True Wealth! - Luke 12:16-21

Then Jesus used this story: "There was a rich man that had some land. His land grew a very good crop of food. The rich man thought to himself, 'What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.' Then the rich man said, 'I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!' But God said to that man, 'Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?' This is how it will be for the person that saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich." (ERV)   Full Text

The Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country and your people. Leave your father's family and go to the country I will show you. I will build a great nation from you. I will bless you and make your name famous. People will use your name to bless other people. I will bless people who bless you, and I will curse people who curse you. I will use you to bless all the people on earth." Genesis 12:1-3 (ERV) And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace (kindness) that God gave the churches (groups of believers) in Macedonia. Those believers have been tested by great troubles. And they are very poor people. But they gave much because of their great joy. I can tell you that they gave as much as they were able. Those believers gave even more than they could afford. They did this freely. No person told them to do this. But they asked us again and again--they begged us to let them share in this service for God's people. And they gave in a way that we did not expect: They gave themselves to the Lord and to us before {they gave their money}. This is what God wants. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (ERV) Remember this: The person who plants little will harvest only a little. But the person who plants much will harvest much. Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give. A person should not give if it makes him sad. And a person should not give if he thinks he is forced to give. God loves the person who gives happily. And God can give you more blessings than you need. Then you will always have plenty of everything. You will have enough to give to every good work. Like the Scriptures say, "He gives generously to the poor; his kindness will continue forever." God is the One who gives seed to the person who plants. And he gives bread for food. And God will give you {spiritual} seed and make your seed grow. He will make a great harvest from your goodness (giving). 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (ERV)