Generosity: A Heartfelt Journey of Trust and Giving

Summary

In this week's message, we delve into the profound journey of generosity and the spiritual wrestling that accompanies it. The essence of our discussion is about putting everything we hold dear on the table before God, asking Him what He desires from us, and being willing to give it all. This isn't just about financial giving; it's about the heart and the internal conversations we have with God regarding our resources and priorities.

We explored the concept of generosity not as an abstract idea but as a lived experience, drawing from personal stories and biblical teachings. The Bible, particularly Matthew 6, serves as our guide, emphasizing that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. This passage challenges us to examine who truly has our heart—God or the false god of Mammon, which promises security, identity, and happiness but ultimately seeks to be our master.

The journey of giving begins with common acts of kindness and generosity, which please God but do not necessarily indicate that He has our heart. True biblical giving starts with tithing, the act of returning the first 10% of our income to God, acknowledging that it is His. This is not about legalism but about aligning our hearts with God's principles.

Beyond tithing, we discussed offerings and extravagant offerings, where we give beyond the tithe from our own resources, reflecting God's generosity towards us. These acts of giving are not about the amount but about the heart behind them. The story of the widow's two mites illustrates that the greatest acts of generosity are not measured by the size of the gift but by the heart's willingness to give all.

We are encouraged to have a conversation with God about what represents giving Him all of our heart in this season of life. This is not about setting a bar or comparing ourselves to others but about seeking God's guidance and being willing to trust Him with everything.

Key Takeaways:

- Generosity as a Heart Issue: True generosity is not about the amount we give but about the condition of our heart. It begins with a willingness to put everything on the table before God and ask what He desires from us. This requires an honest conversation with God, acknowledging our fears and trusting Him with our resources. [02:10]

- The Battle Between God and Mammon: In our financial decisions, we face a spiritual battle between serving God and serving Mammon. Mammon promises security and happiness but ultimately seeks to control us. Jesus teaches that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also, challenging us to place our trust in God rather than material wealth. [10:38]

- Tithing as a Starting Point: Tithing, or giving the first 10% of our income to God, is a biblical principle that predates the law and is affirmed by Jesus. It is not about legalism but about acknowledging God's ownership and aligning our hearts with His priorities. Tithing is the starting point for biblical giving, not the end. [22:12]

- Extravagant Offerings Reflect God's Generosity: Beyond tithing, we are called to give offerings and extravagant offerings, reflecting God's generosity towards us. These acts of giving are not about the amount but about the heart's willingness to give all. The story of the widow's two mites illustrates that the greatest acts of generosity are measured by the heart, not the size of the gift. [36:38]

- Trusting God with Our All: The ultimate question is whether we are willing to trust God with all of our heart. This involves seeking His guidance and being willing to give Him our all, not just our leftovers. It is about asking God what represents giving Him all of our heart in this season of life and being willing to follow His lead. [44:42]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:52] - Honoring Brian
- [02:10] - Generosity in Action
- [04:17] - Wrestling with Giving
- [06:40] - Financial Planning and Trust
- [07:58] - Tithing and Sacrifice
- [09:57] - Voices in the Conversation
- [10:38] - God vs. Mammon
- [14:31] - True Mastery
- [16:37] - False Promises of Mammon
- [18:23] - Common Giving
- [20:32] - The First Belongs to God
- [22:12] - Tithing and Ordinances
- [23:51] - Community and Accountability
- [26:09] - Return on Investment
- [28:49] - God's Unchanging Nature
- [31:55] - Offerings and Generosity
- [33:57] - Extravagant Offerings
- [36:38] - Mary's Extravagant Gift
- [39:13] - The Heart of Giving
- [40:26] - God's Generosity
- [42:48] - Trusting God's Provision
- [44:07] - Giving God Our All
- [44:42] - Seeking God's Guidance
- [45:47] - Legacy of Generosity
- [48:46] - Heart Behind the Amounts
- [49:46] - Listening to God
- [51:09] - The Safest Trust
- [51:43] - Starting the Conversation
- [52:17] - Take Me Deeper
- [55:22] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Matthew 6:19-24 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

2. Luke 21:1-4 - "As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'"

3. Malachi 3:10 - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'"

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Matthew 6:19-24, what are the two options Jesus presents for where we can store our treasures, and what is the implication of each choice? [10:38]

2. In the story of the widow's offering in Luke 21:1-4, what distinguishes her gift from those of the rich, and why does Jesus highlight her action? [48:46]

3. What does Malachi 3:10 suggest about God's response to tithing, and how does this relate to the concept of testing God? [28:49]

4. How does the sermon describe the internal conversation one might have when considering what to give to God? [04:17]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" challenge the way individuals prioritize their resources and affections? [10:38]

2. What does the widow's offering teach about the nature of true generosity, and how might this contrast with societal views on giving? [48:46]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that tithing is more about the heart's alignment with God than about legalistic obligation? [22:12]

4. How does the sermon illustrate the battle between serving God and serving Mammon, and what are the practical implications of this struggle in daily life? [14:31]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current financial priorities. How do they align with the teaching that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"? What changes might you consider making? [10:38]

2. Consider a time when you felt called to give beyond your comfort zone. What internal conversations did you have, and how did you resolve them? [04:17]

3. How can you begin or continue the practice of tithing in a way that reflects trust in God's provision rather than fear of scarcity? [28:49]

4. Identify a specific area in your life where you might be serving Mammon instead of God. What steps can you take to shift your focus and trust towards God? [14:31]

5. Think about a recent act of generosity you witnessed or participated in. How did it reflect the heart of giving described in the sermon, and what impact did it have on you or others? [48:46]

6. How can you engage in a conversation with God about what represents giving Him all of your heart in this season of life? What fears or hesitations might you need to address? [44:42]

7. Reflect on the story of the widow's offering. How can you apply her example of sacrificial giving in your own life, regardless of the amount? [48:46]

Devotional

Day 1: Generosity as a Heart's Reflection
True generosity is not measured by the amount given but by the condition of the heart. It begins with a willingness to lay everything before God and ask what He desires from us. This requires an honest conversation with God, acknowledging our fears and trusting Him with our resources. The journey of generosity is deeply personal and spiritual, inviting us to examine our priorities and align them with God's will. It challenges us to move beyond superficial acts of kindness to a place where our giving reflects a heart fully surrendered to God. [02:10]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is asking you to trust Him more with your resources? How can you begin to have an honest conversation with Him about this today?

Day 2: The Spiritual Battle of Financial Allegiance
In our financial decisions, we face a spiritual battle between serving God and serving Mammon. Mammon promises security and happiness but ultimately seeks to control us. Jesus teaches that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also, challenging us to place our trust in God rather than material wealth. This battle is not just about money but about who or what we allow to master our lives. It calls us to examine our financial priorities and ensure they align with our faith and trust in God. [10:38]

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (Matthew 6:24, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your recent financial decisions. Are there areas where you find yourself prioritizing material security over spiritual trust? How can you begin to shift your focus towards God?

Day 3: Tithing as an Act of Alignment
Tithing, or giving the first 10% of our income to God, is a biblical principle that predates the law and is affirmed by Jesus. It is not about legalism but about acknowledging God's ownership and aligning our hearts with His priorities. Tithing is the starting point for biblical giving, not the end. It serves as a tangible expression of our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His kingdom. By prioritizing tithing, we declare that God is first in our lives and that we trust Him to meet our needs. [22:12]

"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: Reflect on your current approach to tithing. Is it a joyful act of worship or a reluctant obligation? How can you realign your heart to see it as an opportunity to trust God more deeply?

Day 4: Extravagant Offerings as a Reflection of God's Generosity
Beyond tithing, we are called to give offerings and extravagant offerings, reflecting God's generosity towards us. These acts of giving are not about the amount but about the heart's willingness to give all. The story of the widow's two mites illustrates that the greatest acts of generosity are measured by the heart, not the size of the gift. Extravagant offerings invite us to step out in faith, trusting that God will provide as we mirror His generosity in our lives. [36:38]

"And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny." (Mark 12:41-42, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt prompted to give beyond your comfort zone. What held you back, and how can you prepare your heart to respond with faith and generosity in the future?

Day 5: Trusting God with Our Whole Heart
The ultimate question is whether we are willing to trust God with all of our heart. This involves seeking His guidance and being willing to give Him our all, not just our leftovers. It is about asking God what represents giving Him all of our heart in this season of life and being willing to follow His lead. Trusting God with our whole heart means surrendering our fears, desires, and resources to Him, believing that He knows what is best for us. [44:42]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Quotes

1. "Now today, I'm going to give you some specific information. Why? Because I want you to have a conversation with God. If you've put everything on the table, or if you are struggling to put everything on the table, the next step is to have a conversation with God about that stuff, to say, God, what of everything that I have do you actually want right now? It's having a conversation with God. Sometimes you can come to church and it feels like there's a secret agenda, particularly when it comes to money. And so I just want to make it. Really abundantly clear. I don't have a secret agenda, but I do have an agenda. This is it right here. Kyle's not top secret agenda to help you hear what God says, resoundingly in scripture so that you can talk to him specifically about your stuff in hopes that you give him your heart entirely." [00:02:57] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The reason we're behind on college savings is because you people are sitting on my kids' college savings. Really. Really. Five chairs. Five chairs was $50,000 back in 2015. $10,000 per seat in a crossroad site. That was the math. We gave five chairs. You're really sitting on them. I go, God, isn't it enough? Didn't we already do this? Keep hearing that voice. It is enough. It is unwise. You can't do more. See, when it comes to this conversation with God, the first thing we have to recognize is that once we start engaging in a conversation about our finances, about our giving with God, there's a third party. There's a third party that enters the room. There are two voices that want to talk to us. These voices are directly opposed to each other. They don't agree on anything. And there will only be one winner. One voice that we will listen to. They can't be any ties. You might go, winner? Winner of what? My money? No. Your heart." [00:10:38] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus is very clear about this. Very clear. It's not treasure might be also or could be or sometimes is. He says will be. See, where you place your treasure determines who has your heart. And Jesus says there's only two options, on earth or in heaven. And right after this, he talks about two voices, two choices, two visions. Matthew 6, 22. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. What's he saying? He's saying, well, if where you place your treasure determines who has your heart, whoever has your heart sets your vision. Only two visions. Good and bad. Which is the way it's translated. Translated into English is kind of vague. But if you go back to the original languages, these ideas get sharper and sharper and sharper. Good actually means singularly focused. Like on the kingdom of God coming on earth as it is in heaven. Or as he'll say just a few verses after this, seek first the kingdom of God. And all this other stuff will be added to you. Focus with all of your attention on just the one thing, the kingdom coming. That's the good vision. And the bad is the opposite. Rather than focus on the coming kingdom. Of God instead, focus on your worries of the day. Bad literally means full of labors, annoyances, and hardships." [00:12:58] (87 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God says you can either listen to that voice or you can listen to me. Which, by the way, is why Brian and I are not going to tell you an amount to give. That won't happen. That does happen at some churches. And what I said earlier, today is not about amounts. Today is not about setting a bar for you. It's not that at all. I can't tell you how much to give because I'm not your God. And I don't want to be. Brian doesn't want to be. The goal is to get you to talk to him. And have a conversation with him about what he might want you to do. Now the way to listen to God, number one way, is to pay attention to what he has already said resoundingly inside of Scripture. Because if you're waiting for God to change his mind, he says I don't change, and he doesn't make exceptions. He's not going to walk up to you and go, you know what, out of everybody in the universe you're different. It's not going to happen." [00:17:55] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "See, God says if you want me to have your heart, then it begins with giving me your first. Why? Because God says the first, is his. Very clearly throughout the Bible. One place he says this, Exodus 13 .1, the Lord said to Moses, consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first is mine. And mine in the original language is emphatic. It's sole ownership. There's no ties. There's no sharing. The first is mine. In fact, it's accurate to say that God has such a claim on the first that he cannot be second. Can't happen. You might hear that and go like, wait, he's God. Can't God do anything? Can he be or do anything he wants to? No. The Bible says that God is love. Therefore, he cannot be unloving. Same thing here. The Bible says God is first. Therefore, he cannot and he will not be second. And he won't be tied for first because that's not sole ownership. God and Ricky Bobby agree, man. You ain't first, you last. Same thing. It's exactly what Jesus says. You can't serve God and mammon. Same thing. God says, give me the first." [00:19:47] (73 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "You might go, okay, but why give 10 % to your church? Isn't that somewhat self -serving, Kyle? And you just kind of make that up. And that's a totally fair question. That's a great question to ask. Because you could just go, you know what, I'm going to tithe. I'm just going to give it to nonprofits who I pick. I'm going to give it to individuals in need who I identify. And I'll just say, if you choose to do that, okay, just know you're out of step with a very clear pattern of the community of God's people. See, faith is not an individual sport. It's meant to be a community together. And throughout the Bible, what we see is God's community pulling together. And that's what we see. And that's what we see. And that's what we see. And that's pulling their resources together, entrusting them to spiritual leaders who are then held to an account to invest those resources wisely for maximum kingdom return, maximum blessings in people's life. It's always been the pattern. Exodus 23, 19, God says, bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. The house of the Lord your God, that meant that that was the Levites who managed." [00:23:31] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "See, tithing isn't giving so much as it is returning. In fact, in the Bible, God never says, give me your tithe. He says, bring it to me and return it. Why? Because it's his. You can't give what's not yours. You can return it, but you can't give it. See, true generosity starts with what you do with your own in that 90%. Lots of examples of people giving this way throughout Scripture. The one that I think is most interesting, maybe most profound, has to do with the ministry of Jesus. Have you ever asked yourself the question, what funded his ministry? I mean, he was walking around. He was doing stuff. What funded? He had expenses. He had hotel rooms, and he had meals. And I'm sure Peter broke a sandal strap. And it had to get fixed or whatever. Like, there was costs, right? So who paid for it? Where did the money come from? Well, Luke tells us in chapter 8 of his gospel. He says, And also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out. Joanna, the wife of Chusa, the manager of Herod's household. Susanna, and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Their own. Own, because these were good Jewish women who had already sent their 10 % tithe off the Levites at the temple. Already done that part. And then out of their own 90%, they were offering to Jesus to fund and support his ministry." [00:31:15] (86 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "I find that Christians, strangely, tend to have a hard time with extravagance. Even though we love and we worship and we serve an extravagant God, we have a hard time with it. We hear this all the time at Crossroads about some of the initiatives even, some of the projects that are a part of the push. Isn't what we're already doing good enough? Or isn't that extravagant? Why do we need that ministry or that tool? Isn't it over the top? Isn't it extravagant? One of the most famous stories in the Bible that I find fascinating, incredibly fascinating, has to do with extravagant offerings. It's this scene where this woman comes to Jesus exactly seven days before he's going to be crucified. And she takes a jar of, like, perfume, ointment, embalming fluid. Weird. Worth a year's wages. And she cracks off the top of the jar. She gets down and she pours it on Jesus' feet. And then she wipes his feet with her hair. Super weird. It happens in the book of John, chapter 12. It says this. Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus, who had been dead, whom he had raised from the dead, lived. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. Then the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil." [00:35:15] (83 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Now, like I said, it's really not about the amount. It's really not. Do you know that the greatest act of generosity in the entire Bible, outside of God giving his first, his own, and his all, the greatest act, was a widow giving away her two pennies? It's exactly what Jesus said when he saw her. Luke 21, the story says, he looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and he saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So he said, truly I say to you, that this poor widow has put in more than all. For all of these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God. But she, out of her poverty, put in all the livelihood that she had. Not about the amount. Most impressive offering Jesus has ever seen is two pennies. The question is, what represents all of your heart in this season?" [00:47:14] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "If we're gonna see 10X in 10 years, if we're gonna see an awakening break out, it takes all of us giving God our all. All. And I know it's easy to look around crossroads and go, man, this place is so big, it doesn't need me. No. The opposite's true. The call of God is so big, it requires everyone to step in. Say, God, you're gonna have my firstborn. You can have my own. You can have my all. Now, like I said, this message is about equipping you, preparing you to have a conversation with God. And it is possible that God might tell you exactly what to give. Like I said, that's happened before for Sarah and I. Don't know if it's gonna happen again. You might have that moment. It's amazing if it does. But also push you. Do you know in those stories that I just talked about, Mary and the oil, David the 20 billion, the widow and the two penny, and none of those stories, does it say that God ever asked for any of it? Instead, it looks like in this conversation that they were listening to God, but there was a moment where they just decided, you know what? I wanna tell you what you have for me. I wanna tell you that you have my all. That's what it looks like." [00:49:53] (72 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?