From Greed to Generosity: Transforming Our Financial Hearts
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor discussing the connection between our hearts and our financial management. He emphasizes the importance of our intentions and motivations when it comes to giving and money management, referencing Jesus' statement that no one can serve both God and money. The pastor highlights the need for sacrifice to move from greed to generosity, which leads to a deep-rooted gratefulness. He references a parable told by Jesus in Luke 12:15-21, warning against the dangers of greed and storing up possessions for oneself. The pastor then transitions to the topic of investing in the Kingdom, mentioning a speaker named Joe who will teach practical ways to apply spiritual truths to finances.
The pastor shares his personal experiences with money and spending, confessing that he has always been a talented spender, only knowing how to spend money rather than save or invest it. He shares a personal anecdote about buying an espresso coffee maker after hearing about it, highlighting his inability to resist spending on things he desires. However, he acknowledges that this inability to tell himself no can keep him in a state of struggle rather than abundance. To move from struggle to surplus, the pastor emphasizes the importance of employing wisdom from the Word and shares a verse from Paul's letter to the Corinthians about sowing generously to reap a bountiful harvest.
The pastor then discusses the importance of changing from struggle to surplus, from selfishness to selflessness, and from greed to generosity. He shares a personal anecdote about growing up in a family of six boys where money was scarce. He describes his parents' car, a 1974 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale, and the rule that no one sat up front with them. The youngest twins, including the pastor, were given the choice of sitting in the back window or on the hump of the car.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of understanding God's plans for our lives. He shares a personal testimony of how he applied this principle in his own life. He mentions how he prayed for God's help to stop spending and paid off his old truck, which he had been driving for 19 years. Despite the truck being old and not impressive, he remained faithful in saving money and eventually was able to purchase a new truck in 2021.
The pastor concludes the sermon by discussing the importance of intentionally blessing others and how it has become a significant part of their life. He shares that they have included a line item in their budget called "intentionally bless others" (IBO) to actively prioritize this act. The pastor encourages the congregation to start small, even with just five dollars a month, and highlights that the amount given is not as important as the willingness to give in proportion to what one has.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes that our hearts are connected to our financial management and giving. Our intentions and motivations are crucial in this aspect. Serving money can lead to disappointment and dissatisfaction, while serving God leads to deep-rooted gratefulness. ([12:45])
- The pastor shares his personal struggle with spending and the importance of employing wisdom from the Word to move from a state of struggle to surplus. He challenges the congregation to reflect on their current sewing habits and consider what type of harvest they can reasonably expect to receive. ([24:30])
- The pastor discusses the importance of changing from struggle to surplus, from selfishness to selflessness, and from greed to generosity. He shares a personal anecdote about growing up in a family of six boys where money was scarce, emphasizing the difficulty of change. ([36:15])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of understanding God's plans for our lives. He shares a personal testimony of how he applied this principle in his own life, remaining faithful in saving money and eventually being able to purchase a new truck. ([48:20])
- The pastor discusses the importance of intentionally blessing others and how it has become a significant part of their life. He encourages the congregation to start small, even with just five dollars a month, and highlights that the amount given is not as important as the willingness to give in proportion to what one has. ([59:10])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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1. 2 Corinthians 9:6: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."
2. Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
3. Luke 12:15-21: "Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.' And he told them this parable: 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.'"
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Observation Questions:
1. What does 2 Corinthians 9:6 suggest about the relationship between our actions and their outcomes?
2. In Matthew 6:24, what does it mean to serve two masters, and why is it impossible to serve both God and money?
3. What warning does Jesus give about greed in Luke 12:15-21, and what does the parable suggest about the dangers of storing up possessions for oneself?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the principle of sowing and reaping, as described in 2 Corinthians 9:6, apply to our financial management and giving?
2. How does the teaching in Matthew 6:24 challenge our attitudes and behaviors towards money and possessions?
3. What does the parable in Luke 12:15-21 teach us about the consequences of greed and the importance of being 'rich toward God'?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current financial habits. Are there areas where you are sowing sparingly rather than generously? What specific steps can you take to sow more generously?
2. How does the reality of serving two masters, as described in Matthew 6:24, manifest in your life? Identify one specific way you can prioritize serving God over money this week.
3. Reflect on the parable in Luke 12:15-21. Are there possessions you are storing up for yourself? How can you instead use these resources to be 'rich toward God'?
Devotional
Day 1: The Heart's Connection to Financial Management
Our hearts and our financial management are deeply intertwined. Our intentions and motivations when it comes to giving and money management are crucial. Serving money can lead to disappointment and dissatisfaction, while serving God leads to deep-rooted gratefulness. [12:45]
Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: Reflect on your financial habits. Are they driven by a desire to serve God or a desire to serve money? How can you align your financial management more closely with your faith?
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Day 2: Moving from Struggle to Surplus
The journey from struggle to surplus requires wisdom and discipline. It's not about how much we earn, but how wisely we manage what we have. By sowing generously, we can reap a bountiful harvest. [24:30]
2 Corinthians 9:6 - "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."
Reflection: Consider your current financial habits. Are you sowing sparingly or generously? What changes can you make to sow more generously and wisely?
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Day 3: The Transformation from Selfishness to Selflessness
Change is difficult, but necessary. Moving from selfishness to selflessness, from greed to generosity, requires a shift in mindset and a commitment to living according to God's principles. [36:15]
Proverbs 11:25 - "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
Reflection: Reflect on areas in your life where you can be more selfless and generous. What specific actions can you take today to start this transformation?
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Day 4: Understanding God's Plans for Our Lives
Understanding God's plans for our lives is crucial. It requires faithfulness, patience, and a willingness to make sacrifices. [48:20]
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Reflection: Think about a recent decision you made. Did you consider God's plan for your life in making that decision? How can you better align your decisions with God's plan?
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Day 5: The Importance of Intentionally Blessing Others
Intentionally blessing others should be a significant part of our lives. It's not about the amount we give, but the willingness to give in proportion to what we have. [59:10]
Acts 20:35 - "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Reflection: Reflect on how you can intentionally bless others. Can you allocate a specific amount in your budget for this purpose? How can you start small and gradually increase your giving?
Quotes
"No one can serve two masters either you hate the one and love the other or you'll be devoted to the one and despise the other you cannot serve both God and money." [58:26]
"When you choose to move from greed to generosity, there is sacrifice required where you say no to something you might want... and it spawns a deep-rooted gratefulness." [59:08]
"I found out I was a talented spender... it's a spiritual gift... that spending itis that inability to tell ourselves no will keep us struggling if you want to move from struggle to Surplus you have to employ great wisdom from the word" ([39:42])
"Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously... if you want to move from struggle to Surplus you got to have something not no thing" ([41:02])
"Instead of writing intentionally bless others with the io in in it she left it out so in the Sangle family we don't intentionally bless we in intentionally bless others but every month we put God first and intentionally bless others second it tially bless other second and #!!01:06:01!!# it's cash and we pull it out in cash every month and we carry it with us and it turns out if you put a line item in your budget called intentionally bless others or intentionally bless others God will give you opportunities to intentionally bless others it'll become one of the greatest areas of your financial journey." (#!!01:06:01!!#)
"It's not how much you give, it's #!!01:06:40!!# in proportional to how much you have right now and watch what God does. Will you do it? Listen, I compel you to do it this afternoon at 3:00." (#!!01:06:40!!#)
"Are you putting God first? Are you investing in God's kingdom? Because there are some blessings that will not be unlocked in your life till you put him first." #!!49:26!!#
"God says there is order and there is an order to things and of what you plant that which you shall reap. This is the principle of sewing and reaping." #!!44:53!!#
"The only number God cannot bless is a zero." #!!45:32!!#
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