GIVING IS GOOD! – 05.30.21

May 30, 2021
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FOUR THINGS WE WILL UNPACK OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS:

  • Less is More
  • Stress is Bad
  • Giving is Good
  • Tomorrow Matters

 

WE’VE BEEN PROGRAMED TO BELIEVE THAT MORE IS BETTER.

 

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.  Ecclesiastes 4:6 NIV

 

GIVING IS GOOD!

… “You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  Acts 20:35 NLT

 

Paul Meets the Ephesian Elders

32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. 33 I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship. Acts 20:32-38 NLT

 

IF WE KNOW IT’S MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE, THEN WHY DON’T WE GIVE MORE?

  • We’ve been programed to believe that the more I get the better.
  • We have seen this message of giving abused. 
  • We have a selfish stingy heart that needs to be changed by Jesus. 

 

24 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. 25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25 NLT

 

HOW DO I GROW IN GENEROSITY?

  • TRUST GOD WITH THE TITHE.

One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy. Leviticus 27:30 NLT

 

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”  Malachi 3:10 NLT

 

Trusting God with the tithe teaches:

  • Prioritize your life around God.
  • Abundance mindset over a want mindset.
  • Builds your faith in God’s faithfulness.

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.  2 Corinthians 9:6-12 NLT

  • PLAN YOUR GENEROSITY.

But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. Isaiah 32:8 NLT

We plan so diligently to get, why don’t we plan to give which is more blessed?

  • START BEING GENEROUS NOW.

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.  Philemon 1:6 NLT

 

11 “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving”…  2 Corinthians 9:11-12a NLT

 

Next Steps for me today…

  • Ask God to change your heart.
  • Trust God with the tithe.
  • Plan your generosity.
  • Start being generous now/ today!
Next Steps

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