Today we continue the series The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure.

 Matthew 13:44 (NKJV) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Today we are going to look at this principle. God owns everything. I’m His money manager. Psalm 24:1 (NLT2) “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” Haggai 2:8 (NIV) “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty.” Sometimes we struggle to understand how everything belongs to God and that He wants us to be generous. Doctor Choco De-Jesus – Obedience comes first, and then, understanding will come later. This is absolutely necessary you get this: what I have has been entrusted to me, not given to me. A steward manages assets for the owner’s benefit. 

1. Generous Joyful Giving. When we realize God’s ownership of everything especially in the light of missions, you realize you are giving away God’s money to do God’s work. When you realize this, you find joy and peace you didn’t have when you thought the money was yours. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. Many get stressed out every year when our Mission’s Convention comes around. They just want our money. Not at all, we want to give you the joyful opportunity to invest God’s money into God’s missionaries. 

2. The Poor Can Be Generous. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 (NIV) “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” How do “severe trial,” “overflowing joy,” “extreme poverty,” and “rich generosity” all end up in one verse? Giving is not just for the rich, it is a joyous privilege of the poor. 

3. To Be Like Jesus. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” Think about Christ giving Himself for us. An infinitely wealthy King chose to become poor, not only to save us from Hell, but also to make us rich by buying our peace with God through His own death. It makes you want to shout this verse. 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV) “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”