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* * 0 Our God & Our Money! 1Ti 6:6-10 Now godliness with contentment is

great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in

destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have

strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

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It has been said that, “Money makes the world go around” and to a degree this

is the case!●Who ever has the gold, makes the rules!●It would take every man, woman

and child 50k each to pay off the national dept in America and counting our lifetime liabilities that # jumps to 200k!●In our lesson today I would like to

study with you about “our God & our money!”

* * 0 It is importance for us to understand that having money is not wrong, but the love of

money is wrong!●I believe the verses that follow this passage are very important for us to understand just what Paul is saying!–1Tim 6:17-18 Command those who

are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

* * 0 Money is simply an inanimate

object that has no power of its self!●It is what we do with it, how we use

it and how we receive it that really matters at all!●One of the builders I worked for

when I painted houses once told me, “more money often means more problems” and sometimes this what we find. ●It is funny how money has the power

to change people, for the worse or for the better!

* * 0 The thing about money is that it often takes the place of the

Master!●Mt 6:19-21 and 24 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

* * 0I. Giving Has to do with Attitude!

●When we use the word attitude we have in mind our “thoughts & feelings!”–What are our thoughts & feelings about

giving?●How do we feel about about giving back

to God?–Do we see the value of giving, do we

understand the command to give?–1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week

let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

* * 0 We must learn to give God what is

right and not what is left!●“Prosperity is only an instrument to

be used, and not a deity to be worshipped!” (Calvin Coolidge)●“The reception of any truth depands

upon the attitude that one has towards it!” (N.B. Hardeman)●The late V.P. Black in “Rust as a

witness” states that “many do not want to hear about giving, because the simply have a bad attitude towards it!”

* * 0 V.P. Black goes on to say, “if many would tell the truth about their giving they would say something like this. I am to selfish to give. I am to extravagant with my money

to be able to give. I spend so much foolishly that I don’t any left to give. I love

luxuries more than I love the Lord. I am keeping my money for pleasure and fun!”

(Chapter on attitudes towards giving) ●Let’s remember the words of Jesus!–Mt 6:21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.

* * 0 Passages on one’s attitude on

giving!●Mt 6:1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

●Mk 10:22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

●Joh 12:6 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.

* * 0 II. Giving has to do with

Appetite!●Our appetite has to do with our desires, wants and wishes! What drives us? What are we focued on? What is our motivation?●Are we pursuing the temporary or

the eternal?●Do we long for treasure of this life

or treasures in Heaven? (Mt. 6:19-24)●Are we more concerned with

worldly treasures or heavenly pleasures?–Heb. 11:24-26 cf. 1 Jn. 2:15-17

* * 0 Do we have an appetite for

giving back to God?●It is important for us to remember that

God loves a “cheerful giver!”–2 Cor 9:7 So let each one give as he

purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.●God has promised that “we get

according to what we give!”●The law of the harvest is implied here!–Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not

mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

* * 0 Each time the command is given there

is also a promised blessing!●Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the

storehouse, ... And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

●1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

●2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

* * 0I hope that these lessons have been

helping us better understand why the words of Jesus are so important!

●Act 20:35 "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'●All that there is and all that we have

ultimately has been given us by God!–God is only asking us to do what He has

done for us! Share with one another!

* * 0III. Giving has to do with Appearance!●One preacher once said, “When I look out at the congregation I ask, where are the poor? When I look at the giving I ask where are the rich?”

●We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet many poor countries out give us!

●The average Christian in the US gives between 2 to 3% back to God and spends 20 to 30% on luxuries!

●Are we more concerned with how we look to others or how we look to God?

* * 0We read in Haggia of the children of

Israel living in luxury while God’s house was lying in ruins! (Hag. 1:3-

7)●Hag 1:3-7 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!

* * 0 What do people see when

they look at our lives? What does our appearance tell them

about us?●Do they see people like the church in the First Century or something else?

–Act 2:44,45 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

* * 0 And again!

●Act 4:32 and 34 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

* * 0 Conlcusion:

●“The good news is that we have all the money we need to evangelize the world, the bad news is that it is still in the pocket books of the brethren!” (Jackie Stearsman)

●May each of us learn to take God at His Word and learn that we can never out give God, He is the greatest giver!

●“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!” (Jim Elliot)

●If you are here and not yet a Christian, then come to know the greatest giver who has given everything, including His life for you!

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