In the “Ever Wonder Why” series, we discussed why we do specific elements of our weekend service. One thing we didn’t talk about that we do every week is the giving of our tithes and offerings. We omitted that from the last series, knowing it would be a focus of this series.

• From the beginning of the story of God and man, God has called us to trust Him with our provision by giving back some of what He gives us.
• Jesus knew material things would vie for the #1 place in our life, and He talked a lot about it; so we do, as well.
• The early church gave regularly when they would get together on the first day of the week.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (NLT) 1Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

• • That’s why we give people the opportunity to give an offering every week. God talks about it. God’s people have always done it. We do it, as well. In this series, we’re going to talk about why.

Do you desire to live The Good Life? All of us do. The alternative is a bad life. Many Christians, though, believe that serving God means they can’t live The Good Life. But the Bible tells us that God desires that we would have a meaningful, rich life, both here on earth and as we look towards eternity.

• Many people define The Good Life as amassing large quantities of material things in order to live a life of ease. But God has His own definition of the Good Life, and it is counter-cultural. The real question is, do we trust what God has to say about it?
• God has given us an owner’s manual to The Good Life, but so many of us either don’t read it, or we ignore what it has to say. Listen to what the psalmist had to say about God’s Word:

Psalm 119:103-105 (NLT) 103How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. 104Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. 105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

• God’s Word tells us that God wants you to have the best life. Do you believe that?

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

                                                                         – A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

• • How do you view God? As a… tyrant, your bro, a genie, a fireman, a loving king?
• There are two aspects of God that are critically important for us to understand.

GOD IS ______________.

Deuteronomy 12:28 (NLT) Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God.

John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

• Satan has given us a false version of the good life because he wants us to have a bad life. His primary tactic to destroy us is getting us to believe lies about who God is and what God desires for us.

Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes. It’s the story of a man who determined to give himself every pleasure he could think of and had the capability to do so.

• Solomon started out following God. He worshipped God with a humble heart. But like so many of us, Solomon began to chase after the world’s “Good Life” instead of God’s “Good Life.”
• Solomon’s 700 foreign wives and 300 concubines led him astray, and ultimately, to idol worship.
• At the end of Solomon’s life, he writes Ecclesiastes. Listen to some of the things he says:

Ecclesiastes 1:1–3 (NLT) 1These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem. 2“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” 3What do people get for all their hard work under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NLT) 13That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

• Everything other than God that he pursued turned out to be meaningless. Solomon isn’t the only person to find this out. Many have discovered this after pursuing a lie.
•  In Acts 20:35, Paul tells us that Jesus’ own words were, “It is better to give than receive.”
• • Even outside the Christian world, there’s many studies that show the value of Jesus’ words.
  • “Those who give, receive back in turn. By spending ourselves for others’ well- being, we enhance our own standing … This is not only a philosophical or religious teaching; it is a sociological fact.”- Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson, The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose
  • God knew all along what sociology is proving today.

GOD IS IN ______________.

• Many people believe God is good, but struggle with Him being in control. When we don’t believe God is active in our lives and aware of our circumstances, we believe it is on us to provide for all our own needs—and we have limited resources. Trusting in anything other than God leads to a scarcity mindset.

__________________ mindset vs an __________________ mindset:

• • Scarcity: There isn’t enough to go around. I need to guard what is mine.
  • Abundant: We respond to the needs around us when God asks us to, knowing that God has unlimited resources to provide for every need He calls us to respond to.
  • Jesus addressed this war of perspectives.
  • Luke 12:15-21 tells of a story about a man who had a scarcity mindset. He stored up all of his wealth to use on himself, but died never getting to enjoy it or use it to bless others.
• We’re not in control. God is. God is sovereign, and all of our preparation and saving means nothing if it isn’t according to His will.

Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT) 31So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

• If we are obedient to Him and follow His ways now, it will lead to The Good Life. Throughout scripture, the Bible says that relationship with God and others is The Good Life. (Matthew 22:37-40)

WAYS TO CULTIVATE A TASTE FOR GOD’S DEFINITION OF THE GOOD LIFE:

• Look at markers in our life. If you don’t have those markers, start allowing God to make them, now.

• • Even if you haven’t been a believer long, God was good even before we received Christ
• Be intentionally generous to someone this week. Plan for it!

• •  Take a set amount of money and pray about what God would have you invest in.
• Invest in relationships that allow you to minister and be ministered to.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:

Passages to consider: John 10:10; Luke 12:15-21, 22-34; Ecclesiastes 5:10-18

1.  Share what from the sermon that caught your attention.
2.  When you hear the words “The Good Life,” what usually comes to your mind?
3.  Read Luke 12:15-21. What do you see happening in this passage? A) What is this showing about the idea of good life? B) Read Luke 15:22-34. What do you see in this passage about the good life?
4.  How would you describe the different perspectives to the good life to a child or to a co-worker?
5.  In what ways does/could your family/personal budget reflect trusting God’s view of the good life? A) What could change or be adjusted first in your heart and then in your budget?
6.  How could you (and your family or friends) take action this week to be intentionally generous? Brainstorm together, then do it! Share the good stories! #generosityisthegoodlife