Giving Your Resources – Message Introduction
Our message series that we’re in is called Basic Training. God wants to train each of us so that we learn to follow His instruction and commands. The Bible teaches us that when we learn God’s commands and follow them, we are blessed.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (NIV) If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:
These principles that applied to Israel thousands of years ago, still apply to us today. If we are careful to follow and obey God’s commands, then His blessings come to us. On the other hand, if we are not careful to obey, if we disobey the Lord’s commands, the opposite results.
Deuteronomy 28:15 (NIV) However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
If you want some motivation to learn what God requires and to follow Him, read Deuteronomy 28 this week. These principles still apply today to us as New Testament believers. Of course, we can only follow and obey God’s commands as we seek Him and His strength to do it.
Today, my message is entitled “Giving Your Resources.” Human nature says, I need to keep all the resources I have for myself. You never know what is going to be coming in the future, so I need to be sure that I have enough. Many people today believe that they don’t even have enough for themselves, so how could they possibly even consider giving anything away. Let’s see what Jesus had to say about giving.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
It seems that Jesus said that storing up treasures on this earth for yourself was not wise. Because treasures are earth are very transitory and easily lost. Rather than store up treasures on earth, He commanded us to store up treasures in heaven, for treasure in heaven is secure. Not only is treasure in heaven secure, but is your treasure is in heaven, then your heart will be in heaven as well. How do you store up treasure in heaven? Simply by giving away your resources as the Lord directs in His Word, to further God’s kingdom. Jesus said in
Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
When we give our resources for God’s purposes, Jesus promises that God will give more back to us. In other words, when you give resources away, you will receive even more in return. Why? Not so you can get and keep it for yourself, but so you can give more away. God entrusts resources to those who use those resources for Him by giving them away. Did you know that God takes away resources from those who try to keep them for themselves?
Haggai 1:9 (NIV) “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.
The people in Haggai’s day thought they only had enough for their own house. They had nothing to help build the Lord’s temple. But actually, the reason they didn’t have enough was because the Lord was blowing their resources away. Why? Because they weren’t giving to build God’s house. Today, God wants to see you blessed in every aspect of your life. So, he wants to teach each of us how we can grow in giving our resources for His kingdom.
Message Audio, Outline & Study Guide
Basic Training Message Series
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