Generosity
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Good morning church
Today, we get to continue on our Flourish
Based on John chapter 15, we are continuing to look at spiritual practices that help us to remain in Christ and live a life that flourishes in connection to him. Another word for flourish might be grow, or thrive. We want to thrive in our relationship with Christ.
Today, I’m honored to be sharing with you about the spiritual practice of Generosity and what scripture reveals about it’s impact on our lives as believers in Christ.
Before we jump specifically into generosity, I want to set the table a little bit for talking about spiritual practices and why they impact our lives so immensely. Why they help us flourish. Cause, you see, there is something unique about today’s topic that we should talk about first. That is that generosity is probably the most tangible spiritual practice that will be talked about in this series.
What I mean is that generosity is often easy to see and measure as it takes place. And this isn’t always the case for spiritual practices. Prayer, for example, can be difficult to see the effects of. Immediately and maybe even long term. The connection of how a prayer impacts our world might not always be clear. Generosity on the other hand, at least from our view as humans, is much more easy to see and to measure its impact.
If you give money to a neighbor in need, you can then watch them go and use that money to pay their bills, or buy the food they lack. If you are generous with time and work and help your neighbor paint their house, your work is measurable and the result is real, a painted house and a grateful neighbor. Or maybe you help someone elderly straining to load their groceries into their car. It doesn’t take much to see some of the positive impacts that generosity can have on our world.
Why do I start her? Because before we jump into this concept of generosity, this often tangible spiritual practice, we have to make sure that we know that it is in no way less spiritual than the other spiritual practices. Yes, we may see the result as you give them the cash they need for food. You can see the work you do helping your neighbor paint his house. But we mustn't miss the Spiritual aspect of this practice. And this is true because when we function generously in response to who we are in Christ, there is actually more going on then what meets the eye. And this is true because as Christians, we live and ago about our lives, filled with and moved by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture tells us
He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
We aren’t just friends of Christ who are hoping to fit in with His crew. God doesn’t say go and be generous to others because He wants some extra goodness sprinkled on His own good works. No. God has chosen that so many of His blessings on this earth, His moving throughout this world, full of spiritual influence, will be done through His people as they obey His Word. And He does this in believers through the work of His Spirit.
And that means something about the actions we take in response to the Gospel. When we read these passages, hear this practices and go and do them, when we obey the Word of God… something bigger happens.
Cause you see..
If we believe in the Holy Spirit, then we must also believe that obedience to God's Word has a spiritual effect.
Alright. *repeat*
Cause, the Holy Spirit doesn’t enter into us as believers cause He needed a place to stay. No, God is in relationship with us as His Spirit dwells in us, and through His Spirit in us, He is working through our obedience.
And in the obedience to generosity, that spiritual effect isn’t just the tangible gift received by those we are generous to. It’s more. God is doing His transforming and spiritual work in those receiving the generosity, but just as much, He is transforming us as well, to look more like Him.
2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (CSB)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Our growth in Christ through spiritual practices is a spiritual event.
And it’s important to see here also that the impact isn’t by our own power. Even as we are obedient in generosity, seeing tangible actions and reactions, we must remember that the most important work is the spiritual work being done in us and in others by the Spirit. Gods work being done.
That’s why we must take so seriously the development of our connection to God by remaining in Him and Him in us; because He loves to do His work in and through us by being in relationship with us and leading us to obedience to His Word.
John 15:5 (CSB)
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
And friends, how amazing that God has chosen that we are to take part in His work in our own lives. That God wants fruit to come from the branches, us. Not because He needs us, but because He wants us, involved in His work, in this world as well as in our own hearts.
Generosity hasn’t always been so spiritual for me in life though.
I didn’t always understand it like this. For many years of my life, I didn’t look to scripture for my understanding of Christian generosity. I just based it on what I presumed was Christian generosity. Things I saw others do, or just following my gut reaction.
It’s always a slippery slope when we try to learn about Gods Word without scripture as our guide.
And my own interpretation I remember one relationship where it didn’t go as it should have.
In high school and a few years after, I had a buddy I hung out with a lot. He was always bumming money, asking for loans, taking stuff the checkout and then saying “I forgot my wallet”. Helping him out wasn’t much thought at first, just, yeah, I got you man. I’ll pay.
Eventually though, I started to see myself as someone who was generous. Helping the needy friend. It turned into pride. I remember thinking when I’d gotten a good paycheck and some other good things all in the same day and thinking, “I must be reaping the reward for being such a great giver to my friend over here.” Before I knew it, pride took over. And what did the generous, awesome, holier than though giver eventually realize, my friend needed to pay me back. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you should never get paid back if you loan someone something. But, a few years later, I was sitting there one day, remembering how generous I was to him, and that I had honored God with my giving and thinking that must have been why certain blessings had come my way. And then I remembered my pride, and making him pay me back.
Guys, that wasn’t Christ like generosity. My generosity turned to pride, and that pride had entitlement and a desire to get what I thought I deserved.
I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised to learn we didn’t remain friends long after my prideful collection of what I “deserved”. I’m embarrassed to admit that I even bragged about my generosity towards him at times in our friendship.
Cause see, generosity as scripture instructs isn’t just giving things away. Scripture doesn’t say, “Just make sure to put money into the salvation army bucket, don’t matter your heart or conviction. Just give it away and get it over with”.
Friends, God cares too much about our hearts, and the hearts of others, for heartless giving to be what he’s about. He knows there’s more problems in this world than money and time and human generosity can solve.
Getting the heart part wrong shows up in different ways with “Generosity.
You think about preachers that fly their personal jets to speak to a group of believers, promising financial blessing if you just give them a certain $ amount today. Essentially preaching generosity towards their organization as a means for the listener to get rich or have all their problems fixed.
People being generous in hopes of burying their guilt and shame. Instead of looking to the cross, they would rather just bury the bad feelings and hope that’s enough.
Or gifts that are given when a “you owe me” attached.
Or givers flaunting their giving of gifts, making sure that all around can see.
Each circumstance is different, and some of them even helped those receiving the gift. But when we look to Gods purpose in this world, His purpose in calling us to obedience, we see that there is so much more.
When I was younger, pridefully “giving” to my friend, I wasn’t completely ignorant to the fact there was something missing. I knew the Bible had more to say about this. More to this generosity that I knew God was calling us to in scripture.
Eventually, I got to see it.
There was a young Christian couple I knew. They had just made a change in their life to follow the Lords call to tithe and live generously. It was transforming their life and relationship with God. They didn’t understand how. But they knew their obedience in their generosity was transforming their hearts and connection to God. Why? Because there was something spiritual going on in their obedient generosity.
These friends, they were experiencing what it means to thrive in their relationship with Christ.
I wanted that.
I wanted to know what that mysterious new transformation in their life was all about. I wanted to feel that otherworldly draw into Gods presence.
So how does generosity actually do the work of Christ in our lives and others? If we look at mans way of being generous, we see a lot of things that are off. Pride, selfishness. Laziness or greed. This isn’t what comes out of a Christ centered acts of generosity.
So let’s put simply what we hope to learn today.
How does Generosity help us flourish in life and in our relationship with God?
This is going to be the question we’ll be working from today. I’d encourage you, if you’re taking notes, to write that down.
How does Generosity help us flourish in life and in our relationship with God?
Our first answer to this question is that we will grow in Christ through obedient generosity. Why?
Generosity is instructed in Scripture as well as exemplified throughout it
We can move forward knowing that the God of the universe is at work through Christian generosity, and we know this through His Word. He wouldn’t call us to do it if it didn’t lead us closer to Him.
Our main passage for today comes from one of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. In this part of the letter, Paul is writing about the Corinthian churches commitment to generosity for Gospel mission that they will soon be giving to Titus. We see their generous act for the church of Jerusalem, Paul also gives instruction and teaching in response to their generous hearts.
2 Corinthians 9:6–15 (CSB)
The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. As it is written:
He distributed freely;
he gave to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
So we look at that passage, and we ask our question, How does generosity create a thriving relationship with Christ? And I’ll tell you, there’s a LOT in those 9 verses. We’re gonna at least scratch the surface today.
The first thing we see in this passage about how it helps us flourish in the relationship between us and Christ
It creates in us a Christlike posture before our King.
Posture is important because connection takes place in how we are with each other. If you and I went to coffee and you were kind, honest, and funny in an effort to be a good friend, you care about me, you feel connected and want to be a good friend to me, yet I lied, made rude jokes at your expense and was just plan poor to you, that would impact the success of our relationship. Even if you tried super hard to do all the right things. Until I started having a different posture towards you about our relationship, I wouldn’t be able to flourish in our relationship, and this would hinder our relationship. If we want to experience the best that a relationship has to offer, we must both have the right posture. And that goes for our relationship with Christ.
And there are four different postures that I see Paul teaching us here. This isn’t an exhaustive list of Christ-like characteristics, just four that we can see as clearly taught through these acts of generosity.
Teaches us a posture of Joy
It teaches us the posture of Joy.
Right, let’s go back to that section in Corinthians
Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
Friends, Jesus doesn’t want us to feel loathing or pressured when we give. Cause, scripture isn’t denying that giving can be hard or potentially painful. Here, it acknowledges the difficulty of it by encouraging us to give cheerfully or not at all. Now, I don’t think this is a free pass if you don’t like giving, I think if that’s the case, you need to seek the Lord in prayer and in His Word and ask Him to change your heart in that.
But we must realize, He wants us to be joyful in following this instruction, not reluctant or feeling forced to. And that joy, we see here that it is a result of thoughtful and intentional giving.
Doing that well may take time, but I believe that practicing thoughtful and intentional giving, with Christ at your side will help us become a cheerful giver and further thrive in your relationship with Christ.
That’s our first posture.
Teaches us a posture of Humility
Philippians 2:3 (CSB)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
Humility is one of the most important postures that we see throughout the Bible. If you read on in Philippians, you’ll see the humility of Jesus’ entire human existence on earth. The passage goes on to read that how we are in relationship with one another should be founded on how Jesus was. That despite being God, He didn’t use that to his advantage, but instead came to earth as a man, became a servant to us, those He created. If Jesus could give humbly and without pride, if He took on the generous nature of a servant to others, then how much more should we be humble in our giving.
Friends, if we want to look like Christ and experience Him more, we must seek humility. We cannot expect to look like Christ without it.
The act of being obediently and joyfully generous is a way that Christ develops that humility within us.
If we do this He will create a heart in you that puts others before ourselves. Jesus will use your generosity to transform you to look more like Him.
Teaches us a posture of Trust
2 Corinthians 9:8 (CSB)
And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
Church, we have a God who can be trusted. In life and in death. But I know for me, and probably for you too, in my hearts, that doesn’t always come naturally.
As much as I’d like to think that once I put my trust in Jesus as a new believer, 15 years old on a beach in eastern Washington, I still feel like after that moment I’d be good forever and would just trust Him perfectly. Thankfully, Jesus knows our trust isn’t perfect. That’s why we need Him as the strength of our salvation and faith. He’s the one who saved us as sinners, He knows that we cannot grow in our trust for Him without His help.
He also knows that as you trust Him more, you will remain in Him and flourish as a branch in His vine even more.
This develops through generosity. Giving when you wonder if you can afford to give. Seeing others be taken care of by the work of generosity. Seeing yourself be taken care of through the generosity of others.
These are things that will grow our trust in our Savior. He is good, He will take care of us. And He doesn’t even need you to have much for Him to work.
2 Corinthians 8:12 (CSB)
For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
We learn to trust in Him because only a trustworthy Savior could tell us the that even when our homes and our wallets are empty, whatever generosity we find to give from even our most empty of moments, that the eagerness makes the gift acceptable.
We trust Him because HE is the one that defines the value, not you or what you have to provide, or how great what you provide is. God defines the value, and when it comes to generosity, we all have enough to give what He asks for.
How does generosity help us to thrive in our relationship with God?
Teaches us a posture of Sacrifice
Jesus was the greatest example of this. And we are called to go well beyond just seeing the sacrifice He made. We’re called to have our entire lives changes by it.
Galatians 2:20 (CSB)
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
When we give to others of things that are important to us, we begin to experience the beauty of the sacrifice. Christ gave His life for us, and he calls us to do the same for Him.
This life with Christ isn’t a “He died for me, so I get to keep enjoying life and all it’s pleasures as I desire, oh AND I still want eternity with Him.”
No. When He calls us into relationship with Him, He calls us into a life of sacrifice, not one of holding on to all our things, holding onto all our time. When it comes to what parts of our lives God wants, there are no boundaries of what is ours and what is Gods. He wants all of us. Generosity in the name of Christ will teach us about the sacrificial nature of our relationship with Him.
Jesus wasn’t speaking lightly when he said
John 12:25 (CSB)
The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
And, it’s important to clarify here, God isn’t calling you to not take care of yourself, or abandon anything you might care about. When we are called to live a life of sacrifice to God, we aren’t called to being reckless. The God that calls you to give up your life for Him is also the God that commands you to take a sabbath day of rest. Our greatest example, Jesus, spent time at church, serving the poor and needy, as well as enjoy meals with His friends, regularly finding quiet moments of prayer with His father, time with children, and spending most of His time with those He was closest to in His life.
We must realize then, that this same God, this trusted God, who cares for us so well, and knows our needs so well, wants to teach you to live a life of sacrifice that will change you, in the depths of every moment of your being, and make the fullness of your life more amazing than you could ever imagine as you grow in relationship with Him. God uses generosity to teach you a posture of sacrifice.
But if we don’t let God teach us this, all we’ll know is what we “fear” sacrifice looks like, rather than find out from the one who calls us to it.
How else does Generosity impact us through our relationship with Christ? We’ve looked at the postures of Joy, Humility, Trust and Sacrifice. What else.
It teaches us to love others
It teaches us to love others. Jesus instructs this when He tells us
John 15:11–12 (CSB)
“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
“This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.
Friends, how amazing that God says I want to grow with you as you grow in obedience with me. And what is that obedience, Loving others. And God isn’t just involved by instruction of this. It’s like the parent who tells His child, “it’s important that we treat others with kindness.” And not only do they give this instruction as one who is kind themselves, but that they also join with us in this love.
Jesus gave us this command, exemplified that love through His life, death and resurrection. And throughout scripture, in passages like this one from 2nd Corinthians on Generosity, His Word teaches us about this love. And then He continues to be a part of it with us by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
And what’s so beautiful about this command. Our love for others grows our relationship with Christ. How? It makes us look like Him. It connects us even more with Him. And that’s because HE WANTS US TO BE A PART OF THE SAVING WORK HE IS DOING. He wants us to experience the transformation through the love that He is doing in the world. When He commands us, it isn’t even just for us in personal growth with Him, which is already amazing in itself. It’s even bigger in that they are for Him because He finds joy and is glorified in doing His work with us, His children.
Friends, we grow in Christ as we learn to love others through acts of faithful generosity.
This same theme continues in what generosity ultimately leads us to do
It leads ourselves and others to worshipping our King
We are once again called to join with God in His work. God works for His glory and just as He does with love, He does it with worship. He says I want YOU to point people to me. I want YOU to be a part of what leads them to look to me and their lives are changed, leading them to worship.
2 Corinthians 9:13 (CSB)
Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.
Do you see how our Lord is drawing us into Him further and further through this spiritual practice. It isn’t just a refining tool so we can go out and utilize our new skill. No, the Holy Spirit is at work. God is remaining in you and you remain in Him. He is producing fruit in you BECAUSE HE WANTS THE FRUIT OF HIS VINE TO COME FROM THE BRANCHES.
And lastly, for today's list.
It reveals our sin
Maybe it is a sin of Greed, as you hold on to things you can’t part with, even though God convicts you to. Pride, as you can only think of your own “greatness” in your giving. Hatred, as you hold back your hand not because you cannot give, but because you would never give to them. Or maybe Laziness, cause eventually, you’ll be generous, once circumstances are more in line. Just not today God, I have this other stuff...
1 Thessalonians 4:7 (CSB)
For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness.
Friends, God reveals our sin not to shame us, but to show us the state of our hearts, our complete need for Him, and to remind us that He sent His son to die for us so that the things we are doing that are getting in the way of thriving with Him can and will be overcome.
If we want to flourish, we have to be willing to be changed as we are brought close to Christ. If we ignore our sins, we only ignore those things that are likely the biggest obstacles to growing in Christ.
----------
So where does generosity start? Where should I give? What if I don’t do it right? What if I give to the wrong person or place? What if I have nothing to give? What if I don’t want to give? What if I can’t do it?
Or maybe your ready. You’re thinking, Let’s Go.
Wherever you’re at Church, let’s be encouraged today by this.
Generosity starts with God
Generosity starts with God. It doesn’t start with you having the stuff or the time to give. It doesn’t happen as a result of what you’ve done to position yourself to give. God has positioned you, God has given you those things.
Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Guys, every good thing comes from the Lord. Even the man or woman who is generous, is only generous with that which God has generously given to them. See, not only are we called to be generous, but also to recognize that everything we have, even the possibility to be generous is a result of a generous gift first given to us.
So let’s finish today here looking at things that we have generously received that we may have the chance to be generous to others with.
And as we go through this, I encourage you, write some of them down, pray about them. Be thoughtful and intentional as your consider them or speak to your spouse about them.
Whether it feels easy or hard, seek the Lord. If you can’t give in an area cheerfully, don’t do it. If you are struggling with pride or greed in an area, confess that sin to the Lord. If you’re feeling detached from your giving, make sure your focus is on intentionally honoring your Father.
But whatever your feeling is, pray. If generosity is from the Lord, than we can trust Him with our prayers about it, and trust that He will work in our hearts and lead us forward.
We don’t know how much God will change our hearts through today, or how different we’ll look tomorrow. But we do know that the God who calls us to obedience, is the same God with our whom our prayers about that obedience can be trusted.
Ways that we can be generous and give to others.
Ways that we can be generous and give to others.
Money
Financial giving is probably the first way to give that comes to mind when one thinks of generosity. And we see it throughout scripture. The Old Testament speaks often of tithing, a dedication of giving regularly a set a fraction of ones earnings to the church. Paul talk about giving financial support for the saints and those who work in ministry. We even see in scripture that some of us are blessed with this type of giving as a Spiritual Gift, just like how some have the gift of prophesy or comfort, some have the Spiritual Gift of giving.
Giving generously of our funds goes beyond just tithing though. We can give to organizations, missionaries, or causes that are close to your heart. It can even land closer to home by buying groceries for a neighbor in need, or helping a family you know that is in need of financial help.
We don’t have to look very far to see where we can give financially. I would encourage you to be praying about giving to your local church as the Bible instructs, as well as other areas God may be calling you to provide financial support.
Service
Throughout scripture, we see that service to the church and to others is illustrated many times by Biblical characters. In Galatians, we read that our Freedom in Christ doesn’t lead to earthly opportunities, but to serving each other in love. No wonder we see throughout scripture that we are called to live like servants.
There are so many other ways in which you can be generous as well.
Generous to others with your time.
Skills that God has blessed you with.
Knowledge
Compassion
Possessions
Listening
Kindness
There are so many ways that we can be generous. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you need to turn your life upside down and start doing every single one of these tomorrow. Growing this practice will take time, but it’s worth it.
And don’t think that God is calling you to never rest, or care for yourself, and that 24/7 you are just going going going for others. We must remember that the same God who commands that we live as servants also gave us a sabbath day to rest, draw near to him, and care for ourselves. He doesn’t call you to neglect your family. If anything, He is likely calling us to generosity in our own home, with our kids, our spouses, our closest loved ones, just as much, if not more, than elsewhere.
Friends, we serve a God who looks to bless us, and bless others through us. May we find joy in obediently remaining in Him and following His example of generosity.