Let me just let you know, the first Sunday of the year, I preached a sermon on United
in our mission, and so our great God is at work making disciples of all nations for His
name's sake, and we get to join Him in that.
Last week, I preached a sermon on United in our gathering from Hebrews 10 of why we need
to gather together every Sunday after Sunday, and for the next two Sundays, I'm going to
be preaching on United in our generosity, two sermons on giving, and I want to up front
make this shameless plug for this great book, The Treasure Principle.
It's by Randy Alcorn.
We have 10 of these available to you out at the Connect desk.
Kelly is going to be sending out in Tuesday's update a link to how you can get this book
to.
It's 10 bucks, and it's going to be some of the best $10 you spend when it comes to stewarding
the resources that God has entrusted to you.
So today, I get to preach on why we give, what's at the heart of Christian generosity,
and I want to start by reminding you of this guy named Smeagol.
Smeagol was a happy-go-lucky hobbit of the river folk.
Do you remember him?
And everything changed when he discovered the ring of power.
Smeagol was gradually transformed into Gollum.
Can you see Gollum in your mind's eye?
In the depths of darkness, not in the light on a river, in the depths of the darkness in
a cave, squatting on his haunches, his left hand open.
In his left hand is the ring of power.
And you remember what he's doing with his right hand?
Caressing that ring.
You know what he says.
My precious.
It's a really powerful picture of what happens when we worship false gods.
We're transformed into something we don't want to be.
What the ring of power was to Gollum, the love of money is to us.
It's a my precious.
And it can unform us.
According to our Bibles, it's not money, but it's the love of money.
That's the root of all evils.
Let's call it the Gollum effect.
That the love of money dulls your spiritual senses.
It diminishes your outlook.
And here's what I mean by that.
Do you remember the dot and the line?
The line is eternity.
And we are a 70 to 80 year dot on the line of eternity.
And here's what the love of money does.
It makes you myopic.
It's spiritual myopia.
It's where you think that all that there is is a 70 to 80 years.
Eat, drink, and be merry.
The love of money distracts us from the riches of God's grace.
The love of money deadens us to the needs of others.
The love of money denies that Jesus is the greatest treasure of all.
It usurps his place.
The unchecked love of money will result in spiritual drift in even potential apostasy.
We'll see that in just a second.
And what we all know living in this culture is that the love of money, greed, is a temptation common to man.
Being a 21st century American, this is so common.
It's the air that we breathe.
It's in all the commercials we tend to see.
Gordon Gekko in the 1987 movie, Wall Street, said it this way.
Greed is good.
But God doesn't say greed is good.
The God of the Bible says that the love of money is evil and destructive.
So at the outset of the sermon, I need to help you to see that.
Let me just give you some choice passages from the New Testament that speak of the love of money.
In Hebrews 13.5, this is on page 1197 of your pew Bible, we read this.
Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have.
2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 and 2, 1182 of your pew Bible.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
For people will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money.
On and on and on.
In 1 Timothy 6, we read this.
6.6.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world.
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires
that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.
It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many pangs.
If we go on into Luke.
This is Jesus speaking.
Luke 12.15.
Jesus says,
Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, love of money.
For one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
Friends.
When we get into the greatest sermon ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus says this in Matthew 6, 19-21.
He says,
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 on heaven or on earth.
No one can serve two masters, verse 24.
For either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and money.
You cannot be a steward of both God and money.
Don't let the love of money golemize you.
Don't let the love of God golemize you.
Don't let the love of God, let the love of our possessions say this is mine and it changes us to being open-handed.
This is God's.
It moves us from being afraid of our futures and hoarding all we can to trusting in God's promises for our future.
and where I want to help you see this from
is in Proverbs chapter 3
verses 9 and 10
let me read it for you
this is ancient wisdom
and it is so applicable today
we read this
honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the first fruits of all your produce
then your barns will be filled with plenty
and your vats will be bursting with wine
so this morning I want to give you three reasons
why we are to be generous
I'm not telling this morning
it's not how to be generous
that's next week
this morning is why be generous
and here are three reasons
the gospel's changed our hearts
it's now about God's glory
second reason
we think about ourselves differently
we have a new mindset
not as owners
God's stewards
and finally
the hope
of our generosity
is not all that we can accumulate
it's in God's promises
so the three reasons
we're going to look at this morning
is that the gospel has so changed us
now we live out our
financial stewardship
for God's glory
as God's stewards
trusting in God's promises
let's dive in
the heart
of generosity
is centered on God's glory
did you see
honor the Lord with your wealth
in Proverbs 3 9
it's on page
I move forward
it's on page 6 27
of your pew bible
honor the Lord
with your wealth
the Christless
Americanized version
of this verse
goes like this
it's not honor God
with your wealth
it's honor yourself
with your wealth
give yourself
the worth
worship yourself
with your money
that word
honor
is the verbal form
of a Hebrew word
kabod
and that word
means to give weight
to something
to take something
seriously
it's the word
we would use to say
to glorify
something
to give glory
to something
it's another way
of talking about
worship
to glorify God
with your wealth
to worship the Lord
with your wealth
in order for us
to honor
and glorify
God
with our wealth
we must
value
God
more
than our wealth
and the question is
why
why honor him
above our wealth
why honor him
with our wealth
well
it's
because of who he is
that word
Lord
in verse 9
honor the Lord
you'll notice
it's all capitalized
all the letters
are capitalized
that's signaling
to you
that underneath
that word
is the Hebrew
name for God
Yahweh
Exodus chapter 3
Moses is out
in the wilderness
all of a sudden
there is this
burning bush
and the bush
isn't being consumed
by its fire
it's self
perpetuating
it's self
sustaining
it's
self supportive
it's independent
take off your shoes
you're on holy ground
God then proceeds
to commission
Moses
to go to Pharaoh
and tell him
it's time
for my people
to come out
and Moses says
well
who do I tell
is sending me
and God says
tell them
I am
who I am
is sending you
the great
I am
so you can
translate this
glorify
the great
I am
with your wealth
and the first fruits
of your produce
and this great
I am
is the creator
of all
the sustainer
of all
the savior
of all
and the judge
of all
in fact
in Psalm 24
1
we read
of this
great
I am
the earth
is the
Lord's
and the
fullness
thereof
the earth
is the
great
I am
the earth
belongs to
Yahweh
and everything
in it
don't miss
the scope
it all
belongs
to God
everything
is his
this
extraordinary
claim
is that
everything
belongs
to God
by virtue
of him
being the
creator
of all
it's all
his
there is
nothing
that you
have
that has
not come
from the
hand of
God
in some
way
and so
the first
thing
that we
need to
understand
when we
are talking
about
God's
glory
in our
giving
this is
an issue
of worship
this is
theological
and we
are to
steward our
finances
and our
possessions
in light
of who
he is
we're to
glorify him
and he just
doesn't own
everything
he's
generous
he causes
the rain to
fall on the
righteous and
on the
unrighteous
he feeds
all the
animals of
the world
God is
no golem
God is
no golem
he is
so generous
that everything
everything that
belongs to
him
he gives
and gives
everything
belongs to
him
including
everything
that you
have
all of
your
finances
all of
your
material
possessions
they're
his
there's
this
one
passage
in
1st
Corinthians
6
it's
having
to do
with
sexual
immorality
and
Paul
is
writing
the
Corinthians
church
and
he
says
flee
sexual
immorality
for
you are
not
your
own
you
were
bought
at a
price
so glorify
God
with
your
body
and we
can
we can
bring
that
to bear
at our
finances
we can
say
you're
not
your
own
you were
bought
at a
price
so glorify
God
with all
that you
got
it's
all
his
this is
incredibly
countercultural
if
Psalm 24
1
is true
the earth
and the
fullness
thereof
belongs
to the
Lord
that means
everything
in your
wallet
is
his
it
means
your
house
and
everything
in it
is
his
there's
nothing
that you
have
that's
not
his
that
doesn't
come
from
him
he's
no
golem
but
what about
the little
golem in
each of
us
right
but what
about the
love of
money
that's
in
us
what
about
this
thing
in
me
that
would
rather
worship
created
things
than the
creator
of all
things
what
what do
we do
about
this
heart
of ours
that is
prone
to wander
Lord we
know it
prone
to leave
the Lord
we love
for the
love of
money
what are
we going
to do
about
that
how do
we
change
that
God
has done
something
about
that
he's
done
something
extraordinary
about
that
this
is
where
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
makes
an
extraordinary
difference
in our
day to
day
living
the
gospel
is
simply
the
fact
that
Jesus
Christ
God
in
the
flesh
the
incarnate
I
am
died
in
our
place
and
was
raised
from
the
dead
and
it
is
God's
power
unto
salvation
and
when
you
believe
that
you're
radically
changed
you've
been
given
a new
affection
a new
heart
God
has
caused
you
now
to be
able
to
live
for
him
through
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
he
is
able
to
deliver
you
from
the
love
of
money
the
gospel
does
that
Christ
death
and
resurrection
empowered
by the
Holy
Spirit
bring it
to bear
in your
life
he
makes
you
new
and
gives
you
a new
relationship
to
money
Jesus
went into
the tomb
dead
and he
came out
of the
tomb
alive
so that
we
would
treasure
Jesus
above
all
else
he
would
be
the
treasure
that
governs
all
of
our
treasures
it's
this
gospel
that
de
golemizes
us
and
makes
us
godly
and
sets
God's
glory
as the
controlling
center
of our
lives
making
us
more
Christ
like
there's
this
story
in
Luke
19
1
through
10
of
this
wee
little
man
named
Zacchaeus
he was
a tax
collector
he
loved
money
and
Jesus
comes to
town
he's
up
in
this
tree
and
Jesus
says
Zacchaeus
I'm
coming
to
your
house
for
dinner
and
Zacchaeus
is
like
yes
come
home
there
were
some
rumblings
why
would
he
go
eat
with
a
tax
collector
and
then
Zacchaeus
starts
talking
about
how
he
he's
trying
to
make
all
of
his
wrongs
right
financially
he'll
give
back
everything
he can
fourfold
to those
people
he's
wronged
and
you
know
what
Jesus
said
to
him
today
salvation
has
come
to
the
house
of
Zacchaeus
when
God's
grace
comes
to
town
it
changes
your
relationship
to
money
it
changes
takers
into
givers
it
changes
closed
fists
into
open
hands
it
changes
monies
for me
to
monies
for
God
and
his
purposes
so
at the
heart
of
Christian
generosity
is
this
gospel
changed
heart
that is
wanting
God's
glory
above
all
else
with
everything
that
he's
given
me
not
just
a
portion
of
it
all
of
it
I
want
to
steward
now
for
his
glory
if
you're
non
Christian
in
the
room
and
you
know
what
it's
like
to
be
golem
Jesus
can
set
you
free
from
that
call
out
to
him
say
forgive
me
Lord
Jesus
for
saying
my
precious
and
worshiping
at
the
throne
of
the
love
of
money
will
you
deliver
me
give
me
a
new
heart
so
that
I
live
for
you
amen
and
if
you
are
a
Christian
who
struggles
with
this
and
almost
all
of
us
in
the
room
do
to
certain
extent
you
know
what
repentance
looks
like
it's
turning
from
putting
your
trust
in
money
and
putting
your
trust
in
Jesus
again
and
again
treasuring
her
put
your
stake
in
the
ground
and
say
Jesus
you
are
my
greatest
treasure
the
heart
of
generosity
is a
heart
that
seeks
God's
glory
above
all
else
and
that
only
happens
through
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
the
second
reason
for
our
generosity
of why
we
give
is
a
new
mindset
we
are
God's
stewards
we
see
this
in
the
second
half
of
3
9
honor
the
Lord
with
your
wealth
and
with
the
first
fruits
of
all
your
produce
the
you
the
your
in
the
original
context
is
one
of
Solomon's
sons
that's
who
Solomon
is
writing
these
proverbs
to
but
how
do
you
make
sense
of
that
your
what
are
you
investing
that
with
are
you
thinking
that
your
is
a
reference
to
private
ownership
that
it's
all
yours
or
is
this
to be
understood
as
a
steward
not
private
ownership
in the
sense
of
it's
mine
and
only
mine
but
as
a
steward
God
has
entrusted
these
things
to
me
all
of
them
and
now
I'm
going
to
steward
them
for
his
glory
it's
a
change
of
mindset
it's
a
change
of
how
you
see
your
relationship
to
your
money
and
your
possessions
and
who
they're
for
a
steward
manages
his
master
her
master's
finances
and
possessions
it's
a
stewardship
it's
a
management
role
and
that's
what's
behind
Matthew
25
in the
parable
of
the
talents
do
you
remember
that
a
master
is
going
on
a
journey
he
gives
three
of
his
servants
three
different
amounts
of
money
they're
called
talents
they
are
to
invest
them
he
comes
back
he
holds
them
accountable
and
those
who
make
a
return
on
the
investment
he
says
well
done
come
on
in
enter
the
joy
of
master
and
the
guy
that
hit
it
he's
like
you're
out
in
Luke
16
we read
this
one
who
is
faithful
in a
very
little
is
also
faithful
in
much
and
one
who
is
dishonest
not
been
faithful
in
the
unrighteous
wealth
who
will
entrust
you
the
true
riches
and
if
you
have
not
been
faithful
in
that
which
is
another's
who
will
give
you
that
which
is
your
own
no
servant
can
serve
two
masters
for
either
will
hate
the
one
and
love
the
other
or
he
will
be
devoted
to
one
and
despise
the
other
you
cannot
serve
God
and
money
this
is
stewardship
language
this
is
managing
other
people's
resources
and
as
Christians
who
have
been
radically
changed
by the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
our
mindset
shifts
from
this
is
all
mine
to
this
is
all
God's
and
now
I
need
to
steward
it
all
for
him
the
goal
of a
steward
is
to
honor
his
master
with
all
that's
been
entrusted
to
him
or
her
this
kind
of
shift
do you
know
what
it
does
it
delivers
you
from
the
Gollum
effect
it
rescues
you
from
the
love
of
money
this
isn't
mine
this
is
God's
and
so
here's
the
mindset
that
I
think
we
can
adopt
kind
of
four
moves
here
you
ready
here's
the
first
one
it's
all
God's
Psalm
24
one
second
step
it's
not
mine
I'm
just
a
steward
of
this
the
third
move
is
when
I
see
myself
as
a
steward
of
what
God
has
entrusted
to
me
I
don't
hold
tightly
onto
it
as
if
it
is
mine
I
open
my
hand
to
it
because
it's
God's
and
that
leads
me
to
the
fourth
point
it's
a
question
stewards
ask
here's
the
question
of
a
steward
how
can
I
use
these
resources
to
honor
my
master
not
for
me
but
for
him
how
can
I
use
all
that
he
has
entrusted
to
me
for
the
greatness
of
his
name
for
the
glory
of
his
name
to
bring
glory
and
majesty
to
him
how
do
I
use
this
how
do
we
use
my
house
how
do
we
use
my
cars
how
do
we
use
our
account
bank
accounts
for
his
namesake
it's
all
his
it's
not
mine
I
open
my
hand
and
I'm
like
Lord
show
me
how
to
use
this
show
us
how
to
use
this
and
believe
it
or
not
do
you
know
what's
in
that
there
is
incredible
amounts
of
joy
living
for
the
glory
of
God
now
you
may
be
feeling
a
tug
right
now
okay
you're
like
tell
me
what
to
do
how
much
do
I
give
can
we
talk
percentages
can
what
does
this
look
like
we're
going
to
get
into
that
much
more
next
week
but
just
for
the
sake
of
time
just
to
help
you
let's
talk
about
the
tithe
the
word
tithe
means
literally
10%
and
in
Leviticus
27
through
30
the
Israel
God's
people
are
compelled
to give
10%
of their
produce
10%
of all
that
they've
got
and
then
that
was
to
be
given
for
worship
when
you
see
this
in
the
Old
Testament
it's
ineffective
in
the
Old
Testament
in
the
Old
Covenant
in
the
Old
Testament
is
pre
Jesus
but
in
the
New
Testament
under
the
New
Covenant
having
been
established
by
the
blood
of
Jesus
you
no
longer
read
tithe
language
the
New
Testament
goes
silent
on
tithe
language
and
so
it's
kind
of
a
challenge
to
make
an
argument
one
way
or
the
other
of
whether
or
not
the
New
Testament
is
upholding
the
what
the
New
Testament
emphasizes
and we'll
see this
next
week
are
more
principles
attitudes
kind
of the
way we
do
things
generosity
sacrifice
thoughtfulness
cheerfulness
others
oriented
in our
giving
we're
moved
into
stewardship
language
that
book
I
referenced
the
treasure
principle
by
Randy
Alcorn
he
talks
about
the
tithe
in
a
very
helpful
way
he
talks
about
it
and I
would
agree
with
him
as
seeing
the
tithe
as
the
10%
of
your
income
as
something
to
aim
at
and
not
be
limited
by
don't
feel
like
you
can
only
give
10%
but
the
tithe
is
something
that
we
can
aim
at
now
in
order
to
start
giving
for
God's
glory
because
we're
his
stewards
and
Lord
willing
someday
we
surpass
that
what
I
want
to
help
you
with
this
morning
though
is
not
so
much
of
the
how's
but
the
whys
the
gospel
has
changed
our
hearts
so
that
now
we
get
to
glorify
God
with
our
wealth
and
we
are
God's
stewards
all of it
belongs
to
him
therefore
we
are
to
manage
what
he's
given
to
us
for
his
name's
sake
I've
got two
questions
for you
before we
move on
to the
last
reason
have
you
been
managing
God's
resources
what
he's
given
to
you
all
of it
have
you
been
managing
God's
resources
under
a
false
pretense
that
they're
actually
yours
in the
sense
that
you're
the
sole
owner
when
in
fact
what
the
Bible
says
is
you're
a
steward
do
you
need
to
turn
from
something
there
do
you
need
to
open
your
hand
up
the
second
question
is
this
are
you
presently
using
God's
resources
that
he
has
entrusted
to
you
to
glorify
him
with
are
you
using
his
resources
for
things
that
grieve
him
for
example
on
the
sanctity
of
life
Sunday
are
you
giving
to
Planned
Parenthood
that
will
grieve
him
are
you
using
the
resources
that
God
has
given
to
you
to
fuel
some
kind
of
chemical
addiction
it
will
golemize
you
there's
such
a
proliferation
of
online
gambling
sites
now
the
question
to ask
is
this
is
your
gambling
the
money
that
God
has
entrusted
to
you
good
stewardship
in
his
eyes
could
you
just
think
of
what
money
can
go
to
in
advancing
his
glorious
purposes
when
you're
using
money
for
pornography
it
is
a
conflict
of
interest
with
your
master's
intent
if
you
are
using
your
money
just
to
acquire
more
and
more
possessions
so
that
you
are
trying
to
be
happy
life
is
not
in
how
much
stuff
you
own
are
you
presently
using
God's
resources
for
that
which
grieves
God
it's
a
really
good
question
to
ask
it's
kind
of
the
other
side
of
the
stewardship
question
of
Lord
how
can
I
honor
you
with
all
you
have
given
to
me
the
second
reason
why
we
give
is
we're
God's
stewards
the
third
reason
why
we
give
has
to
do
with
hope
has
to
do
with
assurance
the
hope
of
our
generosity
the
assurance
of
our
generosity
when
we
give
as
God's
stewards
for
the
glory
of
God
we
give
trusting
in
God's
promises
if
you
look
at
verse
10
of
Proverbs
3
you
read
then
your
barns
will
be
filled
with
plenty
and
your
vats
will
be
bursting
with
wine
if
you
honor
the
Lord
with
all
of
your
stuff
all
of
your
possessions
then
your
barns
will
be
filled
with
plenty
and
your
vats
will
be
bursting
with
wine
it's
essentially
a
promise
and
the
question
is
why
would
God
want
to
make
this
kind
of
promise
to
us
in
terms
of
our
stewardship
what
what does
he want
us to
know
here
it's
meant
to
assure
you
this
promise
is
an
assurance
because
maybe
the
thought
of
giving
back
to
God
10%
of
what
is
already
his
and
it's
something
you're
aiming
at
if
the
thought
of
that
starts
to
unsettle
you
the
thought
of
that
starts
to
make
you
nervous
insecure
you
start
asking
questions
well
if
I
do
that
then
what
about
this
if
I
do
that
then
what
about
this
and
then
will
we
be
in
a
position
to
be
able
to
retire
comfortably
what
does
that
mean
it's
into
that
fear
that
this
promise
tends
to
your
heart
God
is
assuring
us
he's
like
saying
if
you
honor
me
with
your
wealth
I
will
take
care
of
you
I
will
meet
all
of
your
needs
and
then
some
you
can
trust
me
now
if
you
are
new
to
Christianity
new
to
following
Jesus
and
new
to
this
giving
thing
or
you're
stale
you
haven't
given
this
much
thought
you've
been
avoiding
this
perhaps
what
you
need
to
know
is
that
this
Christian
generosity
this
is
by
faith
this
is
us
trusting
God
did
you
notice
that
in
up
earlier
in
Proverbs
3
5
trust
in
the
Lord
with
all
your
heart
lean
not
on
your
own
understanding
in
all
your
ways
know
him
trust
him
be
with
him
commune
with
him
be
not
wise
in
your
own
wise
eyes
fear
the
Lord
honor
the
Lord
with
your
wealth
if
you
honor
me
I
will
take
care
of
you
and
as
we
trust
God
in
this
act
of
grace
2nd
Corinthians
8
we're
going to
experience
joy
transforming
joy
we
will be
de-golemized
we'll
become
more
godlike
it's
interesting
in
Matthew
6
19
through
33
Jesus
is
compelling
his
disciples
to
invest
in
heaven
invest
in
eternity
don't
lay up
treasures
on
earth
lay up
treasures
in
heaven
no one
can
serve
two
masters
you're
going to
either
serve
God
or you're
going to
serve
mammon
and
and then
he starts
talking about
anxiety
it's like
Jesus is
anticipating
our
anxiety
and fears
that come
along with
being generous
with the
resources
he's given
us
and he
says
don't
worry
do not
be
anxious
what
shall
we
eat
what
shall
we
drink
what
shall
we
wear
for
the
gentiles
are
seeking
all
these
things
and
your
heavenly
father
knows
that
you
need
them
need
them
all
but
seek
first
the
kingdom
of
God
and
his
righteousness
and
all
these
things
will
be
added
to
you
promise
in
Hebrews
13
which I
started
off
with
we
read
this
keep
your
life
from
the
love
of
money
and
be
content
with
you
have
for
he
has
said
I
will
never
leave
you
nor
forsake
you
promise
be
generous
I
am
with
you
I'm
never
going
to
bail
on
you
I'll
take
care
of
all
of
your
needs
come
join
me
in
being
generous
so
we
give
generously
even
sacrificially
trusting
that
our
God
of
grace
who
owns
all
things
that
if
we
trust
him
he
will
take
care
of
us
and
there
will
be
huge
amounts
of
joy
but
let me
just
remind
you
of a
couple
things
this
is
the
same
God
who
created
the
world
out
of
nothing
this
is
the
God
of
John
2
this
incarnate
I
am
who
made
water
into
wine
for
a
wedding
power
on
display
in
Matthew
Mark
6
he
feeds
5,000
Jewish
men
Mark
8
feeds
4,000
Gentile
men
by
multiplying
just
some
fish
and
loaves
that's
what
he's
able
to
do
he
raises
people
from
the
dead
that's
what
he's
able
to
do
you
not
think
he
can
help
you
he's
got
the
motive
unconditional
love
and
he's
got
the
power
unlimited
power
and
he's
got
the
opportunity
you
trusting
him
will
you
trust
him
if
Jesus
was
willing
to
die
for
you
how
much
more
will
along
with
that
he
meet
all
of
your
needs
what
we're
talking
about
when
we're
talking
about
giving
and giving
sacrificially
and giving
generously
it can
make you
nervous
about
your
future
but
can
I
just
tell
you
your
money
isn't
holding
your
future
in
its
hands
your
God
is
God
has
your
future
in
his
hands
if
you
think
you're
hearing
the
health
and
wealth
gospel
right
now
you're
not
I'm
not
saying
hey
give
five
fold
to
God
and
you'll
get
ten
fold
back
the
health
and
wealth
gospel
is
actually
the
love
of
money
dressed
up
with
Christian
talk
it's
wicked
God
is
not
some
kind
of
get
rich
quick
scheme
he
is
our
treasure
when
we
talk
about
why
we
give
we
got
to
hold
on
tightly
to
these
wonderful
promises
of
God
that
as
we
give
and
give
generously
and
even
sacrificially
that
God
will
take
care
of
us
he's
promised
let's
take
him
at
his
word
so
why
do
we
give
how
do
we
protect
ourselves
from
the
golemizing
effect
of
the
love
of
money
and
how
do
we
live
in
the
goodness
of
what
God
has
done
through
the
gospel
well
we
remember
that
the
gospel
has
changed
our
hearts
we
don't
live
for
our
glory
we
live
for
him
not
to
us
Lord
not
to
us
but
to
your
name
give
glory
because
of
your
steadfast
love
and
faithfulness
we
have
gospel
changed
identities
now
we
don't
think
of
ourselves
as
everything
that
is
mine
we
see
ourselves
as
being
God's
stewards
over
everything
that
he's
entrusted
to us
it
opens
your
hands
and
this
same
gospel
changes
our
hopes
it
moves
our
hope
of
a
future
off
the
shifting
sands
of
money
and
onto
the
solid
ground
of
God
and
his
promises
he
will
take
care
of
us
we're
in
his
hands
these
are
the
reasons
why
we
give
God's
glory
we're
God's
stewards
trusting
in
God's
promises
and
when
we
do
this
together
it
unites
us
as
a
church
glorifying
God
together
stewards
God's
resources
together
trusting
in
God's
promises
together
and
experiencing
the joy
that comes
with that
together
the gospel
has
radically
changed
us
Martin
Luther put
it this
way
when
someone
comes to
Christ
there are
two
conversions
first the
conversion of
their heart
and then the
conversion of
their wallet
let's pray
together
drink
and
do
other
locking
moments
and
hearing
nothing
vontade
of
her
at
br
if
you
enter
what
everything
you
pump
and
to