3 choices

3 choices

StewardshiporOwnership

Trust orControl

Contentmentor Greed

Honor the LordGiving = Worship

The humble worship of giving

•(Deuteronomy 26:8-10) So the LORD broughtus out of Egypt with a mighty hand …{9} Hebrought us to this place and gave us this land, aland flowing with milk and honey; {10} and nowI bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, OLORD, have given me." Place the basket beforethe LORD your God and bow down before him.

Giving by Grace – New Testament

•Giving Voluntarily – Giving should not be done out of a sense ofguilt, duty or coercion. (2 Corinthians 9:7) "Each man shouldgive what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly orunder compulsion…"

•Giving Regularly and Proportionately – Giving should be doneaccording to a personal plan that is regular and proportionate toone’s ability and income. (1 Corinthians 16:2) "On the first dayof every week [Sunday], each one of you should set aside a sumof money in keeping with his income."

•Giving Sacrificially – Regular giving expresses our devotion toGod and our trust in Him to supply our needs. (2 Corinthians 8:2,See also 9:8-11) "Out of the most severe trial, their overflowingjoy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”

•Giving Privately – Giving should be a private ministry.(Matthew 6:4) "…that your giving may be in secret. Then yourFather, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

God’s Giving Promises

•(Proverbs 3:9-10) Honor the LORD with your wealth, with thefirstfruits of all your crops; {10} then your barns will be filled tooverflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

•(Proverbs 28:27) He who gives to the poor will lack nothing.

•(Proverbs 11:24-25) One man gives freely, yet gains even more;another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. {25} A generousman will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself berefreshed.

•(Proverbs 19:17) He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,and he will reward him for what he has done.

•(Proverbs 22:9) A generous man will himself be blessed.

•(Proverbs 25:21-22) If your enemy is hungry, give him food toeat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink…and the LORD willreward you.

Where’s our focus?

Now

Future

Less

How Wenaturallythink aboutMoney

How GodThinks aboutMoney

Is he/she focused on pleasing Me,trusting Me, worshipping Me – or not?