This week, Pastor Chris taught us that generosity is central to the Christian life because it reveals the true condition of our hearts and reflects the character God designed us to embody. It warns that hurry, worry, and a consuming mindset can choke out generosity, while trust in God frees us to give joyfully. Ultimately, believers are called to give willingly, proportionately, and sacrificially, not out of obligation but out of love and faith.
“Jesus Christ said more about money than any other single thing because money is of first importance when it comes to a man’s real nature. Money is an exact index to a man’s true character; money is the primary commodity in our lives that reveal the true condition of our heart!” Richard Halverson
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NLT)
7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
Giving is what we do. Generous is who we are.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill
1. We are Created to Live Generously.
“Our hearts are an idol factory that takes good things … and turns them into ultimate things.” Tim Keller
Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
“Generosity is a noble, gallant lifestyle of giving good things to others liberally and lavishly without expectation of return or personal benefit.” Brad Leeper
2. Generosity Killers: hurry, worry and consume.
Matthew 6:25–34 (ESV)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.” Corrie Ten Boom
Luke 12:15 (ESV)
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Colossians 3:5 (NLT)
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (NKJV)
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
3. Generous People Give Willingly, Proportionately, and Sacrificially
2 Corinthians 8:10–11b (NLT)
10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving…
2 Corinthians 8:11b-12 (NLT)
…Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
1 Corinthians 16:2 (NLT)
2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
Mark 12:41–44 (ESV)
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Not all giving is generous.
John D. Rockefeller’s accountant was asked, “How much money did John leave?” “ALL OF IT!”
Discussion Questions:
- Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) What does serving money look like in everyday life? What does serving God with your resources look like?
- Philippians 4:6-7 talks about presenting our needs to God in prayer. In what ways does prayer help loosen our grip on finances and possessions?
- Paul says God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Why do you think cheerfulness matters to God?
Application Questions:
- What practices help you trust God to provide for your needs?
- When you think about your own financial habits, where do you see room for growth in generosity?