“When you give the way God wants you, you walk in freedom. Giving up your life frees you,” explained Paul McDonald, interim pastor, Christian Chapel, Columbia, MO. “God wants to bring us to a place where our soul prospers on this broken planet.”
The way for your soul to prosper, McDonald explained is to be obedient to the things God asks from you. One of these is giving. “Obedience is about paying attention, sticking to and adhering to the ways of God.”
Speaking Sunday, March 17, 2013, McDonald continued, “One of the surest and soundest investment advice is offered to us by the Lord. When we give our ourselves, when we release our time, hurt, money, the things we consider our right to hang on to, we experience freedom from the things that would oppress us.”
“God says if I give to another person, I am in a better position than the one who received my gift. Do unto others like you want done to you. You will reap what you, not others, sow into your life.”
Giving is meant as a kingdom principle way of providing for the giver. “God doesn’t need your money. He has plenty. There is a spiritual power behind giving. Giving releases the blessing of God and allows the power of God to flow through you.”
Following are questions to use in personal or small group studies.
What do I believe about who God is? What do I think He’s going to do?
Who is giving for?
How are money and your heart linked together?
Acts 20:35 Why did Paul say this?
Who is blessed? Proverbs 11:25, Proverbs 16:20, Proverbs 22.9
Positions For Blessing
How do we position ourselves for blessing?
What does shooting the angle have to do with blessing?
How is giving uncomfortable?
Multiplies Blessing
Luke 6:31-38 How does giving to others, even those who are your enemies, multiply blessing? Do you practice this? How hard is this to do?
Matt. 10:40-42 What does it mean to receive a prophet and a prophet’s blessing?
2 Cor. 9:6, 11 The degree to which we live the way God has described is the degree to which we will walk in freedom from the torment of our oppressors. Talk about this.
Protects from the devourer
Malachi 3:8-11 Why would we try to rob God?
How is the question not will you tithe but to whom will you tithe?
How does giving protect you from the devourer?
Have you ever tested and tried God by giving a tithe? What happened?
Why is it not a good idea when things get tight to hang on to your money tighter?
“God will make a way where there seems to be no way.” Talk about times when you’ve seen this to be true.
Teresa Shields Parker is a Christian weight loss author, coach, podcaster, and speaker, who has lost 250 pounds and kept it off since 2013. Her books include: “Reconnecting Jayne: Her Sister’s Support,” “Rebuilding Jayne: Her Father’s Protection,” “Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor,” “Sweet Grace Study Guide,” “Sweet Victory: Winning the Battle,” “Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds,” “Sweet Journey to Transformation: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Live Healthy”, “Sweet Freedom: Losing Weight and Keeping It Off With God’s Help,” “Sweet Freedom Study Guide,” “Sweet Change: True Stories of Transformation,” “Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God,” and “Sweet Excuses: Stop Lying to Yourself & Start Losing Weight.” She also offers Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy and VIP intensive coaching. Don’t miss her weekly podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, where she shares tips from her personal journey of losing weight and discovering healthy living. Contact her at [email protected].