Key Verse - Matthew 12:50 – “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” – Jesus

Luke 12:34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

***Everything we have, (time, talent, treasure) belongs to God and He’s placed it in our care to use for His glory. We are to be faithful stewards, or managers, not owners of it. Understanding and applying this truth will lead to a life of purpose, generosity, and greater trust in God.

I. God is overwhelmingly Generous

1.A. Generosity is God’s Nature

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death…….

Genesis 3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

1.B. God’s Greatest Gift of Grace to Us!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

II. EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD

Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."

Deuteronomy 10:14 "To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it."

Haggai 2:8 "The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Lord Almighty."

III. WE ARE STEWARDS/MANAGERS NOT OWNERS

2.A. Matthew 25:14-30 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Corinthians 9:6-7 "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap."

Proverbs 3:9 "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce."

Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

HERE’S WHAT I WANT US TO DO TODAY & THIS WEEK & THIS LIFETIME

1. Take inventory of your Time, Treasure and Talent and ask the Lord how you can become even more generous.

2. Make sure you are Giving to Jesus by Investing the Tithe – the 1st & Best Percentage of Our Income, Back into Jesus Family Mission & Kingdom through New Hope, so that more Broken Lives can be Transformed through Christ’s Love, by filling out the Investment Card on the Back & Bottom of this Paper, & putting it in one of the gray Tithe & Offering Boxes by the Doors.