Living Generously: Embracing Abundance and Community

Devotional

Day 1: True Riches: Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be

The parable of the rich man in Luke 12 reminds us that our worth and security do not come from the abundance of our possessions, but from our relationship with God and our willingness to share with others. When we focus on accumulating more for ourselves, we risk missing the deeper purpose of life—being rich toward God by living generously and caring for those around us. Jesus warns that storing up treasures for ourselves leads to spiritual poverty, while open hands and open hearts lead to true fulfillment. Consider what it means to let go of the need to build bigger barns and instead invest in relationships, compassion, and generosity. [36:46]

Luke 12:16, 20-21, 34 (ESV):
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ... But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. ... For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Reflection: What is one possession or resource you are holding onto tightly? How might you use it this week to bless someone else instead of keeping it for yourself?

Day 2: Tending the Garden: God’s Call to Stewardship

From the very beginning, God placed humanity in a garden overflowing with abundance, not to own it, but to tend, nurture, and participate in its flourishing. Our calling is to care for creation and one another, trusting that there is enough for all. Fear and scarcity can tempt us to hoard, but God’s design is rooted in generosity and shared blessing. When we remember our role as caretakers rather than owners, we are freed to live with open hands, confident in God’s provision and abundance. [32:51]

Genesis 2:7-9, 15 (ESV):
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. ... The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Reflection: In what ways can you “tend the garden” God has given you—your home, your relationships, your community—this week?

Day 3: Generosity as the Core of Faith

Generosity is not an optional add-on to faith, but the very core of our character as followers of Christ. God models generosity in creation, in giving us life, and in providing for our needs. We are called to reflect this generosity not just with money, but with our time, gifts, energy, and compassion. Every person is a creation of God, worthy of care and love, and our lives flourish when we live with open hearts and open hands, trusting that God’s provision will never run out. [40:32]

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV):
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can show unexpected generosity to this week—whether through your time, encouragement, or resources?

Day 4: Practicing Gratitude to Overcome Scarcity

Gratitude is a powerful practice that shifts our hearts from fear and scarcity to trust and abundance. When we recognize the goodness of God already present in our lives, we become more willing to share and less anxious about what we lack. Practicing gratitude opens us to God’s provision and helps us resist the temptation to hoard, making space for generosity to flourish in our hearts and communities. [40:32]

Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV):
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Reflection: List three things you are grateful for today. How does focusing on these blessings change your perspective on what you have and what you can give?

Day 5: The Table of Abundance: Sharing God’s Gifts with All

The table of Christ is a symbol of God’s abundant provision and radical welcome—there is always enough, and everyone is invited. As we receive from God’s table, we are reminded to extend that same abundance and hospitality to others, breaking down barriers and ensuring that all are included. Our security is not found in what we hold onto, but in the One who holds us, and we are called to become the abundance of Christ for the world by sharing freely and loving recklessly. [55:23]

Matthew 14:19-20 (ESV):
Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

Reflection: Who in your life or community might feel left out or overlooked? How can you extend God’s welcome and abundance to them this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering was a tapestry of gratitude, grief, memory, and challenge. We began by celebrating the joys in our community—birthdays, good news, and the simple gift of being together. Yet, we also held space for sorrow, lighting a candle in memory of Helen Rye, a friend and advocate for inclusion, whose life and work touched many, even those she never met in person. In our prayers, we named both the blessings and the burdens we carry, trusting God to hold them all.

Turning to scripture, we heard Jesus’ parable of the rich man who built bigger barns to store his abundance, only to discover that life is not measured by possessions. This story resonated with my own upbringing—growing up in a home shaped by the scarcity of the Great Depression, where food was never hoarded but always shared. My family’s garden was not just for us; it was for neighbors, friends, and anyone in need. This spirit of generosity, I believe, is at the heart of God’s design for creation.

From the very beginning, God placed humanity in a garden not to own, but to tend and nurture. Fear—fear of not having enough, fear of others—has led us to hoard and isolate, shrinking our world and our hearts. Yet, God’s abundance has always been enough. The challenge is not in the amount, but in how we allocate and share what we have. Generosity is not an optional add-on to faith; it is the core of our character, a way of living that trusts God’s provision and opens our hearts to others.

I shared stories of my grandmother, who, despite her own need, gave freely as she traveled the mountains selling Avon, always sharing what she received. Her life was a living parable of trust in God’s abundance. We are called to live with open hands, to resist the temptation to build bigger barns, and instead to cultivate gratitude, generosity, and community. The garden of God was never meant for hoarding, but for sharing. As we gathered at the table for communion, we remembered that God’s table is open to all, a sign of the abundance and welcome that defines God’s kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Generosity is the Core of Our Calling God’s original intent for humanity was not ownership, but stewardship—tending the garden, nurturing creation, and sharing its abundance. Generosity is not a spiritual extra, but the very heart of what it means to reflect God’s character. When we give, we participate in God’s ongoing work of restoration and flourishing. [32:51]
2. Fear Shrinks Our World, Trust Expands It Fear of scarcity leads us to hoard, isolate, and see life as a competition. This mindset not only harms others but also diminishes our own souls, making our world smaller and more anxious. Trusting in God’s provision allows us to live with open hands, expanding our hearts and communities in ways that reflect the boundless generosity of God. [36:46]
3. The True Measure of Treasure Jesus’ parable challenges us to examine where our treasure truly lies. It is not in possessions or security, but in relationships, compassion, and the willingness to share. Our worth is not found in what we accumulate, but in how we love and care for others, echoing the truth that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [21:55]
4. Generosity is Practiced in the Ordinary Living generously is not just about grand gestures, but about daily choices—sharing food, time, encouragement, and presence. The story of my grandmother passing along apples and peaches as she visited neighbors reminds us that small acts of sharing create a ripple of abundance, building trust in God’s provision and deepening community. [40:32]
5. God’s Table is Open to All The communion table is a living symbol of God’s abundance and welcome. There is no “separate but equal” in God’s kingdom; all are invited, all are fed, and all are cherished. As we receive, we are called to extend that same radical hospitality and generosity to others, embodying the inclusive love of Christ in tangible ways. [46:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Community Joys and Concerns
[06:45] - Remembering Helen Rye and Lighting the Candle
[13:20] - Prayers of Gratitude and Grief
[21:55] - Scripture Reading: Luke 12 and Reflection
[24:30] - Growing Up in a Generous Home
[27:50] - God’s Design: Tending the Garden
[32:51] - Fear, Scarcity, and Hoarding
[36:46] - The Human Condition: Possessions and Isolation
[40:32] - Two Gardens: Hoarding vs. Generosity
[43:10] - Practicing Gratitude and Everyday Generosity
[46:12] - Communion: God’s Table of Abundance
[55:23] - Communion for All
[66:03] - Welcoming New Members
[69:25] - Announcements and Opportunities
[72:00] - Benediction: Living Into God’s Generosity

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 12:16-21, 34 (ESV) — And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
...
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Observation Questions

In the parable Jesus tells, what does the rich man decide to do with his abundance? What is God’s response to his plan?
According to the sermon, what was the difference between the way the pastor’s family handled abundance and the way the rich man in the parable did? [[24:30]]
What does Jesus mean when he says, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”?
How did the story of the pastor’s grandmother illustrate the idea of generosity in everyday life? [[40:32]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus warns against storing up treasures for ourselves instead of being “rich toward God”? What does it mean to be “rich toward God” in practical terms?
The sermon talks about fear leading us to hoard and isolate. How does fear of not having enough affect our relationships and our sense of community? [[32:51]]
The pastor said, “Generosity is not an optional add-on to faith; it is the core of our character.” Why might generosity be so central to following Jesus? [[36:46]]
The communion table was described as a symbol of God’s abundance and welcome. How does this image challenge or encourage you in your own approach to sharing with others? [[46:12]]

Application Questions

The sermon described two gardens: one where everything is hoarded and one where everything is shared. Which garden does your life look more like right now? What is one area where you could open your hands and share more freely? [[40:32]]
Think about a time when fear of not having enough made you hold back from being generous. What was the outcome? How might trusting God’s provision change your response next time? [[32:51]]
The pastor’s family always shared food from their garden with neighbors, even when times were tough. Is there something you have (time, resources, encouragement) that you could share with someone this week? Who comes to mind? [[24:30]]
The story of the pastor’s grandmother passing along apples and peaches shows how small acts of generosity can ripple out. What is one small, ordinary act of generosity you could practice this week? [[40:32]]
The sermon said, “God’s table is open to all.” Are there people or groups you find it hard to welcome or share with? What would it look like to extend God’s radical hospitality to them? [[46:12]]
The rich man in the parable thought his security was in his possessions. Where do you tend to look for security? How can you shift your trust toward God’s abundance instead? [[21:55]]
The pastor challenged the church to resist the temptation to “build bigger barns.” What is one practical step you can take this week to live with more open hands and a more generous heart? [[36:46]]

Sermon Clips

But somewhere along the way fear crept in we got afraid afraid that there wasn't going to be enough afraid that if we gave it away we wouldn't have enough afraid that if we cared for someone else we wouldn't be cared for and I think fear drives us today I think we see fear driving the political machine of the day afraid that somebody somewhere might get something that we didn't get and God forbid that their skin be a different color from ours or that their sexual orientation be different or that they in some way be different. [00:33:52] (53 seconds) #FearDividesLoveUnites

We hoard resources we cling to our possessions and we act as if life is a competition for survival and yet God's original design is clear there's enough always has been always will be there's enough how are we allocating it that's the question. [00:34:45] (30 seconds) #AbundanceCallsForJustice

Hoarding, hoarding thinking that the more you have the more you're going to feel better about yourself the more you have the more you keep others from having the better off you're going to be but in our scripture Jesus warns the man who misses the point who focuses instead of sharing that his worth and his security comes from his possessions but God said life doesn't consist of an abundance of possessions. [00:36:46] (39 seconds) #PossessionsDontDefineWorth

Hoarding doesn't just harm creation it changes us it isolates us from one another it binds us not to the needs around us and it convinces us that we are separate from this larger story that God is creating when we cling tightly to what we have our world shrinks it gets small it gets this tight little box around us and we think that all that is important is what's in that little box but when we live generously then our hearts and our communities expand. [00:38:02] (48 seconds) #GenerosityExpandsCommunity

From the very beginning God modeled generosity God gives breath to humanity God gives beauty and sustenance in the garden God gives life itself through creation and I would submit to you that generosity is not optional an optional add -on to faith it is the core of our character when we give when we share when we care for creation when we care for one another. [00:39:27] (33 seconds) #GenerosityIsFaithInAction

Generosity isn't about money it's about living with an open heart it's about giving our time it's about using our gifts it's about where our energy goes it's about where our compassion lives it's about trusting God's provisions to never run out. [00:40:32] (18 seconds) #OpenHeartedGiving

Friends God's kingdom is the second garden it flourishes through generosity not hoarding so how do we live this out what does that mean practically how do we resist the temptation to build a bigger barn instead of embracing God's abundance I think we do it through practicing gratitude recognizing the goodness of God is already here it's already present gratitude shifts our hearts it shifts our hearts away from scarcity and toward trust. [00:41:42] (45 seconds) #GratitudeTransformsScarcity

Creation flourishes through generosity our relationships flourish through generosity our soul flourishes through generosity so this week I challenge you to think about it where are you holding on too tightly what are you unwilling to open your hands and let go of where are the places you can open your hands because the garden of God was never meant for us to hoard the garden of God has always been meant for us to share. [00:45:36] (51 seconds) #LetGoToLetGrow

May you Live into God's generosity May you know God's love So deeply And so fully That it can't help But spill out from you Into the world around you God's reckless love Abides in you Amen. [01:11:23] (17 seconds) #LiveGodsGenerosity

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