a glimpse towards Sunday 8.28.15
When the stock market crashed by 1,000 points a few days ago, what were your thoughts? Let’s just say you are a savvy Jesus follower who has invested heavily in the stock market. What does a China-influenced stock market crash do to your soul?
Would you panic? Would you begin envisioning your retirement condo and future life of ease begin to slowly be erased? For some, there would be a painful mourning of all that was lost.
What radical adjustments to your life would you need to make so that when the next 10% correction (or worse) rocks the financial world, you would instead bemoan, “I’m saddened by the loss of Kingdom impact and people helped.”
Ken Idleman, when he lost 40% of his 401K at age of 61 in 2009 smiled and said, “Well it was never mine to begin with.” He then quoted from Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
How do you get there? How do you chase away the greed monster knocking at your door since elementary school when you were playing Life & Monopoly with overly competitive parents? Rich or poor, how do you get there?
On Sunday, we’re tackling our third of four messages in our “iGive” series. We’re going to identify barriers to our giving that perhaps feed the appetite of greed. The Bible labels the over-desire for stuff and money as idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Think you’ve got an idol keeping your from giving your time… talent… or treasure? Most people are blind to this stuff, which is why Jesus warned, “Watch out!” BTW… he never issued that warning with adultery. Think about that one.
Kyle Idleman, Ken’s son, writes in “Gods At War”: “If money and success are you gods, may you be so blessed as to have them taken away from you, rather than spend your life bowing down to them only to find out you missed the real thing.” The Bible says, “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of God.”
(Proverbs 30:8-9)
This Sunday we’re going to let go of our idols and bow down to the one who let go of heaven to make us rich towards God. Are you rich towards God? Our text is the incredible story found in Luke 12:13-21. Come Sunday, and let’s figure some of this life-altering, world-changing, Kingdom bringing, Gospel motivated stuff out. I’m excited to be teaching through this series with you. Thanks for your graciousness, and thanks for bringing friends! I love how God is using this “iGive” series.
See ya’ll at 9 & 11 a.m.
Blessings!
Weekly Giving | 8.23.15
$33,337.54
Weekly Need $33,000.00
