October 13, 2013

Generous Giving Will:

Who Serves Who?

Investing Wisely Will:
1. Pay dividends forever
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matt 6:19-20 (ESV)

1. Help you remember where your stuff comes from

You must set aside a tithe of your cropsone-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. 23 Bring this tithe to the designated place of worshipthe place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honoredand eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the LORD your God. Deut 14:22-23 (NLT)

2. Allow God to be generous toward you

2 Cor 9:6-11

2. Direct your life

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matt 6:21-23 (ESV)

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the LORD of Heavens Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you wont have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Malachi 3:10 (NLT)

3. Focus your loyalty

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matt 6:24 (ESV)

Life Group Questions: 1. What possession of yours did you treasure as a child? As an adult? 2. Read Matt 6:21. How have you seen this to be true in your life? 3. When you have given generously to God, how did that affect you spiritually? How did God bless you? 4. Read 2 Cor 9:6-11. What is the main point, and how can you apply it to your life? 5. Pray for one another.