Living Generously: Wisdom and Love in Action

Devotional

Day 1: Wisdom in Action

True wisdom is not just about knowing what to do but actually doing it. Knowledge without action is incomplete. We are called to apply God's wisdom in our daily lives, especially in how we share our resources with others. This practical application of wisdom is what sets us apart as followers of Christ. [38:54]

In our daily lives, we often encounter situations where we know the right thing to do but hesitate to act. True wisdom, however, is demonstrated through our actions. It is not enough to simply understand God's teachings; we must also live them out. This means being proactive in sharing our resources, whether it be our time, talents, or possessions, with those in need. By doing so, we reflect the love and wisdom of Christ in a tangible way.

The Bible calls us to be doers of the word, not just hearers. This means that our faith should be evident in our actions. When we apply God's wisdom in our daily interactions and decisions, we become a living testimony of His love and grace. Let us strive to be wise in our actions, showing the world what it means to live according to God's principles.

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you know the right thing to do but have hesitated to act. How can you take a step today to apply God's wisdom in that situation?

Day 2: Generosity Beyond Finances

Generosity is not limited to financial giving. It includes our time, talents, and efforts. The Bible emphasizes giving in various forms, such as serving others, praying for them, and giving thanks. This holistic approach to generosity reflects the heart of God and His desire for us to be a blessing to those around us. [44:40]

Generosity is often associated with financial giving, but it encompasses much more. True generosity involves sharing our time, talents, and efforts with others. This means being available to help a friend in need, using our skills to serve our community, and offering our prayers and support to those who are struggling. By embracing a holistic approach to generosity, we reflect the heart of God and His desire for us to be a blessing to those around us.

The Bible teaches us that every good gift comes from God, and we are called to use these gifts to serve others. When we give generously of our time, talents, and efforts, we demonstrate the love of Christ in practical ways. Let us seek to be generous in all aspects of our lives, recognizing that our value is not in our possessions but in the love of God.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: Identify one talent or skill you have that you can use to serve others this week. How can you make a plan to put this into action?

Day 3: Love in Action

John 3:16-20 teaches us that love must be demonstrated through actions, not just words. Jesus modeled this by laying down His life for us. We are called to follow His example by sharing what we have with those in need, showing genuine love through our deeds. [47:15]

The essence of true love is found in action. The Bible teaches us that love is not merely a feeling or a spoken word but is demonstrated through our deeds. Jesus Christ provided the ultimate example of love in action by laying down His life for us. As His followers, we are called to emulate this selfless love by sharing what we have with those in need and showing genuine care and compassion through our actions.

When we love others through our actions, we reflect the love of Christ to the world. This means going beyond mere words and taking tangible steps to help those around us. Whether it is through acts of kindness, providing for someone's needs, or simply being present for a friend, our actions speak volumes about our faith and commitment to living out God's love.

1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: Think of a specific person in your life who is in need. What is one practical way you can show them love through your actions this week?

Day 4: Overcoming Barriers to Generosity

Fear, feelings of inadequacy, and past hurts can hinder our generosity. However, understanding that our value is in God's love and not in our possessions helps us overcome these barriers. When we trust in God's provision, we can give freely and generously. [54:52]

Generosity can be challenging, especially when we face barriers such as fear, feelings of inadequacy, or past hurts. These obstacles can make it difficult for us to give freely and generously. However, when we understand that our value is rooted in God's love and not in our possessions, we can overcome these barriers. Trusting in God's provision allows us to give without hesitation, knowing that He will take care of our needs.

The Bible reassures us that God is our provider and that we can trust Him to supply all our needs. When we shift our focus from our limitations to God's abundant love and provision, we find the courage to be generous. Let us seek to overcome the barriers that hinder our generosity, trusting that God will bless our efforts and use them for His glory.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "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: Identify a fear or barrier that is preventing you from being generous. How can you trust in God's provision to overcome this barrier and give freely?

Day 5: Living Generously is Fulfilling

A generous life is a fulfilling life. God invites us to be generous not to take something from us but to give us something greater. By living generously, we experience peace, freedom, and a deeper sense of security in God's love and provision. [01:01:27]

Living a generous life brings fulfillment and joy. God calls us to be generous not to take something away from us but to bless us with something greater. When we live generously, we experience a sense of peace, freedom, and security that comes from trusting in God's love and provision. Generosity allows us to align ourselves with God's best for us, leading to a more purposeful and meaningful life.

The Bible teaches that it is more blessed to give than to receive. When we give generously, we not only bless others but also receive blessings in return. This reciprocal nature of generosity enriches our lives and deepens our relationship with God. Let us embrace a lifestyle of generosity, knowing that it leads to true fulfillment and joy.

Acts 20:35 (ESV): "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced joy from giving. How can you incorporate more acts of generosity into your daily life to experience this fulfillment regularly?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's gathering, we delved into the theme of generosity and wisdom, particularly focusing on how we can be wise with the resources God has given us. We began with some engaging activities to set a lively tone, but the core of our discussion centered on the biblical perspective of giving and sharing. We explored the idea that wisdom is not just about knowing what to do but actually doing it, especially when it comes to sharing our time, talents, and possessions.

We reflected on the teachings from 1 John 3:16-20, where John emphasizes that true love is demonstrated through actions, not just words. Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, and we are called to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters by sharing what we have. This is a challenging call, especially in times of scarcity or uncertainty, but it is a call to live generously and selflessly.

We also discussed the importance of understanding that our value is not in our possessions but in the love of God. When we truly grasp how deeply we are loved by God, it becomes easier to love and be generous to those around us. This generosity is not just about finances but includes our time, talents, and efforts. We are encouraged to celebrate and use our gifts to serve others, reflecting the love of Jesus in our actions.

Finally, we were reminded that living generously is not about losing something but gaining a deeper sense of peace, freedom, and security in God's provision. By being wise and generous with what we have, we align ourselves with God's best for us, experiencing a fulfilling and purposeful life.

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Key Takeaways

1. 20 teaches us that love must be demonstrated through actions, not just words. Jesus modeled this by laying down His life for us. We are called to follow His example by sharing what we have with those in need, showing genuine love through our deeds. [47:15]
4. Overcoming Barriers to Generosity: Fear, feelings of inadequacy, and past hurts can hinder our generosity. However, understanding that our value is in God's love and not in our possessions helps us overcome these barriers. When we trust in God's provision, we can give freely and generously.

5. Living Generously is Fulfilling: A generous life is a fulfilling life. God invites us to be generous not to take something from us but to give us something greater. By living generously, we experience peace, freedom, and a deeper sense of security in God's love and provision.

### [47:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:04] - Rock Paper Scissors Game
[14:57] - Baby Food Roulette
[22:04] - Transition to Worship
[35:25] - Introduction to Good Call Series
[35:55] - The Need for Wisdom
[38:17] - The Role of a Coach
[38:54] - Wisdom in Decision Making
[39:23] - Motivational Speeches and Biblical Wisdom
[40:19] - Wisdom in Relationships and Possessions
[42:09] - Biblical Words: Love, Believe, Give, Pray
[46:18] - 1 John 3:16-20 Reading
[47:15] - Jesus' Example of Giving
[49:33] - Demonstrating Love Through Actions
[54:52] - Overcoming Barriers to Generosity
[61:27] - The Fulfillment of Living Generously
[69:47] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to 1 John 3:16-20, how is true love demonstrated?
What does John say about the relationship between material possessions and the love of God?
In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the concept of "Wisdom in Action"? [38:54]
How does the sermon describe the barriers to generosity, and what are some examples mentioned? [54:52]

Interpretation Questions

Why does John emphasize that love must be shown through actions and not just words? How does this align with Jesus' example? [47:15]
How can understanding that our value is in God's love help us overcome barriers to generosity? [54:52]
What does it mean to live generously according to the sermon, and how does this lead to a fulfilling life? [01:01:27]
How does the sermon suggest we can be wise with our resources, and what practical steps can we take to apply this wisdom? [38:54]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you had the opportunity to be generous but hesitated. What was the barrier, and how can understanding God's love help you overcome it next time? [54:52]
Think about your current use of time, talents, and possessions. What is one specific way you can be more generous in each of these areas this week? [44:40]
How can you demonstrate love through actions in your daily life? Identify one person in need and plan a specific action to help them this week. [47:15]
What are some practical ways you can remind yourself that your value is in God's love and not in your possessions? How can this shift in perspective change your approach to generosity? [54:52]
The sermon mentioned that living generously leads to peace, freedom, and security in God's provision. Can you think of a time when you experienced these feelings as a result of being generous? How can you cultivate this mindset more regularly? [01:01:27]
Identify one area in your life where you feel you are not being wise with your resources. What steps can you take to align this area with God's wisdom? [38:54]
How can you celebrate and use your gifts to serve others in your community or church? Plan a specific action to do this in the coming week. [01:06:13]

Sermon Clips

1. "God wants to give you wisdom for the decisions that you are making. And learning to listen to this wisdom and put it into effect, like that's the tricky part. Just knowing to do something and then not doing it is not wisdom. That's knowledge. And that is not the same thing. But actually doing something with it, man, that is the tricky part. Especially when it comes to sharing what we have." [38:54] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "How do we avoid becoming possessive or selfish with what we have? How do we avoid that? How can we pay attention to the hurting people around us? Or maybe they're not hurting, but the vulnerable people around us. And then share what we have with them. How do we do this? Because if I took all of you outside of this room right now and I asked you, hey, do you want to be smart about the things that you have?" [41:19] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Giving is a common theme throughout Scripture. And immediately what is going to happen is I'm going to say given is a common theme and you're like, of course it is because you're talking about finances. We are not just talking about money. You guys understand me there? We are not just talking about money. The Bible tells us to give our time in service, to pray for others, to praise God, to give thanks for absolutely everything that we have." [44:16] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus showed us he loved us because he gave his life for us. You guys are probably not going to be asked to give your life for your friend. You're probably not going to be asked to give your life for your brother or your sister. You're probably not even going to be asked to give a kidney, though I think some of us in here actually have done that. Okay? But Jesus showed us this because he gave his life for us." [51:55] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Generosity isn't about losing things. Generosity isn't about losing things and making all these excuses in our head, but rather it's about gaining something else. You see, last week we were talking about Solomon and I love talking about Solomon. And Solomon, man, my man was a, wise dude. He asked God for wisdom above everything else. He wanted to be a fantastic leader. He wanted to have wisdom when it came to leading God's people. That is what he wanted." [58:02] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Living generously reminds us that our value is more than the stuff we hang on to. It's more than what we're wearing. It's more than, you know, where we live. It's more than all of these things. Our value is in the love of God. And if it's not, well, then we just need to evaluate where we're at. Where are we putting our priorities? Because students, I really, really want you to understand this. When you guys honestly and truly understand how deeply you are loved, it is so much easier to love those around you." [01:02:10] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God wants the best for you. He does. He honestly wants the best for you. God wants more for you than you could possibly want for yourself. And given how selfish we are sometimes, sometimes that's hard to believe. But knowing this, knowing that God wants the best for you, not to settle, God wants the best for you, and knowing this, and knowing this, that God wants you to be generous. He wants you to be wise with the things you have." [01:04:17] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Wise people share what God has given them. And this isn't one of those things where it's like, I'll start once I graduate because then it turns into, well, I'll start once I get married. I'll start once I get a good paying job. I'll start when I have time. On this Earth, we have a finite amount of time. Tomorrow was not promised, so what are we going to do with it?" [01:09:02] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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