Joyful Generosity
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Vision sermon: Joyful Generosity. One of our values. Generosity goes beyond money. Called to be joyful. Called to be sacrificial.
Need: Anything sacrificial is hard. Giving up what you have is the call of the believer.
Main Idea: Give Sacrificially
Come to a story of a woman giving of her money. Temple was depository for wealth. Levites were responsible for this. People gave for the temple to function. Paying levites. Things made from gold or silver. Stored flour, oil, wine, incense, etc. One person was in charge of administering these things. This story isn’t a poor widow receiving. But of giving.
Luke 21:1-4
Why? Because we are commanded to
Exp. Jesus watching people give in the 13 horn-shaped receptacles. Out in open courts for all to see. Verse 1-2. This is the seventh and final story of a widow in Luke. Widows weren’t just grieving wives. Vulnerable in society. She offers two coins. Greek = lepta. 1/132 of a days wage. That’s basically one dollar. Imagine that being all you have to live on. Unlawful to offer less than two lepta. Here she is, being obedient with all she has.
Ill. James and Jenny. Giving Emma to the mission field. “I’m so sorry.” She was all they had. And she was God’s!
Arg. Deuteronomy 26:12
12 “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled,
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Arg. Jesus says, “When you give…” Giving is not optional when God commands it.
Christ - Why is this important? Jesus gave the most. Jesus gave everything. God the Father was generous with his son, and we are called to imitate him. Obedience.
Why? Because Jesus considers it more.
Exp. After looking and seeing what she put it in, Jesus says verse 3. More monetarily? No. Two lepta. He explains. Verse 4. This isn’t a math equation. Jesus doesn’t count the pennies, he counts the sacrifice. Those giving out of abundance don’t feel it. If the gift is something you don’t know what to do with, you don’t feel it. But the two dollars is all you have to live on. You feel it.
Ill. For Jesus, the value of a gift is not the amount given, but the cost to the giver; not how much is given, but how much is retained for self. - James Edwards
Arg. Proverbs 3:9
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
Arg. This is important because it instructs to take your first and best. Take 10% off the top. Before you settle the rest of your affairs. Not at the end. Not with whatever is left. We give our first and our best.
App. This is easy for those who have a set income. You can name your 10% right now. With variable income, you give what you know you’ll make. And if you end up making more, you give the difference. Bethany and I do this.
Christ - Why do we give our first and best? Because Jesus was the first and best.
How? Relying on God.
Exp. Widows were the most vulnerable in society. The only thing they could do was rely on God. This widow gave all she had in obedience. Jesus considered it more than anyone else. And now, she trusts. When you take your firstfruits, you are praying God uses it and takes care of you.
Ill. Christian jumps in the water with his nose clinched. He can’t use his other hand. Trying to get him to let go and breath out when you hit the water. He knows holding his nose will work. You know you’re financially good doing it your way. Can you do it God’s way and trust him?
Arg. Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Christ - Jesus gave his spirit into the hands of the father. Jesus died giving of himself and relying on the father to raise him.
App. What do we do? Act generous.
Give your time. Don’t hoard your time. Give it away. Be stewards.
Give your talents. Don’t hoard your talents. Give it away. Be stewards.
Give your treasure. Don’t hoard your money. Give it away. Be stewards.
Do it joyfully. Enjoy the freedom found by letting go!
