Most people would define rich as, “Having abundant material possessions.”
- 33% of people say being rich means having enough money not to worry.
- 26% of people say being rich means having enough money to not have to work.
- 17% say being rich means means having a million dollars.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9 (NLT)
God’s Definition of Being Rich
The blessing of the Lord brings [true] riches, and He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God]. Proverbs 10:22 (AMP)
God’s Promise to Abraham
“I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3 (NLT)
Now, followers of Jesus are on the receiving end of God’s blessings:
And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 3:29 (NLT)
Having a Blessed Life means being on the receiving end of the tangible and intangible favor of God!
3 Keys to Living in the Path of God’s Blessing
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Keep your hands open wide. (Genesis 13)
God wants you to be generous, because you are never more like God than when you give!
Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? Romans 8:32 (NLT)
When you give, you position yourself to receive.
When you open your hands to give, your hands are open so God can give you more. When you close your hands to hang onto what you have, God can’t get any more in there.
I’ve been trying to out-give God for years, but God always gives me back more in return!
The difference between a river and a reservoir is that a reservoir is stagnant, but a river is constantly flowing. God wants your life to be like a river.
At The Connection Church, we unleash generosity!
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Pay the price through sacrifice. (Genesis 18, 21, 22)
Araunah answered, “Take it, Your Majesty, and do whatever you want with it. I’ll even give you the oxen for the sacrifice and the wheat for the grain sacrifice. And you can use the threshing-boards for the fire. It’s all yours!” 24 But David replied, “No! I want to pay you what they’re worth. I can’t just take something from you and then offer the Lord a sacrifice that cost me nothing.” 1 Chronicles 21:23-24 (NLT)
It feels good to give. So don’t give until it hurts. Keep giving until it feels good! Because it feels good to give!
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Trust God with the Tithe! (Genesis 14)
8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Malachi 3:8-10, 12 (NLT)
The local church is the hope of the world!
God doesn’t want something from you. God wants something for you.