10.17.07 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

I asked Larry Totzke to share a bit this week from what the Lord is teaching him. I think you'll both enjoy these thoughts and be challenged...enjoy.

Press on,
Mike

Our Tuesday evening House Church has decided to find out what the Bible says about money. This week we examined 27 passages that frame Biblical principles of giving. Here is a brief summary of some of the principles we wrestled with:

Giving is an antidote to greed. Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, “Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life.”

Wherever we spend our time and money is where we place our highest priority. Jesus warned his followers in Matthew 6:19-21, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.”

God causes us to prosper not to raise our standard of living, but our standard of giving. "For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God." 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

We must not withhold our resources from God, who gives to us in abundance. "If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving, large or small, it will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38

Our giving must reflect God’s agenda. “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:37-40

These, of course, are general principles. Each of us must take them and apply them to our own context. Spend some time with God this week and ask Him to guide you to be a good steward of all of the riches of time, talent, and treasure that He has entrusted to you.

Larry

Read the rest of this weeks UPdate HERE