Shiny Gods 2 Devo

October 16th, 2016  

Devotional

“Shiny Gods: Be Faithful, Save, and Give ” - 2 Cor 9: 6-12

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “What are You Sowing?” - 2 Cor 9: 6

If someone ask you what you are sowing in your life, how would you answer? People who plant gardens and farm land can tell you what they plant every year. They can tell you because they were intentional - they picked out their crop, they tended to it, and if all went well, they saw the fruits of their labors. While we may not see the fruits in this life of all of our labors, we should still be very intentional about what we are sowing. 

Do you want to sow peace? Then are you intentional about choosing words that reflect this? Do you want to sow joy? Then how is your attitude towards others, even when they disagree with you? Do you want to sow Christ’s love? Then how are you going about sharing that blessed love with others? 

We are only put on this earth for a short while - what are we going to do with that time in order to be intentional about what we want to leave behind in terms of fruit for the harvest? 

What do you want to be more intentional about sowing with your life? What is one step you could take in order to make this happen?

Would you describe yourself as someone who sows sparingly or bountifully? Why? 

Prayer: Jesus, we desire to be people who sow seeds for your Kingdom. We don’t know when the fruit of the harvest of these seeds may come, but you simply call us to be faithful in the planting. Help us sow bountifully for the sake of your honor and glory. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Make Up Your Mind” - 2 Cor 9: 7

I was once at an event with Rev. Dr. Ed Zeiders where he described how he and his wife approached their tithe. He said that they made up their minds, at the beginning of their life in ministry, to work towards a progressive tithe. They started off working towards being able to tithe their net salary - what their take home pay was. They they formed a plan to be intentional about working towards tithing their gross salary - their salary before all of the deductions for health insurance, taxes, etc. Then they choose to work towards tithing off of the additional parts of their salary package - things like health insurance and pension. They made this plan for their life and made up their minds to how they wanted to give.

Now, I am not saying that we should all be working towards a progressive tithe. But, I am encouraging us to think about how we give. To make up our minds to an amount and cheerfully give that unto the Lord, not as a last resort or only after all of the bills are paid, but instead as the first fruits of our labors. 

Tithing is hard because it is an act of trust, especially when we don’t know what financial concerns may come. But today’s scripture encourages us to be intentional about deciding what we will give and instructs us to give it willingly and cheerfully, as an act of trusting our Lord. 

How would your describe your heart when you give to the Lord? Reluctant? Cheerful? Spiteful? Why?

How can you be more intentional about what you give back to the Lord?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we do not always offer our first fruits - often we give you the leftovers. Then we complain that we do not have enough. Lord, help us to trust you and see that what you have provided us is more than enough. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ Increase the Harvest” - 2 Cor 9: 8-10

I was once at a church service where the pastor prayed that God increase the harvest of their offering by ten times. I was impressed by how bold the prayer was. How many of us, after giving to the Lord, pray that God increase the yield of what we are providing, not for our sakes, but for the sake of the Kingdom of God?

We give back to God and ask for an increase in the harvest as a reminder that all we have been provided is by the hand of God alone. God gives us the ability to work. God help us have the skills and gifts to receive a paycheck. God makes sure that we are provided for. And yet, all too often, we act as if we have achieved these things alone, therefore we forget to thank God for this good provision. God gives us the opportunity to give back to the Kingdom of God, so that we can share in the work of the Kingdom. What an honor and a privilege!

However, it becomes hard to give back to the Kingdom when we are living beyond our means. When we need every cent to pay our bills because the credit card bill is so high. We need to remember that God asks us only to return 10 percent of what has been earned back to the work of the Kingdom, and entrusts the other 90 (90!) percent to us for our good use. Let us be faithful in living within our means so that we can continue to return to God what is rightfully his. 

How have you seen God increase the harvest in your life? 

Prayer: Lord, we are afraid that if we give you our tithe that we will not have enough. Help us, O Lord, to give so that the increase of your harvest may come ten-fold! Empower us to live within our means so that we can be faithful to return to you what you have gifted us with in the first place. Help us, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Enriched” - 2 Cor 9: 10-11

I once had a congregation member tell me that it is fun to give unto the Lord! A few years ago, the church he was a part of was struggling financially, not even able to pay their bills. But in the face of that struggle the council made a decision, to tithe whatever came in from the fundraisers they were having to pay those bills to a mission that God had placed on their hearts, and they have continued this commitment for years. Every council meeting they had the joy of praying about where the tithe from their next fundraiser would go. Soon, they were adding money on top of the tithe in order to bless the ministries they were supporting. Along the way, quietly and without much notice, they were finding they were no longer in debt, were able to pay their bills, and started to have a surplus in the bank. As they trusted God and were generous, their own ministries and faith walks were enriched as well. Praise be to God! It is fun to give to the Lord!

If anyone should be generous with what they have, it should be Christians. For we claim that it is our God who made the heavens and the earth and provided everything we need. Yet, sometimes we get sucked into the financial concerns around us in such a way that we become paralyzed and forget that it is fun to give. Let us regain that spirit of fun in our generosity and giving, so that others may be blessed in God’s name. 

When do you find yourself struggling with generosity? When do you find yourself to be most generous? What could help you increased your spirit of generosity in your life?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we lose the fun in our faith. We forget that you are a creative God who wants us to have a sense of joy in following you, serving you. Help us regain that spirit of joy and generosity in our own lives so that we can have a faith that blesses others in a powerful way! Amen. 

Friday: “Pay Attention” - Proverbs 27: 23-24

Proverbs is concerned a book of practical wisdom about faith and living. In today’s scripture we find that this wisdom is to pay attention, for no treasure will last forever. The author is telling folks to take account of what they have and put it to good use, because nothing lasts forever.

While I agree with the practical part of this passage, I also disagree. There are some treasures that last forever - chiefly the treasures of heaven. I think we need to take account and pay attention to see if we are living our lives and using our earthly treasures in such a way that have eternal significance, which brings us back to the scripture passage from the beginning of our week - what are you sowing for the Kingdom?

What treasures do you have and share with others that will last forever?

How are you using your earthly treasures for eternal significance? 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us all that we need here and now, and all we will need in the future. Help us to use what we have for you and the glory of your name, so that what we do here and now will impact this community for the Kingdom for years to come! Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Shiny Gods: Heart Giving ” - Matthew 7: 7-12, Lev 19:9-10

Family Activity: Pick a charity that matters to your and your family. Set a jar somewhere in your house to collect money for this charity. Pray for them. Visit them (or their website). Talk about why it matters to be generous with our money and how this reflects how our God is generous to us.