Radical Generosity: Giving Time Beyond Tithing

Nov 09, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Radical Generosity Means Being Available and Present

True generosity is not just about giving money, but about being available and present for others in the moments that matter most. Sometimes, the greatest impact comes from simply noticing those around you and being willing to step into their lives, even if it means a small sacrifice of your time or comfort. Whether it’s helping a stranger in need, offering a listening ear, or just being present for a friend, these acts of availability can change the course of someone’s day—or even their life. Generosity is often about being at the right place at the right time, open to the opportunities God places before you. [45:46]

Luke 10:33-35 (ESV)
"But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’"

Reflection: Who is someone in your life or community you might normally overlook, but who could be blessed by your presence or help this week? How can you make yourself available to them in a practical way?

Day 2: The Power of Simply Being Present

Sometimes, the most generous thing you can do is to simply be present with someone in their time of need, even if you don’t have the right words or solutions. Your presence can be a source of comfort and strength, showing others that they are not alone. Just as Job’s friends sat with him in silence during his suffering, your willingness to sit with someone, listen, or just share space can be a profound act of love and generosity. [50:40]

Job 2:11-13 (ESV)
"Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who is going through a difficult time? How can you offer your presence to them this week, even if it’s just sitting in silence or sharing a simple moment together?

Day 3: Serving Others with Your Time

Serving in your church, community, or even at work is a powerful way to practice radical generosity. It’s not always about grand gestures, but about the consistent, sometimes unseen acts of service that make a difference in the lives of others. Whether it’s setting up chairs, helping with children, or supporting a team, your willingness to give your time and energy is a reflection of Christ’s love. These acts of service build community and create lasting memories that shape lives for years to come. [53:07]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can serve someone in your church, workplace, or neighborhood this week, even if it feels small or goes unnoticed?

Day 4: Generosity Through Mentoring and Investing in Others

Generosity is also about investing your time and wisdom into the next generation or those who are coming up behind you. Whether it’s mentoring a young person, encouraging a coworker, or simply including someone in your life, these acts of intentional investment can have a ripple effect far beyond what you see. Just as Paul mentored Timothy, your willingness to pour into others can help them grow and find their purpose. [57:24]

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)
"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."

Reflection: Who is someone you can encourage, mentor, or invest in this week? What is one intentional step you can take to help them grow or feel supported?

Day 5: Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good

Radical generosity requires perseverance, especially when it feels unnoticed or when you’re tired. The Bible encourages us not to grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Every act of kindness, every moment spent serving or loving others, is seen by God and has eternal value. Keep your heart open to the opportunities God gives you, trusting that your generosity will bear fruit in His timing. [01:05:14]

Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV)
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Reflection: When have you felt weary in doing good? What is one way you can renew your commitment to generosity this week, trusting that God will use your efforts for His purposes?

Sermon Summary

When we truly encounter Jesus, everything else fades in comparison. He is more than enough—more than silver, more than gold, more than any dream or desire we could chase. Our hearts cry out for Him alone, recognizing that nothing else will satisfy. This longing for Jesus shapes the way we live, moving us to radical generosity—not just with our finances, but with our time, attention, and presence.

Radical generosity is not limited to tithing or giving money. It’s about cultivating a spirit that is ready to give in unexpected ways, to be available and attentive to the needs around us. Sometimes, generosity looks like helping a stranger on a difficult trail, or stopping to assist someone with a flat tire. Other times, it’s making a long drive just to be present for a friend, even if only for a short while. These moments may seem small, but they can have a profound impact on others’ lives.

The stories of the Good Samaritan and Job’s friends remind us that generosity often means being present, being aware, and being willing to give our time. Money can solve some problems, but it cannot replace the value of presence, encouragement, and practical help. Serving in church, mentoring others, or simply being available for a conversation are all ways we can embody this kind of generosity.

Our time is finite; once given, it cannot be reclaimed. That’s why giving our time is such a powerful act of love. Whether it’s serving behind the scenes, praying for others, or investing in the next generation, these acts of generosity build up the body of Christ and create lasting memories and change. We may never know the full impact of our small acts of kindness, but God uses them in ways we can’t imagine.

As we go about our week, let’s look for opportunities to be generous with our time, our presence, and our hearts. Let’s be available, attentive, and willing to serve, knowing that in due season, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. May we be a people marked by the radical generosity of Jesus, bringing His love to life in every moment.

Key Takeaways

1. Generosity is more than money True generosity is not confined to financial giving. It’s about being available, attentive, and willing to give of ourselves in practical, everyday ways. Our presence, encouragement, and willingness to help can often mean more than any monetary gift. [46:23]
2. The power of being present Sometimes, the greatest gift we can offer is simply to be there for someone. Like Job’s friends who sat in silence with him, our willingness to show up—even if we don’t have the right words—can bring comfort and strength in difficult times. Presence is a ministry in itself. [50:40]
3. Small acts can have lasting impact A few minutes spent helping a stranger or a friend can change the course of their day—or even their life. We may not realize the significance of these moments, but God uses our small acts of kindness to create ripples of blessing far beyond what we see. [44:31]
4. Serving and mentoring builds the kingdom Investing our time in serving others, whether through church, prayer, or mentoring, is a powerful way to reflect Christ’s love. These acts of service shape lives, build community, and pass on faith to the next generation, leaving a legacy that endures. [57:24]
5. Our time is a precious, finite gift Unlike money, time cannot be earned back once given. Choosing to give our time is a sacrificial act that demonstrates the value we place on others. It’s a way to honor God and love people deeply, trusting that He will use our sacrifice for His purposes. [64:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[22:56] - Worship: Give Me Jesus
[33:18] - Opening Prayer and Greeting
[33:53] - Introducing Radical Generosity
[35:13] - Redefining Generosity Beyond Tithing
[37:04] - Summer Stories and Off-Roading
[39:30] - Unexpected Help on the Trail
[42:05] - The Gas Station Encounter
[44:31] - The Ripple Effect of Small Acts
[45:46] - The Good Samaritan and Being Available
[47:34] - The Maryland Birthday Story
[50:40] - The Ministry of Presence
[52:31] - Serving in Church and Community
[56:49] - Biblical Examples of Generosity
[58:35] - Reflecting on Personal Stories
[64:27] - The Value of Time
[65:14] - Galatians 6:9-10 and Final Encouragement
[66:30] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Radical Generosity

Bible Reading

Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV)
> And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Luke 10:30-37 (ESV) – The Parable of the Good Samaritan
> (Read the full passage together.)

Job 2:11-13 (ESV) – Job’s Friends Sit with Him
> (Read the full passage together.)

Observation Questions

In Galatians 6:9-10, what does Paul say will happen if we “do not give up” in doing good? What does he say about who we should do good to?
According to the story of the Good Samaritan, what did the Samaritan do that the others did not? What made his actions stand out? [45:46]
In the sermon, what are some specific examples given of generosity that don’t involve money? [44:31]
What did Job’s friends do for him when he was suffering, and why is that significant? [50:40]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul emphasizes not growing weary in doing good? What are some reasons people might get tired of being generous? [01:05:14]
The Good Samaritan gave his time, attention, and resources to help a stranger. What does this story teach us about the kind of generosity Jesus values? [45:46]
The sermon mentions that “money can solve some problems, but it cannot replace the value of presence, encouragement, and practical help.” Why might presence sometimes be more powerful than financial help? [50:40]
The pastor shared stories about helping a stranger with a flat tire and driving a long way for a friend’s birthday. What do these stories reveal about the impact of small, everyday acts of generosity? [44:31]

Application Questions

The sermon says, “When we truly encounter Jesus, everything else fades in comparison.” Is there something in your life right now that competes with your desire for Jesus? What would it look like to put Him first this week? [23:38]
Think about your daily routine. Where are you most likely to encounter opportunities to be generous with your time or attention? Is there a specific situation coming up where you could be more available or attentive? [44:31]
The Good Samaritan was “at the right place at the right time” because he was willing to stop. Is there a recent moment when you felt prompted to help someone but didn’t? What held you back, and what could you do differently next time? [45:46]
The sermon highlights the power of simply being present, like Job’s friends. Who in your life might need your presence or encouragement right now, even if you don’t have the right words? [50:40]
Serving in church or mentoring others was described as a way to build up the body of Christ. Is there a ministry, group, or person you feel nudged to serve or invest in? What’s one step you could take this week to move toward that? [57:24]
The pastor said, “Our time is finite; once given, it cannot be reclaimed.” How does this truth challenge the way you spend your time? Is there something you want to say “no” to so you can say “yes” to something more meaningful? [01:04:27]
The sermon encouraged us to “look for opportunities to be generous with our time, our presence, and our hearts.” What is one small act of kindness you can plan or look for this week? How will you remind yourself to be attentive to these moments? [01:05:14]

Sermon Clips

“Radical generosity is not always generosity that you can plan. It's not always generosity that is as simple as I give 10% every week. It's not generosity as simple as I'm paying for someone's meal or doing something like that. It is kind of understanding the whole picture of it so that when the moment arises or the situation arises, you're kind of tuned into being kind of a generous spirit to begin with. Right?”

“Who's here have heard of the spirit of excellence? Right? When we go through it, it's almost that same mindset. It's kind of hard to preach a whole day on like, yeah, you should mop the floor or you should be doing this or you should keep things clean, right? It's it's kind of where can you get yourself in that mindset so you can be generous with everything you do, right?”

“You know, those simple moments of just asking what's going on, being aware of your situations and figuring out can make all the difference in the world, right? in this probably hour time span, we stopped and talked to someone who came up to us who ended up being incredibly helpful on part of our journey uh to make it so we stopped at that gas station at the exact right time to help someone else with their journey.”

“And I mean I have a we had a lot of fun that day. Um and it's because John and I are friends, but after working like a you know long week, I think this was like a Saturday or Sunday, right? John's an introvert. I kind of go back and forth, but after a long week, it's like other than the people I know, don't really care to talk to people, right?”

“But instead, there was two good moments that came out of it, right? It was being able to understand that through just being aware of who's around you, it came into play when we had to do uh overcome a challenge. And then in the same boat, we were able to end up being at the right spot at the right time, right? We weren't late, we weren't early. We were exactly where we needed to be to help someone else with their journey.”

“And if we look at the Bible, right, and we go through going through this, why am I telling you this story? Um, who's here has heard the good Samaritan, right? Great story, right? It's a great story about how someone on the side of the road needed help. People were passing by, passing by, and then someone finally stops and helped them, right?”

“This man that ended up helping him was generous with his time, right? He was generous with just being aware that taking these extra couple minutes, those extra couple seconds is way more important than someone coming by and just throwing a quarter at him, right? Throwing um some money at them, right? Uh money does not fix all problems, right? Money does not fix everything.”

“And it all all comes down to the story that we now teach our kids, the the story now that we teach here in church. Um comes down to being at the right place at the right time and knowing that every you're there for that reason, right? You can completely ignore the situation and move about your life. Right? I could have filled my tires up with air, went about my day, and probably would have made no difference to me.”

“But because I took those extra couple minutes to help someone else, they have a different day because of it, right? And it comes down to not just being aware of those situations, um, but just being available, right? It's one of those things to understand that a couple extra minutes here, a couple extra minutes there, when you realize the situation is is not the end of the world, right?”

“Even if it doesn't go anywhere, right? Even if nothing happens with this relationship, right? Some guy got his tire fixed, right? I made it down a hill without flipping my truck. So, um, important things there. So, um, another story because I'm all about stories today. So, um, on top of my 10-year wedding anniversary, I also had the other big milestone if I turned 30.”

“They they took the time out of their day to do nothing other than just be present for that other person, right? And sometimes that can be what generosity is. You literally don't have to do anything. I had fun at the party. It's not like I was doing something crazy, right? But I took the time to make sure I was there. I took the time to make sure I was present.”

“I took the time to make sure that I was able to be with that person in that moment. That I was able to spend time with them. I was able to uh be with their family. I was able to um just really understand that even taking the time if I was only there for an hour, the sacrifice it took to get there. and understand what was there, right?”

“And there's a lot of examples of how to be generous, right? Right? So, those are just two stories that I told, but at the end of the day, the Bible was filled with all of these generous moments that become life-changing examples that we can use. And it has nothing to do with money. It has nothing to do with what we think generosity is.”

“It has to do with people understanding what the moment they're in, being available, and meeting that other person where they're at. Right? So, I mean, there's even practical ones that we can probably think of if we dial it back a little bit, right? So, um, serving in church, right, is an easy way to be generous with your time, right?”

“The point of what you're doing here is generosity is half the time just being aware, right? We do not need to think of tithe every time we talk about generosity. There is so much so much more than that. And then even Jesus washing uh the disciples feet, right? It's where he can serve personally. It's where he took that simple moment knowing what was going to happen, right?”

“All of these things they're not just so that you can go be generous somewhere else right when you're generous with your time. It's it is a it is you always giving up something else for that time.”

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