ENTITLEMENTS & THE ENTITLED
“You know the reason why you have all of your expensive things? It’s because the the person who had it before you couldn’t take it with him!
1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV 1900)
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Acts 4:32–37 (NIV)
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them
Luke 6:38 (NIV)
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 12:48 (NIV)48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Job 1:21 (NIV)
21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
Begging has become a profession. Expressions of contrived pitifulness is rampant. The very day I was preparing this message I witnessed a gentleman begging for money at a freeway offramp smoking!!!! While holding up is sign.
Psalm 37:25–26 (NIV)
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
Mark 12:41–44 (NIV)
The Widow’s Offering
12:41–44pp—Lk 21:1–4
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
What percentage of your wealth represents what you have given to the poor? We are not simply to give OUT of what we have, but rather according to it!
James 2:1–7 (NIV)
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
2 Corinthians 8:8–9 (NIV)
BE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!
