New Testament Giving - 26

We know that God loves all of his blood bought children.

We also know that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. Since not all of God's children have learned to become cheerful givers, we conclude that God loves some of his children more than others. Shocking thought this world in which we live today, but undeniably true. The Bible also instructs us to keep ourselves in the love of God. There are no doubt a number of ways that we can address that issue. But one way. Certainly is to learn how to become a cheerful giver. That's what second Corinthians chapters 8 and nine will help us with. We will pay close attention.

Chapter 8.

As you know opens with the report of the sacrificial giving of the three churches in Macedonia and Paul is writing to the church at Corinth with an appeal for that church to also give generously and so now as we come to verses nine through 15.

We will see. First of all, the ultimate example.

Secondly, apostolic advice and thirdly helpful explanation. Verse nine says, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. The ultimate example of this verse almost intrudes into the train of thought that Paul has been following in chapter 8, so that some consider verse nine to be something of a parentheses. You can see that when you look at verse eight and then verse 10 and see how they fit together. Paul said in verse eight I speak not by commandment but I'm testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. Verse 10 and in this I give advice.

It is to your advantage. And so in verse eight he says this is not a commandment. In verse 10 he says this is, however, my advice is obviously going right along. In verse 10 with what he was saying in verse eight in previously, but there is this wonderful text in verse nine, which is, I say to some people. Looks like something of an intrusion, but I think is better to be understood is the highlight of everything Paul is saying in these two chapters.

It is a condensed gospel and one reason I believe that it is the highlight rather than a parentheses is because when he concludes these two chapters, his very last statement refers back to what he said in verse nine, because the last statement is what thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

Where in all of these two chapters did he refer to that verse nine for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. So what we see in verse nine. This ultimate example we see an uncontested truth and in comprehensible sacrifice and and in estimable B Storment.

It is an uncontested truth you already know this, you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, out of Paul know that they knew it because all Christians know this. This is basic gospel 101 if you're a Christian, you know this, you know that you are Christian because Christ gave himself for you. Christ died on the cross for you. Christ gave up his heavenly glory, and took upon him.

Our humanity in order that we might have eternal life. It is an uncontested truth.

The basic fact known by all Christian cannot be denied by any that Paul is writing to buy any who are saved by the grace of God and so this grace, you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace of course is giving, it is favor that is bestowed on merited favor. This is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is his giving his gift to us and it is the exceeding measure of his gift. This truth should both inform our giving and motivate our giving.

That's why Paul put it here in uncontested truth which speaks of an in comprehensible sacrifice and we really can't understand this, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.

We can understand the basic outline of what he saying there, but there's no way that we can fully understand the greatness of his riches, and there's no way that we can fully understand the depth of his poverty. Those are both incomprehensible the greatness of his riches, which is not measured in stuff that he owns, or is able to to create because obviously he does have all power and he can and has created all things that exist, but it speaks more of his eternal deity is his heavenly glory, his wisdom, his power, his Majesty.

These are the in estimable riches, which are here is from eternity because he is in fact eternal God, but though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor and we can't really understand his poverty. It's impossible for us to understand the extent of his suffering, the extent of his condescension is poverty, at least in some way has to be measured by the gap between who he was before the Internet Carnation and what he became after the incarnation and again how can we understand that since we can't understand the fullness of his riches, his glory, then how can we understand how far down, he had to come in order to become a man in order to take upon us humanity for the work of redemption we get something of this in Philippians 25 the rate pauses let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion or appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. The in comprehensible sacrifice.

We cannot comprehend the extent of his riches. We cannot comprehend the extent of his poverty. We know that both are unfathomably great and we know that our giving pales in comparison with his giving look what he gave. Which brings us then to his in estimable B Storment for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. I found it interesting that Paul didn't say that for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might become rich by the expected him to say that he's a Christian, but he is zeroing in upon a particular weakness in the Corinthian church is the authorities put his finger upon that though they have grown in many other areas of Christian development in faith and knowledge in speech and so forth. Here's an area where there lagging behind. And so he is particularly applying this to them for your sakes he became poor, that you all through his poverty might become rich. Yes he the Lord Jesus Christ impoverished himself to make you rich. His love was a self-sacrificing love the greatness of the sacrifice. We can never fully comprehend what we know that it was great and therefore any did it out of love for us.

Therefore our love ought to resemble here is, at least in some measure some payroll replica for we can never come anywhere close to his sacrifice, but none was richer than he.

None became poor than Heath that he did this for me. For me, cannot be, how can it be that God should shut his love on me. How can the soul boils down to how much do you value the sacrifice by Christ. What are your spiritual blessings worth the blessing of salvation which is what he secured by impoverishing himself in this way and what is an appropriate response for this and one appropriate responses in our giving actually. In one sense, our entire appropriate responses in our giving the giving of ourselves. The giving of our service, the giving of our labors giving our love the giving of our inconvenience, the giving of our unselfishness, but yes with that alongside all of that, the giving of our resources is an act of loving devotion to Christ and to show our love to others. What Paul is saying is that our giving indicates how much we value our salvation or giving indicates how grateful we are for God's grace is a wish you had put it to me that way but that's the way Paul puts it, so that's the way we need to consider it. That is exactly what you say but we move them from this ultimate example to apostolic advice in verses 10 and 11 and in this I give advice.

It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you be Galen were doing were desiring to do a year ago but now you also must complete the doing of it that as there is or was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have apostolic advice. This is not a commandment. He said that in verse eight I speak not by commandment but I am giving my advice, apostolic advice, consider the weight of this advice, it is clearly by the language of Paul less than the command is not commanding them to do this. He is calling upon them to do it voluntarily as an expression of their love and gratitude to Christ is less than the command but I think it has to be understood as more than a mere suggestion, advice. Yes, but apostolic advice is more than a neighbor's casual advice. It is apostolic advice and therefore it is weighty advice because of who it is that is giving it, what is the value of this advice really tells us that it is for your advantage. Your advantage this giving you say will it's for the advantage of the poor Saints of Jerusalem. They're the ones who are in need and I'm giving to meet their need, says Paul, but though that is true, it is more beneficial to you than it is to them. It is more blessed to give than to receive your giving their receiving it is to your advantage. We know that text but do we really believe it is more blessed to give than to receive.

But that is exactly the true Metropolitan saying here it is to your advantage.

This will benefit you will how the benefit you by enabling you to grow in the grace of giving and all of the blessings that are attended to, that there are so many yes you abound in faith, in speech and knowledge and diligence in your love for us, but you need to learn to abound in this grace also and it'll be to your advantage when you do so I'm trying to help you with this. That's the value of this advice.

What is the heart of this advice and I can give it to you in three simple words finish the job. That's the heart of Paul's advice finish the job you made a sincere commitment.

You began to fulfill your commitment now finish the job. That's what he saying again verses 1011 and in this I give my advice, it is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago but now you also must complete the doing of it that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

A year ago you desire to have a part in this special offering. This project offering for the Saints in Jerusalem. You are not required to do this, you are not commanded to do this. This is extra giving beyond what is required for the commanded responsibilities that you have relating to your own local church. This is beyond that, nobody said you had to do it but the opportunity was presented to you and you spraying quickly to to the opportunity and said yes we want to have a part. Members of the church one by one said yes. I want to have a part and you make some kind of a commitment and you started to fulfill your commitment which was to be carried out according to the terms of first Corinthians 16 one of the first day of the week let each of you lay buying stores. God is prospered and that there be no gatherings when I come. So, week by week by week. They were to give the the proper percentage the proper slice of their commitment which was a an annual commitment over a year to collect this offering.

Obviously there are more details involved and what are spelled out in Scripture, but there had to be commitments there had to be some kind of a total something that had been totaled up to indicate their commitments or else Paul would have no way of knowing that they were falling behind. How would he know that if there was nothing, nothing communicated no amounts that were committed. Obviously there were and and so is referring to that here a year ago you said what you plan to do and you got started in doing it, but you have stop. Why have you stopped is because you been suddenly struck by economic hardship and poverty will indication of that here.

Things are rolling along fine in the economy at Corinth. That's not the explanation why have you stopped well. We don't know were not told why. But we do know that they did.

They started to do it and they have dropped their their fulfillment. They're not doing it anymore and so Paul says now you need to complete it. That's the heart of my advice. What you said you were going to do what you started to do now you need to complete it. Nobody made you make this commitment, but having made it in and knowing that your your ability to commitment had to.

This commitment hasn't diminished any God has not changed your circumstances so that that explains why you are unable to fulfill it.

So, since you're still able to do it.

You said you were going to do it need to do it.

Finish the job. So we come therefore to the reason for this advice and it's as simple as this. It's not good for you to fail what you began.

That's the heart of what he saying here.

It's not good for you to fail to finish what you began is not good for the quality of your life.

It's not good is your for you as an example to other how many people struggle in life because they have this rather bad habit of starting things and not finishing… Going on to something else. Starting that not finishing going to something else starting at not finishing it.

It's really a weakness of what shall we say weakness of character.

A weakness of of the principles for life.

It it really is not a good thing if if you're in that category, then you need to ask God to help you to get over this is something you need to work on. You need to work on finishing what should be given finish the job. I'll never forget is a great schoolboy. I was at my grandparents home. One of my cousins was there and we will probably about eight or nine years old and we were coloring and coloring books and I got tired of coloring. I wanted to go outside sun was shining. I said let's go out and do something and she said I can't until I finish coloring I said why not because my dad won't let me.

We have a rule in our house.

Whatever you start, you finish I thought, wow, that's extreme.

I've never heard of a father requiring their child to finish coloring if they started coloring but what a lesson in life. That's what Paul is saying here you need to finish what you started. It's for your good.

It's for your development.

It's for your well-being. It's for your productivity in life. It's to make you a better person all around so you gotta get out of this habit of starting things and dropping them in losing interest in going on to something else you said you were going to do it do it for goodness sake, finish the job because to get into the habit of starting things and not finishing them as I say is not good for your quality of life and is certainly not good for your example would be for others if you're a parent and you have this habit that's not a good example to your children if you're a teacher and you have this habit that's not a good example to your pupils. If you are Christian and you have this habit that's not a good example to your fellow believers. Due to those were younger in the faith and are looking to you as to how Christians ought to live in and how they conduct themselves in this world and this is the example your setting before them.

Hey, this is and God said Paul this is this is not good. It's to your advantage to finish what you started. You said you're going to do it and obviously there was some kind of a public announcement of what was going to be done, at least of the total that was added together.

What were planning to do this year and now you're lagging behind it. If you don't get to it pretty quick. You're not going to going to reach it and it's it's known to other churches what you said you were going to do and you're going to fail doing it and there's no excuse for there's no reason for it except you just lost interest, on finish the job. Finish the job that you have begun.

That's his apostolic advice you ever heard an apostle, you never thought you heard of the policymaking advice like that before that so down to earth, not so ordinary why that could apply to any area of life that could even apply to to non-Christians and helpfulness for them. It how to live a productive life. Yes, in its apostolic advice from Paul to the Corinthian Christians that we can thoroughly to helpful explanation in verses 12 through 15, Paul explains a little bit more about what is got in mind here, and in doing this, therefore, important clarifications, but let's read it first. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, not according to what he does not have, for I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened by any quality now at this time. Your abundance may supply their lack there abundance also may supply your lack there may be a quality as it is written, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack for important clarifications number one God does not require more than you are able, number two, God does not expect unequal sacrifice number three God understands changing circumstances a number four God supplies our need. First of all, God does not require more than you are able.

That's back to verse 12. Again, for if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have God does not require more than you are able. God doesn't require you giving more than you have, which is another way of saying I take it that God does not demand to view a Macedonian miracle that he opened the chapter by talking about this incredible giving of the Macedonian churches who, by the grace of God not only gave what they were able, according to their ability but they gave beyond their ability which there is no explanation for that except by the miraculous supply of God in the special intervention of God to enable people to do more than they could otherwise do more than they are able has to be done by by divine enablement by what we might call a miracle fault told them about that, but he didn't say I expect the same thing from you.

I'm looking for you to give beyond your ability to have enough faith to do this you do it to expect the grace of God to enable you to do more than you could do and say that he says all I ask of you is to do according to your ability as God has prospered is the way he put in the first Corinthians 16. God does not require more than we are able. He does not demand that we all trust God for a Macedonian miracle in our giving what he does expect is a willing heart and what he expects is a proportionate response to give in proportion as we have received to give a portion of what we have received. That's the principal all throughout the New Testament, it is helpful to have that clarification. At this point, particularly in the light of what he said about the Macedonian miracle in verses 1 to 3, number two, God does not expect unequal sacrifice should back up and say what if I want to trust God for more like I want to see a Macedonian miracle in my life.

Go to it. But God is requiring it, but that won't be bad for you to trust God in that way to go down that road. He's commending the Macedonians for doing it, but he's not expecting that he's not requiring that the Corinthians. I'm just telling you to do out of what God is already given you a portion number two God is not expect unequal sacrifice verse 13 for I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened.

I'm not asking that the burden be shifted from Jerusalem to Corinth right now there burdened by poverty right now.

You're blessed with abundance. I'm not asking you to give us such a level that the final result is, it makes you impoverished and it makes them at ease. That's not what I'm asking for is not what I'm suggesting that's not appropriate that level of sacrifice on your part given in such abundance that it would remove all burdened from them is not actually the right procedure. At this point that's not what I'm expecting.

I'm not expecting unequal sacrifice. I'm not expecting you to give so much that you end up with all of the burden and all of the sacrifice and they end up with none know I'm just asking you to help. I'm asking an equalizing response. I'm asking you to give some of your surpluses.

God has blessed you with surplus to give some of your surplus to relieve some of their poverty. Some of their their burden.

That's what I'm asking for God does not expect unequal sacrifice, just some level of equalization which will even be more fully explained as we go along.

Number three God understands changing circumstances that sometimes becomes an issue.

If I commit myself to a certain amount over certain period of time and then I lose my job than what I give it anyway.

No, that's not that's not the response, God understands changing circumstances. The reason he understands them is because he ordains the he controls that if you have changing circumstances.

He changed them so he says it certainly understands God understands changing circumstances. Verse 14, but by any quality that the now, at this time. Your abundance may supply their lack that there abundance also may supply your life but there may be equality. What's he saying he saying when you have a God-given abundance, you should share it. But when you are in need. Another was when your circumstances have changed, so that now you're the one who has lack instead of abundance, then others will respond to your need right now you have abundance, so you need to share with 30 if and when not guarantee that it will happen, but if and when the time comes that this is reversed and now you are suffering economic hardship and they are suffering great abundance.

What happens then they'll share with you. You say how do you know they will because God will work that out. God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory. So when you have abundance you should share it when you are need. Others will share with you. Abundance is not simply for personal enjoyment I put in the word simply because the Bible doesn't say that abundance should not be enjoyed in any way shape or form.

Actually, the Bible says the opposite. It says when God gives an abundance he gives it to us so that we can enjoy it. Notice the words of first Timothy 617 through 19 commandos who are rich in this present age not to be haughty not to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

It doesn't say who only gives you ritually for the purpose of your giving it away is not saying you've got to give it all away but he said you better get some of it away you're not honoring the Lord, but who gave us richly all things to enjoy, but let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give willing to share storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life.

If God is talking to the rich. Now, to those who have more than the average amount, God has blessed you with an abundance it's okay for you to enjoy some of that abundance.

But listen, don't you be so tightfisted you hold onto it and you will give does not of the Lord God gave you an abundance so that you can give so that you will give so that you can share so that you can help other abundance is not simply for personal enjoyment. So I got a saying here through the apostle Paul in verse 14 is give while you have because your circumstances may change and you will be able to while you have abundance share with their poverty because the day may come when you will be in poverty, but God if if you been faithful to give God will have somebody if not Jerusalem. Somebody else who has an abundance will share their abundance with your need, your poverty, God understands changing circumstances. So give while you have because your circumstances may change and you will be able to. And if your circumstances change you are not expected to give at the same level as before here that information in this description of what Paul is saying here what could happen if the day comes that you are in want and there abundance that God doesn't expect you to give like you were giving before your circumstances change.

In fact, you're going to now become the object of somebody else's giving to help you out your circumstances change. God is expecting to give the same level as before your circumstances change, so if you commit yourself to a level of giving and you lose your job, then don't worry about it.

Don't don't get yourself all tied in knots about God is expecting you to give out of your poverty he was expecting you to give out of your abundance when you had that now you circumstances have changed.

Furthermore, if your circumstances change.

God is committed to meeting your knee. Whatever may be in. That's a great comfort.

Remember what Paul said in Philippians 419 and my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He's got enough to take care of your need and he said that to the church at Philippi in response to their generous giving verse 18 of chapter 4. Indeed, I have all and abound I am full, having received from up Aphrodite's the things sent from you a sweet smelling aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God and my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus to God understands our changing circumstances that heal he'll do what we need. If our changing circumstances put us in in need, he will supply he's got. He knows what's going on.

He will supply he's promised to do that. But while you have give because if you don't and you're stressed. Circumstances change and then you can't give, you have missed a golden opportunity. I was planning to give later should have been giving all along was waiting till I got to a certain level and that I was going to give generously to the Lord and now my my investments of bottomed out and I can't give what did Jesus say seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. You didn't do that you wait until later used you you sought. First, your concerns and interests and put it off at your good, be generous later to God, and now your circumstances have changed and you can't do it. Marty and I were in vacation few months ago we were out walking on the beach and ran into this matter. I guess riding bikes on the beach and ran into this man and he was very Chadian struck up a conversation. We shared some information about ourselves and he found out that I was a preacher.

He said pray for my investments. He said I had all these that I had all my retirement in a certain company, one company and it bellied with Boeing Boeing is going to way down and I don't know how much I don't keep track those details, but I know Boeing aircraft is really bottomed out and he was really in trouble. Pray for my investments. I said why did you put all your eggs in one vested basket. That's not good advice but good wisdom. I don't know but I did. I thought it was a great company. Pray for my investments. I have prayed for him number of times I don't.

There's no indication in talking to him that he really knew the Lord with one of the preacher to pray for his investments because he was suddenly wiped out what happens to Christians to so give while you have abundance. The day may come when you can't so give what you can lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, you can. The day may come when you can't, but finally God supplies our needs and I'm going to have to squeeze to get this Incas to understand this, we got understand the reference in verse 15 to what happened in the wilderness with Amana as it is written to he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack, I don't think we can really understand this unless I read at least some portion of chapter 16 of Exodus.

So here goes.

The people of Israel complaining to God because they were on the wilderness, and they didn't have enough food in happened over and over and over again. God always supplied whatever they needed, but the next crisis came and they acted like they couldn't trust God to supplies of the complaining again. So we read in verse 12 Moses as I've heard the complaint complaints of the children of Israel. God says to Moses, I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel speak to them, saying twilight usually meet in the morning you shall be filled with bread and you shall know that I'm the Lord your God, and so was the quails came up that evening and cover the camp in the morning to do lay all around the camp and when the layer of dew lifted there on the surface of the wilderness was a small round substance is fine is frost on the ground so when the children of Israel sought they said to one another. What is it, for they did not know what was.

And Moses said to them, this is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord has commanded that every man gather.

According to each one's need one over for each person according to the number of persons, let every man take for those who are in his tent. Then the children of Israel did so and gathered his gathered some more and some less so when they measured out by omers Q and gathered much had nothing left over, and he would gathered little had no lack every man had gathered. According to each one's need and Moses said, let no one leave any of it till morning. Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses but some of them left part of it until morning and it bread warms and stank and Moses was angry with them so they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need and when the sun became hot, it melted and so it was on the sixth day that they gathered twice as much bread to omers for each one, and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses that he said to them, this is what the Lord has said tomorrow is a Sabbath rest the holy Sabbath to the Lord.

Bake what you will bake today and boil what you will boil and lay up for yourselves. All that remains to be kept until morning. So they laid it up till morning. As Moses commanded, and it did not stink. Nor were there any worms in it. Then Moses said eat that today for today is a Sabbath to the Lord today.

You will not find it in the field six days you shall gather it but on the seventh day, the seventh there will be none the Sabbath.

There will be none not happen to some of the people went out on the seventh day together but they found none. The Lord said to Moses, how long do you refuse to keep my commandments and bylaws.

See, the Lord is giving you the Sabbath. Therefore he gives you on the six-day bread for two days.

Let every man remain in his place. Let no one go out of his place on the seventh day so the people rested on the seventh day when we learn from all this God supplies are needed as the need arises. They needed food got supplied but we learn that surplus is not for personal hoarding and God made that very clear. Those who said all gathered twice as much. I have a surplus next day.

It was rotten had to throw it out the did not. It did not last from one day to another day by day. Give us this day our daily bread but we learned that reasonable saving is God honoring because God instructed them to save double for the Sabbath. There was no need for them to save any extra on Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday because it was going to be more on the ground in the morning. They didn't need it. They didn't need the extra they didn't need to save.

They didn't need to port.

And if they hoarded it turned rotten but on Friday they didn't need to say they knit didn't need to lay aside because on the Sabbath. There was a go to be any on the ground and every week that rolled around there was going to be a Sabbath so every week that rolled around, they needed to save for that eventuality.

It was coming so reasonable. Saving is God honoring but excessive hoarding dishonors God.

Pretty simple wasn't should I say for retirement. I think that's God honoring should I worry that I won't have enough retirement so I got a save save save save save and I can't give anything no that's not God honoring that's hoarding and like is not it's going to stink. You get to it is, can a corrupt for that day comes, because you didn't listen to God and honor him in the way you did this so to wrap things up and I have a few practical suggestions. Out of all of this.

Learn to get learn to live rather below your means, so that you can give. The Bible teaches Ephesians 428 let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands. What is good that he may have something to give him has need work hard and don't spend all you make so that you can have some to give what God is saying to learn to live below your means, in order that you may give materialism, covetousness is like an addiction is like an alcohol addiction is like a tobacco addiction's like any other addiction gets a hold of you and it's hard to get that get get it get a written get rid of it. We need to learn to do that in America, one of the most abundant blessed abundantly blessed countries and all the world, most Americans spend everything they make. And if they get a raise. Then they spend all that they spend everything they make and never learned to live below their means.

Why is that and then complain that they don't make enough for most people.

The problem is not how much you make. The problem is, how do you manage what and when the when the desire for things outgrows godliness or outgrows common sense then to spend more than you should then you're in trouble don't have to give you don't have to save so learn how to live below your means, so that you can give number two. Make and this is very important. Make giving, not saving your first priority, not saying that saving is wrong. It's clear from the Scriptures that it's not wrong, but back to the Manna example 6 days laying aside spoiled. One day is appropriate.

Not saying that's the exact ratio but I'm saying is the Lord. Teaching is something there.

We should make giving, not saving our first priority.

That's what Jesus said, he said, seek ye second the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added on the you know seek first that comes first, and then all these things, including reasonable savings for the future will be added unto you. So make giving, not saving your first priority.

Learn to give generously and when you do that, then you can enjoy some of your God-given surplus with a clear conscience then you'll know that you're not hoarding you're not being covetous you not be materialistic because you have obeyed the Lord, and you gave first and you gave generously, and God in his abundant grace has still given you abundance above that Gladden take a vacation.

You don't have to apologize.

But if you can't give because he got have a vacation you don't get because he got have a new car, you don't get because he got have this and you gotta have that give first and then is God blesses give some more does God blesses take some of that abundance and say God evidently wants me to enjoy it and to give him the glory shall we pray. Father, help us to be God honoring in the way that we view our material resources in our faithfulness to give this we ask in Jesus name, amen