Radical Generosity

Illustration

Imagine you have a big bag of candy. You could easily eat it all yourself, but what if you decided to share some with everyone around you? Suddenly, each piece shared brings a smile, and your joy multiplies just by seeing others happy. Being generous is like sharing that bag of candy; your joy grows not by keeping it all to yourself but by spreading it around!

Context for How Philippians Provided for Paul

Philippians 4:10 ESV

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

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.

Philippians 4:15–16 ESV

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

Philippians sent Epaphroditus to care for him while in imprisoned in Rome

Under a form of house arrest, Acts 28:30-31 states he was staying there at his own expense. So he was paying rent.

He most likely paid the rent with the assistance of fellow believers, such as the Philippians

Acts 28:16 states that a solider was assigned to guard Paul. Most likely custodia militaris. A form of house arrest where a Roman soldier was chained to the prisoner.

This house arrest allowed Paul to welcome people, preach, teach, and send/receive letters.

How can we be generous like the Philippians?

1. Learn Paul’s Secret

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Paul’s source of strength in all situations is Jesus Christ. It’s not in the money or the things that he possesses

Jesus Said:

Luke 12:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

You will pass from this life onto the next someday. In other words, someday, you’ll die. If we spend all of our lives chasing after materials possessions and money, we’ll ultimately leave this world empty handed.

You can’t take it with you. Realistically, because we are Americans, what we currently possess, is more than enough.

If you spend your life chasing money, you cannot chase God. Place your strength in God, not worldly possessions.

Matthew 6:24 ESV

“No one 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.

Watch lest prosperity destroy generosity.

Henry Ward Beecher (Congregational Clergyman)

Placing our faith in our things, rather than placing our faith in God, destroys our ability to be generous. We become hermits. Spending more time with our toys and chasing new ones, rather than spending time where it really counts. With our community and neighbors.

God promises to provide for our needs if we seek first the Kingdom.

Matthew 6:31–33 ESV

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

This is where Paul has placed his faith. Not in his possessions. He sought first the Kingdom and his needs where taken care of by God.

How did Paul place his faith in Christ, rather than his possessions?

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

He considered the worth of knowing Christ to be so great, that everything else in his life he considered to be no more than garbage. It was all a loss to him, no matter how great the gain.

Learn to be content with what you have and seek first the Kingdom. Let Christ be your source of strength in times of need and times of abundance.

2. Follow God’s example of Generosity

God demonstrates to us the ultimate form of Generosity.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

He gave us the most valuable thing that He could. He gave us His Son. To live the life we failed at living, to die the death that we deserve. All so we can be presentable in the presence of a Holy God.

We didn’t deserve this gift. We couldn’t do anything to obtain it. God, out of his mercy and love, simply gave it to us. No strings attached, without price.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Christ stepped down off HIS throne to serve us. To DIE for us.

If anyone thinks that they are too high up on the totem pole of society to give their time or love to someone less fortunate, take a long hard look at the example of Christ.

The creator of the universe chose to live among us. Be homeless. Have no personal possessions. Give everything He had to others. and the Father provided for him.

Matthew 7:7–11 ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

3. God’s after one thing, and it’s not your money (time, resources, connections, etc.)

This things mean nothing to God. After all,

How can one provide for One who already possesses everything?

Romans 11:33–36 ESV

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Acts 17:24–25 ESV

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

There is NOTHING that we can offer to God that he doesn’t already possess.

You can give 100% of your money to the church, God doesn’t need it.

You can give 100% of your time to missions, God doesn’t need it.

Whatever it is you have to give away, God doesn’t need it.

Look at the example of the poor widow:

Luke 21:1–4 ESV

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Obviously the rich put more into the offering box than the poor widow who only put in two small copper coins. But Jesus said that she put in more than all of them.

Did Jesus misspeak here? Of course not!

God doesn’t want your money, your time, or any other resource that you deem valuable. HE WANTS YOUR HEART

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The widow, having nothing, gave everything! She gave what was in her heart! She didn’t give out of abundance, she had no abundance!

She didn’t say “When I make more money, then I will give”, “When I have more time, then I will volunteer”, “When God decides to bless me, then I will bless others”.

No! She was content with what she had, followed the example of God, and gave away her heart.

Application Question

What specific act of generosity can you practice this week to spread joy to others?