We have to be very careful not to give our kids everything except that which made us capable of giving them something. The strength of your life comes from the struggles you face.
Giving somebody stuff to bail them out of their situation wo empowering them w strength that comes from struggle won’t help them long term.
When our daughters were ready to buy their own car we agreed to buy them whatever car they wanted. The only requirement was that they would pay 50% of the cost! Both of our girls have now graduated High School. Since they still live at home they both now pay rent! Their rent goes into a specific account of theirs that will help fund their down payment on a house one day.
Our children need responsibilities to help them feel the struggle, which is where they develop strength.
No good parent gives a child their valuables without first giving them their values.
God is a good, good Father and He’s not going to do this either! Do you carry God’s values and priorities? Are you begging God right now for relief from a struggle that God is unwilling to remove because He’s not yet developed the strength in you that he wants to use the struggle to produce? You were never created to live a life you could live without God’s help.
Deut 14:23 The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives (TLB)
Tithing has a purpose in our personal lives! It teaches us to always put God first and helps us know where our hearts are.
2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. NIV
Jesus was living the ultimate good life in heaven. He left all of his riches, came down, and gave you a pretty awesome life. He became poor so you could become rich.
2 Cor 9:6-7 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NIV
Verses like this in the Bible explain why we went away from passing buckets in our church family. Giving is such an important matter of the heart. We want this to be your worship as a sacrificial expression to God.
Anything you give away always comes back to you. If you want attention give attention. If you want friendship… If you want a smile give a smile. Do you know how hard it is not to smile at somebody smiling at you?
I can hear the resistance now you don't know how much I gave myself to that man he never gave anything back. What you have to understand is what you give doesn’t always come back from the source to which you gave. God is the one who brings it back and if you will not grow weary in well doing you will reap a harvest because God promises that will be the case! It not only comes back to you but to your legacy and this is why our giving is so important!!!
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men will give into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Give generously and you will find generosity coming your way! People won’t be able to explain why they like you, are attracted to you, want to hire you, promote you, etc.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Prayerfully consider what your 2020 giving and serving should look like as your ministry to the Lord.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Share a time when one thing led to another and something bigger resulted from a decision you made.
The reality of one thing leading to another is born from the Biblical truth of sowing and growing. This is a law but God intended it to be for good. In a fallen world this law can produce that which is not good but may we all be reminded that Jesus is alive and so are we!
God’s plan is to awaken God’s love in the hearts of God’s people to transform every society on the planet to become more like God’s Kingdom in heaven! Light is more powerful than darkness and the blessing is more powerful than the curse! This is the example Jesus set for us.
2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. NIV
Jesus was living the ultimate good life in heaven. He left all of his riches, came down, and gave you a pretty awesome life. He became poor so you could become rich. We are invited into His Kingdom to perpetuate His values.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. What problems exist when we give our children too many things before they are ready to manage those things on a mature level?
No good father would simply give a child their valuables without first giving them their values.
If we understand not to do this with our children how much more does God understand not to do this with us? Learning to live generously is truly a matter of worship and obedience that awakens a blessed life overall.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
3. The more self-absorbed we are the more unhealthy toxic overall perspective. Why is this the case?
4. What are some of the reasons people seem to struggle with tithing and giving as an expression of worship?
Deut 14:23 The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives (TLB)
All of the world’s resources came from God. God owns and God loans it. We have nothing before we come into this world and we have nothing after we leave.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Prayerfully consider what your giving and serving should look over this next year as your ministry to the Lord.