Embracing Generosity: Trusting God with Our Finances
Summary
Generosity is a powerful antidote to the fear of trusting God with our finances. This fear, which I define as "finances entice active resistance," often prevents us from taking steps of faith. The presence of money can create a vulnerability where we resist trusting God, and this fear can attach itself to our hearts, leading us to hold back from living a life of generosity. Jesus understood this struggle, as evidenced by the numerous references to money in the New Testament. In the parable of the talents, we see a servant driven by fear, who hides his talent instead of investing it. This parable serves as a reminder that we are entrusted with resources and are expected to use them to further God's kingdom.
Our perception of God plays a crucial role in how we handle our finances. The servant in the parable had an inaccurate view of his master, seeing him as harsh and untrustworthy. Similarly, we may struggle to trust God with our resources if we don't truly understand His nature. This fear can lead to a gradual distancing from God, where we fail to include Him in our financial decisions. However, life is fleeting, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. This reality should prompt us to invest in what truly matters—our relationships and eternal souls.
Generosity is not just about tithing; it's about living a lifestyle of radical generosity. This means trusting God with everything, including our finances, and investing in the kingdom of God. In Luke 16, the parable of the dishonest manager teaches us to use worldly wealth to build relationships, as money will eventually fail. Our true wealth lies in the relationships we cultivate and the eternal impact we make.
Jim Elliott's story exemplifies this radical generosity. He gave up everything to carry the gospel to a tribe in Ecuador, ultimately sacrificing his life. His legacy reminds us that true love is not just a one-time act but a daily sacrifice. We are called to live a life of generosity, trusting God with our resources and investing in what truly matters.
Key Takeaways:
- Generosity frees us from the fear of trusting God with our finances. This fear, defined as "finances entice active resistance," can prevent us from taking steps of faith. By embracing generosity, we can overcome this fear and trust God with our resources. [39:17]
- Our perception of God influences how we handle our finances. An inaccurate view of God, like the servant in the parable of the talents, can lead to fear and mistrust. Understanding God's true nature as loving and just helps us trust Him with our resources. [46:18]
- Life is short, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. This reality should prompt us to invest in what truly matters—our relationships and eternal souls. Generosity allows us to make a lasting impact beyond our lifetime. [49:49]
- Radical generosity is not just about tithing; it's about living a lifestyle of trust and investment in God's kingdom. This involves using our resources to build relationships and make an eternal impact. [56:33]
- True love is a daily sacrifice, as exemplified by Jim Elliott. His life of radical generosity reminds us that living for others and investing in eternal souls is the greatest act of love. [01:00:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:45] - Introduction and Personal Story
[3:30] - The Struggle with Generosity
[6:15] - Fear and Finances
[9:00] - The Parable of the Talents
[12:00] - Misunderstanding God's Nature
[15:00] - The Reality of Life's Brevity
[18:00] - The Call to Radical Generosity
[21:00] - Investing in Eternal Relationships
[24:00] - Jim Elliott's Legacy
[27:00] - Daily Sacrifice and True Love
[30:00] - Conclusion and Challenge
[32:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Generosity and Trusting God with Finances
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the Talents)
2. Luke 16:1-9 (Parable of the Dishonest Manager)
3. 1 Timothy 6:18-19
---
Observation Questions:
1. In the Parable of the Talents, what actions did the first two servants take with the resources entrusted to them, and how did the master respond? ([43:05])
2. How did the third servant's perception of the master influence his actions, and what was the master's reaction to this servant? ([46:18])
3. According to the sermon, what does the acronym "FEAR" stand for, and how does it relate to our financial decisions? ([40:11])
4. In the Parable of the Dishonest Manager, what strategy did the manager use to secure his future, and what lesson does Jesus draw from this story? ([55:42])
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the fear of trusting God with finances manifest in the lives of believers, and what are some common reasons for this fear? ([49:08])
2. What does the Parable of the Talents teach about the importance of using our resources for God's kingdom, and how does this relate to our perception of God? ([47:17])
3. How does the story of Jim Elliott illustrate the concept of radical generosity, and what can we learn from his example about daily sacrifice? ([01:00:48])
4. In what ways does the Parable of the Dishonest Manager challenge us to use our worldly wealth for eternal purposes, and how can this be applied in practical terms? ([56:33])
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when fear influenced your financial decisions. How can embracing generosity help you overcome this fear and trust God more fully? ([40:11])
2. Consider your current perception of God. How might an inaccurate view of His nature affect your willingness to be generous with your resources? ([47:17])
3. Life is described as fleeting in the sermon. How does this perspective influence your priorities, and what steps can you take to invest in what truly matters? ([49:49])
4. Radical generosity is more than just tithing. What practical steps can you take to live a lifestyle of generosity that impacts your relationships and community? ([57:19])
5. Jim Elliott's story emphasizes daily sacrifice. What is one area of your life where you can practice daily generosity, and how will you commit to this change? ([01:00:48])
6. How can you use your financial resources to build meaningful relationships and make an eternal impact, as suggested by the Parable of the Dishonest Manager? ([56:33])
7. The sermon challenges us to make radical generosity a priority in our budgets. What changes can you make in your financial planning to reflect this commitment? ([58:02])
Devotional
Day 1: Generosity as Freedom from Financial Fear
Generosity is a powerful tool that liberates us from the fear of trusting God with our finances. This fear, described as "finances entice active resistance," can often prevent us from taking steps of faith. When we embrace generosity, we actively combat this fear, allowing us to trust God with our resources. The act of giving opens our hearts to God's provision and helps us to see beyond our immediate financial concerns. By choosing to live generously, we align ourselves with God's purpose and experience the freedom that comes from trusting Him fully. [39:17]
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can practice generosity today to overcome your financial fears and trust God more deeply?
Day 2: Understanding God's Nature in Financial Stewardship
Our perception of God significantly influences how we handle our finances. In the parable of the talents, the servant's inaccurate view of his master as harsh and untrustworthy led to fear and inaction. Similarly, if we misunderstand God's nature, we may struggle to trust Him with our resources. Recognizing God as loving and just helps us to entrust our finances to Him. By understanding His true character, we can make financial decisions that reflect our faith and trust in His provision. [46:18]
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)
Reflection: How does your current view of God influence your financial decisions, and what steps can you take to align your perception with His true nature?
Day 3: Investing in What Truly Matters
Life is fleeting, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. This reality should prompt us to invest in what truly matters—our relationships and eternal souls. Generosity allows us to make a lasting impact beyond our lifetime. By focusing on eternal values, we can prioritize our resources to build meaningful relationships and contribute to God's kingdom. This perspective encourages us to live with purpose and intentionality, knowing that our investments in people and spiritual growth have eternal significance. [49:49]
"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one relationship or spiritual investment you can prioritize today to make a lasting impact?
Day 4: Radical Generosity as a Lifestyle
Radical generosity is not just about tithing; it's about living a lifestyle of trust and investment in God's kingdom. This involves using our resources to build relationships and make an eternal impact. The parable of the dishonest manager in Luke 16 teaches us to use worldly wealth to build relationships, as money will eventually fail. Our true wealth lies in the relationships we cultivate and the eternal impact we make. By living generously, we demonstrate our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His kingdom. [56:33]
"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." (Proverbs 11:24, ESV)
Reflection: How can you shift your mindset from viewing generosity as an obligation to embracing it as a lifestyle of trust and investment in God's kingdom?
Day 5: True Love as Daily Sacrifice
True love is a daily sacrifice, as exemplified by Jim Elliott. His life of radical generosity reminds us that living for others and investing in eternal souls is the greatest act of love. This kind of love requires us to put others before ourselves and to make sacrifices for the sake of the gospel. By choosing to live sacrificially, we reflect Christ's love and make a lasting impact on those around us. Our daily acts of love and generosity can transform lives and further God's kingdom. [01:00:48]
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can practice sacrificial love today, putting others before yourself in a meaningful way?
Quotes
1. "Generosity frees us from the fear of trusting God with finances. And to be honest with you, I'm a little embarrassed because as I prepared for this message and did the research and read over the passage and read over it again and again and prayed through it and discussed with Pastor Craig different topics and different ideas, I started to realize that I struggle with generosity and I struggle with this fear of trusting God with finances." [39:17] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I think we all struggle with this sometimes, living a life of generosity and trusting God with finances. I think we can all relate to that conflict, where you see the shiny thing. You're like, man, that's really cool. You think, I probably should pray through this. Maybe I should talk to God about this. Maybe I should consider my options. But then you also see that shiny thing. Maybe it's the new car, the new phone. And you think, wow, you know, I haven't typed yet. And you think, yeah, you know, God, I'll get you next week, right?" [40:11] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The very presence of money in our lives creates this opportunity for sin to step in, for fear to step in, and we don't want to take that step of faith. This fear attaches itself to our hearts as a heartstring, and that's the heartstring for this week that we're talking about is fearfulness. And you know, Jesus knew we were going to struggle with this." [41:48] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sometimes we fear trusting God with our finances because we have an inaccurate perception of who he is. We don't think we can trust him with our finances. We don't think we can trust him with our resources. And maybe it's not a question. Maybe it's not a quick thing. Maybe it's not a, I'm not going to trust you this month, God. Maybe it's a quiet thing." [48:12] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Life is short. Life is a vapor. You know, we, that's why I'm telling you this story, because I want to remind you that we're not guaranteed tomorrow. We're not guaranteed to get home. We're not guaranteed to see next year. As much as you may love your kids and your family, you are not guaranteed to see them grow up." [49:49] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Jesus is essentially telling us, all this money you have should be invested in these eternal souls, these relationships you have. Because money will fail. This money we have, this dollar, the stock market could crash, and our dollar becomes useless. And now it's no longer reliable. And even further, any amount of money you think you have on this earth, we're not keeping." [56:33] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "This is about living a lifestyle of radical generosity. This is about saying, you know, God, I'm going to trust you in everything you do. I'm going to trust you with my whole life, even my money, even my health, even my relationships. With everything I have, I'm going to trust you." [57:19] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Jim Elliott understood that lifestyle of generosity. Jim Elliott understood that it was a daily sacrifice. It wasn't just a one-time thing. If you've ever read Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, when he talks about generosity, he says, you should feel it. You should be so generous that it limits what you can do." [01:02:16] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Oct 27, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?