Those Who Give It All

show you today is how Jesus wants his people to essentially Steward uh their money for the sake of Christ and the gospel and before you start getting nervous that I'm coming after your hard-earned money uh in resources I I'm not because again it's not your money to begin with so um that's where we're at with it for starters in Deuteronomy 8:1 17-18 Moses tells us beware lest you say in your heart my power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth you shall remember the Lord your God for it is he who gives you power to get wealth that he may confirm

his Covenant that he swore to your fathers as it is this day so that seems pretty straightforward God gave you the ability and the power to work uh so that you might gain wealth and resources therefore God gets the credit for your credit not you but also in Psalm 241 David ech goes the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof the world and those who dwell therein and so not only does the earth and its fullness Belongs to the Lord but also those who dwell in it so if we are his then what we have is also his and so we need to have

that kind of as a preface and first understanding that everything we have has been given to us by God to manage and invest for his kingdom and for the sake of his glory now again that doesn't mean that you don't work hard for what you have uh and we'll certainly talk about that as we work through this message this morning um but it does not mean that it's not solely yours to spend how you wish God has a few thoughts on the stewarding of money and possess possessions and wealth and that's what we're going to be talking about today as we continue working through the

Book of Luke um and because again this as we work through Luke as we work through um kind of expositionally teaching which in a way is going verse by verse Through the Bible to be able to expose what the Bible is teaching us and what Jesus really wants to show us um obviously we don't talk about money um we actually rarely talk about money when it comes to um just church and service and and what God has created and ordained for the role of money in our lives but when we come to passages that deal with it it's opportunity for us to do a deep

dive into it and so as you open up your Bibles we're going to be in Luke 21 Luke 21 starting with the first four verses that when you first read it actually look like it's a pretty straightforward passage um but there might be a little bit more underneath the surface that we're going to unpack for for our time today and so Luke 21 starting in verse one I'm going to look at the first four four verses Jesus looked up and he saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box and he saw a poor Widow put in two small copper coins and he said

truly I tell you this poor Widow has put in more than all of them for they all contributed out of their abundance but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on I also want to read the parallel passage there's only two places that this story is recorded this one in Luke but then also in Mark 12: 41-44 Mark's vantage point in um in experiencing in witnessing this story of of Jesus sharing with them goes like this and he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box many rich people put in large sums and

a poor Widow came and put in two small copper coins which make a penny and he called his disciples to him and said to them truly I say to you this poor Widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box for they all contributed out of their abundance but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had all that she had to live on and so the first question I had when reading through these passages and looking at where we are in the context of Luke this looks like or the first question I had was why is

this a significant story that both Luke and were prompted by the Holy Spirit to record and include in the writing of their gospel accounts so this was something that as they're interacting with Jesus as Jesus is in the temple in this moment as he's approaching Passover and as he's approaching his his betrayal and his trial and his execution and his crucifixion and his death and his burial and his resurrection as he's approaching all of that in this week in this moment as he's interacting with his disciples in the temple they felt that this was a very important moment in order for him to inspire them

to remember it and record it and so at first glance this looks like a story where Jesus is simply condemning the only giving out of their abundance or profit and then commending the poor Widow for giving out of her poverty all that she had to live on now it would also not be wrong to contrast the rich people who are truly poor and the poor Widow who is truly Rich that in and of itself would be a great sermon and there have been many who have preached this sermon in that regard and that'll actually be part of our application at the end but could there

be more to this specific story well in order to understand it I want to break down a little bit more of the context um that we have surrounding this passage if you remember what Luke has already said and also look at what he's going to say next it provides our context and so what we preached last week in Luke 20 veres 46-47 Jesus said this Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in Long robes and they love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts look at verse 47 who devour widows houses and

for a pretense make long prayers they will receive the greater condemnation so picture in your mind these these religious Elite who are in our current passage for today parading around sort of peacock talking their wealth and their status and their privilege Jesus has just said that these are the same people who devour widows houses does that have any correlation with our poor Widow in our passage for today well then if you jump to what we'll be looking at next week in Luke 21: 5-6 Luke tells us and which is a connecting verse or a connecting word to what we're looking at today and while some

were speaking of the temple how it was adorned with Noble stones and offerings he said as for those things that you see the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down so the offerings were being used to continue beautifying the temple continue adorning it in a way glorifying it they were taking offerings from the abundance of the rich and the poverty of the poor to continue improving upon the temple that they were never requested to improve upon Jesus shows in verse 6 that what the offerings have contributed to to beautify and Adorn the

temple will eventually be condemned and destroyed because again the Jewish people have turned the House of Prayer into a den of Thieves that we saw several weeks ago when he entered into the court of the Gentiles and began overturning and flipping tables and so what you see playing out here in this story on behalf of the religious Elite is essentially the opposite of the story of Robin Hood where he takes from the rich and gives to the poor here what you have is the religious Elite the rich taking from the poor and making themselves wealthier again turning a House of Prayer into a den of

Thieves so what we are witnessing in Luke 21 vers 1-4 is one example of what Jesus meant when he said Beware of the scribes for they devour widows houses now let's look at the two types of people Jesus is observing in Mark 12 again the parallel passage verses 41 and 42 tells us when he sat down opposite the treasury and watch the people putting money into the offering box many rich people put in large sums and a poor Widow came and put in two small copper coins which make a penny Jesus is obser is is here observing the monetary offerings of the people to the

ministry of the temple in an area of the temple known as the treasury which is important for us to know in the context of what's going on here because if you remember as we were walking as Jesus is coming to the temple and as he first enters the temple the first court of the temple that he enters into was the court of the Gentiles and what they have done was was they took the court of the Gentiles which was meant to be a house of prayer for the Gentiles again at that point the Gentiles are only allowed or permitted to come into the court of

the Gentiles well we know the Jews don't like the Gentiles they hate the Gentiles they don't think they're even human and so they don't want them to have access to the House of Prayer to the house of worship they don't want them to have access to God what they actually expected was was their new king to come in and actually rid the Temple of the court of the Gentiles and only let it be a house of those who are of Abraham the the bloodline of Abraham and so they then turned the court of the Gentiles into a place of money making they were exchanging money

they were selling animals for the sacrifice of the Jewish Passover and so essentially they were robbing the Gentiles of opportunity to come and worship God and instead turned it into a place where they were earning more and making more gain for themselves and Jesus came in and essentially cleansed the court of the Gentiles by throwing out the money changers driving out the booths that were all set up in the court of the Gentiles in order to really do what he was eventually going to do which was himself resurrecting a new Temple where it's for all nations so he's foreshadowing the greater Temple which is going

to be the body of Christ Where We Belong where all nations are invited to come and worship so what he's done is is then now he's moving into the next court which is again just beautiful imagery in seeing Jesus work through this house that is a for them an illustration of what it means to worship God he's coming in to cleanse it to actually make way for and prepare for the true Temple which is going to be Christ and his body where we worship and belong to so he's moving into this second phase of cleansing the temple where he's coming into what's known as the

court of the women and the court of the treasury so in this place would be set up the offering box now it's not similar to like our little wooden offering box that we have in the back this would be 13 trumpet shaped jars or chests that were kind of laid out and they were made of like this bronze metal so that when you took a coin and throw it in there it would clink and so John MacArthur even talks about in his commentary that they would go and exchange their their paper treasury for literal coin so that as they're parading around and peacocking their wealth

and peacocking all of their status and privilege they're just throwing in one after another and after another to to make it appear like again they're giving large sums of money to the offering that's going to then go and continue adorning and beautifying the temple which is another way of saying they're continuing to whitewash the tomb that's actually aent of Thieves on the inside that's what they're doing they don't realize they're doing that they think they're beautifying God's house they're they're being good Jews but it's in this court of the women and it's in this where where they have the treasury which is another way of

saying this was as where the court of the Gentiles were as far as Gentiles were permitted to go the court of the women was as far as women were permitted to go but it's where also all Jews came in to give and contribute to their offering now why do I bring that up as important important that Jesus is coming in and observing what they're doing in this moment and that he will also hear condemn it the reason why he's condemning it is because again they're not utilizing it as a place that is meant to be a place of worship for women but what they're actually

doing with this poor Widow as we'll see is they're robbing her by the expectations that they have placed on the poor to come and contribute all that they have to where they're actually devouring her they're actually lowering her and it's not a place of worship but it's actually a place of enslavement this is not a good story set up so far and what we actually see Jesus doing and is a foreshadowing of what Jesus does is when he does go and actually officially break the temple himself by crucifying himself by dying dying and by being buried when he resurrects and again gives us that gospel

commission to go to All Nations so that all nations are inclusive and invited into receiving this gospel message who are the first ones that he invites to come and worship him and see him who are the first ones who actually get access to see the resurrection of Jesus Christ is it the chief priest is it the high priest it's women it's women and so what we're seeing here in this moment is Jesus observing the debauchery that is taking place and he is ultimately going to condemn it and as we'll see in the coming weeks that he is saying there's not going to be one stone

left unturned in this place which again we know at the crucifixion when he dies the temple veil is torn the temple is destroyed an earthquake essentially um demolishes it but it's also Jesus coming to foreshadow and share with them that what you have turned into a sinful place I am going to redeem and create a holy house of worship where there is no more Court of the Gentiles and Court of the women and then Court of the Jews as we'll see in the coming weeks and then the holy of holies but rather all have equal access to come into the house and worship him now

with that said again that's just the context of our passage Jesus still observes In This Moment something to be commended possibly an object lesson for us when it comes to generosity in the new temple of God the Church of Jesus Christ and so I do want to contrast this poor old Widow and maybe look a little bit and this is some conjecture but look a little bit at her heart versus what we'll refer to as Rich Young rulers because again Rich Young rulers are similar to as object lessons these religious Elite what they were not willing to give up because of what they have personally

gained versus what she's willing to give up for something that she will gain and so if we will to look back over a couple of characters in Luke 12:1 16-21 as well as Luke 181 18-23 these are two separate accounts where Jesus interacts with what's known as Rich Young rulers and I want to show you just the difference between them and this poor old Widow he told them a parable this is Luke 121 16- 21 he told them a parable saying the land of a rich man produced plentifully and he thought to himself what shall I do for I have nowhere to store my crops

and he said I will do this I will tear down my Barns and build larger ones and there I will store all my grain and my goods and I will say to my soul soul you have ample Goods laid up for many years relax eat drink be marry like that sounds like the good life right like that that sounds like the goal of many when it comes to having a successful career we want to make so much that we max out the bank that we have and have to then take our money to another bank and continue maxing that out like I've actually had conversations

with um some pastors that know of churches in like West Texas and the oil fields where they there's like a church with a massive building that has like 10 families that are inside it and these families are oil families that have contributed so much money to the church that the church has maxed out every single Bank in their Community to where then they had to go to the next community over and continue putting money into it yet the church does no missions no gospel work they just are glad to continue changing the carpet every year glad to like it it's it's this idea of we're

living the good life we have more than enough we don't even know where to store it anymore what are we going to do with all this but God said to him in verse 20 fool this night your soul is required of you and the things you have prepared whose will they be so is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God basically saying who's will it be like you can't take it with you it's better to Steward it in a way where it is allowing you to become rich toward God which we'll explain here in a minute so that's

our Rich Young Ruler who's made a ton of money and is simply relaxing eating and just living the good life which again if you go back and listen to last week we said you should beware of let's look at the second Rich Young Ruler Luke 18 Verse 18 through 23 and a ruler asked him good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life and Jesus said to him why do you call me good no one is good except God alone you know the Commandments do not commit adultery do not murder do not steal do not bear false witness honor your father and your mother

and he said all these I have kept from my youth like where the first one was I've made all the money I could possibly make like I don't even know where to store it this man has said I've done all the good deeds that I could possibly do I don't even know any other good deeds that I can do like I I'm I'm good when Jesus heard this he said to him one thing you still lack why don't you sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and then come and follow me but when he heard

these things he he became very sad for he was extremely rich now our second Rich Young Ruler is at least asking good questions what do I need to do to be saved how do I get into heaven how do I secure eternal life but Jesus knowing where this man's heart was and where his affections really lie went after this man's wealth sell your wealth and give it to the poor and other words give up what you are currently worshiping that is bankrupting you and begin worshiping Jesus that it will actually make you rich in heaven both Rich Young rulers missed out on Jesus and they

chose to go all in on their temporary wealth and living the good life now and that's also exactly what the people in Luke 21 were doing that's exactly what the scribes and the Pharisees this Sanhedrin that we talked about in the last couple of weeks they they were establishing incredible wealth for themselves and only giving a little to God while at the same time expecting the poor to give all that they had devouring their houses this is behavior that Jesus says will be condemned and destroyed and Jesus gives us a big beware don't be like them don't live as they are living don't give your

soul over to just wealth building that you can't take with you and that will also bankrupt your eternity it it doesn't mean that you can't build wealth but it does mean that you should not only build wealth and I'll explain that more in the conclusion we have this poor Widow also she enters the court of the women she enters the treasury and it tells us that she contributes two small copper coins that combined total a penny which again to the rich is nothing but to her is everything everything all that she had to live on what's important to notice here is that Jesus is merely

observing what's taking place he he's not necessarily commending her for what she is doing for the scripture does not tell us that he's simply telling his disciples that she gave two small copper coins which happened to be everything she had here's what's important whether he is witnessing her being devoured by the religious Elite or he is witnessing her being incredibly generous and sacrificial one thing is certain in this story where Jesus does condemn the religious Elite Jesus does not condemn this poor Widow he does condemn the religious Elite but he does not condemn her for what she does which tells me that the motive behind

her offering was pure and therefore acceptable to God where the motives behind the rich were not pure and therefore unacceptable to God I believe this poor Widow had a heart that was pure and undefiled and Desiring to be obedient not to man but to God willing to give all that she had and thus required her to live by faith that God would provide her all that she needed like that's what she's doing in this moment she's essentially coming and saying this is all that I have but I want to be faithful to God I want to be faithful to what's required of me even if

it's required of me from wicked and evil men and she gives so it begs a question for us today are we required to give all that we have in order to be faithful to God because the Widow gave all that she had to live on does that mean we are required to empty our bank accounts to sell our houses and assets and to give it all to the church yes no I'm just kidding I'm just kidding that's not what you were required to do but in all seriousness how much does god require us to give when we look at our lives when we look at

our means when we look at what our income streams are providing for us how do we Steward it in a way that is being biblically faithful and that is following God's design for us and that's following what Christ has commanded of us some use what's called a tithe which is a tenth as a rule of thumb for how much they should give others look at their income they look at their season of Life they look at their necessary expenses they prayerfully determine between them and the Holy Spirit how much they should give each month but what's the rule what's the rule I mean I've had

so many conversations where people are like I I really just I feel like I need to give but I just don't know how much to give what should that look like we want to be biblical well here's the truth there is no one size fits all that's the truth I I can't right now in this moment tell you what would be biblically Faithful is if you all give one tenth or a tenth of your income because then the question what do do we do gross or do we do net what is it do we do a tenth after we have exhausted all of our fixed

expenses like what is it again there is no no one siiz fits all and so I want to show you with the help of John Piper who's given several examples in a podcast called ask John Piper he provided several commendable and faithful examples in scripture how God has called us to be generous with our money and so I want to show you these examples and then give you um an application at the end that will allow you to be able to leave from this place feeling some freedom in how you are Steward what God has provided for you through your work number one Jesus never

made giving away all our possessions a duty for all followers of Christ essentially the command to the Rich Young rulers was not a command to all but he knew where their heart lied and he knew what their Idols were and what he was essentially calling them to was repentance because of what they were giving themselves over to that looks differently for all people number two zakus was commended for giving away half of his riches to the poor you see this in Luke 19 8-9 when he says and zakus stood and said to the Lord behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the

poor and if I have defrauded anyone of anything I'll restore that fourfold and Jesus said to him today salvation has come to this house since he is also a son of Abraham Jesus saw that kind of generosity as evidence that salvation has come to the house of zakus in other words when zakus got saved and he's looking at his wealth that he has robbed from everybody because he was a tax collector he's looking at it and he says well I don't I'm not I'm not giving away all of it but I am going to give away half of it and for those that I specifically

took money from if they come to me and want to reconcile I'm going to give back to them fourfold what I took from them so he's writing wrong of relationships and Reconciliation in that regard but then also he's looking at his amassed wealth that he has because he was a rich person he was essentially like a rich young ruler who actually got saved he's saying between him and the Holy Spirit what he feels is good and to do is to give away half of it and Jesus looks at him and commends him for that we also see in um acts 4 36-37 uh the story

of Barnabas where he was admired as a son of encouragement in the early church this is what it says thus Joseph who was also called by the apostles Barnabas which means son of encouragement a levite a native of Cyprus he sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet and so it tells us in this account we know that Barnabas which again like was so admired by the early church loved and just deep affection for him to where again like anytime you get your name changed by those who are leading the church that means you're in

all right like so he walks up he's like hey guys I'd love to join the church um I got saved and just out of his encouragement they're like yeah you're not named Joseph anymore you're you're now Barnabas that's just what we're going to start calling you because it means son of encouragement and that's what you are to us well it doesn't say that Barnabas sold his house it doesn't say that he emptied his bank account it says he had a field he sold it and he took the proceeds and gave it to the church so that's another example number four Paul exhorted the Corinthians in

1 Corinthians 16:1 through2 he told them this now concerning the collection for the Saints this would be like if we had a time at the end of our service where we used like back in the day we don't pass plates here but churches that I served at in the past we would have a Time literally in the service where there were these like I mean they weren't golden plated but they look like it um these plates that would just be passed through and we would pray over them and and this is kind of what Paul's talking about with the Corinthians he's like when it comes

to the time of collection for the Saints for the work of the ministry for the church as I directed The Church in galatia so also I'm directing you on the first day of every week which is kind of like our Sunday each of you is to put aside something and store it up as he may Prosper which is another phrase similar to um according to your means so that there will be no collecting when I come so Paul's encouraging the church to put something aside as an investment in the kingdom and it should be according to their income so it's essentially him saying I'm not

telling you all that you need to give $500 every week because for some that might be like okay you're you're taking our mortgage and for others that might not be enough because they make a lot more money so a one- siiz fits-all is not what Paul is encouraging the church to do but according to their means according to their income according to their resources put something aside and store it up and invest it into the kingdom again that's not what's happening in our passage in Luke 21 at the temple what were they they were contributing out of their profit not out of their stream of

income they were barely giving anything where this poor Widow is coming and giving everything number five Paul says to live an ordinary life with a stream of income that keeps you from depending on others look at this in 1 Thessalonians 4 11 12 he charges them to aspire to live quietly and to mind your own Affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you so that you may walk properly before Outsiders and be dependent on no one he essentially tells them to have enough money to pay your bills don't give everything away so that you create a life where you then have to

be dependent upon others but make sure that you make money and invest it that's what he's calling this church to do in thessalonica we also see in Ephesians the church in Ephesus Paul says this to them in Ephesians 4:28 essentially to not steal but do honest work with your hands so that he may have something to share with those that are in need he basically says there's three ways that you can operate when it comes to finances steal which is what the religious elite were doing work to have which is what the Rich Young rulers were doing or work to have to give which is

what the poor old Widow did we also see in the story of the Good Samaritan how this Good Samaritan was commended for what he did in helping the man who had fallen into the ditch and was not questioned again the Good Samaritan was not questioned for having a donkey for having wine to be able to heal the wounds for having money for the inkeeper that he provided so that the wounded man could stay there as long as he needed in order to be nursed back to life and health he was commended for having resources that actually met a real life need in a real life

moment it was situational and not a percentage that month he probably gave more than he did the previous month because he was looking at the specific need that was in front of him he had the ability and he had the resources to do so and so sometimes it's going to look like yeah we need to decide what that monthly gift is going to look like other times we're we're going to Steward our resources in such a way that we have an emergency fund not just for ourselves but for those who are in need around us and we might have to lift someone out of a

ditch like what the Good Samaritan did but lastly everything you own belongs to Jesus because he owns you we should think of every expenditure in a kingdom advancing way because what Jesus has taught us and because he's taught us it's a command of ours to be obedient to is that what we do with what we have yes it has Legacy impact Here and Now for generations to come but ultimately what it's doing is it's storing up treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not come and destroy like you could you could build a compound that is adorned and beautiful and like just think of

the the the the castles in Europe that have been handed down for Generations after Generations you want to know how the majority of those castles today are still able to actually be there well at one point they used to be operated as if they were like little mini countries with the castle being the central piece where all everything was governed and then they had these Mass lands where they would pull off natural resources and they would do trading and whatnot but whenever children then receed these inheritances and they would pay an inheritance tax on it that they couldn't afford what they would do is they

would start selling off pieces to where eventually now when you go and tour these massive castles and these Estates the only property is literally just the castle most of them not even belonging to the families that built them back in the day but now they've been turned into museums or mums and so forth because again what we are developing and establishing here from a material standpoint is good to pass down but don't Bank on that having any type of Eternal significance for the life of your children and their children's children the Legacy that we are actually more so called to pass down is what we

are giving to them in the form of the gospel and the word of God that actually provides for them riches that moth and rust will not destroy riches that will provide for them for eternity because it's God ultimately who is their God not what they have again I'm not saying like Proverbs tells us it's good for a man to leave an inheritance to his children's children but what is encapsulated in that inheritance is not just a trust or an estate it's not just monetary wealth If all we're doing is being like the Rich Young rulers where we're Gathering and we storing and we're going to

leave it just go look at the children of Solomon and see how that went the wealthiest and most wise man who's ever lived when he gets to the end of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs as well he starts talking about how it groans him and it pains him to think about what he's leaving because of the sin and the debauchery of his children he'd rather adopt someone and give it to someone else than leave it to them because he knows it's actually not going to provide for them what they need it's actually only going to perpetuate the problem that they have I've heard this quote several times

over the last few months that hard times make strong men strong men make great times great times make weak men weak men make hard times Solomon is in this moment where he is come from difficult times with what David walked through and it created and built strong men but unfortunately because of Solomon in this massive wealth that he had he created great times I mean read Ecclesiastes there were parties that he conducted that make any party we've ever gone to look like three-year-olds putting a party together like it's just it's it's it's not in comparison and yet those great times produced weak men in what

came following Solomon and so it's important for us to understand that the inheritance that we have what we're investing even our money into matters for eternity not just the here and now and so let me exhort you with this conclusion three things that will help you think about wealth and what to do with it and then I'll F I'll finish off with a passage of scripture that'll give you the freedom to walk away with number one do not be anxious and you're like yeah I'm the most anxious person you ever met well scripture tells us do not be anxious which means there's an opportunity for

the spirit of Christ to enter into our anxiety and serve us like I just I know there are anxious people in this room and I need you to hear this Luke 12:22 he said to his disciples therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life what you will eat nor about your body what you will put on I mean how do we get what we eat we spend money to get it how do we get clothes we spend money to have them how do we have houses we spend money mortgages to pay for them and what he's saying right here to his disciples

they were experiencing anx iety in regards to those specific things how are we going to earn money in order to pay for this and the first thing Jesus tells them is don't be anxious about it and I just need us to hear that again I'm not necessarily helping you right now with practical like this isn't a therapy lesson of hey go try these seven steps this is going to help you with your anxiety no I'm just telling you what Jesus says do not be anxious like we need to hear that we need to receive that do not be anxious I know it's easier said than

done but listen to Jesus number two in that same passage he says seek the kingdom seek the kingdom Luke 12:31 tells us instead which is again connected to the do not be anxious instead seek his kingdom and these things that you're anxious about will be added to you we need to hear that like what are we anxious about in our life right now what are we nervous that God is or or that that we're unable to provide for ourselves what are we anxious about that's keeping us up at night that is not allowing us to sleep well what what what makes us nervous that we

don't know how it's going to work out and I know for many of us it is tied to money it is tied to how we Steward our streams of income how we how we navigate those things he sayso not be anxious instead seek the kingdom and these things will work themselves out they will be added to you like do we believe Jesus when he he says I'm going to provide for you and it may be through a great working job it may be through some Investments that you have it may be through some businesses that you are creating and starting and navigating I'm going to

provide for you I'm going to work those things out don't forget what Deuteronomy said don't don't stand on the fact that you think this is your power and your skill set and your education your ability I gave you those things I'm providing this for you seek first his kingdom and these things will be added to you and number three invest in Kingdom initiatives in that same passage Luke 12:33 he tells us sell your possessions and give to the needy provide yourselves with money bags that do not grow old again don't just set it in a bank and just wait like that's essentially what he's like

like put your money to work with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail where no Thief approaches and no moth destroys invest in Kingdom initiatives and so if you're asking the question all right you're telling me not to be anxious H I'm going to try you're telling me to seek his kingdom and so I'm going to do that and then you're telling me to invest in Kingdom initiatives so how much how much well in addition to all of those examples hear this from 2 Corinthians 96-12 and we'll close with this passage the point is this whoever SWS sparingly will also reap sparingly and

whoever SWS bountifully will also reap bountifully each one must give as he has decided in his heart not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful Giver so according to that each one must give as he has decided in his heart not reluctantly are under compulsion not out of obligation not out of like any other V other than I am excited to give this to the investment of the Kingdom initiative that is going to store up treasure in heaven where moth and R do not destroy and God is able he's able to make all Grace abounds to you so that having all sufficiency in

all things at all times you may abound in every good work you hear that like for you to live a day you need sufficient means and what he's telling us here is each one of you must give as he has decided in his heart not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves it your giver and God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times the only other language I ever hear in regards to that type of language in all things at all times is literally the omnipresence of God's spirit who is everywhere in

his fullness at all times which means what he's saying In This Moment is don't you know like this would be similar to any one of my kids right now going with me to a dollar store and me saying I have a card and on this card will allow you to buy anything in the store you want you just he's smiling over there you just need to seek me first and know my heart which will actually change what you seek in this story as it is written he has distributed freely he has given to the poor his righteousness endures forever He Who supp seed to the

sewer and bread for food will supply and multiply I love this will multiply your seed for sewing and increase the Harvest of your righteousness what he's saying there is those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly which means you will not receive more from the Lord if what you're receiving from the Lord you're only keeping for yourself but if when you receive you sow bountifully you will also reap bountifully do not hear this as health wealth and prosperity hear this as the more you receive the more you give the more you receive the more you give the more you receive the more you give you become

a conduit of God just relinquish ing his grace and his Mercy through sufficient means not only for you but for those around you and the more you s out to those around you the more God gives you that basically enlarges your tent to continue sewing to those around you it's faithfulness in the mission of God and what he's called us to rather than just trying to build our own little kingdoms you will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way which through us will produce Thanksgiving to God again it doesn't come back to look how much money I've made and now can

give away no it's producing Thanksgiving to God look how much God has provided for me so that I can help and contribute and invest in Kingdom initiatives I get to partake in so much of what God is doing how great is that for the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the Saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God and so therefore each one must give as he has decided in his heart does what you do with what you have magnify Christ and it might start off as two small copper coins that make a pain they might each one

must give as he has decided in his heart let's pray father we thank you this morning for this story this contrasting story of of two groups of people those who were rich in material possessions but were poor in eternity and those who are poor maybe in material positions because they give it away and invest it in your kingdom but are rich in eternity father I just pray that for us knowing that this is a decision that's made in our heart I pray that our hearts are aligned to your heart and that it guides us to manage and Steward our resources so that we would not

be considered those who s sparingly but those who sow bountifully may we not be anxious may we seek your kingdom first and may we invest and may we see a fruit come from that investment that are lost souls all around us coming to know Jesus and treasuring him and in turn continuing to be able to help others follow him as well it's in your name we pray amen