Generosity is KINDNESS - 2 Samuel 9:1-13

UNDERSTANDING GENEROSITY - 2 SAM 9:1-13

Black History Month; Appreciate Dance Team;

Series: Generosity - How YOUR expand God’s Kingdom.

2 Sam 9

PRAY

UNDERSTANDING GENEROSITY

INTRO: THERE IS A WORD IN HEBREW...HESED.

loyalty - GE 39:21 “But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.”

goodness Psalm 59:17 - You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

serving the community - Pr 3:3 “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.”

kindness - Pr 31:26 “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.”

ALL THESE WORDS ARE EXPRESSIONS OF GENEROSITY.

GENEROSITY IS A RESPONSE OF GODLY KINDNESS - 1-3a

2 Sam 9:1-3 “One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. 3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”

David, king of Israel had a memory flashback; Jonathan. David wanted to show KINDNESS because of all that God had done for him. NOT PAYBACK!

Saul was not David’s enemy. Don’t hold grudges. Keep Loving. LOVING GOD. Trust God (timing.)

How is your memory? Do you remember the battles? victories? Those who have been KIND to you? THEN YOU SHOULD SHOW GODLY KINDNESS TO OTHERS.

Those who have shown you KINDNESS are not GENEROUS to you out of obligation. Generosity is always inspired by God. Search your heart as you remember God’s blessings to your life.

SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GOOD. Opportunity surrounds you.

GENEROSITY IS A RESPONSE OF GODLY CALMNESS - 3b-7

2 Sam 9:3-7 “3b Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” 4 “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” 5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” 7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!””

Mephibosheth was heir to the throne. There were people who remained loyal to Saul, so he could have been considered a threat to David. Yet David welcomed Mephibosheth with calmness.

Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet.

We live among people who are cripple in both feet. No fault of their own; many walking around us; but unable to care for themselves EMOTIONALLY; SPIRITUALLY; PHYSICALLY.

GENEROSITY never screams “Why can’t you get it together?” GENEROSITY never demands “You better learn how to help yourself like I did.” Pick yourself up by your own bootstraps.

GENEROSITY always responds with tenderness, compassion, assurance, and loyalty. (You will eat here with me at the king’s table.)

SO - in our attempt to be GENEROUS to others, we must provide the calm assurance, the sincere compassion, that each individual needs.

THIS IS LOVING OTHERS. That’s how we glorify God.

GENEROSITY IS A RESPONSE OF GODLY CONSTANCY - COMPOUNDING - 8-13

2 Sam 9:8-13 “8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.”

David wasn’t interested in JUST providing a daily meal for Mephibosheth.

GENEROSITY dictates a constancy of life. That doesn’t mean becoming a crutch for someone to lean on for the rest of their life, it means helping them get established so they can take care of themself. That’s Making Disciples.

GENEROSITY RESTORES - the humanity; what was taken.

GENEROSITY LOOKS AHEAD - gives instruction on how to take care of yourself and others. (Ziba’s 15 sons and servants).

CrossRoads…WE HAVE WORK TO DO. RESTORING THE BROKEN; ESTABLISHING THE FORGOTTEN.

That’s why God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, so that we can MAKE DISCIPLES that will produce other disciples.

CLOSE: Has God been good to you? Does He provide NEW blessings every morning?

We often forget the blessings of God to us.

We forget how we were cripple in both feet, but God step by step has established us.

But God has established YOU so you can remember His response to you and become a blessing to others.

How? Through Your Generosity. And now that you understand GENEROSITY...are willing?