Generous Giving

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Sermon St Mary's Comberton, 22nd June 2008

2 Cor 9:6-15; Matt 6:1-4

<<Let your generosity mirror God's generosity>>

INTRO

Christian Aid Week 2007 “You add, we multiply”

2 Cor 9 “You add, God multiplies”. What we call raising money different when God is involved.

We think raising money is about addition. If only we can find enough people to give the right amount we're there. Toft fete. 200 Tea towels, 200 candles, 200 shopping bags.

God's blessing / generosity is about multiplication.


Pause from the Creed series.

Because we are moving ahead with children's building. Mike asked me to preach on giving. (curates and preaching on giving)

This sermon is not about addition. I will not be encouraging you to sign up to buy a square inch of wooden pannelling.

Sermon is about multiplication. I don't care the foggiest whether you give a penny towards the construction of the new children's work building. What I do care about is whether you catch a vision for God's way of giving. If that means writing out a cheque for £1000 to the victims of the cyclone in Burma. Praise God. Standing order Wood Green Animal Shelter £100 month. Hallelujah. Reckless Generosity. When we add, God multiplies.



BIBLE

2 Cor 9 – Paul organising a collection for those in Jerusalem.

NOT “300 more shekels should just about do it. Help them survive the winter.”


God's grace and generosity.


3 movements

  1. God to us. Everything is God's gift to us.

v8 “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance.”

v10a “he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food.”

v15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

take a walk!


#. Us to others. Grace --> gratitude

v11 “your great generosity”

2nd clause (thanksgiving to God v12-13)

passing round collection plate – part of our worship.


#. God to us again. Extra blessing. (v10b-11. Matt 6v4)

When we become a blessing to others, we are blessed further by God.


MULTIPLICATION

“just putting a fiver in a jam jar.”

Universe with a generous God. Act of generous giving is never isolated.

Inspired by God's generosity and it inspires further generosity.

“Pay it Forward” Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osmont)

Challenge by teacher “Think of something to change the world and put it into action”

Do something for 3 people that they could not do for themselves.

Pass on to another 3 people.

National movement.

Sounds trite. Anything but.




APPLICATION

How about giving the way God gives?

Being generous like God is generous.

Let your generosity mirror God's generosity


Church treasurer's job to talk down God's goodness. Deficit budget

My job is to talk up God's goodness. Generous God.


* How much of my money should I give away?

  • How much of God's money should I keep for myself?


When John Wesley was earning 30 pounds a

year, he could only afford to give 2 pounds. He needed

28 pounds on which to live. He meticulously worked out

his budget and determined that amount was needed. So

he gave the 2 pounds. When John Wesley was earning 60

pounds a year, he reckoned he still needed 28 pounds on

which to live. So he gave 32 pounds to God.


The words of Isaac Watt’s hymn are appropriate for John Wesley: Were

the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far

too small. Love so amazing, so divine Demands my life,

my soul, my all.

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