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ALL STUDIES

Taking Ownership

Love Gives
/ Part
3
/
February 7, 2022
/ Groups:
Lifegroups

Pastor Mike Hintz and Andrew Hunt have create a podcast to accompany this guide. You can find it at this link.

Challenge Follow-up

As you examined your priority list, did you find any places where your priorities were out of synch with God's priorities?


The Investment Principle

And so we come to the giving portion of our program. This is the part where jawlines clench and knuckles get a white. Why do they always ask for money? Why do they always push us to volunteer? They are trying to get their claws in us! I think "claws" might be a little mean, but yes, we are trying to get you involved. And there is a simple reason we want you to give and serve. We want you to be a full partner with us so that God can complete his good work in you and in us as a body! The local body - the church - is where the most of the Kingdom is played out in our world. You need to be on the inside of what God is doing here in His body. It doesn't happen if you don't have any investment in the effort. We want you to own both the work and the blessings of God in His church.

My daughter works for a big corporation. The company offers stock options to employees after they have worked there a while. A co-worker mentioned to her that he was finally eligible to receive the options. "You know," he said, "I suddenly became conscious that I was leaving the lights on all the time. I didn't see that before." It's a silly example, but it highlights an important truth. When we put our resources on the line we become invested - we tie ourselves to the cause. We hitch our efforts to the wagon and pull - no longer content to lay about in the hay. Sometimes we attend, we worship, we pray and cry and enjoy the blessings of the body of Christ without any real cost. But God wants us to pull together and share in the joy and blessing of a joint project - His Kingdom!

Ok that's the hard sell and hopefully it wasn't too painful. If you feel a little bruised I have some good medicine from a good God. He doesn't just demand that we pony up. He's not the IRS. In fact He is a God of increase. His promise is that if you give generously He will give you even more. He will pour out his blessings on you!

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 Paul tells us how it works in God's economy.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written:
             "They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;  their righteousness endures forever.”
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.


Our generosity is the catalyst for God's provision and bounty. We give a trickle, he gives back a flood. We give a wave, he gives a tsunami. It is impossible to out give God. That is not hyperbole - it is my personal experience! This one truth - that God returns increase -  has seen me through countless trials and struggles. My wife and I have continued to give through hardship and plenty. When I didn't know if I would ever work again - still we gave. Each time God came through! He is always teaching us, always drawing us in and always embracing us with provision.


When we felt led to launch a company I was woefully inadequate. I had no business experience. I didn't even know where to begin. But we knew God wanted to create something to bless His church, His people and our broken world. Our company now has more than 40 employees all over the US. Each of them knows our heart is to bless and honor them. We have a raft of amazing stories of God's provision. It is a harvest of righteousness. Over and over He urges us to step out - and each time He is there placing solid earth under our feet. You cannot out give God. He will prove it to you. He even asks you to test Him and see! Search the scriptures. Listen to the Holy Spirit. If you have not learned this truth of God's provision, I invite you personally to step out and try it. You will be amazed at the result. You will not become selfish and greedy as God showers you with His blessing. Instead you will become addicted to generosity and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.


Discussion Questions

  1. If you have learned that you cannot out give God, tell your story. Talk about times when God has come through and surprised you with His generosity.
  2. If you are not serving, have you considered it? What holds you back? If you are serving, what does it mean to you? Talk about the blessing of serving.
  3. The tithing question - are you tithing? Have you considered tithing? What is the Holy Spirit saying to you about giving and your finances.


Challenge

Prayerfully consider your giving and serving. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Growth often comes with a leap of faith. Perhaps this is your moment!

Taking Ownership