Contentment is a learned behavior.

Slide: Contentment is not based on circumstance.

Slide: Contentment comes through His strength, not our own.

Slide: There is a direct link between generosity and financial contentment.

Slide: Principles of Gospel-based giving: Generosity is a “fruit” of the Spirit.

Slide: Rom 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, [each of us is to exercise them accordingly:] if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Slide: Principles of Gospel-based giving: Your heart will follow your investment.

Slide: 1 Tim 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance [and] gentleness.

Slide: [Mat 6:19-21 NASB] 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Slide: Principles of Gospel-based giving: You will reap as you sow.

Slide: 2 Cor 9:6 Now this [I say,] he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Slide: Principles of Gospel-based giving: God loves a cheerful giver.

Slide: 2 Cor 9:7 Each one [must do] just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Slide: Principles of Gospel-based giving: Generosity is born out of trust.
Slide: 2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." 10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

Slide: Heb 13:5 [Make sure that] your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," 6 so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

Slide: Principles of Gospel-based giving: Jesus is our example and inspiration for giving.

Slide: 2 Cor 8:1 Now, brethren, we [wish to] make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, [they gave] of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5 and [this,] not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Slide: 2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Slide: 2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!