Practice Giving Even When You Don't Think You Have Anything To Give

Matthew 5:42 & Luke 6:30, 31

Resist the Temptation To Close Your Hand of Giving Especially When You're Challenged Financially

Soul Food

Matthew 5:42

“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

Luke 6:30, 31

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Soul Search

• When you’re challenged financially, do you find that you draw back from giving financially?
  Can you recall a specific time when you felt you had to stop your giving because money was tight?
  Can you talk about it?

• Do you think it’s wrong to continue giving when your own finances are tight?
  Why or why not?

• God’s economy operates counter-intuitively to our own.
  There is no question that you need God to give you wisdom in your giving if you’re strapped financially yourself.
  Is there an element of faith that becomes part of our giving that God sometimes requires us to exercise?
  It’s easier to give money when there’s enough money in the bank. Not so easy when there’s little money.
  Think of the poor widow in Luke 21:1-3.
  Read that passage and include it in your thoughts and deliberations.

• Some people are, by nature, more generous than others.
  As you examine yourself, would you say you are a generous person?
  Generosity manifests itself in many different ways.
  Are you generous with your finances?

Soul Moves

• God knows that money and possessions are a big deal.
  They are a big enough issue for most people that the bible is packed with about 2,300 scriptures concerning them.
  That's twice as many bible verses about money than faith and prayer combined.
  First Soul Move: get into God’s Word, the Bible, and see what it says about money and possessions.

• Be intentional and practice giving financially where you believe God is telling you to give.
  That may be to your local church – or not.
  Be open and listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice telling you where to give your resources.

• Be aware and pay particular attention to giving when you face times of financial difficulty.
  Allow God to stretch you in your faith so that you keep giving even when you want to pull back in your giving out of fear.
  Let God’s bank account direct your giving – not your bank account.
  He’s got a whole lot more than you do!