What is stewardship?
The conducting, supervising, or managing of something entrusted in our care. (time, talents, finances, children, etc)

The Heart of Giving

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. GIVE, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:37-38)

• The context here is not money but  judgment, condemnation, forgiveness
• But this also applies to all areas of giving: Good things produces good things

Giving is The Heart of God

For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

• God GAVE because His HEART was set on His TREASURE– You and I
• God is a giver and He wants us to have the heart of a giver

How Do we develop a GIVING HEART? Deuteronomy 15:7-10

Respond to Need With Your Heart

If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU, you shall not harden your HEART nor shut your hand from your poor brother, ⁸ but you shall open your hand wide to him and WILLINGLY lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)

• The motive of giving is not to get anything in return

Deal with A selfish Heart

Beware lest there be a WICKED THOUGHT IN YOUR HEART, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become SIN among you. (Deuteronomy 15:9)

• Selfishness comes to our heart through a wicked thought which becomes sin

Deal with A Grieving Heart

You shall surely GIVE to him, and your HEART should not be GRIEVED when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. (Deuteronomy 15:10)

• If you learn to give with the right heart, God will bless everything you do
• Selfishness attacks us before we give and grieving attacks us after we give
• When we give to God, we don’t grieve because we know it all belongs to Him

Conclusion

• What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?