WEBVTT

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 Are you a wise person?

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 I've asked that question several times as we are in our study in Proverbs.

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 God wants us, as His people, to be wise in very practical ways

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 because that's what the book of Proverbs is all about.

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 It's talking about how to be wise in the way you handle your money,

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 how to be wise with your words.

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 Boy, we could sure use that in this country right now, couldn't we?

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 How to be wise in personal relationships,

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 how to be wise in terms of the way you go about doing your work.

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 God wants us to be wise, and He's given us the book of Proverbs

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 provide a lot of counsel as to the way we need to think,

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 the way that we need to act,

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 things we need to learn in order to be wise.

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 What we're going to look at today is how a wise person gives their money.

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 And we're going to do that from Proverbs 3, verses 9 and 10.

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 We're going to look at the giving habits, the attitude, the priority of wise people.

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 Now, if you were here last week, you know that we are skipping over verses 5 through 8.

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 And this is the reason.

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 Tonight, we're going to have a business conference,

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 and our budget's going to be presented.

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 And then next Sunday morning, we will vote on it.

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 And so since we as a church are at a time of the year where we are going to talk about money,

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 I thought I'd just skip a few verses and get to where Proverbs talks about giving our money.

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 We'll come back to verses 5 through 8 in three weeks.

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 Next Sunday, we're going to observe the Lord's Supper together and baptism.

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 The week after that, I'm going to do a message related to Thanksgiving.

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 And so we'll come back in three weeks and look at the most,

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 what I'm assuming is the most well-known passage in Proverbs, Proverbs 3, 5 and 6.

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 Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

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 You probably know that.

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 And hopefully, think about that.

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 Seek to live that way, as we all should.

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 But right now, let's look at just two verses this morning, verses 9 and 10.

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 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.

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 Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

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 Now, you know as Solomon writes these words,

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 He's writing to people, many of them were farmers.

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 It was an agricultural society.

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 So that's the context here.

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 What we have to do is apply it to how we acquire wealth today

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 and what we do with it, how we spend it, and things of that nature.

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 So you think about that part as we go through this,

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 and I'll try to make applications as well.

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 The first thing I want us to see is in verse 9, the first phrase,

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 Wise people honor God with their wealth.

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 Wise people will honor God with their wealth.

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 Now, what does it mean to honor God?

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 The word honor means to acknowledge God's significance,

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 acknowledge God's importance.

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 Acknowledging God like that means to worship Him.

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 Worship is acknowledging and praising God for who He is.

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 Acknowledging His worth, His value, His importance.

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 And responding appropriately to that.

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 So let's think.

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 When you think about worshiping God,

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 what kind of things come to your mind?

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 Tell me right quick.

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 When you think about worshiping God,

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 what kind of things come to your mind?

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 This is a dead crowd.

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 Singing.

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 Singing is a big part of worshiping God

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 in Scripture, in the Bible,

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 and throughout the history of the church.

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 Singing.

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 Praying.

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 Reading Scripture.

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 Listening to a sermon with the idea,

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 Yeah, this is God's Word.

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 I want to listen to what God says,

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 and I want to respond to it.

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 Well, do you ever think about

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 the giving of tithes and offerings

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 that we do in our church?

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 Is really a part of worship?

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 We take the offering

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 while we are here together

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 in this worship service

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 by design.

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 It is intentional.

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 It was a regular part

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 of the worship

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 of the people of Israel,

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 and it needs to be

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 a regular part

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 of our worship as well.

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 Now,

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 some churches do not

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 take an offering

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 like we do

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 in the service,

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 and there's nothing wrong with that.

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 There are some great,

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 strong, healthy,

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 biblically sound churches.

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 They'll have some type of box

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 set up in the foyer

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 or places around the church,

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 and they make it widely known.

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 You know,

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 it's printed,

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 it's announced.

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 That's where you give.

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 As you come in,

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 as you leave,

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 you put your money

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 in the box.

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 That's how they do it.

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 They don't do it

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 in the worship service.

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 Some of you may mail

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 in your offerings,

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 and I know from time to time

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 people do that.

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 Some of you may have

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 your tithes and offerings

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 on a regular basis

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 sent by your bank

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 to our church.

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 Nothing wrong

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 with any of those things.

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 In fact,

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 a lot of churches today

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 have online giving.

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 You can have

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 your regular offering

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 drafted

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 from your bank account

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 to our church.

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 It's whatever date

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 you want to have it done that.

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 A lot of churches

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 are doing that.

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 We are going to have

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 that as an option

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 in the very near future,

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 and you'll hear

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 more about that.

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 What I want us

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 to think about is

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 there are many ways

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 in which we can give.

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 We do it on Sunday morning,

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 and we will continue

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 to do it on Sunday mornings

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 as a part of our

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 worship service

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 because it is worship.

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 But whenever you give

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 or however you give,

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 if you mail it in,

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 if you have your bank

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 to send it in,

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 if it's going to be drafted,

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 it is important

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 that you think

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 as you write the check,

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 as you look at your bank statement

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 or however,

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 it's important that you think,

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 I am giving this to God

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 because He is worthy of it.

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 I want God to know

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 that this is one way

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 I'm trying to honor Him.

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 This is one way

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 I'm expressing praise to Him

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 and gratitude to Him

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 through my giving.

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 no matter how you do it.

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 Even here in this worship service

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 when the plate is passed,

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 you can just sort of

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 be indifferent to it.

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 If you give yours

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 in this offering,

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 I want you to stop and think

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 as that plate is passed,

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 that this is something

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 I am giving to God

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 as a way to honor Him

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 because He's given it to me.

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 He is the one

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 who has enabled me to work,

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 have the ability to work,

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 and have what I have.

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 So I want my giving

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 to be an expression of worship,

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 of praise,

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 of gratitude to God

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 because He's worth it.

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 I want to honor Him

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 with my wealth.

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 Now,

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 do you do that?

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 Are you consciously

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 worshiping God,

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 honoring God

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 from your wealth?

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 A lot of translations

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 will say from your wealth.

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 Are you doing this

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 intentionally

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 and consciously?

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 Honoring God

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 with our wealth

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 is the foundational principle

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 of wise financial stewardship.

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 Honoring God

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 with our wealth,

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 giving,

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 giving of tithes

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 and offerings.

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 That is where we need

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 to think of it.

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 We need to think of that

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 as just a foundational principle

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 of wise Christian stewards

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 or wise Christian money managers.

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 Now,

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 the next phrase

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 in verse 9

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 is the first application

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 of this principle.

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 Honor God

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 with your wealth

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 and with the first fruits

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 of all your produce.

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 The giving of first fruits,

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 the number two,

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 look at it,

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 the way I put it

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 on the outline.

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 Wise people make giving to God

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 their first priority

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 in using their wealth.

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 And that's what we're talking about here

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 and with the first fruits

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 of all your produce.

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 The giving of first fruits,

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 giving of people of Israel

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 to God

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 was originally intended

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 to be a response

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 by the people of Israel

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 to God

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 for delivering them

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 from slavery,

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 bondage

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 in Egypt.

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 Here's an example

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 in Deuteronomy chapter 26.

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 In Deuteronomy 26,

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 beginning about verse 5,

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 they are instructed,

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 people of Israel

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 are instructed

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 to say this

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 and then do this

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 in relation to their first fruits.

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 We're going to pick up

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 in verse 8.

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 Look at it.

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 They,

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 the people are to say this

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 as they give.

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 So,

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 so the Lord brought us

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 out of Egypt

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 with a mighty hand

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 and an outstretched arm

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 with great terror

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 and with miraculous signs

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 and wonders.

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 He brought us

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 to this place

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 and gave us

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 this land,

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 a land flowing

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 with milk and honey.

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 And now

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 I bring the first fruits

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 of the soil

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 that you,

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 O Lord,

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 have given me.

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 And then they're instructed,

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 place the basket

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 before the Lord your God

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 and bow down

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 before Him.

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 It's an act of worship.

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 What Moses is doing here

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 is saying,

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 because God had delivered

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 them,

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 he said,

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 really,

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 because God's delivered us,

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 but because God

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 had delivered

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 the people of Israel

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 from their bondage

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 in Egypt

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 and brought them

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 into the promised land,

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 they were to present Him

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 with first fruit offerings.

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 They were to be

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 expressions of worship

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 and gratitude.

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 Now this is in Deuteronomy.

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 Moses is preparing

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 the people to do this

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 when they get

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 into the promised land.

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 He's preparing them

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 to be faithful

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 in giving these first fruits

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 as His faithful people

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 in that promised land.

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 Well, I want us

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 to think today,

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 you and me

00:11:46.900 --> 00:11:47.379
 as Christians

00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:47.960
 this morning,

00:11:49.280 --> 00:11:50.220
 because God

00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.320
 has delivered us

00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:52.379
 from bondage

00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:53.260
 to sin

00:11:53.260 --> 00:11:55.300
 through the death

00:11:55.300 --> 00:11:55.900
 and resurrection

00:11:55.900 --> 00:11:56.840
 of His Son,

00:11:56.940 --> 00:11:57.760
 Jesus Christ,

00:11:58.760 --> 00:12:01.860
 we should desire,

00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:03.620
 we should really

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.820
 and truly want

00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:06.600
 to express

00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:09.080
 our appreciation,

00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:11.200
 our worship

00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.120
 by giving the

00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.320
 first fruits

00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.259
 of our wealth.

00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:18.420
 And if we'll keep

00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:18.800
 in mind

00:12:18.800 --> 00:12:19.600
 what God has done

00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.700
 for us in Christ,

00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:23.660
 our giving

00:12:23.660 --> 00:12:25.100
 will be genuine.

00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.580
 And if you'll stop

00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:27.960
 and think about

00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:28.879
 what God has done

00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.759
 in sending His Son

00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.540
 into the world

00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:32.120
 to die on the cross

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:32.800
 and pay the penalty

00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:33.879
 for your sins,

00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:35.280
 so that through faith

00:12:35.280 --> 00:12:35.700
 in Him,

00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:36.960
 you can be forgiven,

00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:38.420
 you can be made

00:12:38.420 --> 00:12:39.220
 right with God

00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:40.019
 and become a child

00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:40.480
 of God.

00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:41.540
 If you'll think

00:12:41.540 --> 00:12:42.080
 about that,

00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.560
 what God has done

00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:44.340
 for you,

00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:47.519
 you'll want

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:49.340
 to give

00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.080
 to Him

00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:52.080
 in a way

00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:53.540
 that expresses,

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:54.960
 I'm thankful,

00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:55.440
 Lord,

00:12:56.400 --> 00:12:57.860
 I praise You,

00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:58.300
 God,

00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.620
 You are worth it.

00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:02.960
 You are worth

00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.820
 these kinds

00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:05.580
 of offerings.

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.960
 This principle

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:09.140
 of first fruit giving

00:13:09.140 --> 00:13:11.360
 teaches us

00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.340
 to make giving

00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:13.100
 to God

00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:14.480
 the first priority

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:16.500
 of what we do

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.200
 with our wealth

00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:18.340
 or the first priority

00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:19.280
 of how we use

00:13:19.280 --> 00:13:20.360
 our wealth.

00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.780
 God deserves

00:13:22.780 --> 00:13:23.740
 our best

00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:24.540
 in everything,

00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:25.040
 doesn't He,

00:13:25.040 --> 00:13:25.820
 if He is God?

00:13:27.040 --> 00:13:27.580
 He deserves

00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:28.020
 our best

00:13:28.020 --> 00:13:28.680
 in everything,

00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:29.940
 including

00:13:29.940 --> 00:13:31.700
 our giving.

00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:33.600
 Moses made

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.279
 that clear

00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:34.920
 to the people

00:13:34.920 --> 00:13:35.540
 of Israel,

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.379
 not just

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.360
 in that passage,

00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.720
 but in other places.

00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:40.080
 Look at this one,

00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.159
 just one verse

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.340
 in Exodus 23.

00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:44.220
 He said,

00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:44.920
 The best

00:13:44.920 --> 00:13:46.320
 of the first fruits

00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:47.659
 of your ground

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.259
 you shall bring

00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:50.120
 into the house

00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:51.080
 of your Lord.

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:53.120
 That has been called

00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.920
 a classic

00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:55.379
 one-sentence description

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:57.000
 of the law

00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.279
 of first fruits.

00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.320
 God deserves

00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:01.460
 the first,

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:04.100
 the best

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:06.040
 of our wealth.

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:07.600
 Not

00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:10.100
 just what's

00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:10.960
 left over

00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:13.000
 after we've

00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:14.480
 used it

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.540
 in the way

00:14:16.540 --> 00:14:17.600
 that most

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.580
 pleases us.

00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:20.900
 One man

00:14:20.900 --> 00:14:22.060
 explained how

00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:23.060
 his father

00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:23.660
 taught him

00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:24.360
 to do this

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.400
 in a very helpful

00:14:25.400 --> 00:14:25.860
 way.

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.340
 I want to tell you

00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:27.900
 what he did.

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.759
 This man said,

00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.360
 My dad

00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:31.399
 placed a dollar

00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:32.459
 bill on the table

00:14:32.459 --> 00:14:33.720
 and then he

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.759
 placed ten

00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:36.199
 dimes beside it

00:14:36.199 --> 00:14:37.279
 and he told me

00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:37.879
 those ten

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.840
 dimes equal

00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:39.379
 that dollar

00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:39.699
 bill.

00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.360
 And then he

00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:41.840
 took those

00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:42.639
 dimes and he

00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.720
 stacked them up,

00:14:43.939 --> 00:14:44.759
 a stack of

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.419
 dimes there

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:45.919
 on the table

00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:48.100
 and he asked

00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:49.500
 his son,

00:14:49.579 --> 00:14:50.120
 the son said,

00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:50.699
 he asked me,

00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:51.779
 Which one of

00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.620
 those dimes

00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:54.079
 is the Lord's?

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:55.960
 And the boy

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:56.379
 said,

00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:57.419
 the one on

00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:57.860
 top.

00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.519
 And the dad

00:14:59.519 --> 00:14:59.779
 said,

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.460
 That's right.

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.299
 The one

00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:03.700
 on top

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.539
 of that stack

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.139
 of dimes

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.919
 is the Lord's.

00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.399
 Always give

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.480
 him the first

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.200
 one,

00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:11.740
 not

00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:13.679
 the ones

00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:14.139
 that you have

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:14.919
 left over

00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:16.840
 after you've

00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.980
 spent whatever

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.559
 you wanted to

00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:18.860
 spend.

00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:20.600
 Now that's just

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.259
 a simple

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.539
 little story,

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.179
 example.

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.379
 You can visualize

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:24.720
 that.

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.160
 It's simple.

00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:28.600
 It conveys

00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:29.300
 the point

00:15:29.300 --> 00:15:31.279
 of how we

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.120
 need to make

00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.899
 giving the

00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:34.100
 first 10%

00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.200
 of our

00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:36.000
 income to

00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:36.460
 God

00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:38.740
 our top

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.940
 financial

00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:41.180
 priority.

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.019
 You think

00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:43.440
 about it.

00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:47.240
 How else

00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:48.060
 can we honor

00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:48.639
 God?

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:49.960
 We're talking

00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.779
 about acknowledging

00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.860
 His importance,

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:53.220
 acknowledging

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:54.879
 His significance.

00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:55.360
 How else

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.580
 can we

00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.039
 acknowledge

00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:56.919
 or honor

00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:57.379
 God

00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.879
 with our

00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.240
 wealth

00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:01.000
 if we don't

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.600
 make giving

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.019
 to Him

00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:02.940
 our first

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:03.840
 priority,

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.519
 our top

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.580
 priority?

00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:08.480
 Now lest you

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:08.980
 think something

00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:09.700
 like this is,

00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:10.800
 well that's just

00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:12.440
 Old Testament

00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:13.700
 law type stuff,

00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:14.519
 that was just

00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.240
 applicable for

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:15.740
 the people of

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.120
 Israel,

00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.899
 I want you

00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.220
 to look at

00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:17.460
 what the

00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.100
 Apostle Paul

00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.080
 says along

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:19.759
 this same

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.919
 line about

00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:21.899
 our priority

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:22.519
 in giving.

00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:23.799
 Look at what

00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.179
 he says,

00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.039
 it's in 2 Corinthians

00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:25.539
 9.

00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.120
 He says,

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.100
 remember this,

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:30.179
 whoever sows

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:31.659
 sparingly will

00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.639
 also reap

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.759
 sparingly.

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.960
 Whoever sows

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:36.179
 generously will

00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:37.100
 also reap

00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.139
 generously.

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:40.319
 Each of you

00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:40.960
 should give

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.580
 what you have

00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.620
 decided in your

00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.600
 heart to give,

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.519
 not reluctantly

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.259
 or under

00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:47.039
 compulsion,

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.220
 for God

00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:48.960
 loves a

00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:49.580
 cheerful

00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.179
 giver.

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:50.720
 I want to

00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:51.279
 pause there.

00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:53.879
 What Proverbs

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.299
 says,

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.279
 honor the Lord

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.259
 with your wealth

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:56.960
 and with the

00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:58.019
 first fruits of

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.500
 all your

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.120
 produce,

00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.039
 that's what

00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:00.519
 we ought to

00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:00.740
 do.

00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:03.819
 God

00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:05.500
 desires

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.599
 that we

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.160
 show our

00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:07.660
 love and

00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.099
 gratitude

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:08.740
 that we

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.539
 truly honor

00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.079
 him by

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.559
 giving.

00:17:11.399 --> 00:17:12.279
 Giving him

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:14.980
 the first

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:15.579
 fruits of

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:15.839
 what we

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.119
 make.

00:17:16.899 --> 00:17:17.539
 Giving him

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.039
 off the

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:18.399
 top.

00:17:19.179 --> 00:17:19.759
 Giving him

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.779
 the first

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.579
 priority.

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:23.879
 But look at

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.219
 that verse

00:17:24.219 --> 00:17:24.539
 again.

00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:25.879
 Each of you

00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:26.339
 should give

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:26.759
 what you have

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.299
 decided in

00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:27.639
 your heart

00:17:27.639 --> 00:17:28.039
 to give,

00:17:28.219 --> 00:17:29.219
 not reluctantly

00:17:29.219 --> 00:17:29.599
 or under

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.240
 compulsion,

00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:31.279
 for God

00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:31.619
 loves a

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:31.819
 cheerful

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.199
 giver.

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.139
 God only

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:35.439
 wants you

00:17:35.439 --> 00:17:35.740
 to give

00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.039
 what you

00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:37.359
 give because

00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:37.819
 you want

00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:37.980
 to.

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.200
 Because it's

00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:40.679
 in your

00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:42.299
 heart to

00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:42.759
 do it.

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:44.919
 God

00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:45.179
 does,

00:17:45.439 --> 00:17:45.720
 let me

00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.000
 say it

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.339
 this way,

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.700
 no one's

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:48.879
 going to

00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.259
 know what

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.720
 you give

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.039
 here.

00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:52.779
 I don't

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.339
 know and

00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:53.599
 I don't

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.059
 ever want to

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:54.319
 know what

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.139
 anybody gives.

00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.299
 What you

00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:58.919
 give is

00:17:58.919 --> 00:17:59.240
 going to be

00:17:59.240 --> 00:17:59.740
 between you

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.240
 and God.

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:01.200
 Now the

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:01.500
 people who

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:01.960
 count it

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:02.939
 know it's

00:18:02.939 --> 00:18:03.700
 recorded by

00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.119
 financial

00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.639
 secretary,

00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:05.540
 that kind

00:18:05.540 --> 00:18:05.720
 of stuff

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:05.960
 is all

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.560
 confidential.

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.180
 But nobody's

00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:08.400
 going to

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.180
 know and

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:09.700
 no one in

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.040
 the world

00:18:10.040 --> 00:18:10.480
 would ever

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.060
 say anything

00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:11.600
 to you,

00:18:12.040 --> 00:18:12.480
 say anything

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.160
 to you that

00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:13.740
 you ought to

00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.080
 be giving

00:18:14.080 --> 00:18:14.440
 more.

00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:15.520
 That's not

00:18:15.520 --> 00:18:15.880
 enough or

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.340
 anything like

00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:16.580
 that.

00:18:17.360 --> 00:18:17.860
 What you

00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:18.340
 give is

00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:18.840
 between you

00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.259
 and God.

00:18:21.020 --> 00:18:21.640
 The Bible

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.300
 has much to

00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:22.580
 say about

00:18:22.580 --> 00:18:22.900
 what we

00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:23.440
 ought to do.

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:25.580
 We ought to

00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:26.040
 honor God

00:18:26.040 --> 00:18:26.320
 with our

00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:26.580
 wealth,

00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:26.920
 with the

00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:27.780
 first fruits.

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:30.539
 but when

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:30.819
 it comes

00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.180
 time to

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:31.399
 actually

00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:31.799
 give,

00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.579
 what Paul

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:33.940
 is saying

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.440
 here is

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.180
 you need

00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:35.519
 to give

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.019
 what you

00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.500
 want to

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:36.899
 give,

00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:38.639
 what's in

00:18:38.639 --> 00:18:39.079
 your heart

00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.539
 to give.

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.339
 You

00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:41.639
 shouldn't

00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:42.200
 give because

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:42.759
 you feel

00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:43.000
 any kind

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.460
 of pressure

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:47.220
 and you

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.519
 need to

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.539
 give when

00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:48.960
 you give

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.220
 it,

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.180
 cheerfully,

00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.220
 with joy.

00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.819
 You're

00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.399
 happy to

00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:55.839
 do it.

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.539
 And if

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:57.899
 you can't

00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.159
 give it

00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:58.519
 that way,

00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:58.980
 just don't

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.519
 give it.

00:19:00.959 --> 00:19:01.679
 This is not

00:19:01.679 --> 00:19:02.099
 about trying

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.619
 to get money

00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.220
 from you.

00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:05.119
 What we're

00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.919
 reading here

00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:07.079
 is God's

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:07.519
 word to

00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.299
 His people

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:09.179
 wherever they

00:19:09.179 --> 00:19:09.399
 are,

00:19:09.459 --> 00:19:10.220
 whatever church

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.799
 they're a part

00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.279
 of.

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.019
 God is

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.539
 saying this

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.220
 for our

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.759
 benefit.

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.959
 If we're

00:19:16.959 --> 00:19:17.399
 really His

00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:18.039
 children and

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.539
 really want

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.119
 to honor

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.159
 Him and

00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:20.839
 show Him

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.159
 that we

00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:21.799
 honor Him,

00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:23.559
 we need

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.240
 to give,

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.559
 we need

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:25.779
 to give

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.139
 off the

00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:26.480
 top,

00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:27.859
 but we

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.160
 need to

00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:28.599
 give,

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.119
 not under

00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:29.740
 compulsion,

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.720
 not reluctantly,

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.359
 but we

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:33.759
 need to give

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.420
 cheerfully.

00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:35.180
 And then that

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.879
 last verse,

00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:36.819
 and God is

00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.299
 able to

00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:37.940
 bless you

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:38.779
 abundantly,

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.839
 so that in

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.539
 all things,

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.480
 at all times,

00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:42.440
 having all

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:42.799
 that you

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.440
 need,

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.160
 you will

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.599
 abound in

00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:44.940
 every good

00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.220
 work.

00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:45.579
 In other

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:45.720
 words,

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.099
 God will

00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:46.639
 give you

00:19:46.639 --> 00:19:47.180
 what He

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:47.519
 wants you

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:47.839
 to give.

00:19:48.899 --> 00:19:49.519
 God will

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.180
 make it

00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.079
 so that you

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.720
 can give

00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.259
 if you will

00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.200
 give obediently

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:53.819
 and faithfully.

00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.019
 Now,

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:56.139
 let's make

00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:56.420
 all this

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.099
 real personal.

00:19:58.379 --> 00:19:59.079
 How does

00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:00.039
 your giving

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:02.339
 compare with

00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:02.660
 what we're

00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.160
 looking at

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.639
 here in this

00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.160
 passage,

00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:05.579
 with what

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.119
 Paul said

00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:06.379
 there?

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:08.960
 You think

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.519
 about you.

00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:11.259
 Do you

00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:11.920
 honor God

00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.480
 by making

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.319
 your offerings

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.180
 to Him

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:16.180
 your first

00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.160
 priority

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:19.019
 in terms of

00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.440
 what you do

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:19.740
 with your

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.000
 money?

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.059
 money?

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.140
 I mean,

00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:26.599
 everybody in

00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:26.960
 here who

00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:27.799
 has some

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.240
 kind of

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.799
 income,

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.200
 it comes

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:30.740
 monthly,

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.240
 it comes

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:31.980
 bi-weekly,

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.299
 it comes

00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:32.680
 weekly,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.099
 it comes

00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:34.619
 some time.

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.779
 As your

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.640
 income comes

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:39.019
 in, as it

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.740
 becomes available

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.480
 to you,

00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:43.079
 is your

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.859
 giving to

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:46.200
 God your

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.599
 first giving?

00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:49.679
 because you

00:20:49.679 --> 00:20:50.139
 want it to

00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:50.319
 be.

00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.740
 It's your

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.579
 priority, it's

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.119
 your commitment,

00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:53.719
 it's how you

00:20:53.719 --> 00:20:54.619
 want to honor

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.419
 God.

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:57.619
 Second

00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:58.099
 question,

00:20:59.539 --> 00:20:59.839
 do you

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.559
 express your

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.299
 gratitude to

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:03.159
 God for

00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:03.980
 what He has

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.679
 given you

00:21:04.679 --> 00:21:06.759
 by giving

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.500
 back to

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:07.819
 Him?

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:09.819
 In other

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.339
 words, do you

00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.059
 honor God with

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.679
 your wealth

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.840
 because you

00:21:13.840 --> 00:21:14.560
 recognize that

00:21:14.560 --> 00:21:15.080
 what you've

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:15.700
 got, God

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.440
 has allowed

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:16.900
 you or

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.460
 enabled you

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.480
 to have?

00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:19.900
 And so

00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:20.620
 you're giving

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:23.500
 to express

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.580
 your gratitude

00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:25.100
 to Him,

00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.200
 and you're

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.940
 acknowledging that

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.480
 it does come

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:27.860
 from Him.

00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:30.220
 Number three,

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.080
 do you

00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:32.940
 demonstrate your

00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:34.100
 trust in God

00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.160
 to supply all

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:36.220
 your needs

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:38.560
 by giving

00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:39.000
 Him the

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:40.220
 first fruits

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.600
 of your

00:21:41.600 --> 00:21:42.019
 income?

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:43.920
 Now, it

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.579
 does take

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.100
 faith.

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.940
 When your

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.640
 income comes

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:49.600
 in, let's

00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:50.079
 just say it's

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.880
 there in the

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.259
 bank.

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.620
 If you're

00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:54.940
 going to give

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.339
 to God

00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:57.380
 first, no

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.100
 matter what,

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.600
 you've got

00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:01.100
 to have

00:22:01.100 --> 00:22:02.160
 trust and

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.059
 confidence that

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.799
 once I give

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.799
 to God, He's

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.600
 going to enable

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:08.160
 me to fulfill

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.960
 all my other

00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.480
 obligations.

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:09.559
 promises.

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.420
 He's going

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:10.759
 to enable

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.680
 me, He's

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.019
 going to

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.559
 meet my

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.299
 needs.

00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:15.880
 Now,

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:19.920
 God promises

00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.460
 to meet our

00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:20.940
 needs, but

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.339
 does not

00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:22.400
 promise to

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.220
 meet all of

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:24.019
 our wants.

00:22:25.360 --> 00:22:26.059
 He doesn't

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.519
 promise to

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.299
 fulfill all

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.660
 of our

00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:29.380
 wish lists.

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.980
 And God

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:32.759
 expects us,

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.220
 as the book

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.799
 of Proverbs,

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.059
 and we'll

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.420
 talk about

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:34.839
 that later

00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.420
 on down the

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:35.660
 road,

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:37.380
 God expects

00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:37.759
 us to be

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.060
 wise managers

00:22:39.060 --> 00:22:39.600
 of our

00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:39.900
 money.

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.160
 If we

00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:43.940
 will have,

00:22:44.820 --> 00:22:45.140
 if we'll

00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:45.880
 be wise

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.540
 managers of

00:22:46.540 --> 00:22:46.860
 our money,

00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:48.820
 and understand

00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:49.160
 the difference

00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:49.779
 between needs

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.440
 and wants,

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:53.040
 we can give

00:22:53.040 --> 00:22:53.860
 off the top,

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.920
 and we can

00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.759
 trust God to

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.200
 meet our

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.820
 needs,

00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:58.259
 and to have

00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:58.900
 what we need

00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.440
 to have,

00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.140
 but I want to

00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:00.700
 be honest with

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:00.840
 you.

00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.600
 To give,

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.120
 like we're

00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:03.559
 talking about

00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:04.080
 this morning,

00:23:05.080 --> 00:23:06.059
 you can't do

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.600
 everything that

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.120
 everybody else

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.539
 does.

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.740
 You will

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.180
 sacrifice

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.380
 something in

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:12.700
 order to

00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.180
 give to

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.519
 God.

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.120
 When I was

00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.799
 growing up,

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.080
 when my boys

00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:20.460
 were growing

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:20.740
 up,

00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:23.059
 it was not

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.059
 unusual for

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:25.120
 people to

00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:25.500
 tell their

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:25.960
 children,

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:26.519
 it wasn't

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.200
 unusual for

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.819
 children to

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.259
 say to their

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.240
 friends that

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.680
 they couldn't

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.279
 do something

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.740
 because we

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.480
 can't afford

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:32.839
 it.

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.879
 And there

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.599
 was no shame

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.119
 in that.

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.440
 There was no

00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.319
 embarrassment or

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:38.980
 disgrace.

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.700
 There was a lot

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.279
 of things when I

00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.859
 was growing up,

00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.819
 we couldn't do

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.519
 because my

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.119
 family couldn't

00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:44.480
 afford it.

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.920
 My mother and

00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:45.339
 daddy both

00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:45.839
 worked,

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:46.960
 and they did

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.460
 well,

00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:48.960
 but we couldn't

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.460
 afford to do

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.240
 everything that

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.079
 everybody did.

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.460
 And when my

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.000
 boys were growing

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.399
 up,

00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:54.660
 Lisa and I

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:54.920
 both,

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.819
 we never,

00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:57.420
 ever hesitated

00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:59.579
 or felt any

00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.519
 shame at all

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:00.939
 to say to

00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:01.079
 them,

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:01.839
 we can't

00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.460
 afford to

00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.059
 do that

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:05.559
 because we

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:05.939
 could not

00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:06.319
 afford to

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.779
 do that

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:08.819
 and give

00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.659
 what we

00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:09.939
 were going

00:24:09.939 --> 00:24:10.240
 to give

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:10.460
 to the

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.799
 Lord

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.439
 and manage

00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:14.019
 the rest

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.740
 of it in

00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.419
 a wise

00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:16.000
 way.

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.759
 And if

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.180
 you won't

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.660
 teach your

00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.660
 children today

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:22.440
 lessons like

00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.099
 we can't

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.619
 afford it,

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.039
 you are

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.640
 setting them

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.039
 up for

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:26.160
 financial ruin

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:28.599
 themselves if

00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:29.000
 you don't

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.940
 follow yourself

00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.640
 first.

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.539
 We're talking

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.140
 not just about

00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:35.720
 giving this one,

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.039
 we're talking

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.859
 about being

00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:38.079
 wise with our

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.400
 money.

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.680
 We're talking

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:39.960
 about being

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.859
 good stewards

00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:41.500
 with our

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.079
 resources.

00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:42.299
 resources.

00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.259
 You cannot

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.779
 do everything,

00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.299
 have everything

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:49.919
 that everybody

00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:50.899
 else has

00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:52.460
 and give to

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:52.839
 God.

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.799
 I'll just say

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.539
 it right there,

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.919
 but so be

00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:57.279
 it.

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.659
 So be

00:25:00.659 --> 00:25:00.919
 it.

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.679
 It is better

00:25:02.679 --> 00:25:03.379
 to be faithful

00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:04.199
 to God and

00:25:04.199 --> 00:25:04.899
 obedient to

00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.919
 God and not

00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:06.759
 have the latest

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:10.139
 gadget than to

00:25:10.139 --> 00:25:11.319
 have the latest

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:11.919
 gadget.

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.059
 for you and

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:16.439
 your family and

00:25:16.439 --> 00:25:17.139
 knowing that

00:25:17.139 --> 00:25:17.839
 you're disobedient

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.299
 to God.

00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:21.079
 Fourth question,

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.159
 what kind of

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.939
 commitment to

00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:23.619
 God do you

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.419
 demonstrate by

00:25:24.419 --> 00:25:24.939
 your giving?

00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.799
 And every

00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.339
 single one of

00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:27.819
 us in here,

00:25:28.679 --> 00:25:29.099
 we are

00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:29.720
 demonstrating

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:31.179
 some kind of

00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:31.919
 commitment to

00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:33.419
 God by our

00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:33.720
 giving.

00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.099
 Are you

00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:36.819
 pleased with

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:36.960
 it?

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.919
 Final thought,

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:40.779
 verse 10,

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:43.000
 a wise person

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.899
 understands he

00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:44.420
 can never

00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:45.160
 out-give

00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.740
 God.

00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.460
 Look at it.

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.700
 Then your

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.379
 barns will be

00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:49.940
 filled with

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.680
 plenty and

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.359
 your vats

00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:51.660
 will be

00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.359
 bursting with

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:52.940
 wine.

00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:55.599
 Speaking to

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.139
 people who

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:57.000
 are farming,

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.019
 agricultural

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.200
 mindset here,

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.180
 what it is

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.920
 promising that

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.639
 God will

00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:03.039
 meet your

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:03.579
 needs.

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.539
 God will

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.299
 give you

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.200
 what He

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.639
 wants you

00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.059
 to have.

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.579
 God will

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.019
 bless

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.819
 faithful

00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.299
 giving.

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.220
 Now,

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:10.619
 this can

00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.240
 be abused

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:11.460
 and it

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:11.799
 has been

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.159
 abused by

00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:12.799
 these health

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.339
 and wealth

00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:14.859
 type preachers.

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.159
 What they'll

00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:16.859
 always say

00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.179
 is,

00:26:17.179 --> 00:26:18.679
 you give

00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:19.279
 to me

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.480
 and God

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.839
 will bless

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:21.059
 you.

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.940
 Watch these

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:24.759
 birds who

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.299
 are always

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:25.759
 trying to

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.299
 entice you

00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:26.859
 to give

00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.839
 to them

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.940
 instead of

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:32.220
 thinking in

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.579
 terms of

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.079
 giving to

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.700
 God in

00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.659
 various ways.

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:37.519
 it's not

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.019
 a promise,

00:26:38.120 --> 00:26:38.680
 this is not,

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.300
 this is not

00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:39.880
 a promise

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:41.180
 that the way

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.560
 to become

00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:42.100
 rich is to

00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:42.380
 give to

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:42.660
 God.

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.380
 We've

00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:46.060
 already seen,

00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:46.420
 you know

00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.040
 this anyway,

00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.259
 Proverbs are

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:48.840
 not promises,

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.259
 they are

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.259
 general statements

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.920
 of how life

00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.840
 normally works.

00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:54.000
 Proverbs are

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.940
 general statements

00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.560
 of how life

00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:56.240
 normally works.

00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:56.759
 That's what

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:58.220
 Solomon intended

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.300
 as he wrote

00:26:59.300 --> 00:26:59.779
 this under

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.180
 the inspiration

00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:00.500
 of the Holy

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:00.860
 Spirit.

00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:02.779
 This is a

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.560
 general principle

00:27:03.560 --> 00:27:04.040
 that God

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.960
 blesses those

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.000
 who make

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.039
 him their

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.839
 priority

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.359
 in their

00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:08.899
 giving,

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.940
 not because

00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:11.379
 they want

00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:12.500
 greater wealth,

00:27:13.659 --> 00:27:14.440
 but because

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:14.899
 they want

00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:15.899
 to honor

00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.420
 God.

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.619
 Don't think

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.180
 in terms

00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:20.299
 of I

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.119
 give so

00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.619
 God will

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.039
 make me

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.519
 wealthy,

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.379
 or I

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.980
 give to

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.339
 get.

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.259
 That's not

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.740
 what he's

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.240
 talking about

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.480
 there.

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.399
 This verse

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:28.740
 is telling

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.379
 us that as

00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:29.859
 a general

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.379
 rule,

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.899
 giving generously

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:34.100
 to honor

00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:36.180
 God will

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:36.960
 result in

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.580
 God giving

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.440
 us greater

00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.300
 wealth.

00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.160
 But the

00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:40.620
 point is not

00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:40.980
 that God's

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.120
 going to

00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:41.460
 make you

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:41.960
 rich.

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.180
 The point

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:44.840
 is that as

00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:45.400
 you give to

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.180
 honor God,

00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:47.420
 you're going to

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:47.900
 be blessed

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:48.560
 by God.

00:27:49.320 --> 00:27:49.860
 He's going to

00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.680
 give you more

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.300
 so that you can

00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:52.280
 continue to

00:27:52.280 --> 00:27:53.259
 honor Him

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:55.080
 with your

00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:55.440
 giving.

00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.620
 God gives to

00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:58.200
 those who will

00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.980
 be wise,

00:27:59.280 --> 00:27:59.740
 who will seek

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.400
 to do His

00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:00.940
 will,

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.620
 who will seek

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.439
 to honor Him

00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:03.079
 and be a

00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:03.639
 blessing to

00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:04.359
 other people

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:06.439
 with their

00:28:06.439 --> 00:28:06.779
 money.

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.199
 Now lest you

00:28:08.199 --> 00:28:08.779
 think this is

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.079
 just some

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.259
 kind of obscure

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.000
 verse here,

00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:12.019
 look in Proverbs

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.839
 11,

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.619
 verse 24,

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.179
 it's on the

00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:14.519
 screen.

00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.500
 One gives

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.119
 freely,

00:28:17.699 --> 00:28:18.599
 yet grows all

00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:19.119
 the richer.

00:28:19.679 --> 00:28:20.839
 Another withholds

00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:21.359
 what he should

00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.739
 give and only

00:28:22.739 --> 00:28:24.000
 suffers want.

00:28:24.719 --> 00:28:25.619
 God blesses

00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.239
 generosity,

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.639
 but He withholds

00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:28.399
 blessing from

00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:29.019
 the greedy

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:30.919
 as a general

00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:31.299
 rule.

00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:33.039
 Generosity

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.619
 is the

00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.659
 better path

00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:35.079
 or the

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.019
 best path

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:37.239
 to greater

00:28:37.239 --> 00:28:38.719
 wealth if

00:28:38.719 --> 00:28:40.239
 our desire

00:28:40.239 --> 00:28:41.259
 is to honor

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.799
 God with it

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:43.099
 all and to

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.639
 be faithful

00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:45.659
 stewards with

00:28:45.659 --> 00:28:46.059
 what God

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.759
 gives us.

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.719
 But stinginess

00:28:48.719 --> 00:28:50.479
 and greed

00:28:50.479 --> 00:28:53.679
 is a path

00:28:53.679 --> 00:28:54.479
 to financial

00:28:54.479 --> 00:28:56.419
 ruin in the

00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:57.019
 long run.

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:59.579
 I have no

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.139
 idea what

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.559
 anybody in

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:00.940
 this church

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.619
 gives nor

00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.160
 do I ever

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:02.440
 want to

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:02.639
 know.

00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:03.379
 Don't tell

00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.619
 me.

00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.019
 I would

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.420
 not want

00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:04.740
 to know

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.200
 what you

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.559
 give.

00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:05.920
 It's none

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.160
 of my

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.740
 business.

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.019
 But I am

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.000
 confident that

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.799
 many people in

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.359
 this church

00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.619
 give to God

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.700
 just like

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:15.839
 this proverb

00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.420
 says.

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.940
 There's no doubt

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.519
 in my mind that

00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:18.960
 many people in

00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.420
 this church

00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.279
 honor the

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.759
 Lord with

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.480
 their wealth,

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.039
 with the

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.860
 first fruits of

00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:23.380
 all their

00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.200
 produce.

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.700
 The tithes and

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.259
 offerings that

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:29.559
 come in that

00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.059
 you can read

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.500
 about in the

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.000
 newsletter just

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.500
 like I do.

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.620
 Those tithes and

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.099
 offerings, that

00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.819
 amount would not

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:37.140
 come in if

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.559
 there were not

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.380
 people who were

00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:40.460
 faithfully honoring

00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:41.319
 God with their

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.660
 wealth.

00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.519
 And if that's

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:46.940
 you, I pray

00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.579
 that God will

00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.900
 affirm you in

00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:49.220
 that.

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.700
 Thank you.

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.079
 from your

00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:53.000
 church family.

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.299
 Many people in

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:58.599
 this church, they

00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:59.039
 can read

00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.900
 Proverbs 9 and

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:02.380
 10 and they

00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.900
 can say, I

00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:04.380
 know it from

00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:05.120
 experience.

00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:08.759
 Lisa and I, we

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.579
 can say that from

00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:11.099
 38 years experience

00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:12.980
 of marriage, giving

00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:15.599
 this way, God

00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:17.059
 does work this

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.360
 way.

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.220
 And we've done

00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.579
 it for 38 years

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.599
 by the grace of

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:21.939
 God.

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.639
 When we first got

00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:24.259
 married for the

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:25.039
 first four years,

00:30:25.179 --> 00:30:26.119
 one of us was in

00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:28.199
 school full time.

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.619
 When we first got

00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.240
 married for the

00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:32.699
 first several years,

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.339
 while our children

00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:34.240
 were young, we had

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.019
 one income.

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:38.139
 Our boys grew up

00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:39.259
 just like the

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.240
 average person in

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.819
 this church.

00:30:41.699 --> 00:30:42.460
 We put them

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.419
 through college,

00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:44.659
 just like a lot

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.040
 of you.

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.460
 I know what it's

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:48.920
 like.

00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:50.480
 Lisa and I know

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.200
 what it's like.

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.320
 At various

00:30:52.320 --> 00:30:53.560
 stages, various

00:30:53.560 --> 00:30:54.259
 levels of

00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:56.120
 income, various

00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:57.920
 expenses, we

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.460
 know what it's

00:30:58.460 --> 00:31:00.620
 like to sweat

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:02.779
 when you pay

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.400
 your bills,

00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:05.920
 when your

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.700
 children's involved

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.040
 in a lot of

00:31:07.040 --> 00:31:07.600
 things, especially

00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:08.120
 they're going to

00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:08.600
 college.

00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.579
 college, that's

00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.079
 tough.

00:31:12.219 --> 00:31:13.059
 But God has

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.579
 always been

00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.000
 faithful.

00:31:15.959 --> 00:31:16.980
 God has always

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.519
 blessed us with a

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.159
 whole lot more

00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:19.980
 than we needed.

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:23.980
 And I know for a

00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:24.439
 fact, because I've

00:31:24.439 --> 00:31:24.919
 heard some of you

00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:26.539
 say it, that is the

00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:27.219
 testimony of many

00:31:27.219 --> 00:31:28.019
 people in this room

00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:28.859
 and many Christians

00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.919
 in this world.

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:34.680
 But if you do not

00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:37.140
 honor God in your

00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:38.620
 giving, as this

00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:40.140
 proverb is telling

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:43.640
 us to do, I want

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.960
 to ask you, why

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.420
 not?

00:31:47.340 --> 00:31:48.440
 Is it that you

00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:49.400
 really just don't

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:51.779
 trust God to meet

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.660
 your legitimate

00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.880
 needs if you

00:31:53.880 --> 00:31:54.240
 give?

00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:56.940
 That's a trust

00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.340
 issue.

00:31:57.339 --> 00:32:00.039
 a trust

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.819
 God issue.

00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.179
 You need to

00:32:05.179 --> 00:32:05.839
 think about that.

00:32:06.939 --> 00:32:07.480
 Or do you

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:07.959
 really want to

00:32:07.959 --> 00:32:08.459
 say to God,

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.379
 Lord, I can't

00:32:09.379 --> 00:32:09.919
 trust you.

00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.720
 I believe you

00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.579
 sent Jesus, your

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.179
 son into the world

00:32:13.179 --> 00:32:13.859
 to die for my

00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.240
 sins.

00:32:14.439 --> 00:32:15.000
 I believe you'll

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.519
 take care of me

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.339
 for all eternity

00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.159
 because I'm

00:32:17.159 --> 00:32:18.099
 trusting in him

00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:18.879
 and him alone for

00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.619
 my salvation.

00:32:19.939 --> 00:32:20.419
 But I don't

00:32:20.419 --> 00:32:21.159
 trust you to meet

00:32:21.159 --> 00:32:21.980
 my needs on a

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.919
 regular monthly

00:32:22.919 --> 00:32:23.579
 basis.

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.559
 Or if you're not

00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:27.259
 honoring God,

00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:29.339
 giving him, giving

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:31.439
 him like this, could

00:32:31.439 --> 00:32:32.599
 it be that you

00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:33.199
 just don't love

00:32:33.199 --> 00:32:33.639
 him enough?

00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.259
 You don't really

00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.099
 want to give him

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.740
 like this because

00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.819
 you don't have the

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.559
 kind of relationship

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.519
 with him that

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.480
 compels you to

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.819
 just want to

00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.679
 express your love

00:32:42.679 --> 00:32:43.339
 and gratitude and

00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:45.019
 appreciation by

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.419
 giving.

00:32:48.299 --> 00:32:49.339
 Could it just be

00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:50.919
 that, just to be

00:32:50.919 --> 00:32:51.619
 all honest, you're

00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:52.139
 just basically

00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:53.319
 selfish and greedy.

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.539
 What's yours is

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.079
 yours.

00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:57.179
 And you're not

00:32:57.179 --> 00:32:57.579
 going to give

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.399
 any to anybody.

00:32:58.799 --> 00:32:59.279
 You're going to

00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.119
 take care of you.

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.019
 There's a lot of

00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:02.500
 people in this

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.500
 world today, even

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.279
 in some churches.

00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:06.980
 If you're not

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:08.339
 giving to God, you're

00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:09.139
 not honoring God

00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:10.579
 with your giving and

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.220
 making him your

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.059
 first priority.

00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:14.379
 I'm being very

00:33:14.379 --> 00:33:14.859
 serious here.

00:33:15.859 --> 00:33:16.679
 What is your

00:33:16.679 --> 00:33:17.139
 problem?

00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:20.240
 because there is a

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:20.640
 problem.

00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:25.000
 If God is

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.040
 convicting you

00:33:26.040 --> 00:33:28.660
 that there is a

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:30.480
 problem, I want you

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.860
 to understand this is

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:32.259
 sin.

00:33:33.840 --> 00:33:34.580
 And if you'll

00:33:34.580 --> 00:33:35.720
 confess it to God,

00:33:36.560 --> 00:33:37.759
 repent of this

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:39.380
 attitude, these

00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:42.200
 ways, and seek his

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:42.840
 forgiveness, he'll

00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:43.560
 forgive you and

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:47.779
 cleanse you, and

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.539
 then make a

00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:50.159
 commitment that you

00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:51.039
 are going to seek

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:52.460
 as of today, starting

00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.720
 to honor God with

00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.639
 your wealth and with

00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:55.639
 the first fruits of

00:33:55.639 --> 00:33:56.980
 all your produce.

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.220
 values.

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.279
 But now you've got to

00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:02.200
 ask God for the

00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:05.500
 wisdom to know where

00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:08.460
 to start and how to

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:08.880
 start.

00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.440
 Because you're not

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.159
 starting at ground

00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.659
 zero, you've got

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.500
 bills, you've got

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.199
 obligations.

00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.639
 So you need to ask

00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.880
 God to give you the

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:20.460
 wisdom to know how to

00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:22.980
 start honoring him with

00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:25.139
 your wealth, making

00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:26.400
 him, giving to him

00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.400
 your first priority.

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.780
 God will give you

00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.460
 that wisdom.

00:34:31.180 --> 00:34:31.980
 He'll help you to

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:33.500
 start, start where

00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.099
 you are.

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.460
 But the important

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:36.900
 thing we need to

00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:37.539
 understand this morning

00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:41.960
 is wise people honor

00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:43.720
 God with their wealth.

00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:45.680
 They make giving to

00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:46.940
 him their first

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.940
 priority when it

00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.680
 comes to how they

00:34:48.680 --> 00:34:49.480
 use their money.

00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:53.000
 Let's pray together.

00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:54.619
 Father,

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:58.099
 Father, help us to

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:59.099
 hear you this morning

00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:01.839
 about this general

00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:04.960
 principle of life in

00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.940
 relation to money.

00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:13.900
 Father, if there are

00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:14.799
 people in this room who

00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:17.460
 are not Christians, help

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.519
 them to understand that

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.920
 this message is not for

00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:20.259
 them.

00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:23.080
 because what you want

00:35:23.080 --> 00:35:24.080
 from them is their

00:35:24.080 --> 00:35:25.840
 heart, their life

00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:27.480
 first.

00:35:29.080 --> 00:35:29.960
 And if that's the

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:31.060
 case, I pray, dear God,

00:35:31.120 --> 00:35:33.140
 that you would just

00:35:33.140 --> 00:35:35.900
 compel that person to

00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:37.700
 admit their sin, their

00:35:37.700 --> 00:35:39.200
 selfishness and turn from

00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:40.640
 it and understand that

00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:41.680
 when Jesus died on the

00:35:41.680 --> 00:35:43.000
 cross, he paid the

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:44.120
 penalty for their sin.

00:35:45.120 --> 00:35:46.400
 Cause that man or woman

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.540
 or young person to call

00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:48.619
 upon Jesus to save

00:35:48.619 --> 00:35:49.400
 them right now.

00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:52.980
 Lord, I pray that you

00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:56.619
 will affirm those who

00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.619
 are seeking to honor you

00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.340
 with their wealth.

00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:02.519
 But Lord, I pray that you

00:36:02.519 --> 00:36:03.619
 will convict those who

00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:06.380
 aren't to start now.

00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:10.739
 And assure them that you

00:36:10.739 --> 00:36:12.019
 will guide them along the

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:12.360
 way.

00:36:13.779 --> 00:36:14.559
 Show them how.

00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:16.799
 If they want to.

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:18.980
 And they'll make the

00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:19.799
 commitment to start.

00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:21.699
 In an attitude of prayer,

00:36:21.779 --> 00:36:22.400
 let's just listen to the

00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:23.659
 Lord and respond to him.

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.500
 And I'll be happy to pray

00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:26.539
 with you, help you here at

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.019
 the front.

00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:28.480
 If you come down during the

00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.179
 next few minutes.

00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:29.239
 Amen.

00:36:29.239 --> 00:36:29.340
 Amen.