
If God doesn’t need your money, why does He talk about it so much?
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Matthew 7:1-2
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:37-38 (Parallel passage)
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
The word money does not appear in those verses.
When we hear “give” we think about money.
I talk about giving all the time.
Marriage
Grace
Love
Serving
Salvation
Your heart is connected to your wallet.
There is a string that runs straight from your heart to your wallet.
If God can get your wallet, He can get your heart.
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Wher your heart is, they are treasure will be.
Your heart follows your treasure…
You put money in a stock…
You never cared before.
You bet on a game…
You never cared before.
…good measure pressed down shaken together.
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.
How do you develop a heart of generosity?
Deuteronomy 15:9
Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing.
1. Deal with a Selfish Heart
Selfishness = wickedness
Why did God create giving?
Do you really think God needs your money to support His work?
God did not create giving for His sake.
He created, giving for your sake.
Giving more than any other action or activity works selfishness and greed out of our lives.
Deuteronomy 15:10 NIV
Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Deut 15:10 NKJV
You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.
2. Deal with a Grieving Heart
God blesses you when your heart is right.
Your heart… not just doing the right thing.
Selfishness attacks us before we give.
Grief attacks us after we gift.
The devil wants to attack your wallet because if he can keep your heart attached to your wallet, then he knows God doesn’t have your heart.
Deuteronomy 15:14
Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you.
3. Develop a Generous Heart.
We are born selfish.
We are born again generous.
Your spirit wants to be generous.
God is trying to teach his children what we try to teach our children early on… share.
At some point you have to grow up.
“Lord, what do you want me to give?”
Deuteronomy 15:15
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.
I command you to be generous.
4. Develop a Grateful Heart
“Remember, everything you have came from Me.”
“Remember, you used to be a slave.”
We didn’t have anything before we had Christ.
Generosity always comes from gratitude.
Generosity is meant to point back to our testimony.