Spiritual Disciplines- Generosity

Generous for the purpose of Godliness

1 Timothy 4:7 ESV

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

What does you giving say about you?

The use of money is a good indicator of our godliness because we exchange a great part of our lives for it

15-16 years the average American spends working in their life time

Because we invest our time working for it you could say that money represents who we are

Therefore how we use it expresses who we are, what we value , whats in our hearts

Barna Study- Slide 1

Of U.S. adults 69% say they give because of who they are, 77% among self identified Christians

Slide 2

Why do you choose to give across the generations

Slide 3

If the way we use money is an expression of who we are, what we value and what is in our hearts then how do we use our finances

The number one financial goal in life is providing for family

The bible affirms this:

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Slide 4

What do we donate to

Slide 5

How important is it to God that you are generous?

Why is it important to God?

Slide 6

What is the most important reason why Christians are called to be generous?

Slide 7

Are you giving consistently?

Majority across generations would say that their giving varies

Note Donald Whitney’s thoughts on systematic giving per his instructions to the Corinthian church

1 Corinthians 16:2 (ESV)

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, (in keeping with his income) so that there will be no collecting when I come.

Slide 8

Have we taught giving/generosity well in the church?

Slide 9

The connection between employment, income and giving

Principles for Giving

A lot of what is said about the principles of time can apply also to money, except that unlike money you can’t get time back

God own’s everything

Psalm 24:1 ESV

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,

Exodus 19:5 ESV

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

Job 41:11 ESV

Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Haggai 2:8 ESV

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.

We are managers/stewards of God’s property

Joseph as a servant in Potiphar’s house, Joseph was to manage Potiphar’s possessions in away that allowed him to meet his own needs but ultimately he was compelled to mange to Potiphars interests

Likewise we are to use and enjoy God’s things but remember they are his things and they should be used in ways that align with his interests

As we understand our role as stewards we move from asking how much of my money should I give God to asking how much of God’s money should I keep to myself?

Giving is an act of worship

Philippians 4:18 ESV

I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

Here Paul describes the gifts that were given to support him with terms used to describe the Old Testament sacrifices as acts of worship

At this point there are some who would point out that we have lost some or all of the principle here because we no longer pass offering plates.

I think that is a valid point. I also think that passing an offering plate although it happens during a worship service, can be as ceremonial and void of worship as say giving online might potentially be if we aren’t intentional in why we are doing it. I don’t say that to suggest that we should or will start passing offering plates on a regular basis again

Other avenues of giving like giving online are not going to go away, it is the preferred method of giving for younger generations, so how can giving online be an act of worship

But if this a key principle of giving and I believe it is how can we incorporate worship on Sunday mornings

Based on the data it seems to me that their is a desire to connect our giving to our worship of God rather then giving as a sense of obligation.

How to we make that connection particular for younger generations who are growing into generosity and giving

Giving reflects faith in God’s provision

We will give to the extent that we believe God will provide for us. The more we believe God will provide, the more we will risk giving, the less we trust God the less we give.

This might be represented in the data from slide 9- correlation between employment, income and giving

Mark 12:41–44 ESV

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 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. 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.”

Giving Should be sacrificial

Everyone else gave out of their abundance but the poor widow gave all that she had

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

The Macedonian Christians in their extreme poverty gave according to their means and beyond their means

It’s not sacrificial giving unless its a sacrifice

High capacity givers might be giving be giving higher dollar amounts than others but they have the capacity to do so, that doesn’t make it a sacrifice

Giving indicates a spiritual trust worthiness

Luke 16:10–13 ESV

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant 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.”

If we can not be be trusted with worldly riches how can we be trusted with the riches of the kingdom

Giving generously results in bountiful blessing

Luke 6:38 ESV

give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 ESV

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

the promise is not that you will experience overflowing monetary prosperity, but he will “bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need you will abound in every good work.”

we give what is in our hearts- that goes back to the idea that our giving is an indication of who we are, what is in our hearts, God is not a landlord out collecting rent, he wants you to give out of what is in your heart

2 Corinthians 9:10–12 ESV

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

It is God who supplies the you with the seed that he is asking you to sow, in essence he is asking you to sow generously the seed that he has given you, its his seed.

He will supply and multiply your seed for sowing, you will be enriched in every way- SO THAT you can be GENEROUS on every occasion

Which produces THANKSGIVING TO GOD

Conclusion:

Slide 3- What would you consider the ultimate financial goal in life?

I might submit to you that we consider

How might God be inviting me to bring thanksgiving to Him through the way I manage the seed he has given me.