When Giving Hurts But Feels So Right

It hurt, but it felt so right. And so why is that the case in our life? Why is it sometimes that giving can hurt but feel so right? Well, think Jesus told us exactly why. Jesus said this, that it is better to give than it is to receive. So at our very core, when we're fighting against our flesh, when it comes to our spirit, God has designed us to give. And that when you give, it is actually better to do that than it is to receive. [00:06:30] (29 seconds)  #BetterToGive

I tell you the truth, Jesus said, this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them, for they had given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything that she has. She's given everything that she has. There was a real sacrifice. To put it in today's world, She had what was known as 2 lepta. It was one sixty fourth of a day's wage is all she had. In our world, that's equivalent about $2. $2. [00:15:02] (37 seconds)  #WidowGaveAll

But what I am trying to propose to you, what I am trying to tell you is that a just in case life can be dangerous. And when is that the case? It's when you let it dictate your relationship with God. It's when you allow this just in case mentality to creep into your relationship with God. And it probably sounds a little something like this. God, I will trust you, but only if I get the final say. [00:20:28] (29 seconds)  #DitchTheJustInCase

What I can tell you confidently is that when you allow God's love to fill your life, the same love that gave up a life for me and you to be here today, when you allow that love to penetrate your soul, it begins to overflow out of you. And when you retire the just in case mindset, you'll find that generosity can be joyful and it can be sacrificial because he's got all you need. [00:29:46] (31 seconds)  #OverflowWithLove

True generosity should be joyful and sacrificial. And so when we carry that just in case mentality with you, what we're doing is we're really just holding on to control because it feels safe to us. Because control feels responsible. Because control feels comfortable. Can I tell you that control, when it comes to your relationship with God, and if you're trying to control everything in your relationship with God, it will never stretch your faith, and it will never increase your joy? [00:22:08] (37 seconds)  #LetGoAndTrust

There's a generosity from surplus where it's a tiny bit of my leftover, and I'm just gonna go ahead and give you this. And there's a generosity from sacrifice. Which one caught Jesus' attention? It was the lady who said, this is all I have, but I'm gonna give it. Have you ever given to something so much in your life that it hurt? (21 seconds)  #GiveFromSacrifice

Can I tell you that if you're here today and you would say, you know what, I'm following Jesus or I'm going to follow Jesus, and I wanna live out the life that Jesus lived, and I wanna model generosity the way that Jesus modeled generosity? It's gonna cost you three things at some point in your life. It's gonna cost you your time. It's gonna cost you your talents. And it's gonna cost you your treasure. [00:09:02] (24 seconds)  #GiveTimeTalentTreasure

And there's what God is looking for. Jesus was impressed by the all more than he was the surplus. And so for us here today, are you gonna count the cost? And are you gonna allow God to reveal to you? God, where do you need me to be generous? How can I allow this generosity to reflect my love for others? [00:24:10] (26 seconds)  #GiveYourAll