3D: Raise the Bar - 11/10/24

““Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
—Matthew 6:19–21, CSB

Knowing why you give will determine what you give.

“We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord,”
—2 Corinthians 8:1–3, CSB

Greedy people focus on income.
Generous people focus on impact.

“They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”
—2 Corinthians 8:4–5, NLT

Giving is more about our

Reveal Answer

than our donation.

“So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”
—2 Corinthians 8:6–7, NLT

We need to give more than God needs what we give.

I’ll give when I start caring. (Wrong)
You’ll care when you start giving. (Right)

“I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.”
—2 Corinthians 8:8, NLT

“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.”
—2 Corinthians 8:9, NLT

“Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.””
—2 Corinthians 8:10–15, NLT

Making sure giving remains a priority in your life.

Merv & Barb’s Giving Story

Make sure giving is a blessing and not a burden.

GIVING

The right amount is whatever we can give with the right attitude.