Money Matters (part 3)

Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Money is spiritual!

Generosity vs. Selfishness

The Enemy of Generosity is Selfishness

John 12:4-6 (NKJV)

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,

5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

Judas didn’t care about the poor!

Jesus gave Judas the offering plate as a test!

FACT: Only 5-7% of Christians tithe

Extravagance is The Energy of Generosity

John 12:3 (NKJV)

3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

-Mary gave a year’s wages!

-Mary expected nothing in return!

Three Levels of Giving

-Tithe

-Offerings

-Extravagant offering

Examples of Extravagant Giving!

David’s gift to build the Temple

I Chronicles 29:3-4 (NKJV)

3 Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver:

4 three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses;

Today’s Price – around 21 billion dollars

Widow’s Mite

Luke 21:1-4 (NKJV)

1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,

2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;

4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

She gave all! Others gave out of their overflow.

Generosity is motivated by gratitude.

John 12:1 (NKJV)

1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.

Many gave out of a heart of gratitude!

God is Generous – Satan is selfish!

John 10:10 (NKJV)

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Question: What can we give to a God who has everything?

II Corinthians 8:5 (NKJV)

5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

Give Him your life!