Generosity

Every week we talk about generosity

What is it?

Why is generosity important to our Christian Faith?

Luke 6:37–38 CEB

“Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.”

luke

What are bad forms of generosity?

A poor spirit

Obligation

Self indulgence/importance

Giving without relationship that leads to Junk for Jesus… more on Junk for Jesus later

Matthew 6:1–4 CEB

“Be careful that you don’t practice your religion in front of people to draw their attention. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow your trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may get praise from people. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that you may give to the poor in secret. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you.

The Importance of Practiced Compassion

Jewish Examples

Proverbs has many examples of God calling people to a generous spirit but also the lived experience of many OT persons is receiving when they should not by normal human standards.

Greek Examples

Hospitality was almost law, to not show compassion and or hospitality was to dishonor yourself. Further in Roman living they rulers feared the consequences of not practicing hospitality on their ability to lead.

Jesus’ proclamations of compassion

Luke 21:1–4 CEB

Looking up, Jesus saw rich people throwing their gifts into the collection box for the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow throw in two small copper coins worth a penny.He said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than them all. All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had to live on.”

Matthew 10:42 CEB

I assure you that everybody who gives even a cup of cold water to these little ones because they are my disciples will certainly be rewarded.”

So many others

Our Practice as a mark of Faith

Public

It’s about intentionality

Private

It’s about totality

Junk for Jesus

When we get it all wrong

Let’s get it right for the right reasons