ThanksGIVING Pt.3
ABUNDANT GIVERS
1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 (NLT) – Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.
“In a study on gratitude and appreciation, participants who felt grateful showed a reduction in the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. They had stronger cardiac functioning and were more resilient to emotional setbacks and negative experiences. Over the years, studies have established that practicing gratitude allows us to handle stress better.”
Giving and being generous are two different things.
Scarcity: Consume -> Lack -> Fear
Abundance: Give -> Multiplies -> Faith
ABUNDANT GIVERS
• GIVE SPONTANEOUSLY.Luke 10:35 (NLT) – The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
• GIVE STRATEGICALLY.Isaiah 32:8 (NLT) – But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.
• GIVE SACRIFICIALLY.Mark 12:41-44 – Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
We give Spontaneously – Strategically – Sacrificially!
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) – Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.