Give Recklessly

This is the last part of our series on Audacious Faith!

We have this week and next to complete this series and then we will do a review. So today we will be looking at Give Recklessly! The focus of our giving is God; we give because we love Him . We give both to the deserving and the undeserving, just as Jesus gave . We give as worship to God; therefore, what we lay down in worship must be worthy of God in spirit and substance . THIS RECKLESS GIVING IS WITHOUT BOUNDARIES; IT IS UNINHIBITED, UNRESTRAINED, AND UNASHAMED. Why? Because it is worship unto God, and He is worthy of all our sacrifices of love. GIVING AS WORSHIP COMES WITH A COST. The word "recklessly" is an adverb that describes an action done without regard for the potential consequences or dangers

John 3:16–17 NLT

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 15:13 NLT

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Romans 5:6–11 NLT

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Jesus Definitely Gave Recklessly!

Think about this, Jesus, the Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, came to give His life for us so that we could be redeemed and be part of God’s family again. Our relationship with God was restored because Jesus gave recklessly! He did what no one else could do. He was sinless and offered His life to pay for our sins. That’s giving recklessly.

1 John 3:16–24 NLT

16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. 23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

It’s the Norm for Us, Give Recklessly

What does that mean? We give our time, our resources, our abilities, to help others without thinking about the cost to us. When we give the way Jesus gave, reckless giving becomes the norm for us. Nobody has to twist our arm. No one has to make passionate pleas with us. We do it because that is the way Jesus taught us to give.

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NLT

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Giving Cheerfully is Giving Recklessly!

When we give cheerfully, our attitude is not counting what we give. If we count and give out of obligation, it’s not cheerful giving. One of my responsibilities at Konawaena as the football equipment manager, is to keep track of all the equipment issued out to each player. Some players have personal equipment and others don’t. So each player has a record on what school issued equipment they have. Even those with personal equipment get issued practice and game pants and jerseys so everyone has a record. At the end of the season, all equipment must be turned in. Any piece that is not turned in becomes and “obligation” to the player. If the obligation is not met, they don’t hand the equipment in, they are responsible to pay for the equipment. If they don’t hand it in they are charged when they register the following year for school or if they are seniors, they cannot walk at graduation. Nobody is happy and cheerful when they have obligations. No one gives recklessly when they have an obligation to do so. No one is cheerful. Reckless givers are cheerful givers.

2 Corinthians 8:1–9 NLT

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 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. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Giving Ourselves First Creates Giving Recklessly!

When we put giving of ourselves first, reckless giving becomes the way of life. We don’t have a scorecard, and we don’t give out of abundance. Many times, we give regardless of our own needs. We would all love it if it wasn’t a sacrifice t give. You know we have so much we can easily give. But as we all know, life isn’t always like that if ever so we give sacrificially of our time, talents, finances. Doing so is reckless because we put the needs of others ahead of our own. When we do this, God provides our needs.

Proverbs 11:24–25 NIV

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Hebrews 13:16 NIV

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Reckless Givers are Blessed!

Did I mention that when we give recklessly, God provides our needs? He not only provides our needs, our lives are blessed. We are given everything that pertains to life and Godliness. It is best to Give Recklessly!