The Challenge of Generosity
When I think about generosity – I think about my hand
. We live with open hands or closed hands, or somewhere in between.
We live in a culture that says we need to hang on to everything we have. What is mine is mine and what is yours could be mine too. We open our hands just long enough to get more too.
To live open handed is counter cultural – it is living a life of generosity. A life where you say, God what you have given me is yours – It is yours. And I am going to use what you have given me to make a difference for your glory – not mine
I want to challenge you today to consider living open handedly
Acts 20:32-35
32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
This is our memory verse for the week –
The Highest level of living is GENEROUS LIVING.
No one wants to live a life that is defined by greed, because at the end of the day, greed is a life draining option, but generosity is a life giving option. Greed is a win-lose proposition, Generosity is a win-win proposition. Greed is the key to paranoia / Generosity is the key to prosperity. Using what you have been given to make a difference in the lives of others. Generosity is contagious, Greed is dehydrating.
Prov 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
VIDEO
Generous Living Means:
Generous with my TIME
Time is one of the most precious resources any of us have. Every day you wake up God has given you 86,400 seconds, 1,440 minutes, or 24 hours – and it is ours to spend, you can not keep it, save it or horde it – it will go away the question is how will I spend those minutes?
We are doing the New Testament challenge – am I willing to spend 20 minutes of my day to get to know God better, to hear from Him, or is something else more important to me?
Jesus said we should be like the Good Samaritan… we should be a person who is quick to help others
The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:30 - 37
What separated the Good Samaritan from the other 2 men was he was willing to use his time in the best possible way that would help someone else and honor God. On that particular day, he may have been in a hurry, on his way to a meeting or home, but he was willing to adjust his life inorder to spend his time caring for someone else in need
We can either be closed handed and selfish with our time or open handed and generous with our time.
The question is ‘AM I WILLING TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO GOD AND OTHERS?”
Will I rearrange my schedule to serve others.
Am I willing to let God rearrange my schedule so He can use my life an d reveal himself in my day?
1 Cor 15:58
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. NIV
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Next to our time – our abilities are also a way for us to live open handedly
Generous with my TALENTS
<Paul>34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.
THE QUESTION IS: WILL I ALLOW GOD TO UES THE TALENTS HE HAS GIVEN ME TO BLESS OTHERS
God has given each of us some ability, talent to let God work through our lives to care for others.
“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.”
- Ephesians 2:10
Eph 2:10
10 It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. TLB
We have many people who are using their God given talents to serve others. Luke and the worship team, Eddie running sound, the men and women who are teaching our children and caring for our babies. People who are leading meet-up groups, but it goes beyond that too.
God is using people who are using their skills to tutor kids, create their art that reflects God’s goodness, making meals for others in need. People who help others work on their homes. There are countless ways to use our talents to serve others
The Bible also gives us another insight to serving others – particularly and exclusively in the church – this is how seriously God takes using our abilities – He gives us Spiritual Gifts,
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:7
God wants us to use our talents and Spiritual Gifts to serve others.
Generous with my TREASURES
Jesus wants us to understand the true nature of money – it is not something we hang on to with closed fists, but an essential area of opening up our hands and recognizing that all the wealth God has give to us is from him and is ultimately His.
Our hearts get very wrapped around our money –
Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.
One of the ways God challenges us to open up our hands and to be generous with our money is through the spiritual practice of Tithing
Matt 23:23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. NIV
The question is: ‘Can God take money out of my hands to give to others?’
Tithing is foundational to building a generous life – learning to trust God with our finances.
Look around you at the bridge ~What do you see?
People talking and enjoying a cup of coffee; The Bridge worship band leading energetic worship music; a first time guest getting their first glimpse of what a Christians ‘look like’ maybe receiving a copy of a book or her first Bible; someone diligently listening to the message and taking notes; Children learning about the Bible in Kids Church.
Each of these ministries is possible because The Bridge is a member supported church. Without the tithes and offerings of our members and attenders it would be impossible to offer these ministries that help people to become fully developing followers of Jesus.
Imagine... What would happen if...
100% of The Bridge’s regular attenders took the step to become a regular giver at The Bridge. These are just a few things that would be possible…
- Expansion of current ministries
- Creation of new ministries
- More lives radically changed
- Deeper personal relationships with God
- Greater impact on our city
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
A tithe means the first tenth – you are giving back to God because He has given you everything, the time and talent to earn this money, and you are ultimately dependent upon him, and so you bring a tithe to God.
It is a priority – it is important to you
It is consistent – when we get paid we recognize God and give to Him
It is proportional – 10%
It is sacrificial – at times God calls us to do more than a tithe and live sacrificially
God uses the church and our Sunday mornings to minister to people, to draw them to himself, to encourage, bless, challenge. And God has certainly used The Bridge as a light in this community to draw people to Himself.
In a few weeks, on Nov 15, we will have what we call Pledge Sunday, you will be hearing more about this in the next week or so, but it is a time for us to commit ourselves financially to the Bridge. I will be asking you to make a commitment to God that says “I am a part of this church community and I want to be a part of seeing God reach this community with the Gospel of Christ.
Generous with my TESTIMONY
The most valuable thing we have however is not our time, or our talents or even our money, but it is the testimony of our faith in Christ.
“<Jesus to Paul>
“Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.
- Acts 26:16 NIV
1 Peter 3:15-16
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1
The question is: Can God use the experiences of my life to reveal himself to others?
MY TESTIMONY WORKSHEET (Acts 26)
- My Life Before Becoming A Christian:
- How I Became A Christian:
- My Life After Becoming A Christian
“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”
-Philemon 1:6 NLT