March 20 , 2005
"Investing My Treasure"
The Treasure Principle—Part 5
Selected Scriptures
Review:
Treasure Principle #1: I am God's treasure!
Treasure Principle #2: God owns everything, I'm His money manager.
Treasure Principle #3: My heart goes where I put God's money.
Treasure Principle #4: Heaven, not earth, is my home.
Treasure Principle #5: I should live, not for the dot but the line.
Treasure Principle #6: Giving is the only antidote for materialism.
Question: How do you use His resources? (Money and Things)
1. Give cheerfully.
God loves a cheerful giver.
—2 Corinthians 9:7
But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in the grace of giving.
—2 Corinthians 8:7
Share things joyfully.
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.
—1 Corinthians 16:2
Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.
—Deuteronomy 16:17
2. Spend reasonably.
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
—1 Corinthians 4:2
Enjoy things but don't cherish them.
Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.
—Colossians 3:2
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
—1 John 2:15
"To Americans, tragedy is wanting something very badly and not getting it. But many people have had to learn... that perhaps the worst form of tragedy is wanting something badly, getting it, and finding it empty."
—Henry Kissinger
3. Save strategically.
Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
—Luke 12:15
Treasure Principle #7: God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.
Think like a pilgrim not a settler.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...
—Philippians 3:20
Lifework
What place does prayer have in my finances? (Faith)
The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
—Proverbs 10:22
Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers.
—Philippians 4:6 (TLB)
My commitment: As you have studied what God says about the treasure principle, He has been leading you to a commitment. He works in each of us in different ways, but we cannot ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit. What step will you take? What needs to change in your use of treasure?
I encourage you to write it down and share it with someone you trust. God is calling you to excel in the grace of giving. Where is it He wants you to start?