2. As I’ve shared previously, our ability to fully benefit from this Series begins in our hearts, where the root of selfishness and the virus of fear can inhibit what God most wants from our relationship with money: a spirit of generosity!

5. John 10:10 ( The Voice translation ) “The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Corinthians 8:9 “…our Lord Jesus Christ, though He was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”

6. Genesis 12: 1-3 1 … “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

7. Proverbs 11: 24-25 24 “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

8. Luke 6: 37-38 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

9. 2 Corinthians 9 The 3 Tests of Generosity: Need Greed Seed

10. 2 Corinthians 9:6 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

11. 2 Corinthians 9: 7-8 7 … “God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

12. 2 Corinthians 9:9 As it is written: [in Psalm 112:9] “he has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

13. 2 Corinthians 9: 10-11 10 “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way SO THAT you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

14. Proverbs 16:2 “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the L ORD.” ------------------------------------------------------- James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

15. “God is after our hearts and the evidence that He has our hearts is this: We give simply to give rather than to receive; and we give because we want to bless people, help people, and enlarge the Kingdom of God. This, rather than reward, is our primary motive.” - Robert Morris

16. “We must pass the test of need – trusting God to take care of us. We must pass the test of greed – using abundance wisely in obedience to God’s promptings. Moreover, we must pass the test of seed – sowing bountifully” - Robert Morris

17. God has ordained that money and possessions are “tools” for people to use for His purposes. This requires us to live “open handed” in a “tight-fisted” world. We need to be rivers, not reservoirs; ready to move as He calls us to move.