Built to Abound: Embracing Generosity and Financial Stewardship

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Is the One Thing We Need

True satisfaction and security are found in Jesus alone, not in possessions, status, or circumstances. Everything else in life—money, jobs, material things—comes and goes, but Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we anchor our hearts in Him, we discover that He is the only source that truly fulfills and sustains us, no matter what changes around us. Let your heart rest in the sufficiency of Christ, knowing that nothing else can compare to His faithfulness and love. [47:52]

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve been seeking fulfillment or security outside of Jesus? How can you intentionally turn your focus back to Him today?

Day 2: Generosity Flows from Contentment in Christ

Contentment is not about having plenty or little, but about trusting Jesus to be enough in every circumstance. The Apostle Paul learned to be content whether he had much or little, because his identity and strength came from Christ, not from material things. When we live with this kind of contentment, we are freed from comparison and the pressure to keep up, and we can become generous people who bless others out of the abundance God provides. [58:13]

Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV)
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Reflection: Where do you struggle most with contentment? What is one practical step you can take today to practice gratitude and trust in Christ’s sufficiency?

Day 3: Stewardship Unlocks God’s Blessing and Purpose

God calls us to be wise stewards of what He’s given us, not just for our own benefit, but so we can be a blessing to others. When we manage our finances with wisdom, create margin, and avoid unnecessary debt, we position ourselves to act on the love and generosity God has placed in our hearts. Stewardship is not about restriction, but about freedom—freedom to respond to God’s promptings and to make a difference in the lives of others. [01:07:52]

2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV)
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Reflection: Is there a financial decision or habit that is keeping you from being as generous as you’d like? What is one change you can make this week to steward your resources more faithfully?

Day 4: Fix Today, Free Yesterday, and Fund Tomorrow

To thrive and abound, we must address our present needs, deal with past debts, and plan wisely for the future. God’s Word gives practical wisdom for every step: living within our means, avoiding and escaping debt, and saving for what’s ahead. This isn’t about shame, but about hope—God redeems our past, gives us wisdom for today, and invites us to build a legacy that blesses generations. [01:28:25]

Proverbs 21:20 (ESV)
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to “fix today,” “free yesterday,” or “fund tomorrow” in your finances? Who can you invite to encourage or support you in this journey?

Day 5: You Are Built to Abound and Flourish

God’s desire is not just for you to get by, but to flourish and abound in every area of life—including your finances—so you can reflect His heart and be a blessing to others. This requires learning, sometimes through struggle, to be content, to steward well, and to trust God’s timing. As you walk in obedience and faith, you’ll experience the freedom and joy of living generously, knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from Jesus at just the right time. [01:44:20]

John 10:10 (ESV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God calling you to “abound” or flourish? What is one step of faith or obedience you can take this week to move toward that?

Sermon Summary

Jesus is the one thing we truly need, the unchanging anchor in a world where everything else comes and goes. When we gather as a church family, whether in person or online, we’re reminded that our lives are meant to reflect His generosity and faithfulness. As we enter this season of giving—through Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts for children, and our Legacy Offering—we’re called to remember that we are blessed to be a blessing. Our generosity is not just about giving; it’s about living out the heart of God, loving people, and storing up treasures in heaven, which are always about people, not possessions.

True contentment doesn’t come from what we have, but from knowing who we belong to. Paul’s words in Philippians 4 remind us that whether we have much or little, our identity and satisfaction are found in Christ alone. The promise that God will supply all our needs is tied to a life of generosity and stewardship. We’re not called to chase after money or possessions, but to steward what God has given us wisely, so we can be generous on every occasion.

Many of us struggle with our finances, not because we lack the heart to give, but because we haven’t put ourselves in a position to do so. We avoid dealing with debt, overspend to keep up appearances, and live without margin, which leads to stress, anxiety, and missed opportunities to bless others. God’s wisdom calls us to “fix today”—to get honest about our spending, create a budget, and act our wage. Stewardship is not about deprivation, but about freedom—freedom from the bondage of debt, comparison, and impulsive desires.

We must also “free yesterday” by dealing with past debts and not normalizing financial bondage. The world offers shortcuts and get-rich-quick schemes, but God’s way is steady, faithful, and rooted in hard work, contentment, and wise planning. As we learn to flourish, we realize that abounding is not about having more, but about being able to bless others and live generously, no matter our circumstances. God’s desire is for us to thrive, to be content, and to experience His best—so that we can be conduits of His blessing to the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is the only true anchor Everything else in life is temporary—jobs, money, possessions—but Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we center our lives on Him, we find the stability and satisfaction that nothing else can provide. Our pursuit of other things often leaves us empty, but Jesus alone fulfills our deepest needs. [47:52]
2. Generosity is rooted in stewardship God enriches us so that we can be generous on every occasion, not for self-indulgence. True generosity flows from wise management of what we have, allowing us to act on the love and care in our hearts. Stewardship is the bridge between our desire to bless others and our ability to do so. [53:46]
3. Contentment brings freedom, not limitation Contentment is not settling for less, but being free from the endless cycle of comparison and consumerism. When we learn to be content in every circumstance, we guard our hearts and minds, and open ourselves to God’s peace and provision. This freedom enables us to live generously and joyfully, regardless of our material situation. [58:13]
4. Deal with today and free yesterday We must be honest about our current financial reality and take steps to fix today—budgeting, living within our means, and addressing debt. Ignoring these issues leads to drifting and missed opportunities. By freeing ourselves from past financial mistakes, we position ourselves to fund tomorrow and flourish in the future. [69:50]
5. God’s way leads to flourishing and abounding Abounding is not about accumulating wealth for its own sake, but about learning to thrive and bless others through God’s wisdom. This requires patience, hard work, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. As we apply biblical principles to our finances, we experience God’s faithfulness and become conduits of His blessing to others. [104:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:52] - Jesus Is the One Thing
[48:43] - Gratitude and Community
[49:51] - Series on Generosity
[50:45] - Thanksgiving and Christmas Outreach
[52:24] - Giving Out of God’s Provision
[53:46] - Blessed to Be a Blessing
[54:17] - Legacy of Generosity
[56:51] - Contentment in All Circumstances
[58:13] - True Contentment and Identity
[59:46] - Generosity Produces Fruit
[69:50] - Fix Today: Stewardship Starts Now
[76:43] - Act Your Wage and Avoid Comparison
[88:25] - Free Yesterday: Dealing with Debt
[97:52] - Fund Tomorrow: Saving and Investing
[104:20] - Flourish and Abound in God’s Way
[106:27] - Prayer and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

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### Bible Reading

**Philippians 4:10-20 (ESV)**
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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### Observation Questions

According to Paul in Philippians 4, what is the “secret” he has learned about facing both abundance and need?
In the sermon, what examples did Pastor Javier give to show that “Jesus is the one thing” we truly need, even when everything else comes and goes? [[48:12]]
What does Paul say is the result of the Philippians’ generosity towards him? How does he describe their giving?
The sermon mentions that “contentment is not settling for less, but being free from the endless cycle of comparison and consumerism.” What practical examples did the pastor use to illustrate this? [[01:20:29]]

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul connect contentment with knowing Christ, rather than with having more or less material possessions? How does this challenge common ideas about satisfaction?
The sermon says, “Our generosity is not just about giving; it’s about living out the heart of God, loving people, and storing up treasures in heaven, which are always about people, not possessions.” What does it mean to “store up treasures in heaven” in practical terms? [[55:53]]
Pastor Javier talks about the difference between having the heart to give and actually being able to give because of wise stewardship. Why is stewardship described as the “bridge” between desire and action? [[01:07:52]]
The promise in Philippians 4:19 (“And my God will supply every need of yours…”) is tied to generosity and stewardship. How does this affect the way we understand God’s provision?

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### Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to “fix today”—to get honest about our spending, create a budget, and act our wage. What is one area of your finances where you know you need to “fix today”? What’s a first step you could take this week? [[01:09:50]]
Pastor Javier shared about the temptation to overspend or compare ourselves to others, especially through social media. Is there a specific way comparison or consumerism has affected your contentment? What could you do to guard your heart in this area? [[01:19:06]]
The message encourages us to “free yesterday” by dealing with past debts and not normalizing financial bondage. Are there any old financial mistakes or debts you’ve been avoiding? What would it look like to start facing them honestly? [[01:28:50]]
The sermon says, “We are blessed to be a blessing.” Can you think of a recent opportunity you had to be generous, or a time you wanted to help but couldn’t? What would need to change for you to be able to act on your desire to bless others? [[01:08:35]]
Contentment is described as “freedom from the endless cycle of comparison and consumerism.” What is one practical way you could practice contentment this week, regardless of your financial situation? [[01:20:29]]
The pastor talked about the importance of planning for the future and not just living for today. Do you have a plan for saving or investing for the future? If not, what’s one small step you could take to start? [[01:37:52]]
The sermon ended with a reminder that Jesus is the only true anchor and that everything else is temporary. Is there something in your life right now that you’re tempted to rely on instead of Jesus? How can you re-center your trust in Him this week? [[48:21]]

Sermon Clips

It's amazing how we look around for so many things that try to satisfy. As we were worshiping Jesus, he is the one thing. He is the one thing. If I could just put that in your heart today, Jesus is the one thing. Nothing else. Nothing else matters. Nothing else. It all comes and goes. Money comes and goes. Stuff comes and goes. Jobs come and go. But the only thing that remains the same yesterday, today, and forevermore is Jesus. [00:47:57] (33 seconds) #JesusIsTheOneThing

Like there's no gift I can receive that would supersede what God has already done for me up to this moment. Up to this moment, God's done everything I need. And he gave me his very best, his son Jesus, to die on the cross for me. And before I ever loved Jesus, he loved me. Come on, is that enough? Let's praise God for that. So everything else as believers is about being a blessing. Tell your neighbor you're blessed to be a blessing. [00:52:47] (36 seconds) #LovedFirstBlessedAlways

When scripture says you're going to store up treasures in heaven, what do you think it is? It's not Bentleys and jackets and jewelry. What we store in heaven is people. It's all about people. God wants us to love him and to love people. Tell your neighbor, it's all about people. I love this time of the year because we as a church get to shine. See, we're all making about Amazon my prime day, but I'm telling you, this is prime time for Jesus. [00:56:03] (36 seconds) #HeavenlyTreasuresArePeople

If I'm going to steward well, if I'm going to manage wisely, if I'm going to find peace in this area of my life, in my personal finances, I've got to fix today. What happens if you're in a boat without an acre out in the bay? You're going to drift everywhere. You're going to run into the bridge. You're going to run into rocks. You're going to run into other boaters. And likewise, if we're not great stewards in this area, our lives are rudderless. [01:09:56] (30 seconds) #StewardshipBringsPeace

And God's saying, no, I've got the solution. I love his book. Everything we need is found right here. And the Lord's saying, before I could supply tomorrow, he wants to fix today. He wants to strengthen you today. He wants to secure your foundation. He wants to help you move forward with clarity and with confidence. But if today isn't fixed, I can't abound in what's next. Tell your neighbor, fix today, or you're going to drift tomorrow. [01:10:50] (32 seconds) #FixTodayForTomorrow

``See, what God's saying is, act your wage. Come on, say that with me. Act your wage. Stop flossing, stop pretending, stop buying things so people think that you have when you don't. Quit going out and buying Chanel purses and Chanel and Fendi bags. When you got a car, you park at the back of the parking lot because it's had a check engine light on since Obama was president. I'm going to be an equal opportunity offender, fellas. [01:16:57] (30 seconds) #ActYourWage

Because stuff doesn't anchor our soul. Only God does. And we as God's people need to be the city on the hill that show this. Contentment guards our hearts from comparison. It guards our minds from impulsive desires. It guards our finances from unnecessary bondage. It's not settling. It's not settling for less. Contentment is freedom. Tell your neighbor, that's when Jesus came. Jesus said, I came for freedom. God doesn't want you living in a constant cycle. [01:20:23] (41 seconds) #ContentmentIsFreedom

My identity is not in my stuff. My identity is in Jesus Christ. And I'm secure enough to say, Jesus, I need to start right where I am. Don't judge me where I am. Because where I am is not where I'm going to stay for long. Because I'm going to do it God's way. I'm built to abound. And as I follow God and obey his word by faith, I'm going to see God do beyond what any job can do for me. [01:25:38] (28 seconds) #IdentityInJesus

There's no such thing as easy. Tell your neighbor, there is no such thing as easy. There's no such thing as passive. Ranting and owning property is not passive. Flipping houses is not passive. Look what the Bible says about debt. Proverbs 22, 7, the rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender. Who are you slave to? Chase and Visa and Macy's and Pottery Barn. [01:30:25] (33 seconds) #NoSuchThingAsEasy

Do you see what the enemy's doing, trying to rob us from blessing, not only blessing our kids, but blessing children's children? Why? And why don't we do it? Because we have a $500 car payment. I hope that car's worth $1.4 million. Or $5 million. I hope you really like that car. See, we're looking for the easy way. Proverbs 13.11 says, wealth from gambling quickly disappears. Wealth from hard work grows. [01:42:14] (34 seconds) #AvoidQuickWealth

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