Generosity for Such a Time as This

Devotional

Day 1: You were placed for a divine moment.

God sovereignly positions people in moments where destiny and mercy intersect; recognize that placement is not accidental but appointed so that relief and deliverance might come through you. Like Esther, stepping into that appointed place often requires courage, prayer, and a willingness to give of oneself even at great personal risk. See your current relationships, job, and season not as coincidences but as assignments to be stewarded for God’s purposes. [51:06]

Esther 4:14 (NIV)
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Reflection: What is one place in your life where God has positioned you “for such a time as this”? What is one concrete, courageous step (a conversation, a prayer, an act of service) you will take this week to step into that assignment?

Day 2: Generosity brings blessing; give more than receive.

Generosity is not merely a transaction but a way of life that aligns a heart with Jesus’ teaching that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Living generously requires intentionality — choosing to help the weak, invest in kingdom work, and give now rather than waiting for convenience. When generosity becomes the daily business of preparing for eternity, it transforms character, increases faith, and opens doors for God to move. [50:01]

Acts 20:35 (NIV)
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Reflection: Identify a current need around you that you can meet sacrificially; what one resource (an hour, a skill, or a specific amount of money) will you commit to give this week, and how will you hold yourself accountable to follow through?

Day 3: Jesus — the light and hope for today.

Every blessing and every open door is an expression of God’s generous heart toward humanity; the true hope that floods darkness is the child born, the son given, Jesus Christ. Remembering His titles — Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace — helps reorient daily choices toward worship, surrender, and courageous service. Invite His light into places of fear, pain, and uncertainty, and watch how hope begins to displace the darkness. [08:10]

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Reflection: When you feel darkness or doubt this week, what two simple practices (for example, a five-minute prayer, reading this verse aloud, or serving someone) will you do daily to invite Jesus’ light into that place?

Day 4: You were born with divine purpose.

Life is brief but eternal consequences matter; being “God’s handiwork” means each day is meant to be lived toward the good works God prepared for you. Preparing for the last day is not about fear but focus — live with intentional generosity and kingdom-minded priorities so the dash between your dates points to eternal investment. Recognize talents, opportunities, and daily rhythms as the context where purpose is lived out and refined. [58:23]

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Reflection: What one small, measurable action can you begin in the next seven days that moves you toward the good work you believe God prepared you for (a phone call, a volunteer sign-up, a regular time of prayer for direction)?

Day 5: Generosity builds legacy for future generations.

Generosity does more than meet immediate needs — it shapes families, communities, and the faith of children for generations to come; what is given sacrificially today produces dividends in future lives. Investing in children and young people (time, resources, mentoring, strategic giving) creates a launching pad for their faith, restoring families and sparking revival. Choose a kingdom cause this month and give with the expectation that God will multiply and bring lasting fruit. [01:30:30]

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Reflection: Which child, youth program, or younger person in your circle could you invest in this season; what one specific investment (mentoring time, a financial gift toward the children’s center, or a monthly commitment) will you make before December 21 to help build their spiritual foundation?

Sermon Summary

A child has been born and a Son has been given, and his light still pushes back our darkness. Standing with Esther in her moment of crisis, I called us to recognize that God has placed us in our families, workplaces, this church, and this city by design—not accident. Mordecai’s words cut through our hesitations: if we remain silent, God will still move, but we and our households will miss the blessing of obedience. Esther’s courage—“If I perish, I perish”—shows how prayer and fasting position ordinary people for extraordinary moments. Destiny is not anchored to our past; it’s anchored to God’s placement in our present.

I joined Esther 4 with Acts 20:35, where Jesus says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Generosity is not a side hobby of the faithful; it’s how God aligns our lives with his heart and moves his kingdom through us. We talked about Alfred Nobel reading his own mistaken obituary and changing his legacy, and Oskar Schindler regretting every resource not converted into a rescued life. Five minutes after we die, we’ll know exactly how we should have lived—so we live now with eternity in view, practicing intentional, courageous generosity.

God is accelerating a work among children, students, and young families. That’s why we’re preparing a Christmas offering dedicated to building a true children’s center—shaped for learning, worship, safety, and mission—because what we build for the next generation will shape generations to come. We will leverage technology, send the gospel into prisons, strengthen families, and fuel mission. This isn’t pressure; it’s invitation. Pray, fast, and step forward. Choose one act of generosity this week. Choose one mission to fund this month. If you don’t know Jesus, today is your “such a time as this”—the greatest act of generosity in history is his life laid down for you. For all of us, lift a wave offering to the Lord: “Here am I. Use me.” Life is short. Eternity is long. Our purpose is calling.

Key Takeaways

1. Placed on purpose, not by chance God doesn’t consult our past to define our future; he places us where his purposes can meet the world’s need. Like Esther, placement is the clue to calling—who you’re with and where you stand reveal what God wants to do through you. Look at your relationships and season as assignments, not coincidences. Ask, “Why am I here—now?” [51:54]
2. Generosity invests in eternity What you keep ends with you; what you give outlives you. Jesus taught that giving multiplies blessing because it forms Christ in us and moves his mission through us. Count value the way heaven does—by what remains when time is over. Convert resources into redemption. [50:45]
3. Live with five-minute urgency Five minutes into eternity, our priorities become painfully clear. Don’t wait for tomorrow to obey; today is the only currency you can spend. Make choices now you won’t regret later—let faith decide what gets your time, talent, and treasure. Seed the future while you still have a present. [52:10]
4. Fast and pray with courage Esther didn’t rush into risk; she anchored her courage in a community that fasted and prayed. Prayer clarifies calling, stiffens conviction, and shifts outcomes we cannot move by effort alone. When fear rises, gather the saints and seek God until wisdom and boldness meet. Then act. [17:51]
5. Give to shape generations Esther’s obedience preserved a people and altered futures; so does spirit-led generosity. When we invest in children, families, mission, and mercy, we build altars our grandchildren will stand on. God pays dividends on eternal deposits, often in the lives we love most. Plant where you want harvest to appear. [80:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:45] - Nolan leads Scripture recitation
[07:37] - Opening prayer: Light in darkness
[16:40] - Haman’s decree and Esther’s crisis
[17:51] - Call to fast and pray
[49:05] - Born for such a time as this
[50:45] - “More blessed to give” explained
[52:10] - Five minutes after we die
[59:51] - Alfred Nobel and legacy reset
[63:54] - Judging everything by eternity
[69:22] - Destiny requires courageous generosity
[76:55] - The clock is ticking: urgency
[80:10] - Generosity shapes future generations
[87:49] - Christmas offering: children’s center vision
[96:44] - Leveraging technology for mission
[103:29] - Invitation to surrender to Jesus
[108:16] - Wave offering response and commissioning

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (NIV)
- Esther 4:14
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
- Acts 20:35
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
- Isaiah 6:8
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me.'"

Observation questions

Read Esther 4:14. What specific claims does this verse make about placement, responsibility, and consequence? Which phrase stands out to you and why?
Read Acts 20:35. What concrete actions or habits does this verse connect with the claim that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”? How might that look in everyday life?
The sermon says, "Five minutes after we die, we'll know exactly how we should have lived." What images and examples were used to illustrate that idea (for example, Alfred Nobel and Oskar Schindler)? [52:10]
Esther said, "If I perish, I perish" as she prepared to fast and pray before acting. What details were given about the fast-and-pray preparation and the role of the community in that process? [18:30]

Interpretation questions (third person)

How should a person re-evaluate ordinary relationships and daily roles if those places are to be understood as "assignments" rather than coincidences? [51:54]
How should someone weigh the tension between living for immediate comfort and living with an eternal, five‑minute‑after‑death perspective when making decisions about time and money? [55:17]
What does “generosity invests in eternity” mean for the way someone prioritizes financial giving, volunteer time, and mentoring? What signs should a person look for that their giving is kingdom-minded rather than merely reactive? [50:45]
What criteria should a person use to discern whether God is calling them into a high-risk, high-surrender action like Esther’s "If I perish, I perish"? What spiritual safeguards were suggested by the sermon (prayer, fasting, community)? [18:30]

Application questions (practical, personal)

Identify one place where God has you planted right now (work, family, neighborhood, church). What is one concrete step you will take this week to treat that place as an assignment, not an accident? Be specific about what you will do and when. [51:54]
Choose one intentional act of generosity to do this week (a specific gift, a service hour, a mentoring meeting). What exactly will you give, to whom, and by what day? How will this reflect preparing for eternity rather than for immediate return? [52:10]
Pick one mission or kingdom cause to fund this month (local charity, missionary support, children's work). What amount or time will you commit, and how will you follow up to see the difference your gift made? [01:27:49]
Which skill or talent could you offer to the church or community this season in the spirit of "Here am I. Send me."? Name the skill, who you will offer it to, and a date to contact them. [01:13:28]
Plan a short fast-and-prayer time this month around a specific need (a family member, a decision, a community need). When will you fast, who will you invite to join you, and what is your prayer focus? [17:51]
If you do not yet know Jesus, what one step will you take today to respond (pray a simple prayer of surrender, talk to a believer, attend a next-step class)? When will you take that step? [01:43:29]

Use this guide to open a focused conversation: read the passages together, discuss the observation and interpretation questions, then commit to at least one application step before your next meeting.

Sermon Clips

Here's what I want you to understand. Your life is no accident. Listen to me. You may, listen to me, your mom and dad may not have been expecting you, but God ordained your days. He knew the moment, listen to me, before all of creation when he was going to form you in your mother's womb. You were here not by accident, but by divine appointment today. This is your day. [00:56:53] (27 seconds) #DivineAppointment

So ask yourself today, what will the dash between the beginning and the end dates on your tombstone represent? That's exactly what Nobel did. He looked at his beginning date and his end date because of the obituary with his name on it. How would you like to get up in the morning and read your obituary in the paper? What will it say? That you invested in things of this world and that you left behind a multitude of things or will it say that you invested in eternity? [01:06:22] (39 seconds) #TheDashMatters

What will you leave behind? When you leave this world will you be known for one who has accumulated treasures on earth that you couldn't keep or treasures in heaven that you couldn't lose? And maybe you're living this Christ-centered life and I honor you with few regrets. And maybe you're daily laying up treasures in heaven or maybe not. But don't lose hope. Listen to me. Don't lose hope. The good news is that you're still here. [01:07:02] (34 seconds) #LeaveALegacy

Like Alfred Nobel, you had the opportunity with God's empowerment to edit your life and your legacy right now. Hear me. Because I want to tie this in that God's generosity is the foundation of our salvation. Every breath you take, every blessing you receive, every open door of opportunity, every act of grace is an expression of God's generosity pouring into your life. Jesus taught that giving produces more blessings than receiving, not because receiving is bad, but because giving makes us like Him. Generosity isn't merely an action. It's a reflection of Christ's character inside of us. [01:07:55] (53 seconds) #GenerosityReflectsChrist

Esther had a destiny that went far beyond her comfort, far beyond her convenience or her personal advancement. Here's what I want you to understand. Your destiny is not determined by your past. I want somebody to hear that right now. Your destiny is not determined by your past. Your destiny is determined by your placement where God has placed you right now in life where you are right now. What God is doing in your life right now. [01:11:46] (40 seconds) #DestinyByPlacement

You've been placed in your family for a reason. You've been placed in your workplace for a reason. You've been placed in this church for a reason. Let me say it better for a purpose and you've been placed in this season of time. You were not born out of season or out of time. This is the divine moment of God for your life. Hallelujah. You are part of God's plan to bring change, to bring blessings and breakthrough to others. Generosity and destiny are connected. [01:12:25] (37 seconds) #PlacedForPurpose

Look at your neighbor and say, the clock is ticking. I'm not talking about that one. I'm talking about the clock in your life. It's ticking. Amen. Paul is speaking in Acts 20, 35 to the Ephesian elders, and he reminds them and us of the words of Jesus. If you knew you had only one day left, if you stood five minutes in eternity, what would really matter? Not what you own, not what you accumulated, not what you kept, but what you gave away. Because giving is the only investment that follows us into eternity. Generosity is eternal preparation. [01:16:52] (49 seconds) #GenerosityIsEternal

Then how do we prepare? We live generously. We live intentionally. We live kingdom-minded, eternity-focused, destiny-driven. We don't wait for one day because one day may never come. I'm going to preach for a minute, and I know I'm running out of time, but some of you are waiting until tomorrow to be obedient to God. But I want to tell you, I've done funerals for as young as 18-year-olds to as old as 90s and on up, but I'm just going to tell you, you're not promised tomorrow. [01:17:49] (33 seconds) #LiveNowGenerously

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