Giving, God's design for Prosperity
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Usually when we think about our blessings, it is generally toward the material blessings that God has given us. While our highest blessings are not material, God does give good things to his Children to delight in. Let’s look this morning at one aspect of why God blesses us with material things.
Our New Capacity
Our New Capacity
-We start out treasuring the things of this world. It’s natural to the fallen men. (Kids at Christmas)
This is not all wrong, God gives us stuff to enjoy.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
But men in our fallen nature take God’s good gifts and worship them as God.
This is natural to fallen men. It’s not the possession of things that is sin against God, it’s the worship of them.
-We now through the new birth have a new capacity when it comes to money. This is based off of a new love. When we are saved, Christ becomes our treasure, he’s what our heart desires most.
And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
-Our Relationship to possessions or wealth is now different.
Material gain is not the end goal of our lives. We do not love the world. Our material wealth are something we can live without because Christ is now our joy. This is not something natural to men. Willing parting with prosperity for the sake of the prince of peace. This doesn’t mean we have arrived or it’s not a struggle, but that these things aren’t the dominating force in our lives anymore.
-God gives us the capacity to steward our resources for the sake of God’s kingdom and the benefit of our brothers and sisters.
We now understand that God gives us material things to use to the benefit of God’s kingdom and purpose and to aid other believers.
The context of our passage is not encouragement to be a general philanthropist, but to be generous to the people of God.
1.Support of Gospel ministers
2.Relief of Brother’s and Sisters
Giving GenerouslyTests the Heart
Giving GenerouslyTests the Heart
What we do with our money is a clear revealer of our hearts.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:34
The Example of Ananias and Saphira
Both bring glory to God and advance his kingdom
-Proves the genuineness of our Christian profession.
The example of the macedonians proves this
Reflection Questions
Have you ever given sacrifically to the cause of Christ because you were so motivated by a desire to help?
Do you think more about advancing yourself with material wealh than you do about advancing God’s Kingdom?
Do you find in your spirit a reluctance to give to support this Church and the work of the Gospel?
Do you give anything at all, or to you keep your wealth to yourself?
Have you ever sat down and planned to be generous? Like writing a budget said I’m purposing to use my finances to be generous.
When God gives you a raise or advances you in this life, do you consider first what you can do for yourself, or does it enter your mind how you can bless others and Christ’s Church?
-Demonstrates your understanding of the Gospel. vs. 9
God has richly poured out on us what we could not buy. Jesus became poor to make us rich.
So will we now seek to be rich materially, while others are so poor spiritually.
If the gospel hasn’t affected your pocketbook, if there has never been a call to put away possessions for Christ, if you’ve never had to crucify your flesh in this area, you’re not a Christian.
The gospel so changes a person that it changes how he spends his money!
Generous Giving is for your Benefit
Generous Giving is for your Benefit
-It weans you off the world.
Make a practice of it. Give generously. Maybe start with a tithe. Learn from the heart to say, God you are my God and not my stuff!
-God provides for the generous man.
Chapter 9
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
This isn’t all men should do with their money, again God gives us stuff to enjoy it. But understand in balance we are to purpose to be generous givers.
It’s not spiritual to be poor, or unspiritual to be rich. Work hard, live to the glory of God. If God makes you rich, use it for his glory. If he doesn’t, use it for his Glory.
Above all, beware of worshipping stuff.