Philippians 2:14-16

How bright do you shine in a crooked generation?

Two qualities for brighter lights:

1. How far does your love reach? We are called to boundless love.
2. How deep does your peace flow? We are invited to have peace that passes all understanding.

The brightest lights shine from generous hearts.

How complete is my stewardship?

• Stewardship is a biblical concept.
• The Bible has a great deal to say about our souls and money.

There are several places in scripture where Jesus warns us about money.

• Matthew 6:24
• Hebrews 13:5
• Luke 12:15
• Ecclesiastes 5:10
• Colossians 3:5-6
• 1 Timothy 6:9-10

When you hear these passages, what do you hear? We should hear “handle money with care.”

Jesus tells us we can’t love both God and money. Paul tells Timothy the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

The kind of relationship we have with money will impact the brightness of our light in the world.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

What the Spirit says:

• If you are blessed with a lot, don’t think you are better than
• If you are blessed with a lot, don’t put your hope in money.
  • Always know your hope is in God.
• God gives us things to enjoy.
• Some considerations:
  • Do good
  • Be rich in good works
  • Be generous and ready to share

If you want your life to be bright, it requires a generous heart.

Anyone can be generous.

The generous heart is an obedient heart.

Final concepts:

• First fruits, or tithe, has always been a biblical concept.
  • It recognizes God as our provider.
  • It is an act of obedience.
  • It is an act of faith.
  • Proverbs 3:9-10
• We can always afford to be generous as God whispers to us because He is our source.