Free to Live, Free to Give (cont.)

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Free to Live, Free to Give (cont.)</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id535.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Free to Live, Free to Give"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id566.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Difference Does the Return of Chris"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"Freedom and Finances: Free to Live, Free to Give" (cont.) </B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, August 6-7, 2005 </B></div> <bR> <div>      One of the reasons why we must pursue financial freedom and flexibility and peace is so that we can be generous givers. There are blessings in generosity that cannot be described until you experience them for yourself. We have been talking about 3 key principles for true financial freedom, at the intersection of our finances and our faith. Please read <A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=1 Tim 6:17-19&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>1 Timothy 6:17-19</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> <B>1. (</B><A HREF="id535.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Free to Live, Free to Give"><U><B>review</B></U></A><B>) Trust in God, not in money or credit (1 Timothy 6:17).</B></div> <div> <B>     </B><A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Luke 12:22-31&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>Luke 12:22-31</U></A> tells us to avoid anxiety about money and provisions. Trust God and pursue his priorities (his kingdom).</div> <bR> <div> <B>2. Be generous and rich in good deeds (1 Timothy 6:18-19; cont.).</B></div> <div>      Give first to God (10%), then give generously to other people and to other causes. Live life with a generous, sharing spirit. Giving cures a number of spiritual diseases and deficiencies (greed, discontentment, selfishness, fear, even pride, if you give in secret).</div> <div>      Please read <A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Mal3:6-12&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>Malachi 3:6-12</U></A>. Giving a tenth of your income to God can be the very first step in your spiritual renewal. It doesn't say, get your life right and then start giving. It says start giving in order to get your life right.</div> <div>      Please read<A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=2 Cor9:6-15&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U> 2 Corinthians 9:6-15</U></A>. As you give generously, God will richly bless you so you can continue to be generous (vss. 6-11). Our generosity flows out of our thanksgiving for God's generosity towards us (vss. 12-15).</div> <bR> <div> <B>3. Enjoy life and the possessions God has provided (1 Timothy 6:17).</B></div> <div>      William Bulger wrote, "Money is not happiness, yet for at least a brief time it can offer a delightfully close imitation" (<I>While the Music Lasts</I>). That is the deception of money and possessions. They are powerful, but they are not powerful enough bring happiness all by themselves (<A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=1 Tim 6:10&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>1 Timothy 6:10</U></A>).</div> <div>      Notice in verse 17, God gives things <I>richly</I> for our enjoyment. But the enjoyment does not come from the things or the money or the possessions, the enjoyment has to come from God as a gift. But even with possessions, it is hard to enjoy life when we are in debt up to our eyeballs. Being in debt takes away much of the enjoyment of the stuff for which we went into debt.</div> <div>      Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 says, "This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for people to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them-for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives people wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil-this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their lives, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart."</div> <div>      The singular, relentless pursuit of money has never brought anyone true and lasting happiness. Enjoy your life by balancing your work with rest, by taking time for family and relationships, by sharing your life in service to other people. </div> <div>      Some of the happiest people in the world don't have a lot, but they are thankful for life itself, and for people, and for the possessions they do have. And they live life with far greater joy than those who think money and possessions buy happiness. </div> <div>      Jesus came that we might have life, and have it abundantly (NLT "a rich and satisfying life," John 10:10). This is only possible when our sins are forgiven and we have peace with God.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2005, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>