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October 27-28, 2001 MONEY WISE! Proverbs3:9-10 EXPERIENCING
THE JOY OF GENEROSITY! EVERYONE DEEP DOWN IN HIS OR HER
HEARTS WANT TO BE GENEROUS! ***
2 Cor. 9:6-7 “ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man
should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” [New International Version] ***
Proverbs 11:25 “The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh
others will themselves be refreshed.” [New Living Translation] ***
Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your
income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your
wine vats with the finest wines.”
[Living Bible] HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF
GENEROSITY! 1. BY RECOGINIZING THE MOTIVE
FOR GIVING! ***
Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your wealth….” [NIV] WORSHIP THE LORD WITH YOUR GIVING! ***
Genesis 22:5 “Abraham said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey
while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back
to you." [NIV] ***
2 Cor. 8:7-8 “Since you excel in so many ways—you have so much faith, such
gifted speakers, such knowledge, such enthusiasm, and such love for us—now I
want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving. I am not saying
you must do it, even though the other churches are eager to do it. This is one
way to prove your love is real.”
[NLT] YOU CAN GIVE WITHOUT LOVING, BUT YOU
CANNOT LOVE WITHOUT GIVING! ***
Luke 21:1-4 “While Jesus was in the
Temple, he watched the rich people putting their gifts into the collection box.
Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two pennies. "I assure you,"
he said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For
they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has
given everything she has."
[NLT] ***
1 Chron. 16:29 “Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship him.
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.”
[NLT] 2. BY RECOMMITING TO
THE METHOD OF GIVING! ***
Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first and best
part of all your income.” [God’s Word for the Nations] ***
1 Cor. 16:1-2 “Now about the money
being collected…you should follow the same procedures I gave to the churches
in Galatia. On every Lord's Day, each
of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have
earned and save it for this offering. Don't wait until I get there and then try
to collect it all at once.” [NLT] GOD’S METHOD OF GIVING! A. THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING: “Now about the money being collected…You should
follow the same procedures I gave to the churches in Galatia” B. THE PRIORITY OF GIVING: “On every Lord's Day” *** Proverbs 21:26 “People who obey
God are always generous.” [Contemporary
English Version] C. THE PERSONAL PART OF GIVING: “each of you” *** 2 Cor. 9:7 “Each of you must make
up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must
give and don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to
give.” [CEV] D. THE PROPORTION OF GIVING: “put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have
earned “ *** Malachi 3:8-10 “You people are
robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, "How are we robbing
you?" You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that
belongs to me. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will
be food in my house.” [CEV] ***
Malachi 3:10 “I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to
the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be
food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with
blessing after blessing.” [CEV] 3. BY REJOICING IN THE MARVEL
OF GIVING! ***
Proverbs 3:10 “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first and best part of all your income. Then your barns will be full, and your vats
will overflow with fresh wine.” [GW] ***
Proverbs 11:25 “The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh
others will themselves be refreshed.” [NLT] ***
Proverbs 22:9 “Generous people will be blessed….” [New Century Version] ***
Pr. 28:27 “Whoever gives to the poor will have everything he needs” [NCV] ***
Luke 6:38 “For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in
full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for
more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give--large or small--will
be used to measure what is given back to you." [Living] THOSE WHO HONOR THE LORD
ARE HONORED BY THE LORD! Proverbs 13:13 “Ignore the Word and suffer; honor
God's commands and grow rich.” [The Message] IF WE EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF GENEROSITY THEN WE
WILL BE MONEY WISE! |