Path to Spiritual Maturity Meeting #17 Recap - Giving

a. Go over last week’s assignment of reading an article on #13 Giving in the Foundations Pathway, and of doing an application. 

 

b. This week’s assignment: assess your life and the Foundations Pathway.

 

c. Finish with time for questions/comments.

 

If we run out of time you can always e-mail us, or post in the discussion group. I will post those e-mail addresses and the group link at the end of our session.

-Go over last week’s assignment of reading an article on #13 Giving in the Foundations Pathway, and do an application.

 

So did you do your reading and application this week? (Yes/no) Did you find it helpful? What struck you the most from your study this week? Was there anything that you were really challenged on that you prayed about or are doing something about?

 

Money can be a great source of controversy in marriages and relationships. Likewise, what we do with what we have is often a very clear indicator of our priorities. Indeed, it is an important topic that Jesus spoke frequently about. 

 

It is a vital area that we need to commit to the Lord and of which we need to allow Him to be the master.

 

Growing up I was taught the importance of giving. My brothers and I were started out on budgets with 10 percent of our money going to the Lord, 50 percent to savings, and the remaining 40 percent to our personal spending. We were taught that this was a good start in giving but that all of our money and possessions were from God and belonged to Him. We were also taught that God wanted giving to be joyful and from the heart, that pride and self-promotion were wrong, and that God wanted giving to be done in private. Having started from my childhood in this pattern, and then seeing that these truths were indeed principles from Scripture it was a normal pattern to continue. As I got into my teens I started seeing other needs than just those for the support of my local church. Different things caught my attention: a specific ministry that was a blessing and help to my spiritual growth, or another small ministry that could bless others but that was not being done or financed…As God provided jobs for me, and as I journeyed on in life other needs also became evident. As God burdened my heart it became more natural to try to have some extra money set aside for these opportunities in addition to regular giving to my local church. 

 

One of the exciting things to see has been how God has abundantly provided for all of my needs as I have tried to be faithful in both pursuing His will, and sharing what He has provided. I have seen how so many ways God has provided for us through others from scholarships, to jobs, to places to live, to vehicles, to money for medical bills, to food, and to clothing. In turn, it has been exciting to be able to follow those good examples and help other brothers and sisters in their times of need. 

The fact is, that it is easy to find reasons/excuses on why not to give. It is true that in the New Testament to believers a tithe is not reiterated. It is true that we have responsibility to provide for our families. It is also true that a heart with a priority on loving God and others will look for ways to spend time, talents, and treasures to bless and serve. 

 

If we find ourselves feeling stingy about our giving of those things, then we need to re-evaluate what our priority is, we need to examine our selfish hearts, and we need to remember that all we have is God’s. As we get our priorities right, it will become a delight to share our blessings from God with others for their benefit and for the growth of the church.

Do the Solid Foundations Assessment again. Think about your life and what you have learned and been applying. Where do you need to continue to grow and learn? Make a note of that so that you can revisit any area that needs it. Also, think about any feedback that you might have for improving the Path to Spiritual Maturity Foundations stage. Finally, locate one or more people that you could help walk through the Path to Spiritual Maturity with while continuing your own time in God’s Word, and in other further learning and application. Next week we can talk about your progress and future growth, any issues that have come up, and taking others through the pathway.

 

Other ideas:

 

*Blog about your overall Pathway experience.

 

*Spend some time praying about who God might have for you to help share the discipleship journey with.

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*This week, focus on the reassessing. (Keep up your Bible reading time, and as needed, focus on your motivation.)

 

*Go to the group page to post comments, questions, or to find a posting of what we discussed during our time together.

http://users.bible.org/groups/path_spiritual_maturity_discipleship

 

*E-mail us as needed.

Pursue Christ in all you do, and may this Path to Spiritual Maturity be a tool to help you pursue Him. That is our prayer and desire. God bless!