27 Nov The Truth About Money | Part 4 “The More Not the Merrier” | Apollo Beach, North Attleboro, & Southcoast

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OPERATION THANKSGIVING: WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING MONETARY DONATIONS FOR THANKSGIVING BOXES.  $50 WILL FEED A FAMILY WITH A BOX OF FOOD AND GIFT CARD.  GO TO WATERSCHURCH.ORG/GIVE AND SELECT OPERATION THANKSGIVING FROM THE DROP DOWN MENU.

NEW>>>>GIFTS FOR GRANNIES: Our Action groups are putting together some gifts for Madonna Manor nursing home patients.  If your group would like to contribute, they are looking for a small, simple but nice basket to give 25 elderly women.  Please contact Heidi Gormley, the action group leader who is putting this together, for info.  Her email is Hiedilenny@gmail.com

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Below, click the link for  ‘Last Days’ – The Book of Revelation Daily in 15 minute segments each day over the next 5 weeks:

https://waterschurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1316059

All announcements and the Waters Event Calendar can be found at:  waterschurch.org/events

Alpha: New ministry – conversation style Small Group called Alpha that Mehdi and April will be leading.It is for seekers, those on the fence about faith, or disenfranchised from faith.It is to reach lost people.  Join the conversation today @ waterschurch.org/alpha

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Key Verse: Philippians 4

The more not the merrier because we think that if we get something we want we will be happier, but we are not.  Changing the outside of our lives does not necessarily change us on the inside.  When it comes to spending money, it is never about what we see or want it is more about what is going on inside of us.  

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

We should not be comparing what we have to what others have.  God will never leave us.  

Q. What is something you spent money on that you thought could make you happier?

CONTENTMENT is staying the SAME on the inside no matter what is happening on the OUTSIDE.

It is letting our hearts be at rest no matter what is stressing or blessing us.  Contentment says stay the same inside and don’t focus on what is on the outside of our lives.  Contentment is not subject to things we cannot control.  We can control nothing except ourselves. We should allow God’s power to keep the outside from getting inside. 

COVETOUSNESS is letting the OUTSIDE affect and change what’s INSIDE.

Covetousness is nothing new.  It is the last of the Ten commandments.  The first commandment is to have no other gods before God and the last is to not covet.  When we have God in our life and he is all we know and love most of all, then there is not reason to covet.  Our greatest possession in life is God.

1 Timothy 6:8 (ESV)

Contentment is to raise a barrier around ourselves. The Holy Spirit gives us self control, a sense of ease and rest no matter what is going on around us.  “I will never be happier until_______’ is a lie.  Money does not solve our problems, many times money creates problems.  One example is people winning the lottery and wishing they never had won that much money. The spiritual winning lottery ticket is contentment.

Q. When have you thought money could solve your problems?

1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)

Through the craving of money people have wandered from the faith.  Money will come in to a Christians life and lead them away from the Christian life.  

Q. What price might you have paid for being eager to have money?

“Contentment works not by adding to our circumstances, but by subtracting from our desires.” – Jeremiah Burroughs

1. I must LEARN to be CONTENT.

Philippians 4:10-14 (ESV)

No matter what we get we are always thinking about more.  That is our sin nature.  Paul finally got to a place where he was content with what he had.  Contentment is a learned experience.  That automatically implies that no one is born content.  Every child’s favorite four letter word is ‘MINE.’  Sometimes we forget that God takes care of us and has all that we need.  He wants us to grow and learn to be content.  He does not care about what we have, he cares about what we are becoming.  We need to learn contentment in our life and God will make it happen in our life.

Q. What can you change in your life right now so you can learn to be content?

2. I LEARN contentment through the EXPERIENCES God allows. 

We need to be where we are, we don’t have to change a thing.  Changing our  environment does not change us.  We need to let God establish peace in our lives no matter what we are going through. 

Philippians 4:11 (ESV)

We can learn in whatever situation we are in to be content. We can learn in the place of plenty and in the place where there is not enough.  If we do life Gods way we will get to a better place.  We will do good if we trust God, put our hands to work, be diligent over the long haul, be honorable, and faithful.  God blesses hard work not complaining or division.   Paul wrote Philippians from prison.  He was writing to thank the church for supporting his ministry.  Even though he knew he was not getting out this time, he rejoiced in the Lord (Philippians 4:4).  Like Paul, we need to be content in both the high and low places.

It is only when we EMBRACE where we ARE that we find the GRACE for where we ARE. 

Q. What can you share about how you have learned to be content no matter your circumstance?

3. I’m Content being part of a COMMUNITY that CARES. 

This is why Life Groups are so important.  We need to encourage people to get into life groups.  Those in life groups who are not fully committed need to be fully vested in one group.  We serve and care for one another. We cannot do life alone.  

Philippians 4:10 (ESV) Read this also in the NLT and the MSG

Paul rejoiced int he Lord greatly.  He was so excited that there were people in his life that cared for him.  Contentment comes from relationships. It cannot be found on our own.  Through the Holy Spirit, nothing can separate us from people who genuinely care about us.

Q. How is being committed to a community of people helping you learn to be content?

Philippians 4:15-16 (ESV)

We need to learn how to grow in community.  Sometimes we will get hurt but we need to forgive as the Lord forgives us and stop letting every offense bring unending bitterness into our lives.  Every Church has genuine people.   It is not uncommon to have only a few good friends in the Church.  We cannot be friends with everyone.  

A FEW great RELATIONSHIPS are worth more than GREAT RICHES.

Proverbs 15:17 (NLT)

Luke 12:16–19 (ESV)

All these pronouns were self centered I will…  He had everything.

Luke 12:21 (ESV)

We can get so caught up in having more we forget to build relationships with people.  We forget that  things can isolate us and never forge meaningful relationships with anyone else. The tithe is the training wheels of giving.  It teaches us to give.  

Luke 12:33–34 (ESV)

Treasure Principle: Your HEART follows your TREASURE.

What we care about in life follows where we put our money.  Example: If we invest in stock, we start to care about that company.  If we buy a big house and put our whole life into that house then we will have not time for anyone else because we will have to make a lot of money to pay for that house.  God reaches America through the local Church.  When we tithe wo our local Church we are helping to spread the Gospel.

Q. How has investing in things and not people become troublesome for you?

4. I’m CONTENT when I know I can NEVER OUT-GIVE God.

The greatest Giver ever is God, 

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

This is a promise to them because they were givers.  Give to the mission of Jesus and God will pour out his riches more than we know.

Luke 6:37–38 (ESV)

John 3:16

He GAVE

Challenge: Be a Giver and be  committed to your Life Group