Pouring Costly Oil
Jesus loved what was called unlovable. (Matthew 26:6-13, NRSV)
What we love we give to.
Doing what is right will, many times, make others angry. (Matthew 26:8, NRSV; 2 Timothy; 3:12, NKJV, CEV)
If you say never, you are not taking enough risk. Nothing shows your heart like money. Giving to the local church is the way we give to Jesus.
The #1 battle in relationships is how money is spent. (Matthew 26:9, NRSV)
In marriage, one spouse is very conservative and the other is not. One spouse wants to tithe and give, the other does not. One spouse wants to charge and buy, the other does not.
How to settle the battle:
Make sure you put Jesus first.
Make sure you don’t spend more than you earn.
Service is an act of love.
The Importance of getting your priorities right. (Matthew 26:11, NRSV)
Jesus is to come first in our lives. (Luke 14:26, NKJV) Do you have your priorities in order? Are you living, believing, and behaving where you don’t have to worry about tomorrow? (Matthew 6:33-34, NKJV)
Right actions bring right rewards. (Matthew 26:12-13, NRSV)
If you really want to make a difference you have to be different and you have to have courage.
Great Courage:
- Courageous people risk their lives to do what is right.
- Courageous people are bold in representing Christ.
- Boldness requires courage to press through our fears and do what we know is right.
- Courage and boldness are not a lack of fear, it is having the faith to push through in spite of the fear.
- Courage grows as we trust God. Courage grows from the presence of Christ.
- When we fear, we need to hear from God.
- True courage comes from knowing the mind of God in the matter.
