Giving in a Greedy Culture Week of January 29, 2012

Outline of the Passage Share Generously (Deuteronomy 15:7-11) Treat with Dignity (Deuteronomy 24:10-15) Protect with Mercy (Deuteronomy 24:17-18)

Let’s Pray for the Spirit’s Guidance We have an obligation to meet the needs of people our culture would prefer to ignore. Let’s Pray for the Spirit’s Guidance We will ask today, how can we get more personally involved in helping people in need around you.

Share Generously Deuteronomy 15:7-11 7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought:

Share Generously “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,“ so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart;

Share Generously then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Share Generously Who really is giving these instruction? Could these instructions be any clearer? Three “pit-falls” are to be avoided: From whom do we get what we have? Israel’s Seven-Year Cycle of debt cancellation. No grudging attitude or stingy heart. The quote, “There will always be poor people in the land,” is used to justify our neglect of the poor.

How Can We Help the Poor Today? Many organizations need our cooperative efforts and assistance in providing for the needs of the poor in our community. What attitude do you have toward those in need? ___ Reluctant ___ Generous ___ Annoyed ___ Spontaneous ___ Struggle ___ Joyous ___ Guilty ___ Involved ___ Something else

Treat with Dignity Deuteronomy 24:10-13 10 When you make a loan of any kind to your neighbor, do not go into his house to get what he is offering as a pledge. 11 Stay outside and let the man to whom you are making the loan bring the pledge out to you. 12 If the man is poor, do not go to sleep with his pledge in your possession.

Treat with Dignity 13 Return his cloak to him by sunset so that he may sleep in it. Then he will thank you, and it will be regarded as a righteous act in the sight of the LORD your God.

Treat with Dignity Show respect to a neighbor who borrowed some money. The borrower decides what he will put up for collateral. This keeps the honor of the borrower intact. We are not to embarrass people; but treat them with dignity.

God values all humans – we are made in His image. Taking a man’s cloak as collateral is one thing, but keeping it shows utter contempt for the man’s circumstances. Returning a man’s cloak at sunset brings a blessing to both, the borrower and the lender. This God counts as righteous.

Ever Borrowed Something? How were you made to feel? How were you treated? Have you forgiven that person for treating you in the way they did? If not, there is no better time than now to ask God to give you a forgiving attitude!

Protect with Mercy Deuteronomy 24:17-18 17 Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.

Protect with Mercy Who are the most helpless in society? We are not to deny them justice – the Hebrew word carries “stretching out” or “bending away.” Denying justice be mean “showing favoritism” or “taking bribes.” The aliens – in Moses’ day and ours. What about orphans? Who would speak up for them?

The orphans of today’s family breakups. What about the widow? Prohibition of seizing her garment…meant she needed no collateral. Israel was invited to remember her experiences in Egypt and use that as motivation to treating the poor lovingly. We are invited to imitate God in showing love and mercy to all people.

Erring on the Side of Grace Been approached by the poor? How do you know when it is legitimate or just another sad, sad story? The answer is not “black and white.” We must discern when needs are legitimate and when they are not – and then act accordingly. But, what if we cannot be sure? Err on the side of Grace!

How Personally Involved Are You? On a scale of 1 (not involved) to 10 (highly involved), how personally involved are you in helping those in need? Be Honest Here! ___ 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___4 ___5 ___ 6 ___ 7 ___ 8 ___ 9 ___ 10 Where would you like to be involved?

“Hallelujah” Words and music by Brenton Brown and Brian Doerksen. © Copyright 2000 Vineyard Songs Used with permission CCLI #764383

Steady and unchanging Your love is a mountain Your love is amazing, Steady and unchanging Your love is a mountain Firm beneath my feet.

How You gently lift me When I am surrounded Your love is a myst'ry, How You gently lift me When I am surrounded Your love carries me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing! +

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing!

Your love is surprising, I can feel it rising All the joy that's growing Deep inside of me.

All Your goodness shines through I can feel this God song Ev'ry time I see You, All Your goodness shines through I can feel this God song Rising up in me.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing! +

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing!

Steady and unchanging Your love is a mountain Your love is amazing, Steady and unchanging Your love is a mountain Firm beneath my feet.

How You gently lift me When I am surrounded Your love is a myst'ry, How You gently lift me When I am surrounded Your love carries me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing! +

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing!

Lord, You make me sing, sing, sing! Your love makes me sing! Lord, You make me sing, sing, sing!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing! +

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing! +

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing!

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) Giglio/Tomlin CCLI# 764383

Amazing grace how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found Was blind but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear. And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me.

And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, amazing grace.

The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me.

And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, amazing grace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine.

But God who called me here below, Will be forever mine.

Will be forever mine. You are forever mine.

God of This City Words and Music by BLUETREE © 2008 worshiptogether.com CCLI# 764383

You're the God of this city. You're the King of these people. You're the Lord of this nation…You are.

You're the light in this darkness. You're the hope to the hopeless. You're the peace to the restless…You are.

For there is no one like our God. There is no one like You God.

Greater things have yet to come still to be done in this city. And greater things are still to be done in this city.

Greater things have yet to come are still to be done here. And greater things are still to be done here.

You’re the Lord of Creation, The Creator of all things. You’re the King above all Kings…You are.

You’re the strength in our weakness. You’re the love to the broken. You’re the joy in the sadness…You are.

For there is no one like our God. There is no one like You God.

Greater things have yet to come still to be done in this city. And greater things are still to be done in this city.

Where glory shines from hearts alive love for You in this city. With praise for You and love for You in this city.

Greater things have yet to come still to be done in this city. And greater things are still to be done in this city.

Greater things have yet to come are still to be done here. And greater things are still to be done here.

For there is no one like our God. There is no one like You God.

Yes, there is no one like You God! There is no one like You God!

Greater things have yet to come still to be done in this city. And greater things are still to be done in this city.

Where glory shines from hearts alive love for You in this city. With praise for You and love for You in this city.

Greater things have yet to come still to be done in this city. And greater things are still to be done in this city.

Greater things have yet to come are still to be done here. And greater things are still to be done here.

Still to be done here… Still to be done here.