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Lesson OneStarting Well9 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoCounsel, Debt and Saving9 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeGenerosity and Investing9 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourWork and Honesty9 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FiveCrisis and Eternity9 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SixFinishing Well7 Activities
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion2 Activities1 Assessment
Participants 188
Our Attitude in Giving – Discussion
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What in the notes did you find revealing, challenging or interesting?
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38 Replies
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I found this section interesting because many (common) people are not taught investment strategies.
And if investing is mentioned to them, for example through their job, the process is not fully explained in terms they can understand. And it is true that many financial planners are looking out for their own profit rather than the benefit of the investor.
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Giving to the oppressed or poor is what Jesus expects of us. He gives us many examples of helping the poor while He was here on earth. We do not need to know why that person is poor, only that we should help.
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It was confirmed in my heart that giving with the right attitude is what God wants and expects of us who love Him. God loved us first and showed it by giving us his son. I love Jesus and He tells us to love one another. Giving to help someone in need or just to bless them out of the goodness of your heart is obeying what Jesus taught. I am thankful the Lord has given me a heart for giving and helping and I pray I always do it with love. It is challenging sometimes to know where to give because the needs seem so overwhelming, but, I have learned to ask God to direct my giving where it will benefit the most and give Him glory.
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I never realized how not giving to the poor is connected to unanswered prayer.
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It was eye-opening to realize that with the right attitude giving to others is giving to God. Giving is an act of worship.
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How have you seen giving being a blessing not only to the recipient, but also to the one giving the gift?
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21 Replies
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I have personally reaped the benefit of being blessed as I bless others. God’s word is true and He is faithful to keep His word.
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Someone gifted something to me during a time of need. It was a blessing to both of us. It then prompted my husband and I to do the same for someone with the same need a little later on.
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I personally experienced the faithfulness of God in giving to me as I give to others. At a phase in my life when I was not supported, I was very miserly about what to buy. I would not buy an extra warm jacket for myself. But when someone gave me an extra one, I gave it out of compassion to a poorer brother, and after that, new jackets kept coming to me from different people at different times in different ways so that I can give to other people. It was an unforgettable lesson about the blessedness of giving.
#finance
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Yes God has opened doors for me doing that
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I’ve seen needs met for people that are generous out of love. Giving out of love is giving out of faith that God will and does fulfill His word to the letter.
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What are things that affect your attitude (both good and bad) when it comes to giving?
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20 Replies
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One thing that affects my attitude when it comes to giving is God’s command to give and help others.
Obeying is giving God glory. Another thing is seeing the recipient’s joy and gratitude for the gift.
There have been a few times in my giving that it was not for the right reason and the joy of giving was lacking.
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Worry about whether that money should be spent elsewhere (if financials are tight)…trusting God to provide for you so you can continue to bless others.
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One obstacle is worry – you worry about whether you have enough for yourself. Another disturbing thought is about fairness – “If I give to others, who is giving to me then?” This is especially true for people in full-time ministry who happen (for whatever reason) not to be well supported by their own congregations. Then there is the fear that your gift will not be well managed and be squandered – “What if he spends my money on drinking beer and smoking instead?”
These are not easy questions. They require me to grow in faith towards the Lord and compassion to others. At the same time, wisdom has to be exercised concerning whom to give to and what to give. Sometimes, it may be better to give in kind – food and clothing – than as cash, if you are suspicious about the integrity of the recipient or the middleman.
#finance
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When giving to others they can use it in a bad way or what I give to others I feel that God like that
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The Holy Spirit is a clear example of a good influence on our attitudes. We can get the still small voice whispering in our ear about a situation and either follow with it or ignore it.
A bad influence would be the flesh or the enemy whispering in your ear that this person on the street is ” just going to go get a bottle of booze with that money” or ” the church has wealthy donors why are you giving to them, you need that money for something you want!”