THE GENEROUS LIFE In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things heart.

ifts for doing certain things heart. According to Jesus, determining where our treasure is also determines
GROW IN GENEROSITY well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as where our heart is. Many people claim to look forward to heaven, but their
much faith as God has given you. 7If your gift is serving others, serve hearts are really not in it—their hearts are caught up in the cares of this world,
because that’s where their treasure lies.
You don’t ever graduate from generosity. them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8If your gift is to encourage
others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has Jesus warned us that earthly currency has an expiration date. While it may
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if satisfy us temporarily, it is unstable and fleeting. The ever-changing faces on
promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2to Timothy, a beloved son: you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans magazine covers remind us that the famous are here and gone in a blink. The
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our 12:6-8 NLT stock market crash of 1929 taught us that the wealthy can quickly lose it all.
Lord. 3I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my Power, prestige, and public approval are limited and can be gone in an instant.
forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night TALK IT OVER Even the Son of God experienced the fickleness of human approval. One day
and day, 4greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I LIFEGROUP people were trying to make Him king (John 6:15), and the next they were
may be filled with joy, 5when I call to remembrance the genuine faith leaving Him in droves (verse 66).
that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your Is it easy or hard for you to be generous? What might be the reason for
“This world in its present form is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31). The
mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6Therefore I remind that? (COUPLES) To whom are you generous, wife/husband, children, moment we take our last breath, earthly treasure won’t matter anymore. Jesus
you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of grandchildren? Why? urged us to think beyond that last breath to eternity. When our focus is on
my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and eternity—when our treasure is laid up in heaven—our lifestyles reflect that
of love and of a sound mind. How do you understand “The breath of God is inside of you”? perspective.
2 Timothy 1:1-7 NKJV
God breathed in you, what could HE probably breathed in you? How We will all give an account of ourselves before God for every action (Romans
GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils are you generous with what HE has breathed in you? 14:12) and every idle word (Matthew 12:36). No one is exempt. Excuses are
the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul! not accepted. God sees and knows every thought we think and holds us
accountable for the truth we’ve been given (Romans 1:18–22). We store up
Genesis 2:7 MSG Read Matthew 6:21. “... where your treasure is, there your heart will “treasure in heaven” when we make choices on earth that benefit God’s
QUOTABLE QOUTES: be also.” What does this mean to you? Where is your treasure right kingdom. Jesus said that even offering a cup of cool water to a fellow believer
now? What things are you prioritizing most? is worthy of eternal reward (Matthew 10:42).
Stir up the gift of God which is in you.
You’ve been given a direct deposit. Share the impact the message had made into your life and what changes In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus told a story about a rich man and a beggar. The rich
A career is what you get paid to do; a calling is the thing you were will you do to your life? man had invested his life in opulence and pleasure. He cared little for anyone or
made to do. anything but himself. When he died, his riches could not follow him. His life
Am I going to master this, or is it going to master me? LEARN FROM THE WORD choices had prepared him only for hell, and all the money and prestige he
enjoyed on earth counted for nothing. After death, he would have given
everything he ever owned for a single drop of water, but his treasure had been
“... where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21. “... where your treasure is, there your heart will be invested elsewhere.
Matthew 6:21 NIV also.”
“... You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 NIV It is no sin to be rich, but our passions follow our investments. Wealthy people
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His listeners the difference between who consider their riches as belonging to God will use what they have in ways
All of us came from dirt. earthly treasure and heavenly treasure, and He emphasized the importance of that have eternal significance, protecting their own hearts from the love of
God can work with dirt. the heavenly: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth money (1 Timothy 6:10). People whose treasure is in heaven cannot be owned
and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for by their possessions. They cannot be bought off because nothing on earth is
The breath of God is on the inside of you.
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where worth the price of their soul. They value the currency of heaven and use their
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart earthly treasure to purchase “heavenly gold,” which will never lose its value.
... stir up the gift of God which is in you ... 2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV
Investing our treasure in material things keeps our hearts anchored to earthly
will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). Whatever we focus on dictates our actions. values; however, when we invest in things of eternal value, our hearts remain
... “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” ... When we focus on earthly success and wealth, we will expend our energies on loyal to the Lord, and we will not be tempted to foolishly attempt to serve both
Matthew 25:23 NLT earthly matters. However, when we focus on God’s priorities, our actions will God and money (Luke 16:13).
reflect different priorities—and our reward in heaven will last forever.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-
surpassing power is from God and not from us. Treasure is anything we value above all else and that which motivates us to
2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV action. For some it is money. For others it is power. Still other people strive for
fame or attention. There are many things in this world vying for control of our