High School | LLLB #10 Live to Give

Note: Series outline and content supplemented by Live Lighter Love Better; Twelve Biblical Decisions for a meaningful life by Cary Schmidt. These lessons are prepared for the High School LifeGroup

Notes

Give information about the Christmas party

Give information about Planning Center

Explain outline today is shorter with the hope we will have more discussion than we have had been having

Review

Trust by Resting

Cherish Now

Create Sacred Space

Recalibrate in Worship

Simplify with Courage

Value Wisdom

Surrender Sovereignity

Settle the Essentials

Run from Folly

Live to give

Living well means giving well

Myth:

You must be abundantly wealthy to be abundantly generous

Money is the only thing people care about and need

My true beliefs are not reflected in my spending or giving patterns

Ecclesiastes 11:1–6 (KJV)

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Illustration: Story of Jack Whittaker winning 340 million in lottery and wishing he had tore up the tickets

Do you notice a change in town in the reading today?

What has changed for Solomon

Life is still short and death is still certain.

The change is in Lordship.

The world is the same, but the inner man has changed.

His attitude is renewed. His hope is alive. He realizes he serves a good and gracious King.

Life is an investment

Ecc 11:1-2 “1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.”

“Cast your bread” speaks of investment. Sending grain by boat to different places.

Give your life away by investing it.

Life is predictably unpredictable

Ecc 11:3-4 “3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”

Water is a zero sum game. The water you are drinking in your coffee may have been drunk by a dinosaur 6,000 years ago.

Disney calls it the “circle of life” we call it the wisdom of God

Instead of making excuses lets make a difference

Life is dependent be faith filled

Ecc 11:5 “5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”

Don’t look at the math, look at the principle.

There are things we do not understand; but they are beautiful and true.

Life is rewarding. Keep giving.

Ecc 11:6 “6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”

Give now, give later, always be giving.

We should look at every season of life and find ways to give.

Life is short, be delighted

Ecc 11:7-8 “7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.”

To live lighter and love betteer; live to give

Find your joy in giving

Life is for Jesus; Rejoice

Ecclesiastes 11:9–10 KJV

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Life and all of its decisions end at the feet of Jesus

Prepare for judgement and be happy; remove sorrow

Let’s not be heavy clouds or dying trees

Prayer: Father, help me adventure through life with daring generosity.