Proverbs 11:24,25a CSB –
One person gives freely,
yet gains more;
another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.
A generous person will be enriched,
Generosity: Start with the “Why”
- Generosity Honors God
The Dot & the Line
Galatians 6:2 CSB – Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 13:16 CSB – Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
Proverbs 19:17 CSB – Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender
- Generosity Makes You More Like Christ
- Matthew 10:7-8 CSB – As you go, proclaim: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’… Freely you received, freely give.
- John 13:12-15 CSB – When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.
Acts 20:35 CSB – because he [Jesus] said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Philippians 2:4-8 CSB –
Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited. (“held onto”)
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
Blockage: What Keeps Us From Being Generous?
Blockage 1: Elijah & the Widow
1 Kings 17:9-11 CSB – “Get up, go to Zarephath … and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.”
10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood.
Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup and let me drink.”
11 As she went to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”
I Kings 17:13 CSB – Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son,
1 Kings 17:14 CSB – for this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the surface of the land.’”
Philippians 2:9-11 CSB –
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 4:19 CSB – And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
I Kings 17:15-16 CSB – So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah.
Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days. 16 The flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through Elijah.
Blockage 1:Why aren’t we generous?
We aren’t sure God is big enough to supply all our needs.
Blockage 2: The Rich Farmer
Luke 12:16-21 CSB –
“A rich man’s land was very productive.
17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops?
18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there.
19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Psalm 50:10-12 CSB – for every animal of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird of the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and everything in it is mine.
Blockage 2: Ownership Confusion
Next Steps: How to Become More Generous
- Humble Yourself
Philippians 2:3-5 CSB –
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
2. Ponder Scripture & Pray for Generosity
1 Timothy 6:17-19 CSB – Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,[g] who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share,19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.
Proverbs 11:24-25 CSB –
One person gives freely,
yet gains more;
another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.
25 A generous person will be enriched,
and the one who gives a drink of water
will receive water.
Luke 6:38 CSB – Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
- Develop Generosity Habits
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then in not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle
Who gets the first of your time, treasure, talents?
- When in doubt: Give More Than You Think You Can
The Widow’s Generosity: Luke 21:1-4 CSB –
He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
