This Week's Topic: Finding Financial Peace
Premise
The only way to financial peace is straight through a giving and generous heart.
Excel
"just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving . . . . For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” 2 Corinthians 8:7-9
Reflect
God has made you to be a giver. It’s God’s image into which you were born. You will never flourish just being on solid financial footing unless you are a joyful and generous giver. It is giving that initiates and facilitates the flow of God’s joy through your body. There are many kinds of giving, but a giving heart will always include giving money. Rationalizing that giving my time and talents is an acceptable substitute for giving from my wallet, is just that, a rationalization, which usually means I’m not willing be the giver God wants me to be.
Jesus didn’t just give, he became poor, so that we could become rich. Why? He was already rich in his relationship with God. Are you rich enough in your relationship with God that you are willing to become poor for His sake and for the sake of others?
Don’t just give, excel in the gift of being generous.
Prayer
“Lord, I want to know the freedom that you had, the freedom from materialism, the freedom from fear of losing resources in favor of giving of my resources. Lord set me free to give. Amen"
Amen Pastor Jeff. I also pray to free myself from the many material distractions in favor of giving. To whom should we be generous? Should we follow Paul?
ReplyDelete"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality as it is written "The one who gathered much did not have too much and the one that gathered little did not have too little."
2 Corinthians 8:13-15.
How do we know that our giving is going to those in need? How does Paul's idea of equality play in our current social and political context?
IN MY OPINION, THE CONCLUSIONS IN TODAY'S REFLECTION ARE REVERSED FOR IMPORTANCE & VALUE. OUR TIME IS OUR MOST PRECIOUS GIFT. I FEEL SELFISH NOT GIVING MORE OF MY TIME ! HOWEVER, I AM GIVING ALL OF MY $$$, ASSETS, PERSONAL & MATERIAL WEALTH TO GOD'S PURPOSES. HOW CAN GIVING EVERY THING COMPARE TO GIVING ONE'S TIME, THOUGHT, DEDICATION, PERSONAL EMOTION COMPARE IN ANY WAY TO GIVING MATERIAL STUFF. BTW,I AM PUZZLED WHY COMMENTS ARE ANONYMOUS ? WHY NOT SHARE YOUR IDENTITY ???
ReplyDeleteLET ME KNOW...PLS ? HCTELF@comcast.net I WELCOME YOUR REPLIES & OPINIONS. YOU CAN STILL BE ANONYMOUS ! I WON'T SHARE ANYTHING...I AM VERY CURIOUS, THOUGH ? RONN FLETCHER
Ronn
ReplyDeleteWhy are you shouting?
Shouting? Are you referring to large font ?
DeletePls email me...discuss off reflectionline
Thx, Ronn
This passage actually, I read, tells us that inhabiting generosity in ourselves is something to be thankful BECAUSE it is a gift of grace from God. We become willing to accept this grace as we rely on Him. It cannot be forced on someone by human means.
ReplyDeleteThe Macedonia churches this passage focused on did not give out of guilt or a sense of obligation, they gave out of the GRACE God so lovingly bestowed on them (Verse 1)
God enabled them and they responded.
I wonder: if we feel the Holy Spirit will guide us into ALL truth, do we not think that includes our giving? Are we afraid that what we hear, what we respond to won't be 'enough' by some external measurement?
Do we give because we think if we don't God will be angry with us? Do we give because for some strange reason, a building or project seems more needy than our neighbor or a family member?
What is the motivation of our giving? Is it an eternal thing or a human thing? Indeed, do we constantly find ourselves focusing on the how much instead of the gratitude that we are able?
In the Old Testament giving had to be taught by amount, the law was the path to a better way and that way, through the New Covenant, was not to give in part but to give in whole.
In other words, Jesus said if you want an example how to give, here's one, the widow gave it ALL and guess what? She was putting it into the Freewill offering box! Jesus didn't pleade, incite, expect, manipulate, coerce or threaten, he watched.
Money, focusing on it either way is not a good thing, in my opinion, whether you're giving it, getting it, loving it, or fretting over it. The widow, the lowest of low: a woman, without husband, totally dependent on others for her welfare-hard act to follow.
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"
Give and FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. Ask to be a generous giver and FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT! God loves a cheerful giver, I pray that for us all!