Love GOD, Love His Word,
Love His Ways, Love His Things
Love GOD: Where Your Treasure Is…
READ: Matthew 6:19-34
GOD owns it all, literally everything, and it all exists; you exist for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). - Colossians 1:16-17 - “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
- Psalm 24:1-2 - “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”
- Psalm 50:10-15 - “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
God has caused and made us alive in Christ to Love, to Love Him.
- 1 John 4:7-9 - “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”
- Matthew 22:37-40 - “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Christ commands us to Love Him, and the proof of that Love is obedience. - John 14:15 & 21 - “15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments…21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
- 1 John 2:3-6 - “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
- 1 John 5:1-5 - “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
A Great Act of Love and Obedience vs. a great act of selfishness and disobedience - Matthew 19:16-22 - “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, 'Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
- Luke 21:1-5 - “Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
- Mark 12:41-44 - “Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
READ: 2 Corinthians 9
The Vow:
ARTICLE 5: MEMBERSHIP
Section 3: Membership Responsibility Members shall strive to attain maturity in Christ by the increase in the knowledge of the Son of God, to keep the unity of the faith, to speak the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Him as the Head, so that the church builds itself up in love. They shall constantly strive to walk worthy of their high calling and seek control of every unholy disposition. The honor, stability, and effectiveness of the church are dependent upon the prayers, labors, and financial support of its members. All members, therefore, are expected to faithfully bear a just portion of the necessary expenses of the church and contribute regularly of their means in proportion as God has prospered them. Envelopes will be provided, and online giving options will be available for this purpose.
The Promise: The Budget
RC Sproul said it this way, God instituted, “In order to support the Levites, who had no tribal allocation of land. The Levites were set apart to take care of the spiritual and educational responsibilities of the nation, and their work and physical necessities were paid for by the tithe (Num. 18). Under the new covenant, the tithe continues to support the work of building up people in the truth of God and reaching sinners with the gospel. Christ works through churches, seminaries, parachurch organizations, missionaries, and many others to build and grow His kingdom…
'The most important investment we can ever make is in the kingdom of God, because it has eternal returns. These returns are not just for us but also for our family, our children, our grandchildren. This generation of Christians must invest in the things of God for the sake of the next generation.” (RC. Sproul, 2024; https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/stewardship-tithing-and-giving)
