Generosity

Good morning, family! I’m Andrew one of the pastors here and I'm excited to dive into the Word with you today. Family and friends, joining us online. Welcome.

But before I begin, I have TWO things I want to address:

NUMBER 1: the election the same way we have been addressing it for the past month.

We have been encouraging you to be spirit led in voting and humble in your talk as you walk amongst each other as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

I don't know where you find yourself this morning after the election. Whether you feel relieved or anxious because of Tuesday night.

But I want to remind you, that No matter the issue, the circumstances that you found yourself in; for why you were hoping your candidate would win.

God's power does not increase or decrease with whoever is elected.

God's ultimate plans for human flourishing is not somehow stopped by which candidate got the most votes.

God is God AND since HE still sits on the throne, (thats good news for BOTH candidates), BECAUSE we can ALL celebrate as Christians that GOD still has all power in his hands.

So as God's people who were spiritually led in our voting, our ultimate trust should STILL be in God, not in people, plans, and policies. Lets follow God together as we humbly walk with each other. AMEN

NUMBER 2: Tomorrow is Veterans Day where we will celebrate all who have served in the military. So I just want to take a moment to acknowledge those of you who served in the military. Could you please stand so we could honor you. (Thank You as small gesture of gratitude to your service)

Alright lets get into this message. I do respond well to verbal feedback, AND that is one of the ways you can express our house habit of Participation is better than observation. (take notes/ pictures, and feel free to say amen it doesnt distract me)

Today, we are continuing our sermon series on Generosity. And we have covered different aspects of generosity, so today I will bring it all the way home and cover generosity as a whole.

The passage of scripture that we will be focusing on today comes from 1 Timothy 6:17-19. So if you could please stand for the reading of God’s word.

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Generosity for many of us seems aspirational. Like when I get more money, more time, more space then I will be generous. (When I am better off, or out of this situation then I will give.)

And for some of us, THIS IS caused by the constant pressure of financial insecurity, a sense that there’s never ‘enough.’ I cant give of what I dont have.

And even if I did get some money, how could I ever give it, because then i will just end up the same situation im in now.

And because the pressure of bills, debt, and life problems we find ourselves fighting to hold on to ANY little bit that we have. Because I dont see a way out, a hand out, or even a help me out. SO therefore I got to hold to all this stuff by myself.

But most of us are not necessarily trying to be rich, I was having a conversation with someone the other day, some of us just want to have enough money to be comfortable. But what’s comfortable. As someone who has climbed a corporate ladder, gotten the promotions, made more money the feeling of comfortable (if im honest) has been a moving target (fleeting)

In fact many of us would identify, as making it pay check to pay check, and therefore consider ourselves NOT well off. To push it a step further many of us probably felt a sigh of relief by the fourth word of the passage because it says “As for the rich”.

And EVERYBODY SAID “O thank God this a sermon for the rich and not me.” But did you know that just by living in the United States we are a whole lot better off than most of the world.

According to a Pew Research article in 2016, 56% of Americans were considered high income globally, with another 32% of Americans classified as upper-middle income. (88% of Americans are better off financially than most of the world.)

7% of Americans fell into the global middle-income bracket, 3% were low income, and with only 2% of Americans were considered poor (from a global sense).

Now I am not trying to be insensitive to those of us who by a global sense seem to be better off but here in a America feel like your self worth is nothing because of your financial status.

But follow me, I'm going somewhere, because even those who would seem to have money or seem to be comfortable also find themselves living paycheck to paycheck.

Bank of America analysis in 2024 found that approximately 20% of households in America making over $150,000 a year are living paycheck to paycheck as well.

Clearly chasing after money as our security, safety, and provision is flawed thinking.

But it also affects our thinking about giving and generosity. According to a Washington Post article in 2018 when Americans viewed themselves as being in the lower percentile of financial standing in the global economy they were not likely to give to foreign aid.

However the experiment found that when Americans were informed that their actual standing in the global economy was much higher than the rest of the world. Their foreign aid giving increased by 10%.

Giving increased just by how they thought of themselves. Their mindsets determined how they acted.

Many of us cant live the vibrant christian life that we talk about hear at Hope Valley, because we are walking around with a spiritually poor mindset; unaware of who our heavenly father is; deceived by the lie of the enemy that we will never have enough (be enough), when God said that his people would be lenders and not borrowers.

So if we are honest with ourselves how much of our pursuit of security is driven by fear versus comfortability?

Are we trusting in our gathered and acquired resources MORE, than we are leaning on God for our provision?

Family do not put your hopes on the ‘uncertainty of riches’ but on God,

So lets consider our fears about giving and the pressure to hold on tightly to what we have.

Lets unpack and understand where this mindset comes from and why it persists.

So why do we feel afraid to give? Where does this scarcity mindset come from that Pastor David has talked about many times?

It comes from society and the culture we live in; our family background and how they related to money; our own experiences (good and bad) with how we handled money; and the deceiving enemy of comparison.

Society tells us that there is only so much and we have to look out for ourselves. Which is why people went crazy and stored up loads of toilet paper for themselves during COVID. (some people tried to make it seem like it for others but it was really for themselves)

And whether its Family experiences, personal experiences, or comparison they all feed our scarcity mindset and leads us to hoard rather than to trust.

Some of us who have been affected by the scarcity mindset, would probably even say we trust God, be in church on Sundays, and even might put a lil something something in the offering, but deep down, there’s fear that God is not trustworthy, so we hold back from freely giving and only give what were comfortable letting go.

Only giving what doesnt touch my perceived safety net (that got stored up over here). That’s why we feel the need to accumulate more and more to create more safety for ourselves for the “just in case God dont come through”. (God Im only holding tight to this money; this resource; Just In Case. This My Backup - just in case you got other people to help)

And what this boils down to is a fear of running out. That God wont show up; that your acquired provision might be the only thing to keep you from losing it all.

If you dont believe me, Lets look at the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-23). He asked Jesus what more he could do to gain eternal life in addition to everything else he had acquired. (it doesnt say that but thats the undertone of it)

But isnt it interesting that his acquired resources made him hesitant to let go and take possession of the true treasure. He trusted more in his possessions, than in the God he claimed to seek.

He had acquired many riches, much security; protection from bad things at least on paper, but he had an opportunity to receive the ultimately security in Jesus, BUT he had to let go of false sense of security in one hand to take completely hold of the God in the other. (Scriptures tells us in Matthew 6:24 you cant serve God and money you can only choose one. )

Who are you choosing family? (Money and earthly riches - The one that you think you can control but as Pastor David said it actually controls you OR are you put your trust in the one who is in control of it all.)

So we’ve seen how fear and self-reliance can create a scarcity mindset, making it hard to live generously. But lets look at why we should be generous despite our fear, as we FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS GENEROSITY

Generosity (and i realized i haven't given you a definition for that yet) is a virtue characterized by unselfish giving, often exceeding expectations. (unselfish giving, often exceeding expectations)

But because part of generosity is exceeding what is expected we think that it is something that is in addition to our Christian walk.

But thats only because we set the bar for Christian walk too low at showing up to church AND serving on a service team.

Generosity is not extra credit for those of us with more money. Generosity is not a level up of distinction between regular Christians and super Christians

But it is something that should mark every person who proclaims to be a follower of Jesus. In fact, it was a distinguishing marker of the early church.

For it was the generous heart of Christians that drove them to start schools, orphanages, shelters and hospitals.

But I wonder if historians will say the same thing about this age of the church.

OR Would they say that this age of the church was so concerned with praying to a genie Jesus to meet our wants, that they never looked at the needs of others.

Being a Christian is more than just NOT doing stuff. (ITs MORE THAN NOT saying bad stuff, NOT looking at bad stuff, or NOT doing bad stuff, BUT it is being careful to do all that Jesus commanded and taught us through his teachings.

Which is filled with lots of things for us TO DO.

IF we want to enjoy the vibrant christian life which is marked with following God, with Gods people on his mission, then we must be generous which touches every element of those things.

The gospel of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection for our sake despite our lack of interest and commitment to the things of God - ACTUALLY offers us the greatest example of Generosity.

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 8:9, ‘though He (Jesus) was rich, for our sake He became poor.’

So Jesus’ life was a model of sacrificial generosity. That if Jesus who had everything (didnt need a thing from us; enjoying his time with the father, living his best life in eternity ) would give it all away (to experience heat, humidity, pain, humiliation, loss) for us (who didnt care at all about him).

Now if thats not unselfish and above expectation I dont know what is (you got me at the humidity - why would i give up comfort for that)

Therefore any generosity in our own lives becomes a response to the greatest generous act anyone has ever done, that Jesus would lay down his life for you, with no payment on our part.

So as we are generous it becomes an expression of our faith in Jesus. That he who has been generous first will see our generosity as a humble nod to Him AND how he has told us we are to live.

It is a way of saying, ‘Lord, I see what You’ve done for me, and I want my life to reflect that same love and grace.’

And it is in that way that our response to his generosity becomes part of our worship of Him.

Wait Pastor Andrew {Worship IS NOT just when we sing the slow songs at the top of the service?} NO.

Worship is fundamentally a response. Its a response (that varies) BUT it always arises from recognizing who God is, what He has done, and how we relate to Him.

And when we view generosity as worship, it changes generosity from a burden of I have nothing to give (why are you asking me) - to a blessing of I will give you all that I got Lord, because your worth it.

So lets explore how our faith in God’s provision can free us to live open-handedly, just as Jesus modeled for us. With our last point EMBRACING THE FREEDOM OF GENEROSITY

The good news of the gospel that Jesus died for our sins and washed our debts free, enables us to live a life of freedom, no longer tied down by our possessions.

Free from worrying about acquired things that we FEEL give us meaning and worth. Free from trying to save up enough to be comfortable.

Free from trying to secure and save ourselves; and It allows us to trust God for these things.

BUT this freedom that we experience through accepting Jesus as our Lord and sailor is not just so we stop worrying about not going to hell in the next life

Its also for our ongoing security in this life. (say again accepting Jesus IS NOT just so you can go to heaven, it so you can experience abundant life) Jesus says that I have come to give you life and life more abundantly.

Now most of you are saying well that sounds nice pastor, but it seems like a reality i cant have.

Because instead of an abundance that you speak about, I got an absence I cant seem to live without. (and if thats you I hear you, but let me tell you about my kids, and maybe that will help you out)

(Be honest with yall my kids make me so mad, i get frustrated, (God is still sanctifying me)) But I get mad when my kids dont want to share there food. Or when they fight to get last of some type of food on the table.

I get mad because when I ask them why didnt you share with your brother, they always say because that was the last of it.

So then I take them down memory lane. I say “when you ask me for my food, dont I always give you mine”. They look down and they say “yes”. So why wouldnt share the same way with your brother.

Then I have to remind them “who bought that food in the first place”, and they say “you did”, So if I bought that food, dont I have the same means to replace what you gave out.

You see family when it comes to generosity many of us are bound in the same fear my children are often times faced with.

AND We close our fists to the idea of giving or sharing because we are afraid that God dont have more of what we just gave out.

BUT God’s word refutes this idea in various passages and shows us that God values a generous heart and will provide for us, as we continue to give and bless others.

Proverbs 3:9–10 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

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."

Malachi 3:10 (ESV) "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

And there are many others that are up on the slide behind me.

But here me out, this is not about gaming the spiritual system.

Depending on your upbringing you may have heard things like who wants to get their $50 dollar blessing or $100 dollar blessing, or give $1,000 dollars to get your breakthrough, blessing based on the amount you gave.

Look many of you are sitting on the edge of your seats. This IS NOT a prosperity gospel teaching, that if you give God will make you rich, or heal you, or prosper you in the way you want to be prospered. (IM NOT SAYING THAT)

Im also NOT saying that GOD cant BLESS YOU, because clearly there is a principal at play in the bible, (dont throw the baby out with the bath water, just because someone taught it wrong or missed the mark, maybe their emphasis was in the wrong place, I dont know read your bible)

BUT I will say this, I dare not limit God to some type of formula where he only blesses us financially as we use my financial gifts. God math never works out like that (and thank God it doesn't).

What I do believe this teaches us is that as we give from a place of faith and gratitude, rather than hedging our bet on getting a big financial pay day,

God will bless us however he chooses to, for our good, and for his glory AND that should free us up to be generous. (We don't have to be afraid - BECAUSE GOD’s Got us)

So where do we start how do we start experiencing this freedom.

WE START WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

In Matthew 14 generosity using what we have was on full display in the feeding of the five thousand. In the account the disciple wanted to send the people away because the NEED was to great. (you see where generosity comes in here)

Matthew probably did the math and found clearly they couldn't feed all those people with what they had (five loaves of bread and two fish).

AND Even if they had given it to some of the people, then the disciples would have starved, so they thought it was best to just not give at all AND send the people somewhere else.

(This makes me think) Where has the church been sending people because we have not been generous? We wonder why different causes have take the place of the church, but has God’s people been generous? (i digress)

But in the account, Jesus didn’t say go get more so you can give to these people, He said (what do you have/ USE what you have.)

And as they gave from what they had became more than enough, because Jesus was behind it.

Some of us have withheld or not participated in generosity because we sitting doing the math on our gift and thinking my 5 dollars don’t mean much, my Sunday of service don’t mean anything,

But when we live in the freedom of trusting God and giving as an act of worship, we begin to see real change with what he does with our gift, not just for our own spiritual growth but for the lives of everyone around us.

Family are you being generous with what you have?

So Pastor Andrew, I hear you BUT what does this look like practically.

REMEMBER Generosity is unselfish giving, often exceeding expectations. So for me personally this is amounts beyond my tithe.

So my tithe is 10% of my income before Uncle Sam gets his, I cant cheat uncle sam so why do I think its okay to cheat God. (Now this is not a sermon on the tithe, check out pastor davids sermon or ask the question at the upcoming panel)

Then beyond that my wife and I set aside dollars to give to missionaries every year that we give out on a monthly basis of partnership

Then we set aside another pool of money for church activities on a monthly basis (for providing meals to those in need)

For many seasons we felt led to give a room in our home for missionaries and people in need to stay in.

We give to special offerings at the church in amounts that we feel led to give.

We give our home and food for anyone who sits at our table. (If you sat down at the table in our house, you gone get some food)

And then we give as the spirit leads us to provide food for the homeless and others in need.

Now I realize that list of things can be exhausting OR overwhelming if you haven't even started yet, BUT we didn't start there either, we started just by giving a little.

Years ago when my wife and I had started to give a tithe, my wife and I felt called to be more generous, after we heard an elder in our church say if you dont give when you dont have money you wont give when you have money. (so we felt convicted by that)

And shortly after that we were faced with our first opportunity to step into that conviction; with the presence a faithful college missionary partnership meeting. (How many of you know God will give you opportunity to practice your faith)

He was asking for $50, $100, $150 monthly partners. But we did not FEEL like I could give any of those (we FELT like we were poor (remember the mindset), we were making it pay check to pay check),

But we had this conviction to be more generous, so we did the good Chistian thing, and said we would pray about it. So we prayed about it and landed on $10 a month (which at the the time felt like a stretch) (because we had gotten used to using it for other things - again we were going paycheck to paycheck NOTHING left over) but we believed God could use it and we were going to trust God.

Now that missionary explained to us that it wasn't the amount that mattered but our heart beyond the gift.

I thank God for that missionary, because we were able to start with that small amount and God has continued to bless us since to the point where we support multiple missionaries at alot more money.

You see, through giving we found the unexpected joy in getting to be apart of Gods mission, knowing that we were honoring him

We felt security each time we gave and we didnt die. We didnt go broke, we didnt starve. Each time we looked at our year end and saw we are giving alot of money away where is it coming from.

We felt peace by being closer to God’s heart and being comforted knowing that as long as we were obedient to him he was going to take care of the rest,

For scripture tells to seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you; it also says the righteous have bever been forsaken and we are not righteous by our own doing by but by christ bestows on us, by choosing him.

Most importantly our walk with Jesus became stronger and our faith grew, AND it all started with a small act of trust, with what we already had.

So now we are not afraid to give when needs arise with people at or around the church.

It has become our humble worship in response to what God had ALREADY done for us

And as we give God blesses us with more, NOT ALWAYS with money BUT ALWAYS with his presence and peace over every situation.

Family God isn’t asking us to spend MORE than what you have to be generous, he just asking us to use what you have.

As I Close: Imagine a church community known for its generosity. That historians would be able to point to and say this age of the church was generous.

That the church became a place where needs were met, like in the book of Acts. Where people were excited about opportunities of giving instead of us grimacing thinking (here the church goes again asking for money, “I got to hold on to this, til my next pay check”).

What kind of faith community could we be not just for those inside the church but outside the church as well? If we didn't have to send people somewhere else.

Paul pushes the early church in this direction with his encouragement in verse 18 of our text to ‘do good, be rich in good works, and be generous and ready to share.’

And I believe when we do this, we will exercise our freedom in Christ, we will worship God in our obedience, we will take hold of the treasure Paul mentions in verse 19, AND we will be an example of Christ to the world.

So how can you participate in this. You can participate by:

Start tithing as led by the spirit of God (check out the sermon on that)

Then consider setting aside/ budgeting (as Jessica's sermon pointed out) a portion of income for generosity $10, 20, 50

Pray about families in need and either bring them a meal or invite them over your house for a meal especially during the holidays (take somebody a cooked turkey and the fixins)

Join a service team on Sundays

Serve a local non profit you are passionate about

No matter how small we think the act is, each act counts. It could be time, money, or simply a helping hand.

It might not even be a big deal the person you are giving it too, but it’s a big deal to our father in heaven who is saying well done my good and faithful servant.

Each small act of faith builds upon the last, drawing us closer and closer to the heart of God. So we could experience the Freedom of a Generosity.

So family let’s commit to a single act of generosity this week, big or small. Can we do that? Can we be generous?

Great So let me keep you accountable (Turn to your neighbor and say

“Neighbor.

Oh Neighbor

Remind me to be generous this week” (PERFECT that your accountability) I LOVE YALL

Lets pray

BUT before I do I want to give you an opportunity to respond to the generosity of Christ.

Because before you can truly be generous, you must experience the open handed generosity God has already shown you.

If you know you have been trying to hold it all together by yourself and realize comfortable is a fleeting pursuit.

You know you need the everlasting security of Jesus Christ and not money. I want you to raise your hand.

<<<PRAY>>>

For everyone else, I’m going to pray for us all to be a little more generous today than we were yesterday.

<<<PRAY>>>