Think of a person you know to be extremely generous. Then think of a person you know who is not. Comparing the lives of these two people side-by-side gives a clear picture of how generous people live more wonderful lives.
Giving in no way diminishes our lives. Giving actually increases us in many ways. Like a saturated sponge that cannot absorb more until it is squeezed out. God asks us to learn his generous nature and give first so we can then receive more of what He has in store!
You can’t say to a bank give me interest and then I’ll give you an investment. You can’t say to a fire give me heat and then I’ll give you wood. In the same way you can’t say to a relationship give me happiness and then I’ll be loving and kind to you. It is the spirit of giving that unlocks the joys of life.
2 Cor 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion... NIV
Jesus expresses this very unique idea as he is explaining to his disciples that he must die so the entire world could be saved. He explained that his death would result in his life as he would be raised from the dead. His disciples reacted refusing anything other than the best life Jesus could have right then. Jesus response is very defining:
Matt 16:24-25 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. NIV
Deny yourself? This is the same Jesus who said he came so we may “have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) in John 10, The Amplified Bible. Is it a contrast or is it a completion of the picture. Deny yourself, have and enjoy life.
God wants your life to be awesome but the plan is not for you to pursue an awesome life for yourself. The plan is for you provide an awesome life for others.
1 Cor 10:24 We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well. MSG
God has brought us together as a church family to serve his purposes and to leave our world a better place! When we come to church our lives are enriched. When we BECOME the church our world is enriched.
God knew that you would live in a generation inundated w materialism. His word clearly reveals his plan to break the spirit of materialism in your life. Tithes, offerings and sacrifices have always been part of God’s definition of worship. People have never gathered in the temple empty-handed.
Deut 14:23 The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives (TLB)
Tithe breaks the grip of materialism in your life and your legacy! Learning about & participating in the generous nature of God as an act of worship is very important to our lives and our legacy to the next generation! This will not only change your life but also the lives of children’s children.
Gathering to worship and to contribute to the greater mission of God’s Kingdom advancing in the earth is a really important part of our faith. If we don’t devote ourselves to greater purposes of love we confine ourselves to a self-serving existence. We were born for more than that.
GP4RL: Attend a Community Group this week to have a more meaningful discussion about how to more effectively experience and express the generous nature of God.
DESTINY FAMILY DECLARATION: We are OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God's plans and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.