Friday, August 3, 2012

The Sacrificial Joy of Giving

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24  
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, 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 that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Insights: We have looked at the worlds answer to money – get all you can NOW.  We have looked at the believers answer to money – get out of debt in order to use your money for the advancement of the gospel.  We have looked at the motivation behind our answer – your heart.  We have also looked at what our answer proves about us – you are in allegiance with God or the world.  Now we come to crunch time.  These verses are a part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  What Jesus has been doing throughout that sermon is turning religious traditions on their head and raising the standard by which God holds us accountable. As an example, Jesus said, “You have heard it said, do not commit adultery, but I say if you look on a woman lust, you have already committed adultery in your heart.”  In this same sermon where Jesus is raising the bar we find these verses on money. We know we ought to be giving financially to God and we do that through the local church.  Our giving is an act of worship back to God.  As we have learned this week we are to strive to become debt free so that our money can be used to bring glory to God and increase His kingdom.  God wants us to be obedient and give to Him everything He tells us to give.  Below are two questions which are now appropriate in terms of your relationship with Jesus and your finances.  Who will you choose?

Questions:
  1. If you have stopped giving financially to your local church, have you come to the place where you know you need to repent and begin giving again?
  2. If you have not stopped giving, have you come to a the place where you are willing to ask God if you are giving the percentage He would have you to give?
Prayer: Lord, I want to honor you in all I do and my finances are no exception.  Work in my heart to draw me into obedience where my finances are concerned.  Amen.

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