Embodying Generosity: The Heart of True Richness

Summary

In today's gathering, we revisited the essence of our annual "Be Rich" campaign, a time when we focus on embodying the values that should define every follower of Jesus: generosity, service, and selflessness. This initiative is not just about financial giving but about recalibrating our hearts and behaviors to align with the teachings of Christ. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, emphasized that true richness comes from being generous and doing good, laying a foundation for a life that is truly fulfilling. This is the heart of "Be Rich"—to live out our faith through tangible acts of kindness and generosity.

We explored the biblical principle of tithing, a practice that serves as a safeguard against the materialism that competes for our hearts. Tithing is not a tax but a test of trust, a way to ensure that God remains at the center of our lives. It's a practice that Jesus affirmed, encouraging us to trust in God's provision and to be trustworthy stewards of what we have been given.

Moreover, we delved into the importance of giving not just our money but our time. Time is a precious commodity, often more difficult to part with than money. Yet, it is through giving our time that we truly give our lives. Jesus demonstrated this by engaging with those society avoided—the sick, the marginalized, the outcasts. He sent his disciples to do the same, challenging them to step out of their comfort zones and into the lives of those in need.

We are reminded that our lives are not measured by our wealth but by our time and how we use it. Serving others, especially those with different life experiences, is a primary way God grows our faith and aligns our hearts with His. It is through these acts of service that we experience true transformation, moving beyond emotional responses to genuine change.

As we prepare for next week's celebration, let us commit to not only giving financially but also engaging personally with the organizations and individuals we support. This is an opportunity to step into a place where our faith can grow, where we can learn from others, and where our worldview can be reshaped to reflect the heart of God.

Key Takeaways:

- True richness is found in generosity and service, as emphasized by the Apostle Paul. This richness is not about accumulating wealth but about laying a foundation for a fulfilling life through acts of kindness and selflessness. [32:17]

- Tithing is a practice that guards our hearts against materialism. It is a test of trust, reminding us to keep God at the center of our lives and to be trustworthy stewards of what we have been given. [37:48]

- Giving our time is as important as giving our money. Time is a precious commodity, and through giving it, we truly give our lives. Jesus demonstrated this by engaging with those society avoided, challenging us to do the same. [49:33]

- Our lives are measured by our time, not our wealth. Serving others, especially those with different life experiences, is a primary way God grows our faith and aligns our hearts with His. [59:13]

- Engaging personally with those in need leads to genuine transformation. It moves us beyond emotional responses to true change, reshaping our worldview to reflect the heart of God. [01:19:55]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [0:01:00] - Introduction to Be Rich Campaign
- [0:05:00] - The Biblical Foundation of Generosity
- [0:10:00] - Understanding True Richness
- [0:15:00] - The Practice of Tithing
- [0:20:00] - The Test of Trust
- [0:25:00] - The Value of Time Over Money
- [0:30:00] - Jesus' Example of Engagement
- [0:35:00] - The Challenge of Serving Others
- [0:40:00] - Misdiagnosing from a Distance
- [0:45:00] - The Power of Personal Engagement
- [0:50:00] - Stories of Transformation
- [0:55:00] - Preparing for Next Week's Celebration
- [1:00:00] - Call to Action and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Be Rich" Campaign

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Timothy 6:18-19 - "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
2. Matthew 10:7-8 - "As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."
3. Luke 12:15 - "Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"

Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Timothy 6:18-19, what are the actions that Paul encourages believers to take in order to lay a firm foundation for the future?
2. In Matthew 10:7-8, what specific instructions does Jesus give to His disciples as they go out to proclaim the message of the kingdom of heaven?
3. How does the sermon describe the practice of tithing, and what is its purpose according to the pastor? [37:48]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the importance of giving time as well as money? [49:33]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "true richness" in 1 Timothy 6:18-19 challenge common societal views on wealth and success?
2. What might Jesus' instructions in Matthew 10:7-8 suggest about the nature of His kingdom and the role of His followers in it?
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that materialism competes with God for our hearts, and how does tithing serve as a safeguard against this? [37:48]
4. How does the pastor's story about giving away shoes illustrate the sermon’s message about personal engagement and transformation? [01:03:33]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current approach to generosity. How can you incorporate both financial giving and personal engagement in your acts of service? [49:33]
2. Consider the practice of tithing as a "test of trust." How do you currently view this practice, and what steps can you take to align your financial habits with this perspective? [37:48]
3. Identify a specific way you can give your time to serve others this week. What barriers might you face, and how can you overcome them? [42:58]
4. Think about a group or individual in your community that you have avoided engaging with. What steps can you take to cross those barriers and serve them as Jesus instructed His disciples? [51:53]
5. How can you ensure that your acts of generosity lead to genuine transformation rather than just emotional responses? What changes might you need to make in your approach to giving? [46:51]
6. Reflect on a time when you misdiagnosed someone from a distance. How can you engage more personally to better understand and serve others? [59:13]
7. As you prepare for the upcoming celebration, what specific actions can you take to engage with the organizations and individuals your church supports? How can this involvement help grow your faith and reshape your worldview? [01:19:55]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: True Richness Through Generosity and Service
Generosity and service are the true measures of richness, as they lay the foundation for a fulfilling life. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, emphasized that true wealth is not about accumulating material possessions but about being rich in good deeds and generosity. This perspective challenges the conventional view of wealth, urging believers to focus on acts of kindness and selflessness. By embodying these values, individuals can experience a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose, aligning their lives with the teachings of Christ. The "Be Rich" campaign encourages this mindset, inviting participants to live out their faith through tangible acts of kindness and generosity. [32:17]

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share." (1 Timothy 6:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you bless with an act of kindness today, and how can you make generosity a regular part of your daily routine?

Day 2: Tithing as a Test of Trust
Tithing is more than a financial obligation; it is a spiritual discipline that guards the heart against materialism. It serves as a test of trust, reminding believers to keep God at the center of their lives. By practicing tithing, individuals demonstrate their reliance on God's provision and their commitment to being trustworthy stewards of what they have been given. This practice, affirmed by Jesus, encourages believers to prioritize their relationship with God over the pursuit of wealth. Tithing is a tangible expression of faith, inviting individuals to trust in God's faithfulness and provision. [37:48]

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." (Malachi 3:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your finances where you struggle to trust God, and how can you take a step of faith in that area this week?

Day 3: The Value of Time Over Money
Time is a precious commodity, often more valuable than money. Giving our time is a profound way to give our lives, as it reflects a willingness to engage with others and invest in their well-being. Jesus exemplified this by spending time with those society avoided, challenging his followers to do the same. By stepping out of their comfort zones and into the lives of those in need, believers can experience personal growth and transformation. This practice not only benefits others but also deepens one's faith and aligns their heart with God's purposes. [49:33]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally set aside time this week to serve someone in need, and what might God teach you through this experience?

Day 4: Measuring Life by Time, Not Wealth
A life well-lived is measured by how time is used, not by the accumulation of wealth. Serving others, especially those with different life experiences, is a primary way God grows faith and aligns hearts with His. Through acts of service, individuals can experience true transformation, moving beyond emotional responses to genuine change. This perspective challenges the societal norm of valuing wealth above all else, inviting believers to invest their time in meaningful ways that reflect God's love and compassion. [59:13]

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize your time to reflect God's love and compassion, and how might this change your perspective on what truly matters?

Day 5: Transformation Through Personal Engagement
Engaging personally with those in need leads to genuine transformation, moving individuals beyond emotional responses to true change. By stepping into the lives of others, believers can learn from their experiences and reshape their worldview to reflect the heart of God. This practice challenges individuals to move beyond surface-level interactions and invest in meaningful relationships that foster growth and understanding. As believers engage with those in need, they are invited to experience the transformative power of God's love and grace. [01:19:55]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community can you engage with on a deeper level this week, and how can you be a source of support and encouragement to them?

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Quotes

1) "The core of our being, he said, that center, God wants to be the center of our lives like that. He wants to be the driving force, but his number one competitor is not the devil, it's the dollar. And so he knows that. And because of that, God instituted a practice, you know, he kind of put it out there on his people. And he said, if you're going to be the people of God, I want you to take on this practice. And then when Jesus came along, he affirmed it. He didn't get rid of it. He actually affirmed it and said, if you're doing this, keep doing it. If you're not doing this, you ought to do this. And that practice is called tithing." [37:48] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Jesus warned all of his followers. He said, be on guard against all kinds of greed. In other words, there's different kinds of greed. Shows up in different ways. It's pretty subtle, right? And we wouldn't ever, I mean, most of us wouldn't look in the mirror and say, I'm a greedy person. But he said, no, there's subtle forms of it. And sometimes it's not always greedy with your money. Maybe it's greedy with other things, right? You just hold tightly to other things." [40:17] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Life isn't measured by our wealth. It's measured by our time, which is why, and if any of you've experienced this, my heart goes out to you deeply. Why we grieve the death of a child or a youth or a young person more than we do an older person, the elderly. No offense to the elderly people in the room, but you know that, right? You know that. You know that at some point there's a birthday coming, right? And when it comes and all of a sudden you pass away, people will say, well, it was their time, right? I mean, we all know that." [41:15] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "It's easier to give our dollars than to give our time. And as much as I've been saying, let's be generous. Let's be generous with our dollars. Some of us find it easier to be generous with your dollars than you are generous with your time. See, there's a different kind of greed that slips in. It's the greed of our time." [42:58] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "When we only give our change, we force it. We force it being changed. We just give that up. There's some of us who say, oh, I give all the time. But if it's your leftovers, it really hasn't changed you much, has it? Has it? You see, giving financial leftovers, the extra, doesn't change us. Giving sacrificially, like something you need, something you want, something that when you give to an amount that you now have to adjust because of the amount you gave, that changes you." [48:05] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Freely you've received, freely give which is kind of weird how that's just thrown in there because if you go back and you look at the disciples, um, there there's nothing in there that says that jesus when he called those disciples healed them from a sickness raised any of them from the dead none of them seem to have had leprosy and and to what we can tell none of those 12 were demonically possessed when jesus found them so is it like are Are you comparing apples to apples or apples to oranges, Jesus?" [57:14] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "It is easy to misdiagnose people from a distance. You know, we have telemedicine now and you can just kind of do it online from your laptop or cell phone or iPad. But it is easy to misdiagnose somebody from a distance. And see, that's the problem with our world. And that's the problem in this politically heightened thing is we misdiagnose people's hearts and intentions all the time because we're so distant." [59:13] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "Serving people who have a different lived experience is one of the primary ways that God grows our faith and then realigns and recalibrates our heart and our worldview to match his. It happens through giving of ourselves, even when we're overwhelmed and feel inadequate." [01:17:19] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "There are some things we cannot learn by having one more Bible study. There is a life change that cannot be experienced by having one more church service. What we need to learn and what needs to be changed in us will happen on the other side of those doors. When we give our lives." [01:18:12] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10) "If you just served someone on the other side of the issue, if you just took somebody who was on the other side of whatever your issue is, you would come to the realization that their position, the position they hold, is formed from their life experience. Because they've had a different lived experience. It's not because they're evil. It's because they had a different life experience." [01:20:45] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?