Matthew 6:1–4 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward……

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:19–21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:31–33 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We trust money to provide happiness.

We trust in money to provide security

Many of us design our lives so we really don't need God, we just need money.

Financially Secure & Financially Independent

Being financially secure, means we find our security in money not God.

Financially Secure & Financially Independent Being financially secure, means we find our security in money not God. Being financially independent, means we keep our money separate from God.

1.Giving Releases God’s Blessing

Tithe means: The First Tenth

Average American Christian gives 2.5%

Tithe means: The First Tenth Average American Christian gives 2.5% 21% of consistent US church goers don't give anything to their church

Tithe means: The First Tenth Average American Christian gives 2.5% 21% of consistent US church goers don't give anything to their church 1 in 5 give nothing

Tithe means: The First Tenth Average American Christian gives 2.5% 21% of consistent US church goers don't give anything to their church 1 in 5 give nothing 71% give less than 2% of their income

God doesn’t require the tithe to be in right relationship with Him, but we need to tithe to learn to fully trust Him.

Tithing is more about us trusting God, than it is about giving our tithe to God.

When we trust God by tithing we find ourselves free. We no longer: Go to bed worried about money Argue with our spouse over money Live in fear of losing everything

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Luke 16:11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

2.Living Openhanded

You are blessed to be a blessing!

Acts 20:35 Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

God doesn’t need our stuff, but we need to learn to be free from our stuff.

Giving is about us becoming free from materialism, not about God needing our money.

I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 week. – JD Rockefeller

3.In Whose Hands You Place It?

Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.

Place it in the wrong hands and your gift is squandered.

Proverbs 17:16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no sense to get wisdom?

Place it in the right hands, and watch what the Lord does.

When you give, it’s always about in whose hands you place it.

WILL YOU LIVE OPENHANDED?