Loving God’s Family Through the Investment You Make
Pray – (1/2 minutes)
Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 2:43-44)
Passage: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
How do you spell love? One way is G-I-V-E. You can certainly give without loving, but you can’t really love without giving. Love gives. The ultimate expression of the love of God is described in the most well-known verse in the Bible which simply says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” God is a giver and when we live by the Spirit, we will be givers of our time, talents and treasures.
Stewardship is probably the hardest spiritual discipline to practice, because we live in a material world and our nature leans toward materialism. The antidote to materialism is stewardship. God’s plan for financing His work is through the tithes and offerings of His people. Stewardship provides for the place of worship; the pastors and ministers God sends to a local church and for the people to engage in and enjoy the ministries of the church. While stewardship provides those things, it is not the main reason to give. Deuteronomy 14:23 says, “the purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives.” Faithful stewardship is an act of love and you show love for God and His family when you invest resources into His church.
Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)