The document discusses biblical perspectives on money, possessions, and generosity. It provides several "keys" or principles: 1) God owns everything and we are merely stewards of what he provides. 2) Where we put our money reveals where our heart is and determines where it will go. 3) Heaven, not earth, is our true home. 4) We should live not just for short-term pleasures but with an eye to eternal rewards. 5) Giving is the only remedy for materialism and selfish desires. 6) God blesses our generosity not to raise our standard of living but to increase our standard of giving.

2. Giving

3. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth , where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

4. Don’t renounce treasure: relocate it. Don’t abandon the idea of storing up treasures for yourself; put it where it’ll last . When it comes to treasures, be smart, not stupid .

5. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that will not wear out , a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted. Luke 12:32-34 You can’t take it with you, but... Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account . Philippians 4:17 you can send it on ahead.

6. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light . But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!...

7. No one can serve two masters . Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money . Matthew 6:19-24 Two Treasuries Two Perspectives Two Masters

8. KEY #1 God owns everything; I’m His money manager.

9. God’s Ownership The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Leviticus 25:23 The silver is mine and the gold is mine . Haggai 2:8 You are not your own ; you were bought at a price. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

10. It is God who gives you the ability to produce wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18 My Stewardship I’m God’s money manager It is required of a steward that he be found faithful . 1 Corinthians 4:2 We will all stand before the judgment-seat of God …each of us will give an account of himself to God . Romans 14:10-12

11. KEY #2 My heart always goes where I put God’s money.

12. *The abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep . Ecclesiastes 5:12

13. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Not a value judgment; a simple fact. The law of vested interests: Whatever we invest in, we care about.

14. Where we put money shows where our heart is. But it also determines where our heart goes . Good news: the choice is yours; you can put your heart wherever you want to.

15. Don’t wait to take action until your heart’s in it. Take action so your heart will be in it. Don’t let your giving follow your heart. Give so your heart will follow your giving.

16. Your heart is NOT where: your treasure used to be you wish your treasure was you hope or plan your treasure to one day be Your heart is where your treasure IS NOW

17. How do we solve a problem of hearts being in the wrong place? Give, to put them in the right place. Ask: If I were the person God wants me to be, what would I do with God’s money? Do it now…then watch God make you into the person He wants you to be.

18. KEY #3 Heaven—the New Earth—not Earth under the Curse, is my home.

19. They were aliens and strangers on earth … looking for a country of their own… longing for a better country—a heavenly one , for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16 Our citizenship is in heaven . Philippians 3:20 We are looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth , in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

20. KEY #4 I should live not for the dot, but for the line.

21. The Dot: Life on earth The Line: Life in heaven Moses chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time . He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward . Hebrews 11:25-26

22. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot, 1927 – 1956 1927

23. KEY #5 Giving is the only antidote to materialism.

24. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs . 1 Timothy 6:9-10 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction .

25. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth , which is so uncertain , but to put their hope in God , who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

26. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds , and to be generous and willing to share . In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:18-19

27. KEY #6 God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

28. God’s Grace: Lightning Our Giving: Thunder

29. As thunder follows lightning, giving follows grace. The more God’s grace grips you, the more you give. The more you give, the more God’s grace grips you.

30. Grace given by God Joy overflowing us Giving Grace welling up in rich generosity More Joy, more giving A cycle of addiction

31. Keep remembering that our Master said, “You’re far happier giving than getting.” Acts 20:35, The Message … .remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

32. Test me in this [giving: not only of tithes, but freewill offerings] and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Mal. 3:10 Jesus said, “ 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 .” Luke 6:38

33. He will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way SO THAT… ______________________ ___________________. 2 Corinthians 9:10  11 you can be generous on every occasion.

35. 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly , and whoever sows generously will also reap generously .

36. Jesus said, “ 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 .” Luke 6:38 The question isn’t whether God often prospers givers, but why .

37. The most generous Christians of my acquaintance have been always the most happy , and almost invariably the most prosperous… Men trust good stewards with larger and larger sums, and so it frequently is with the Lord; He gives by cartloads to those who give by bushels. Where wealth is not bestowed the Lord makes the little much by giving contentment . Charles Spurgeon