“HEART OF G(O)LD”– Pastor Parker Mathias

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.  John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”  “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” Luke 3:9-14 (NIV)

Jesus talks more about than any other subject except the Kingdom of God.

“Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent…” Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.” Exodus 16:16-18 (NLT)

“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop.  It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:9-10 (NLT)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” Matthew 6:24 (NLT)

“Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 (NLT)

What if my is directly connected to my relationship with money & possessions?

What if the you have is you from the stuff you actually want?

Generosity is a preview of the promised future of with Jesus where all .

Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? Luke 11:39-40 (NLT)

“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.” Luke 11:42 (NLT)

We must resist the urge to what God for our possessions.

You cannot separate the and generosity

The edges of your field are just the but they are the .

Giving is something we , Generous is who we are to .