Built to Last: Generosity, Stewardship, and Eternal Legacy

Devotional

Day 1: Worship over waste—give your best to Jesus.

Mary’s act at Bethany models extravagant worship: she brought the most valuable thing she owned and poured it out on Jesus without counting the cost. When the house filled with fragrance, it showed that true worship honors the Giver more than it worries about the world’s metrics. Remembering Lazarus’ resurrection, worship becomes a response to what Jesus has done, not a transaction to be measured by others. [01:00:58]

John 12:1–7 (ESV)
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Reflection: What is the most valuable thing you can offer Jesus this week, and what small, practical step will you take to lay it before him without seeking approval from others?

Day 2: Don't rob God; bring tithes to the storehouse.

God calls his people to return to him what is already his—bringing the tithe into the storehouse clears the heart and opens the door to God’s provision and protection. The practice is portrayed not as legalism but as a trust exercise: when people obey this command, God invites them to test his faithfulness. This is about alignment of heart and stewardship, not about punishment but about positioning for blessing. [01:29:18]

Malachi 3:8–10 (ESV)
“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 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.”

Reflection: Where in your finances or devotional life are you subtly holding back from God, and what specific first-fruit step can you take this month to bring it into God’s house?

Day 3: Sow generously to reap abundant return.

Generosity is an agricultural principle in the kingdom: the measure you sow determines the measure you reap, and God multiplies what is given with a purpose beyond immediate return. Giving is framed as seed-sowing—some of what God provides is bread to enjoy, some is seed to plant for future increase and blessing for others. Living with open hands creates a cycle of thanksgiving, provision, and greater capacity to bless. [01:38:56]

2 Corinthians 9:6 (ESV)
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Reflection: Identify one specific way you have been “eating your seed” instead of planting it; what concrete amount or action will you commit to sow this month as an act of faith?

Day 4: Love Jesus by joyful obedience, not performance.

Keeping Christ’s commandments flows from relationship, not religious proving—when love for Jesus fuels obedience, it becomes delight rather than duty. Obedience rooted in affection sustains long-term faithfulness; performance-driven religion wears a person out and misses the life Jesus intends. Falling deeper in love with Jesus transforms what was once a checklist into heartfelt worship expressed through daily choices. [01:24:12]

John 14:15 (ESV)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Reflection: Which command of Jesus feels like duty rather than delight in your life, and what one spiritual practice could help you move that command from performance into love-driven obedience?

Day 5: Let God do exceeding, abundant, limitless things.

God is an Ephesians 3:20 God who invites believers to remove limits and allow him to work beyond human imagination; asking God to do more is an invitation to partnership. The Holy Spirit’s whisper — “what if you let me do what I can do?” — calls for humility, surrender, and a willingness to step out of the way so God’s power can move. Embracing a limitless God reorients goals from small, private ambitions to generational, city-changing faith. [55:15]

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Reflection: What is one “limit” you have placed on God (a dream you’ve minimized, a fear that holds you back), and what single act of faith will you take this week to invite God to do immeasurably more?

Sermon Summary

Legacy Sunday is about more than an offering; it’s about living a life that outlives us. I called our church to take the limits off God and expect Him to move in our city and in our homes. We celebrated a powerful testimony—tumors shrinking 70%—and I urged us to believe that in the next 36 months God can do more than in the last 60 years if we’ll get out of His way. From John 12, Mary’s costly worship set the tone: when you’ve sat at a table with what used to be dead, generosity stops being theory and becomes gratitude. Judas called worship “waste,” but Jesus called it preparation. There is never waste at the altar, because love always costs something and it always fills the house with a fragrance that lasts.

To be built to last, we must stand on four pillars: hard work, stewardship of time, talent, treasure, and temple, open-handed generosity, and the tithe. Many live exhausted because they try to do life on a one- or two-legged stool—working hard without stewardship, giving without tithing, or hoarding without sowing. Proverbs teaches that wealth without God’s blessing adds sorrow, but the blessing of the Lord enriches without extracting our peace. Tithing is not a tip; it’s returning what already belongs to God. He invites us to bring the first tenth into His storehouse, not because He needs funds, but because we need His covering, His rebuke of the devourer, and the freedom of a clear heart.

Offerings—like Mary’s perfume—are above and beyond, a free will response of love. God gives both bread to eat and seed to sow; wisdom is knowing which is which. When we sow seed, God multiplies it in ways we cannot script. Like the widow of Zarephath, every step of obedience opens the jar again. I invited us to ask the Holy Spirit, “Jesus, what would You have me give?”—but before any gift of resources, to give Him our lives. He is the resurrection and the life, and He is still turning dead things into living testimonies.

Key Takeaways

1. Take the limits off God God is not pacing the floor of heaven wondering how to help you; He is waiting for your yes to move without the artificial ceilings we set. Ephesians 3:20 isn’t a slogan, it’s an invitation to partner with His purposes beyond our timelines and comfort zones. Expect Him to do in months what you assumed would take decades. Remove the limits and watch His acceleration. [55:15]
2. Build on four firm pillars A life that lasts rests on hard work, wise stewardship, open-handed generosity, and the tithe. Remove one, and pressure will expose instability—peace leaks, purpose blurs, and fear creeps in. Put all four in place, and God’s wisdom and power flow into every arena of life. This is how we move from exhaustion to endurance. [67:51]
3. Tithing is returning, not giving The earth is the Lord’s; the tithe is not a donation but a return of what is already His. God alone promises to open heaven and rebuke the devourer when we bring the first tenth into His storehouse. It’s less about math and more about mastery—who is Lord over your heart and your house. Obedience here invites protection, provision, and peace. [89:18]
4. Generosity that fills the house Mary’s offering was costly, timely, and personal—it turned gratitude into fragrance that marked everyone present. Real worship always looks “wasteful” to calculating hearts, yet Jesus calls it beautiful and purposeful. When love moves your hands, your gift becomes a signpost to resurrection life. Let your gratitude translate into lavish, Jesus-focused action. [79:21]
5. Blessing without added sorrow You can gain wealth by hustle, talent, or timing, but only God’s blessing safeguards your soul. The world’s version often trades peace for progress, but Kingdom increase adds no regret. True prosperity is enough to enjoy and the wholeness to actually enjoy it. Choose the path where God enriches and guards what He gives. [75:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[50:06] - Warm welcome and Legacy Sunday
[52:11] - Miracle testimony: tumors shrunk
[55:15] - Take the limits off God
[59:02] - Built to Last: John 12
[60:25] - When delay builds faith
[67:51] - Four pillars for a durable life
[72:26] - Tithing: returning what is God’s
[75:32] - Blessing that adds no sorrow
[79:21] - Mary’s costly worship contrasted
[89:18] - Storehouse, protection, and favor
[97:24] - Sowing, reaping, and freewill offerings
[102:03] - Elijah and the widow’s jar
[105:50] - Salvation call and legacy offering
[109:06] - Legacy offering prayer and sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- John 12:1–7
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.

Observation questions

In John 12 Mary anointed Jesus with very costly perfume and the house was filled with fragrance. What does Mary’s action reveal about her understanding of who Jesus is and her posture of gratitude? [01:19:21]
Judas called Mary’s worship “waste,” but verse 6 says Judas was stealing from the moneybox. What details in the text show the difference between Judas’s stated concern and his real motive? [01:01:22]
Jesus defended Mary saying she kept the oil for his burial (v.7). How does Jesus reinterpret Mary’s costly worship as preparation rather than waste? [01:02:41]
Lazarus, once dead, now reclined at the table with Jesus. How does Lazarus’s presence change the meaning of Mary’s gift and the whole scene of worship? [01:21:25]

Interpretation questions

Jesus calls costly worship “preparation” for his burial (v.7). What might it mean theologically and practically that genuine worship prepares for the pivotal work of Christ rather than detracts from other ministries? [01:02:41]
The earth belongs to the Lord and the tithe is described as returning what is already His. How does thinking of tithing as “returning” (not donating) change one’s understanding of obedience, ownership, and trust? [01:13:10]
The widow in 1 Kings 17 gives her last meal at Elijah’s request and the jar is miraculously replenished. How does that story help interpret the promises about sowing, seed, and God’s multiplication when people obey sacrificially? [01:42:03]
Proverbs says the blessing of the Lord makes one rich without adding sorrow. How can one distinguish God’s blessing (that preserves peace) from worldly gain that brings sorrow? What indicators or fruit would show the difference? [01:15:32]

Application questions

“Take the limits off God” — where are you putting invisible ceilings on what God can do in your life, family, or city? Name one specific area where you will choose to expect God to do more in the next 12 months and why. [55:15]
The four pillars are hard work, stewardship (time, talent, treasure, temple), generosity, and the tithe. Which one of these four is weakest in your life right now? What is one concrete step you will take this week to strengthen that pillar? [01:07:51]
Tithing is described as returning God’s portion into His storehouse so He can “rebuke the devourer” and open the windows of heaven. If you are not regularly returning the first tenth, what fears or objections keep you from starting? What practical first step could you take toward beginning to return the tithe? [01:29:18]
Mary’s offering was costly, personal, and spontaneous—an offering of gratitude above and beyond. What would a “costly” expression of gratitude look like for you—time, treasure, or talent—and when will you do it? [01:19:21]
Stewardship includes time and temple, not just money. What change will you make in how you schedule your week or care for your body/mental health so you steward your temple and time better for God’s purposes? Be specific (example: set a daily 15-minute devotion, schedule one Sabbath hour, start a sleep routine). [01:09:47]
The Bible distinguishes seed (to sow) from bread (to eat). Are you currently “eating your seed” or intentionally planting? List one recurring, measurable action you will take this month to move from consuming seed to sowing seed (for example: set a monthly giving plan, volunteer regularly, start a savings-for-giving envelope). [01:39:19]
If the Holy Spirit were to ask, “Jesus, what would you have me give?” what is the first honest answer in your heart? Commit to one next step you will take in response to that answer (prayer, a meeting with a giving coach, starting a tithe, a sacrificial gift, or a lifestyle change) and share it with one accountability partner this week. [01:45:14]

Sermon Clips

Can we just take a moment and praise God for all the lives changed this year already. We've baptized more people. We've seen more people coming to Jesus. We've seen more people step into wanting to serve God. God wants you to be living proof that he's limitless. And God's just saying, if you would just get out of my way, tell your neighbor, get out of God's way. Watch what he's going to do. Watch what he can do through you. [00:55:57] (32 seconds) #LetGodWork

Hard work. Amen. Hard work is good. Hard work was not punishment in the garden. Before we sinned, there was hard work. After we sinned, then we toiled. But before that, we were work. Work is our purpose. If you're a school teacher, if you're in finance, if you're a nurse, if you're a doctor, if you're raising kids, you're called to make an impact in society. Your vocation is your ministry. Somebody say, it's my calling. Wherever, whatever office you live in, whatever cubicle, whatever your job is, that is your pulpit. [01:08:18] (38 seconds) #WorkIsWorship

So really when we tithe, we're just returning to God what's already his. But many of us, we act like four-year-olds at the dinner table. I want the dinosaur nuggets but not the veggies. I want the good stuff but I don't want to mature. And all the grandmas in here know you better eat your carry or you won't see straight. And a lot of us don't see straight. And our spiritual maturity has been stunted because we're trying to get the good from God but we don't want to live under his truth. [01:13:46] (35 seconds) #GiveAndGrow

Our nation is wealthier than it has ever been and it is sorrier than it has ever been. We are more depressed than we've ever been. We are more introverted than we've ever been. We are more polarizing than we've ever been. Yet we've got more wealth than we've ever had. Why? Because God's way adds no sorrow. The world's way adds sorrow. [01:16:56] (30 seconds) #RichButEmpty

But when you see Jesus take something that was dead in your life and bring it back to life, and then you know it wasn't therapy, it wasn't luck, it wasn't your hard work, it wasn't timing, it wasn't your gift, it wasn't your ability, it was nothing but Jesus. Suddenly, everything in your life, you begin to say, thank you, Jesus. [01:22:28] (28 seconds) #JesusRestores

See, because a built-to-last mindset, a legacy mindset, it's not my money. Tell your neighbor, it's not my money. It's not my money. Some of you are saying, can I trust you, God, with my money? It's not your money. You should be saying, God, can you trust me with what's yours? It's not mine. And what's wild is Judas felt that he had the right to tell Mary how she should give and honor God with her valuables. And as believers, we feel that we have the right to tell God what he should do with what the Bible says does not belong to us in the first place. It's not yours. [01:28:18] (44 seconds) #NotMyMoney

If you want to live without the protection and favor of God and his covering, feel free. But let me tell you, life like that is hard. And God is saying, if you want my favor on your life, if you want him to rebuke the devourer on your behalf, do it my way. Because we all know more money means more drama-rama. But God, blessing produces more blessing than it brings peace. It's different. His blessings is supernatural. His kingdom is different. Tell your neighbor, it's different. [01:35:31] (36 seconds) #GodsFavorFirst

Somebody say seed. Somebody say bread. Everything God's given us is either bread for life or seed. And the problem is a lot of us believers don't understand that. And so we end up eating our seed and sowing our bread. God's giving you seed to sow and bread to eat. And we're eating our seed because we're over-leveraging on our bread. Tell your neighbor, too many carbs. And we all know too many carbs ain't good. There's bread and there's seed. When you sow seed, it produces a harvest. [01:39:35] (44 seconds) #SowDontEatSeed

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What distinguishes tithing from freewill offerings?

How do we discern seed from bread?

How does love transform obedience into desire?