Embracing Love Through Generosity: A Spiritual Journey
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound connection between love and generosity, emphasizing that true love is inherently giving. The essence of love is not in what we receive but in what we give, mirroring the divine love God showed by giving His only Son. This principle challenges the self-centered culture we live in, where the focus is often on acquiring rather than giving. Generosity shifts our focus from ourselves to others, aligning us more closely with the character of Jesus.
Generosity is not just a moral obligation but a spiritual exercise that strengthens our faith. When we give, we are compelled to trust God to meet our needs, thereby deepening our reliance on Him. This act of faith is akin to exercising a muscle; the more we give, the stronger our faith becomes. Moreover, generosity is an investment in our eternal home. Jesus repeatedly emphasized the importance of storing up treasures in heaven, highlighting that our earthly possessions are temporary, but our heavenly investments are eternal.
Generosity also brings joy to God. Just as parents delight in their children's willingness to share, God is pleased when we give selflessly. Our acts of generosity are seen as fragrant offerings to Him, acts of worship that reflect His own generous nature. This habit of generosity is a key to happiness, as it aligns us with God's heart and purpose.
Finally, we are reminded that generosity can be approached by reason or revelation. Giving by revelation requires faith, as it often involves giving beyond what seems reasonable. This kind of giving invites God's blessing and allows us to experience His miraculous provision. As we cultivate a lifestyle of generosity, we not only bless others but also experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with God's will.
Key Takeaways:
1. Love and Generosity: True love is expressed through giving, not receiving. Our culture often promotes self-centeredness, but love calls us to be generous, reflecting God's love for us. Generosity shifts our focus from ourselves to others, making us more like Jesus. [00:24]
2. Strengthening Faith: Generosity is a spiritual exercise that strengthens our faith. When we give, we trust God to meet our needs, deepening our reliance on Him. This act of faith is like exercising a muscle; the more we give, the stronger our faith becomes. [02:25]
3. Eternal Investment: Generosity is an investment in our eternal home. Jesus emphasized storing up treasures in heaven, highlighting that earthly possessions are temporary, but heavenly investments are eternal. Our acts of generosity have lasting significance. [05:02]
4. Pleasing God: Generosity brings joy to God. Our acts of giving are seen as fragrant offerings, acts of worship that reflect His generous nature. Just as parents delight in their children's willingness to share, God is pleased when we give selflessly. [14:02]
5. Giving by Revelation: Generosity can be approached by reason or revelation. Giving by revelation requires faith, as it often involves giving beyond what seems reasonable. This kind of giving invites God's blessing and allows us to experience His miraculous provision. [19:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Love and Generosity
- [00:45] - Becoming More Like Jesus
- [01:18] - Countercultural Generosity
- [02:07] - Strengthening Faith Through Giving
- [03:22] - Trusting God with Our Needs
- [05:02] - Investing in Eternity
- [06:22] - Storing Treasures in Heaven
- [07:44] - The Eternal Value of Generosity
- [09:07] - The Profit of Generosity
- [10:08] - Safe Investments for Eternity
- [11:41] - Giving Happily
- [13:43] - Making God Smile
- [15:21] - The Greatest Promise
- [19:04] - Giving by Revelation
- [21:29] - Modeling Generosity for Children
- [24:23] - The Habit of Happiness
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
2. Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
3. 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."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how does generosity shift our focus from ourselves to others? [01:34]
2. What does the pastor say about the relationship between generosity and faith? How does giving strengthen our faith? [02:25]
3. How does the sermon describe the concept of "storing up treasures in heaven"? What does this mean in practical terms? [05:02]
4. What are the two ways to be generous mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ? [19:04]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the pastor explain the connection between love and generosity, and why is this significant in a self-centered culture? [00:24]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that generosity is an investment in our eternal home? How does this perspective change the way we view our earthly possessions? [05:02]
3. What does it mean to give by revelation rather than by reason, and how might this approach impact one's faith journey? [19:04]
4. How does the pastor illustrate the joy that generosity brings to God, and what implications does this have for our daily lives? [14:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent act of generosity you performed. How did it affect your relationship with God and others? [01:34]
2. Consider a situation where you felt challenged to give beyond what seemed reasonable. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [19:04]
3. Identify an area in your life where you can practice generosity this week. What specific steps will you take to act on this? [02:25]
4. How can you involve your family, especially children, in acts of generosity to model this value for them? [21:45]
5. Think about your current "eternal investments." Are there changes you need to make to align more closely with the principle of storing up treasures in heaven? [05:02]
6. How can you cultivate a habit of giving that brings joy to God, and what practical changes can you implement to make this a regular part of your life? [14:02]
7. Reflect on the statement, "You cannot love without giving." How does this resonate with your personal experiences, and how can it shape your future actions? [00:10]
Devotional
Day 1: Love as a Generous Act
True love is not about what we receive but what we give. In a world that often promotes self-centeredness, love calls us to be generous, reflecting God's love for us. This shift in focus from ourselves to others aligns us more closely with the character of Jesus. Generosity is a tangible expression of love, mirroring the divine love God showed by giving His only Son. By embracing a lifestyle of giving, we challenge the cultural norm of acquiring and instead cultivate a heart that seeks to bless others. [00:24]
1 John 3:17-18 (ESV): "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Who in your life can you show love to through a generous act today, and how can you make it a regular practice?
Day 2: Faith Strengthened Through Generosity
Generosity is not just a moral obligation but a spiritual exercise that strengthens our faith. When we give, we are compelled to trust God to meet our needs, thereby deepening our reliance on Him. This act of faith is akin to exercising a muscle; the more we give, the stronger our faith becomes. As we practice generosity, we learn to depend on God's provision, experiencing His faithfulness in new and profound ways. [02:25]
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (ESV): "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."
Reflection: In what area of your life can you trust God more by giving generously, and how can this act of faith strengthen your relationship with Him?
Day 3: Investing in Eternity
Generosity is an investment in our eternal home. Jesus emphasized storing up treasures in heaven, highlighting that earthly possessions are temporary, but heavenly investments are eternal. Our acts of generosity have lasting significance, as they align with God's eternal purposes. By focusing on eternal investments, we shift our perspective from the temporary to the everlasting, finding true fulfillment in serving God's kingdom. [05:02]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: What earthly possession or pursuit can you let go of to invest more in eternal treasures, and how can this change your daily priorities?
Day 4: Bringing Joy to God Through Generosity
Generosity brings joy to God. Our acts of giving are seen as fragrant offerings, acts of worship that reflect His generous nature. Just as parents delight in their children's willingness to share, God is pleased when we give selflessly. This habit of generosity is a key to happiness, as it aligns us with God's heart and purpose. By giving joyfully, we participate in God's work and bring delight to His heart. [14:02]
Hebrews 13:16 (ESV): "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
Reflection: How can you make your next act of generosity a joyful offering to God, and what impact do you hope it will have on those around you?
Day 5: Giving by Revelation
Generosity can be approached by reason or revelation. Giving by revelation requires faith, as it often involves giving beyond what seems reasonable. This kind of giving invites God's blessing and allows us to experience His miraculous provision. As we cultivate a lifestyle of generosity, we not only bless others but also experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with God's will. [19:04]
2 Corinthians 8:3-5 (ESV): "For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us."
Reflection: Is there a specific area where God is calling you to give beyond what seems reasonable, and how can you step out in faith to respond to this call?
Quotes
"the Bible says God so loved the world that he he gave and you've heard me say this many times you can give without loving but you cannot love without giving so you can say well you know I really love my kids do you give them your time well I really love my wife what are you giving her God so loved the world that he gave and this is what love is all about I become more loving when I become more generous you spell love g i v e e lust is based on getting love is based on giving lust can never wait to get love can always wait to give" [00:01:12]
"every time I'm generous I strengthen my faith I strengthen my faith my faith gets stronger why is that because when I give when I take something that I've got and instead of using it on me and I use it to help you then I'm going to have to depend on God to help me let's say I you know I've got some money that I want to I need to pay my bills with and I help you because you're in a tough fix now I've got to trust God or I I I I've only got a certain amount of time and I got to get all my stuff done and I stop and I help my neighbor with my time now I've got to trust God to help him that all my little bit of time left he'll expand it and make it work so I can get stuff I need to get done" [00:02:32]
"every time I'm generous I invest in my eternal home the Bible says every time I invest I I'm generous when I give time money energy whatever I invest in my eternal home now Jesus called this principle quote storing up treasure in heaven this phrase he says store up for yourselves not for God it says store up for yourselves treasure in heaven now you want to know how many times Jesus used this phrase when he says store up for yourselves treasure in heaven he didn't say it once in the Bible he didn't say it twice he didn't say it three times he didn't say it four times he didn't say it five times Jesus said the phrase store up for yourselves treasure in heaven six times" [00:04:58]
"life is not about storing up things here on Earth life is about storing up things in heaven it's it's like banking in heaven it's investing in heaven now you can store up things either here on Earth or in heaven the Bible says don't store up a whole bunch of stuff here on Earth where thieves can steal it where rust can rust it where moths can eat the clothes away so like it says store up in heaven now that makes sense why because you're going to spend a whole lot more time in heaven than here and you're going to need the storage the spoils the rewards in heaven far more than here you're only getting 80 years at the most a 100 on this planet that's not very long everything you store up here on Earth you're leaving behind but storing up treasure in heaven you're going to get to enjoy that for trillions and trillions and trillions and trillions and trillions of years" [00:06:20]
"every time you are generous you make God smile you make God happy generous giving is an act of worship that honors God now notice this Philippians 4:18 your gifts are like a fragrant offering to God a sacrifice that God accepts and and is pleasing to him pleasing him it makes God smile it makes God's happy now those of you are parents are you happy when your kids are selfish and won't share their toys no are you happy when your kids learn to share their toys of course you are are you happy when your kids are generous of course you are so is God God loves it when his kids learn to be generous every time you're generous you're not selfish you give away money you give away time you give away energy not for your own benefit God goes That's my boy that's my boy do you see how generous he was just then that's my girl do you see how generous she was they're my kids God takes Pride why like father like son God is the most generous person in the universe and he wants his kids to be the same way" [00:13:34]
"there are two ways to be generous you can be generous by reason or you can be generous by Revelation one of them gets God's blessing and the other doesn't one of them requires faith and the other doesn't now the Bible says according to your faith it will be done to you so you want to do the one that requires faith and that is not by reason but by Revelation I can go okay I can I can give by reason say hm what's a reasonable amount that I can give and what I do is I look at my checkbook I figure out what I got I could give that and it's a reasonable amount I don't have to pray about it it doesn't stretch my faith I just go that's what I can afford to give that does not get the blessing of God but it's the way most people give millions of dollars are given to charity and philanthropy every year by reason people look say how can I help this particular charity and I'm going to write out a check and it's a reasonable amount it's what can I afford to give the other way is to give by Revelation and this makes giving or generosity an adventure it stretches your faith" [00:19:02]
"it said they gave more than they were able to give how do you do that how do you give more than you're able to give you're not given by reason you're given by Revelation you say instead of saying what can I to give to help this need you go uh Lord what do you want to give through me and God's always going to give you an amount that is Way Beyond what you think so it forces you to trust him I have done this literally hundreds and hundreds of times in in my life where I go God I have no idea what I what I should give to help this person to help this cause to help our church what I have no idea uh so just put an idea and it's always something that I'm going there's no way I can do that there's just no way no way God no way it's not reasonable God says well you want to get by reason Revelation oh you know you know me of course I want to stretch my faith I want to grow I I I want to be challenged I want to go at the end go shoot God did that one it just a Flatout miracle there's no way I could have done that on my own" [00:20:27]
"you discuss and what Kay and I will do we'll say God what do you want us to give and we'll talk about it we'll think about it and then we'll say we're going to give by Revelation not by reason so put a thought in our mind we'll talk about it go whoa that's an amount well how about this whoa that's an amount and we'll we'll discuss it I would encourage you to do that and you pray about it let me suggest an idea and I actually learned this from my parents my parents developed the habit of at Christmas time giving a gift to God equal to the amount that they were going to spend on Christmas on everybody else now think about this can you imagine going to a birthday party by the way whose birthday is Christmas it's not yours okay it's Jesus birthday what are you giving the birthday boy for Christmas can you imagine going to a birthday party and everybody gives gifts to everybody else accept the person whose birthday it is uh what's wrong with this picture" [00:24:23]
"remember the words that Jesus himself said there's more happiness in giving than in receiving you guys if I had time I would give you my life as an example of this verse I believe that I'm far happier than any of you here listening because God taught me how to be generous at a young age to the point now you know my story that K and I give away 91% of our income and live on nine and we've raised it every year for 38 years and I am the happiest guy on the planet why because there's so much more fun in giving than in receiving that's the habit of happiness" [00:24:23]
"the Bible says God so loved the world that he he gave and you've heard me say this many times you can give without loving but you cannot love without giving so you can say well you know I really love my kids do you give them your time well I really love my wife what are you giving her God so loved the world that he gave and this is what love is all about I become more loving when I become more generous you spell love g i v e e lust is based on getting love is based on giving lust can never wait to get love can always wait to give" [00:01:12]
"every time I'm generous I strengthen my faith I strengthen my faith my faith gets stronger why is that because when I give when I take something that I've got and instead of using it on me and I use it to help you then I'm going to have to depend on God to help me let's say I you know I've got some money that I want to I need to pay my bills with and I help you because you're in a tough fix now I've got to trust God or I I I I've only got a certain amount of time and I got to get all my stuff done and I stop and I help my neighbor with my time now I've got to trust God to help him that all my little bit of time left he'll expand it and make it work so I can get stuff I need to get done" [00:02:32]
"every time I'm generous I invest in my eternal home the Bible says every time I invest I I'm generous when I give time money energy whatever I invest in my eternal home now Jesus called this principle quote storing up treasure in heaven this phrase he says store up for yourselves not for God it says store up for yourselves treasure in heaven now you want to know how many times Jesus used this phrase when he says store up for yourselves treasure in heaven he didn't say it once in the Bible he didn't say it twice he didn't say it three times he didn't say it four times he didn't say it five times Jesus said the phrase store up for yourselves treasure in heaven six times" [00:04:58]
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