Generosity: A Heartfelt Reflection of Abundance
Summary
Today's message centers on the theme of generosity, not merely in terms of financial giving but as a reflection of the heart. Many of us have likely prayed for wealth with the promise of being generous, yet we often fail to recognize how blessed we already are. The challenge is to shift our perspective and see ourselves as richer than we think, both materially and spiritually. This realization should inspire us to be more generous with our time, resources, and finances.
Reflecting on personal experiences, such as the early days of starting the church, highlights how God provides even in times of scarcity. Despite financial struggles, the richness of life was found in family and faith, not in material abundance. This perspective is crucial because a mindset focused on lack can lead to a life filled with dread. Instead, acknowledging our blessings allows us to live abundantly and share with others.
The teachings of Paul in 2 Corinthians emphasize that God enriches us so that we can be generous. This enrichment is not solely financial; it encompasses all aspects of life. The Greek word "platizo," meaning to be made rich, underscores that our blessings are meant to be shared. The devil often tries to instill a spirit of fear and lack, but recognizing our blessings helps us overcome this.
Generosity is not about the amount but the heart behind the giving. The story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18 illustrates how wealth can be a spiritual disadvantage if it consumes us. True generosity flows from a heart that acknowledges God as the source of all blessings. We are called to be rivers, not reservoirs, allowing blessings to flow through us to others.
As a church, we are encouraged to give collectively, making a significant impact in our community. The Pareto Principle reminds us that when everyone contributes, the burden is lightened, and the possibilities for outreach and ministry are endless. Our goal is to be a blessing, reflecting God's generosity in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Perspective on Wealth: Many of us are richer than we perceive, both materially and spiritually. Recognizing this can shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance, allowing us to live more generously. [04:49]
- God's Provision: Personal experiences of God's provision, even in times of financial struggle, remind us that true wealth is found in relationships and faith, not material possessions. [06:50]
- Purpose of Blessings: According to 2 Corinthians, God enriches us so that we can be generous. Our blessings are not just for personal enjoyment but to be shared with others, reflecting God's love. [09:14]
- Heart of Generosity: The story of the rich young ruler teaches that wealth can be a spiritual disadvantage if it consumes us. True generosity comes from a heart that acknowledges God as the source of all blessings. [23:57]
- Collective Impact: When everyone in the church contributes, the collective impact is significant. The Pareto Principle highlights that shared responsibility leads to greater outreach and ministry opportunities. [33:54]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Generosity
- [01:45] - Misconceptions About Wealth
- [04:49] - Recognizing Our Riches
- [06:50] - Personal Testimony of God's Provision
- [09:14] - Purpose of Being Blessed
- [11:24] - Global Perspective on Wealth
- [13:11] - The Joy of Simple Blessings
- [16:52] - Source of Our Blessings
- [21:13] - Embracing God's Blessings
- [23:57] - The Rich Young Ruler's Lesson
- [26:30] - The Danger of Wealth
- [29:45] - Being a River, Not a Reservoir
- [33:54] - Collective Generosity
- [36:06] - Call to Action and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Generosity and the Heart
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11
2. Luke 18:18-25
3. Ecclesiastes 5:19
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 2 Corinthians 9:8-11, what is the purpose of God enriching us? How does this relate to the concept of generosity? [09:14]
2. In the story of the rich young ruler from Luke 18, what was the young man's reaction to Jesus' instruction, and what does this reveal about his heart? [23:57]
3. How does the pastor describe the difference between being a river and a reservoir in terms of blessings? What does this metaphor suggest about the nature of generosity? [29:45]
4. What personal experiences did the pastor share to illustrate God's provision during times of financial struggle? How did these experiences shape his perspective on wealth and generosity? [06:50]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Greek word "platizo," meaning to be made rich, deepen our understanding of the purpose of blessings according to 2 Corinthians 9:8-11? [09:14]
2. What does the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18 teach about the potential spiritual disadvantages of wealth? How can wealth distract us from our spiritual mission? [23:57]
3. In what ways does the pastor suggest that a mindset focused on scarcity can lead to a life filled with dread? How does this contrast with a mindset of abundance? [06:50]
4. How does the Pareto Principle, as mentioned in the sermon, apply to the concept of collective generosity within the church? What impact does shared responsibility have on outreach and ministry? [33:54]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current perspective on wealth. Do you see yourself as richer than you think, both materially and spiritually? How might this realization change your approach to generosity? [04:49]
2. Consider a time when you experienced God's provision during a financial struggle. How did this experience affect your faith and your view of what it means to be truly wealthy? [06:50]
3. In what ways can you become more of a "river" rather than a "reservoir" with the blessings you have received? Identify one specific action you can take this week to let blessings flow through you to others. [29:45]
4. How can you ensure that your heart remains focused on God as the source of all blessings, rather than being consumed by material wealth? What practical steps can you take to maintain this focus? [23:57]
5. The pastor mentioned the importance of collective generosity in the church. How can you contribute to this collective effort, and what role do you see yourself playing in your church's outreach and ministry? [33:54]
6. Reflect on the story of the rich young ruler. Are there possessions or aspects of your life that might be consuming your heart? How can you address these to ensure they do not hinder your spiritual growth? [23:57]
7. How can you cultivate a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity in your daily life? What specific practices or habits can help you focus on the blessings you have rather than what you lack? [06:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Our True Wealth
Generosity is not just about financial giving; it is a reflection of the heart. Many people pray for wealth with the promise of being generous, yet often fail to recognize how blessed they already are. The challenge is to shift perspective and see oneself as richer than perceived, both materially and spiritually. This realization should inspire more generosity with time, resources, and finances. By acknowledging the abundance already present, individuals can move from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance, allowing them to live more generously. [04:49]
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, ESV)
Reflection: What are three specific blessings in your life that you often overlook, and how can you use them to bless others today?
Day 2: Experiencing God's Provision
Reflecting on personal experiences, such as the early days of starting a church, highlights how God provides even in times of scarcity. Despite financial struggles, the richness of life is found in family and faith, not in material abundance. This perspective is crucial because a mindset focused on lack can lead to a life filled with dread. Instead, acknowledging blessings allows one to live abundantly and share with others. True wealth is found in relationships and faith, not material possessions. [06:50]
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)
Reflection: Recall a time when you experienced God's provision in an unexpected way. How can this memory encourage you to trust Him in your current circumstances?
Day 3: Purpose of Our Blessings
According to 2 Corinthians, God enriches us so that we can be generous. This enrichment is not solely financial; it encompasses all aspects of life. The Greek word "platizo," meaning to be made rich, underscores that blessings are meant to be shared. The devil often tries to instill a spirit of fear and lack, but recognizing blessings helps overcome this. Our blessings are not just for personal enjoyment but to be shared with others, reflecting God's love. [09:14]
"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: Identify one blessing in your life that you can share with someone else this week. How will you go about doing this?
Day 4: The Heart of Generosity
The story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18 illustrates how wealth can be a spiritual disadvantage if it consumes us. True generosity flows from a heart that acknowledges God as the source of all blessings. Wealth should not be a barrier to spiritual growth but a tool for blessing others. We are called to be rivers, not reservoirs, allowing blessings to flow through us to others. [23:57]
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways might your possessions be holding you back spiritually? How can you begin to let go and allow God's blessings to flow through you?
Day 5: The Power of Collective Generosity
As a church, collective giving can make a significant impact in the community. The Pareto Principle reminds us that when everyone contributes, the burden is lightened, and the possibilities for outreach and ministry are endless. The goal is to be a blessing, reflecting God's generosity in our lives. When everyone in the church contributes, the collective impact is significant, leading to greater outreach and ministry opportunities. [33:54]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to your church's mission this week, whether through time, resources, or finances? What specific action will you take to be part of the collective impact?
Quotes
I want to dive right in today because I believe today's message, man, I've been excited about it all week because we've been in a series called Generous. And whenever you talk to church people about money, it can cause all kind of different reactions. But we're not talking about money, we're talking about heart and how your heart is attached to your stuff and your money and how God can use it. So I want to ask you a question. This is honesty time. How many of you have ever told the Lord, Lord, if you will bless me and allow me to be rich, I would be a really good rich person. Let me see your hand, all right? There's some honest folks in here, the rest of you, like I don't want to admit it, but you know you have. It's like, God, if you give me six numbers, I'd play the lottery because it wouldn't be gambling because then you gave me the numbers. And God, if you would let me be rich, I would be a really good rich person. I'd give to missions, I'd give to my neighbors, everybody you need. I'd be so good with it. I'd spend a little bit on me, but I'd be so good with it. Amen? [00:00:08] (53 seconds)
But here's what's really crazy is when it comes to the subject of being wealthy or being rich, or we talk about generosity, I doubt very many of us in this room would consider us or categorize ourselves as being rich. But the truth of the matter is we're richer than we think we are. So many people think they're not rich because they've got the wrong perspective. Maybe we need to dial back our perspective and look at it in the grand scheme of the world. So you may not think you're rich, but you're richer than you think you are, my friend. And on the same token, there's a lot of people that think they're generous. They're really not. Not as generous as they think they should. So this is the challenge, to become more generous than we are right now. [00:00:54] (46 seconds)
I remember when we first started the church back in 2008. Man, things were tight. I think that's probably the tightest things that ever been in our life. We were all in, giving everything we could to the church, weren't receiving a salary. And yet God helped us to make it. And I remember Grant asking us one Sunday, my youngest son, and he said, are we homeless? And I was like, well, we don't have a home, but we have a place to sleep. And almost every single night, five nights a week at least, we ate Hamburger Helper. And the box said to add a pound of meat to the contents of the box. And sometimes we didn't have a pound of meat, so we just needed a lot more help. [00:05:21] (40 seconds)
And for all, for several years, I couldn't even stomach the smell of Hamburger Helper. I can stomach it now. I'm far enough away from it. But do you know those are some of the richest, most wealthy times that my kids remember? They loved that time. They talk about the time, we had Hamburger Helper. Can we have Hamburger Helper? again dead? No. Because I have an emotional attachment to it that they don't. But we never let our kids think that we were lacking anything because we had the most important thing, each other and God. And if you keep looking at your life with a spirit of poverty, a mindset of poverty, and you keep looking at what you don't have versus what you have, I mean there's breath in your lungs. [00:06:00] (42 seconds)
Life is what you make of it. And if you dread it, then you're going to inherit a life worthy of dread. So today I want to interject to you the thought that most of us are actually richer than we think we are. And if you ever do reach the point where you say, you know what, I am blessed. God, thank you. I'm rich. By whatever standard you set, financially, financially, relationally, you're rich. The key to it all is you're made rich to be a blessing to other people. I want to be a blessing to other people. I want to honor God. If he helps me to be blessed, I want to be blessed in a way that honors God with what I'm blessed with. [00:06:29] (42 seconds)
I've got some good news, and I've got some bad news. The good news is you're wealthier, you're richer, and more blessed than you think you are. That's the good news. 2 Corinthians 9, 8, and 11 says, and God will generously provide. Who will provide? God will generously provide all you need, not necessarily all you want. Then you will always have everything again that you need. need and plenty left over to do what with? Hoard it all up. Keep it for yourself. No, to share with others. Yes, you will be enriched in every way. That Greek word, I love to dig deep when I'm reading the word into what it means. That Greek word is platizo. That word platizo in the Greek means enriched and it literally means to be made rich. [00:07:52] (53 seconds)
But regardless of what our American perception of wealth and finances is, as truthfully and lovingly as I can tell you, can I tell you this? That compared to the rest of the world, the vast majority of the world, we're doing pretty good. Pastor, I don't live in those parts of the world. I feel it here and I get that. But I know that we don't live in the places where we often go to for missions trips. But nothing will bring you perspective on how blessed you really are than on a missions trip. I think missions trips do more for me than what I can do in a week of giving to them. Because every person in the countries that we've ever gone to to do missions would think every person in this room is rich. But being rich is subjective. [00:10:57] (51 seconds)
Because most of us in this room, we have a cell phone that we paid over a thousand dollars for. Indoor plumbing, a bed, a roof, walls, doors, flooring, groceries. We have options. We can grow our own food, but we don't have to. On our last missions trip, we fed kids that we were told that this will be their only meal they get this day. And you know what I didn't see in those countries? Not once did I see an ad for Ozempic or weight loss. And I'm not knocking that. But they don't have the struggles that we have. Because they're not blessed like we are, but they're blessed in ways that I want us to be blessed. Not having enough food isn't a fear or concern for most of us in this room. Honestly, we live a pretty blessed, rich life. [00:12:57] (56 seconds)
And I'm not struggling with whether I'll eat today. As a matter of fact, most of us, the biggest struggle we have today is where will we eat today? And again, I'm not making light or trying to guilt any of us or shame any of us. I love the country that I was allowed to be born in. But most of us drove a car to church today. One in five people in the world own a vehicle. That means you are in the top 20 % of the world if you own a car. If you own more than one car, you're off the charts. As a matter of fact, some of us are so blessed that not only do we have a house, our car has a house. We have a house to park our car, called a garage. So you're actually richer than you think you are. [00:13:46] (47 seconds)
Anyone can be bad regardless of their financial status. So let me ask you, if you'd say today that you're blessed, then where do your blessings come from? They come from God, right? How many of you would agree that your blessings come from God? Whether financially or relationally blessed, God is the one that blesses. Ecclesiastes 5 .19 says, moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil, this is a gift from God. So let's break that verse down. Who gives the wealth? God gives the wealth and He gives the possessions. And He gives us the ability to do what with them? Enjoy them. It's okay to enjoy the blessings of God, but it can't stop there. [00:17:03] (54 seconds)
How many of you in this room want God to bless you? Let me see your hands. All right. How many of you are okay that the ones that were like, not me, I'm okay, that you're willing to take their portion? Oh, I am. I'm like, if you don't want it, give it to me, God, because you know what? I'll do some good stuff with it. But I'm thankful. And I want to be able to have more than I need to share. I want to be blessed because I want to be a blessing to other people. And I'm okay with God blessing me. So think about it. If every good and perfect thing is as a gift from God, if He's already blessed you or He's going to bless you in the future, why would we apologize or be embarrassed of His blessings? [00:18:00] (42 seconds)
You don't have to be boastful or arrogant about it. You can be grateful. You don't have to flaunt it. But why would we hide the blessings of God? I mean, I think God's people should be blessed. What a great testimony of our Heavenly Father who keeps His promises that we read in His Word and that He is a giver of good things and blessings to His kids. Why would we apologize for that? You know why people talk about Christians who are blessed? Because they aren't blessed. Because they're not doing things God's way. But also because we as Christians can be blessed and we forget the other part to be a blessing to others and we white knuckle grip our stuff. That's why I want to be a cheerful giver. [00:21:54] (49 seconds)
There's nothing wrong with being blessed because God blesses us to be a blessing to others. God didn't bless me just for me. He blessed me to be a blessing. So the good news, you're richer and more blessed than you think you are. You ready for the bad news? Buckle up because it's really bad. The bad news is, you're richer and more blessed than you think you are. That's good news, but that's also bad news. Because some people are in such hot pursuit of wealth because they just want to be rich and filthy rich. Not so they can bless others, so that they can bless themselves. And you will become a slave to things when you pursue wealth for your own benefit. [00:22:41] (51 seconds)
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