money stored up in earthly accounts isn’t as secure. So, you might be asking, how do we put money into our heavenly bank account?  There isn’t one on the high street is there? Quite simply, whenever we give money to our local church to enable Jesus’ ministry,  we are putting money into our heavenly bank accounts. © Jane Hulme 2015 2 Whenever we give money to someone who is poor or in need,  we are putting money into our heavenly bank accounts. I might put £10 into my heavenly bank account each week (Give child holding the sign HEAVENLY BANK £10 then another £10 then another £10....)  by putting £10 each week into the collection at church for Jesus’ ministry. I might put £25 into my heavenly bank account (Give child holding the sign HEAVENLY BANK £25)  by running a special cake sale that raises money for Bibles for the Sunday school. I might put £5 into my heavenly bank account (Give child holding the sign HEAVENLY BANK £5)  when I buy a coffee and burger for a homeless man on the street, or I might put £1 into my heavenly bank account,  by giving the 2p’s that I have been collecting from my pocket money to Water Aid, (Give child holding the sign HEAVENLY BANK a bag containing a pound’s worth of 2p pieces) Now Jesus told us a few things about this heavenly bank account that we need to take seriously. Firstly, we need to put money into this account.....  it sounds obvious but we need to do it.  Listen to this:  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt 6:4) Secondly, when we put money into our heavenly account Jesus tells us to do it secretly. Jesus said:  “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret” (Matt 6:4)  When we give money to the church or to someone in need or to a charity Jesus doesn’t want us to go round telling everyone what we have done.  We are to give as discreetly as we can.  If we do that we will be rewarded by our Heavenly Father. And thirdly, Jesus wants us to be put generous amounts of money into our heavenly bank accounts. Listen to this:  “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1Tim 6:18)  God is so generous to us.....he wants us to be like him and be generous in what we give away. So this morning, let me encourage you to think about how much you can put into your heavenly bank account.  You might think about what you are giving to the church to further Jesus’ kingdom work.  You might like to make a collecting box that says, “Heavenly Bank account” and collect money for one of our Mission projects.....  Whatever you do, know that your Father in heaven is delighted when we give back some of what He has given to us......and one day will reward us. © Jane Hulme 2015 3