The promise of Jesus that if we ask anything in His name He will do it for us does not apply to the American Dream.
Covetousness is a major issue in America.
Did you know that 61% of people with credit cards have over a $12,000 balance?
We need to learn how to manage our money in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord.
A Godly perspective on money is to think of ourselves as a pipe that the Lord can trust to channel finances through. We want to be a safe place for the wealth of the Kingdom of God to come.
If you don’t have a clear plan for giving then you probably aren’t giving as much as you think you are. Last year my wife and I looked at our checkbook for all the money we had spent in 2005 and we were like, “Surely we gave away more than that.” But nope. We thought we were but we wern’t.
So right away we made a commitment to give a certain percentage right off the top, plus we picked up a missionary in Israel to support and we are constantly on the lookout to give into the Kingdom.
This year we have already given more than double what we gave last year.
You can’t afford to wait until you have it to give it. You have to set up a plan now to give your money so when the Lord finds you trustworthy you can increase your standard of giving instead of your standard of living.
Having food and clothing with these we shall be content… (1 Timothy 6:8)
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure…running over wil be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38)
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for youyour treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Burrito Chris said:
Wolfgang Simson says that we are simply couriers of resources for the King. When you give resources to others you were simply delivering what belonged to them in the first place. Sort of humbles the “aren’t we good givers!” Further if a courier does not deliver what has been entrusted to him…its theft. So if we don’t give we are not only stealing from God but those He loves.
I was at a seminar by “Frank Diamzzio (sp/0)” entitled how to increase giving in your church. There were about 100 of us pastors who were desperate to know the secrets. The entire 8 hour seminar could be summed up in this quote: “My wife & I haven’t given 10% to the Lord since the first year we were saved. (Long Pause) Every year since then we have increased our “tithing” as a percentage. It is substantially more than when we started. On top of the base “Tithing” we give, I know the day will come when we will live off of 10%”
A church in Flordia recently raised 105 million for a new building. Prior to the Willow Creek had raised the most for a single congregation 80 million. Lord for the day the church will live the fasted lifestyle.
Guys give and pray for Rose too! Let this month be her greatest financial blessing ever!
Posted on December 7, 2006 at 6:52 am