Give it all away Part 4

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Intro:

We spoke on this idea a little the first week of this series but a lot of times our problem when we talk about being generous is

We can’t fathom being generous when we have so little to begin with

Yea we can talk about the rich young ruler all you like but for most of us we are so far from rich that when we do talk about biblical generosity we just kind of tune it out because we are just trying to pay the bills

What we fail to realize or at least admit is that...

We (Americans) throw away more than most of the world lives on.

On Halloween alone in 2021 - American spent $10.1 billion.

That’s estimated to be 10.6 billion this year

Half a billion dollars more and yet the economy is tanking right?

in 2021 people Americans spent over 3.5 billion on costumes alone and over 3 billion on candy alone

This is 1 holiday

We’ve partnered with “hands and feet” which is an orphanage in Haiti.

One of the poorest countries in all of the world.

For reference - according to the GNI which is the countries total income divided by it’s population

US: almost $66,000

Haiti: just over $1,200

The need is great

Through hands and feet you can help sponsor a kid for $35 a month

The church can sponsor a family for $300

That’s giving them food, education, and housing

I say that to say, what if we could give our money away instead of throwing it away? Wouldn’t that be so much better?

For the past three weeks we have been talking about the call to “Give it all away.”

We have challenged some Myths of Generosity.

Myth 1: Generosity is determined by available cash flow. (Young Rich Man)

Myth 2: Generosity is driven by compassion. (Treasures) - no, it’s driven by gratitude!

Myth 3: It's the amount that matters (Widow’s mite) - no, it’s what’s left that counts.

Myth 4:  Generosity is spontaneous - no, it’s premeditated and calculated.

We have been challenged by the level of generosity Jesus calls us to!

Jesus challenges us to give it all away, and follow Him.

That is a new level, some would say an unreachable level of generosity and giving.

How can we possibly come to this place in life?

By premeditating and calculating our generosity.

Let’s be honest, this series has been tough.

Not because it is theologically challenging;

Not because it is hard to understand;

Not because it is mysterious in nature;

and not because it makes people uncomfortable.

This series has been tough because we know that we are not where we want to be or need to be in the matter of generosity.

We are not sure we have arrived at a place of being ready to “give it all away;” or to look at what is left over after we have given.

We are not sure we are ready to give sacrificially, unless we are free to define “sacrificially.”

Today we want to talk about how we take generosity to the next level.

We want to find how we can live out the generous life that we are challenged to live as followers of Christ.

Many of us will say, “I just can’t be more generous. I can’t afford it.”

Andy Stanley said it so well. Andy said, “rich people aren’t generous, generous people are generous.” He is so right...you don’t have to be rich to be generous, but you have to want to be generous.

Paul takes it a step further and teaches us what it means to be rich!

You can be rich!

To Paul, the idea of being rich is not the accumulation of things to have, but rather the joy found in giving those things away!

He is focused not on the acquisition of things for me, but the distribution of things to others!

Paul teaches us that being rich is more about giving than it is about getting!

1 Timothy 6:17–19 NIV

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

pray

As Paul draws his letter to young Timothy to a close, he returns to the topic of temporal wealth.

He warns Timothy about the pitfalls of wealth, but also encourages them with some advantages to wealth.

Paul addresses those who are not rich, but want to be. (vv. 1-16)

Paul addresses those who are rich, but haven’t learned to be generous. (vv. 17-19)

Today we are going to look closely at those who are rich, because we are rich!

I’m sure you will push back on that thought, but it’s true.

I know it is relative, but consider this…If you make more than $50,000 a year, you are among the top 1 percent of earners on the entire planet.

Most of the population of the entire world (80 percent) lives on less than $10 a day. That means that if your annual household income is above $9,733, you are doing better than most of the world. The median household income for the global population is less than $10,000 a year.

This fact blows me away. More than a third of people on earth live on less than $2 a day. 1.2 billion live on less than $1.25.

More than likely, no matter how you get it, almost half the world lives on less than a daily cup of coffee.

Still don’t believe you are rich. Consider this…

Rich is a moving target. No matter how much money we have or make, we will probably never consider ourselves rich.

But the truth is we are rich! Most of us who make our home in America are rich and don’t even know it.

Look in your purse or pocket and pull out your keyring. Take a peek at it. I’m guessing that you have a Car Key on the ring and probably a House Key! Some may have a second car key, truck key, four wheeler key, camper key, boat key, or office key on the ring.

Look in your other pocket or purse and pull out your cell-phone. Take a close look at it because one third of the world’s population lives on less than your monthly cell phone payment.

According to reliable and credible studies done, if you know where your next meal is coming from, you don’t have to worry about getting clean water or having shelter over your head, and you have access to medical care, you benefit from more wealth than many people throughout human history.

Now, I want to make this very clear this morning, money is not evil, and not all people allow money to corrupt them.

But the potential remains. Therefore, Paul issues four imperatives, two negative (v.17) and two positive (vv. 18-19).

Two Negative imperatives. (17)

First, don’t be conceited.

“Command those who are rich in the present world not to be arrogant…”

The definition of arrogant is “having an inflated sense of self worth.”

When your net worth is inflated it is easy for your self-worth to get inflated.

Second, don’t put your hope on the uncertainty of wealth.

“...or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”

It is easy for us to allow our riches to become our source of hope and worship.

When you are rich there’s a natural inclination for your hope to migrate toward money.

And if you fall into this trap, then the wealthier you get, the more you will hope and trust in riches.

Proverbs 18:11 NIV

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

Two Positive imperatives. (18)

Be rich in good works.

“Command them to do what is good, to be rich in good works…”

Do what is good - The best remedy for greed is generosity.

Be Rich in good works - Be people God can use.

Evangelist Franklin Graham wrote, "If we want to become the type of people that God can use anytime, anywhere, anyplace, we must offer ourselves, our homes, our kitchens, and our living rooms as outposts for the kingdom of God."

Be generous and ready to share.

“...to be generous and willing to share,:

Live generously and be willing to share.

Two Results. (19)

A strong eternity portfolio.

“THE ETERNITY PORTFOLIO” - Alan Gotthardt

“storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age…”

A healthy perspective on life.

“...so that they may take hold of what is truly life.”

APPLICATION

How do I get to the place of being willing to “give it all away?”

That sounds like a huge leap from where I am now in my heart.

If I am honest, I would like to be there, but in truth, I am a long way from it!

Make it a Spiritual matter, not a financial decision.

Gratitude (12)

Verse 12 speak on the eternal life that we have been called to because of the cross

Gratitude is being Grateful for the gift you’ve been given.

Humility (17)

Humility comes in recognizing the source of our supply.

It is understanding that all that we have has come as a result of God’s will and blessing!

Unselfishness. (18)

This is a keen awareness of others.

Focus (19)

A constant reminder that our focus is not on gaining temporal things in this world, but storing up eternal treasures in heaven.

To be generous you must make a Premeditated Decision.

Have a plan!

Start where you Are.

Giving Nothing.

Giving Something

Giving Regularly

Giving Intentionally

Giving Sacrificially

Determine where you want to Be.

Then make a plan to get there

If you don’t have a plan, you’ll never be generous.

Make it Measurable. Decide on a Percentage.

Percentages makes it easier for you giving to grow

Aim at some Goals.

Start where you are and grow!

Move from giving nothing to giving Something.

Move from giving something to giving regularly.

Move from giving regularly to giving intentionally.

Move from giving intentionally to giving sacrificially!

Take Away:

You hopefully have a savings/retirement plan, and you need a deliberate giving plan as well! 

Don’t end up being like most Americans and be a 3 S Giver: 

One who is Spontaneous, Sporadic, and Sparing.  If you are a 3 S Giver, you miss an opportunity to be rich in God and your hope will migrate away from God.

Become a 3 P Giver:  Priority, Percentage, Progressive:

Priority – When you get some money, you give some away.

Percentage – You pre-decide how much you are going to give away vs. discovering at tax time what you gave.

Progressive – As we receive more wealth, and have more than the average person, we should give higher percentages away.

5% of churchgoers tithe (Church Development).

1.5 million people tithe out of the 247 million U.S. citizens identifying as Christians (Sharefaith).

77% of tithers give more than 10% (Health Research Funding).

If every Christian tithed 10%, faith organizations would have an extra $139 billion each year (Health Research Funding).

$25 billion could relieve global hunger and eliminate deaths from preventable diseases within five years

$15 billion could solve the world’s water and sanitation issues—specifically in places where a majority of people live on less than $1 a day

$12 billion could end illiteracy

$1 billion could fully fund all overseas mission work

$100–$110 billion would be left over for additional ministry expansion.

The kingdom of God flows through generosity of kingdom people

God doesn’t need your money

But your generosity is a testimony of the goodness of God in your life

What does your generosity say about God?