Generosity
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By Rick Burdette
Summary: God's Kingdom, A Spiritual Harvest, Joy
Summer Road trip: generosity
Introduction:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
(p. 807) July 9, 2017
Introduction:
Introduction:
Let me show you a picture of the Dead Sea
Let me show you a picture of the Dead Sea
SHOW PIC OF DEAD SEA
SHOW PIC OF DEAD SEA
It’s also called “The Salt Sea” and it’s at the lowest elevation on earth. It has a salt content of almost 35%…and because of that the human body can easily float on top of it…It’s 9 times saltier than the ocean. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea!
It’s also called “The Salt Sea” and it’s at the lowest elevation on earth. It has a salt content of almost 35%…and because of that the human body can easily float on top of it…It’s 9 times saltier than the ocean. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea!
Anybody know what body of water feeds The Dead Sea?
The answer is the Jordan river…
Show Jordan river video.
one of the most beautiful and abundant rivers on earth…filled with life…fish, trees, plants…it’s an aquatic paradise.
Why is one dead and one filled with life…because the Jordan River is constantly being replenished…fresh water feeds into it and flows out of it…Once water flows into the Dead Sea…it stays…It never escapes and it stagnates and it becomes lifeless.
Healthy water is constantly flowing, giving and receiving. Water becomes stagnant and unhealthy when it only receives.
The same is true with people…As someone said, “There are givers and takers in this world. Takers may eat better but givers sleep better.”
The Apostle Paul shares why he works hard and then quotes Jesus at the end of it in
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Con mi ejemplo les he mostrado que es preciso trabajar duro para ayudar a los necesitados, recordando las palabras del Señor Jesús: “Hay más dicha en dar que en recibir.” »
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
There’s a serious question I have to ask myself and other Christians. “Why do we work?” What is the purpose for me to make money…and there are several common sense answers: To pay my mortgage, car payments, food. I need to work to support my family. And those are important reasons.
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
There’s a serious question I have to ask myself and other Christians. “Why do we work?” What is the purpose for me to make money…and there are several common sense answers: To pay my mortgage, car payments, food. I need to work to support my family. And those are important reasons.
But, for the Christian I believe there’s another important reason…To help others…and to show the world that my priorities are not the same as it’s priorities…That God isn’t just God over everything but my paycheck…He’s God over my paycheck as well.
I do this because “every good and perfect gift in my life comes from my Father…and I will not become the Dead Sea where only gifts flow in…I’ll be a river of life like the Jordan where gifts flow out as well.
It’s important we remember:
I. THE LAW OF THE HARVEST
“Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Recuerden esto: El que siembra escasamente, escasamente cosechará, y el que siembra en abundancia, en abundancia cosechará.
Here’s Hans translation: Plant a bunch of seeds…get a bunch of tomatoes…plant just a couple seeds…get very few tomatoes.
This law of the harvest is about generosity. It’s not just about our money…but it does include our money as well.
It’s not a scripture to be taken out of context like so many health and wealth preachers do. This scripture is not about a one time gift…like buying a “lottery” ticket…“OK…I gave 100…now God give me back 1000!”
It’s more like this…I choose to live a cheerful life of generosity. In faith I will tithe to honor the giver of all good things and I will look for opportunities to bless others with my giving…In so doing, in faith I believe…“God will bless me abundantly, so that in every single way I can serve Him. I’m not God so I cannot tell you how He will bless you abundantly…whether it’s financially or even better…what could be even better…
Leadership Magazine carried a story about 4 young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this bedraggled-looking old man. His eyes were kind of marbleized, & he had a silvery stub of whiskers on his face. His clothes were ragged & torn. His shoes didn’t match. In fact, they were both for the same foot. And he carried a wicker basket full of unappealing vegetables that he was trying to sell. The boys felt sorry for him & bought some of his vegetables just to help him out. Then he went on his way. But from that time on, every Saturday he appeared at their door with his basket of vegetables. As the boys got to know him a little bit better, they began inviting him in to visit a while before continuing on his rounds. They soon discovered that his eyes looked marbleized, not because of drugs or alcohol, but because of cataracts. They learned that he lived just down the street in an old shack. They also found out that he could play the harmonica, & that he loved to play Christian hymns, & that he really loved God. So every Saturday they would invite him in, & he would play his harmonica & they would sing Christian hymns together. They became good friends, & the boys began trying to figure out ways to help him. One Saturday morning, the story says, right in the middle of all their singing & praising, he suddenly said to them, "God is so good!" And they all agreed, "Yes, God is so good." He went on, "You know why he is so good?" They said, "Why?" He said, "Because yesterday, when I got up & opened my door, there were boxes full of clothes & shoes & coats & gloves. Yes, God is so good!" And the boys smiled at each other & chimed in, "Yes, God is so good."He went on, "You know why He is so good?" They answered, "You already told us why. What more?" He said, "Because I found a family who could use those things, & I gave them all away."
From a sermon by Michael McCartney, Preach This: The difference between tithes and offering? 11/30/2009
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
[I was out shopping one day and I found these four cases of golf balls with a picture of the symbol of the Ryder Cup that was supposed to take place at the Belfry Golf Course in England in 2001. It was postponed a year because of 9/11. These golf packages were from an event that never took place. And I bought all four because I thought they were collectible and cool. I gave 1 to my best friend…one to my brother in law…and one to my father…and I kept one.
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
El que le suple semilla al que siembra también le suplirá pan para que coma, aumentará los cultivos y hará que ustedes produzcan una abundante cosecha de justicia. Ustedes serán enriquecidos en todo sentido para que en toda ocasión puedan ser generosos, y para que por medio de nosotros la generosidad de ustedes resulte en acciones de gracias a Dios.
Pretty soon after that, I was sitting in my office with one of our leaders names Gen Bratcher…Gene and I loved each other and worked close to each other as we built our new facility in Louisville. Gene and I had played golf together a bunch and he loved golf. I looked at my desk and there was that last packet of Ryder Cup golf balls. And I thought about giving them to Gene…but part of me really wanted to keep them. I chose generosity and he was thrilled.
Gene was diagnosed with lung cancer that month and was gone in three.
I came into my office after the funeral and on my desk sat this package of Ryder Cup golf balls with this note:
Dear Rick,
It’s important that we remember who gives us those clothes, or that paycheck, or the health to work, or the time we have to live. All seeds to be used for His glory and for His Kingdom…not ours.
One day Gene asked me to bring to him the dresser drawer that had his personal items in it, so that he could give a few things to Darren & Krista, to each of the grandchildren, and to Domery & Laura. He had one item left. He knew you would like the golf balls and asked that I give them to you.
I’m sorry, Rick, that I could not give them to you in person, but I remember too well the day we did this. I was OK with it that day, but it’s just the memories.
I believe Gene’s passing has been a witness to a lot of people, and I am so blessed that God gave me such a wonderful man for 38 years.
You, Michael, Jeff & Steve have been such a support to me as well as many of my Fern Creek family.
I love you and Kari and especially for what you meant to Gene.
Love in Christ,
Brenda
Here’s my point…Do you think when those golf balls come back to me that they were worth more or less? Much more…and I firmly believe that’s how our abundant God rewards those who live generously for Him and others.]
“Now he who supplies seeds (or golf balls) to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. YOU WILL BE ENRICHED IN EVERY WAY so that you can be generous on every occasion and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
“Now he who supplies seeds (or golf balls) to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. YOU WILL BE ENRICHED IN EVERY WAY so that you can be generous on every occasion and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
It’s important that we remember who gives us those golf balls, or that paycheck, or the health to work, or the time we have to live. All seeds to be used for His glory and for His Kingdom…not ours.
You cannot seek first His Kingdom and yours at the same time.
That’s why all this is:
II. A MATTER OF THE HEART
Satan wants us to be our own gods. Independently trying to provide for ourselves…Independently trying to find our own happiness.
And whether we like it or not, money has a lot to do with this scheme.
American writer and intellectual David Foster Wallace.
Wallace was at the top of his profession.
Before his death in 2008 he gave a famous commencement address in which he said this to the graduating class:
In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism …. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And … pretty much anything you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things—if they are where you tap real meaning in life—then you will never have enough …. Worship your own body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you …. Worship power—you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart—you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out.
He looked at me…and walked away. He left the church to find a more comfortable place to worship.]
David Foster Wallace, "David Foster Wallace on Life and Work," The Wall Street Journal (9-19-08)
Money gives us power…or so we believe. If I have it I can control my own destiny. I can purchase what I need. But money will never buy you joy, or peace, or friendship. “The love of money is the root of all evil.” (
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Porque el amor al dinero es la raíz de toda clase de males. Por codiciarlo, algunos se han desviado de la fe y se han causado muchísimos sinsabores.
Money isn’t evil…It can be used in amazing ways for good…but when your heart starts to love it…and begins to believe it’s the answer for your life…all kinds of evil take root: Pride, greed, jealousy, self sufficiency.
Money isn’t evil…It can be used in amazing ways for good…but when your heart starts to love it…and begins to believe it’s the answer for your life…all kinds of evil take root: Pride, greed, jealousy, self sufficiency.
No wonder Paul says “Give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion…for God loves a cheerful giver.”
No wonder Paul says “Give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion…for God loves a cheerful giver.”
When Jews talk about the heart they use the word “Leb” and it’s the place where your emotions and intellect sit.
When Jews talk about the heart they use the word “Leb” and it’s the place where your emotions and intellect sit.
Generous givers begin to feel and think like God…They begin to have His heart…and the reason God loves a cheerful giver is that He is the most cheerful giver…EVER!
Generous givers begin to feel and think like God…They begin to have His heart…and the reason God loves a cheerful giver is that He is the most cheerful giver…EVER!
“For God so loved the world…HE GAVE.”
“For God so loved the world…HE GAVE.”
The New Testament gives us four guides to giving:
The New Testament gives us four guides to giving: We are to give freely, we are to give generously, we are to give regularly, and we are to give cheerfully.
We are to give freely,
We are to give generously
We are to give regularly
We are to give cheerfully
All these are faith issues for the heart, because there’s always a battle in our hearts when it comes to money…Do I use it to buy things for me…or do I sacrifice some of “me” and invest it in others?
All these are faith issues for the heart, because there’s always a battle in our hearts when it comes to money…Do I use it to buy things for me…or do I sacrifice some of “me” and invest it in others?
None of us are immune to this struggle and it doesn’t matter if we are millionaires or we live paycheck to paycheck.
None of us are immune to this struggle and it doesn’t matter if we are millionaires or we live paycheck to paycheck.
Selfishness is the biggest battle we each face as sinners…and it’s a battle even for those who have been born again through Christ.
Selfishness is the biggest battle we each face as sinners…and it’s a battle even for those who have been born again through Christ.
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
Sabemos, en efecto, que la ley es espiritual. Pero yo soy meramente humano, y estoy vendido como esclavo al pecado. No entiendo lo que me pasa, pues no hago lo que quiero, sino lo que aborrezco. Ahora bien, si hago lo que no quiero, estoy de acuerdo en que la ley es buena; pero, en ese caso, ya no soy yo quien lo lleva a cabo sino el pecado que habita en mí. Yo sé que en mí, es decir, en mi naturaleza pecaminosa, nada bueno habita. Aunque deseo hacer lo bueno, no soy capaz de hacerlo. De hecho, no hago el bien que quiero, sino el mal que no quiero. Y si hago lo que no quiero, ya no soy yo quien lo hace sino el pecado que habita en mí. Así que descubro esta ley: que cuando quiero hacer el bien, me acompaña el mal.
The greatest missionary who ever lived, struggled daily with selfishness…should it surprise any of us that we do as well?
(p. 786)
The greatest missionary who ever lived, struggled daily with selfishness…should it surprise any of us that we do as well?
The greatest missionary who ever lived, struggled daily with selfishness…should it surprise any of us that we do as well?
But, when we realize that which we want to hold on to for God’s Kingdom and for the needs of others…something beautiful happens in our souls…It doesn’t happen when we realize it out of guilt or “duty” but it does happen when we realize it freely, regularly, generously and cheerfully…and that wonderful thing is “joy.”
But, when we realize that which we want to hold on to for God’s Kingdom and for the needs of others…something beautiful happens in our souls…It doesn’t happen when we realize it out of guilt or “duty” but it does happen when we realize it freely, regularly, generously and cheerfully…and that wonderful thing is “joy.”
Joy if found when we are in the will of God…it’s different than happiness…happiness depends on circumstances and outside influences joy comes from within…joy is an attitude of the heart.
Joy if found when we are in the will of God…it’s different than happiness…happiness depends on circumstances and outside influences joy comes from within…joy is an attitude of the heart.
Happiness can be purchased…a new toy, a new thing…Joy cannot be purchased…it’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit…Happiness doesn’t last very long…joy lasts a long time.
Happiness can be purchased…a new toy, a new thing…Joy cannot be purchased…it’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit…Happiness doesn’t last very long…joy lasts a long time.
D.L. Moody has expressed it so well:
D.L. Moody has expressed it so well: “…joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition. It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about. The Lord gives His people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him.”
“…joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition. It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about. The Lord gives His people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him.”
You see joy is the byproduct of obedience!
You see joy is the byproduct of obedience!
The Dead Sea is dead because it only receives and nothing flows out…The Jordan receives…but it is also constantly giving…It’s a river of life.
The Dead Sea is dead because it only receives and nothing flows out…The Jordan receives…but it is also constantly giving…It’s a river of life.
The opposite of joy isn’t sorrow…it’s unbelief…either we believe God is the supplier of every good and perfect gift or we don’t, but if we do, His gifts must flow through us…generously, freely, regularly and cheerfully.
What about the gift of your time? Sometimes its easier to give money than our time. We hold back and are just too busy. Take the time have a coffee, grab lunch, etc. Take the time to invest into another person.
Once upon a time there was a king who ruled a vast domain. He was the wealthiest person in the world: thousands of horses, dozens of homes, access to anything his heart desired. There was nothing anyone could give him that he did not already possess.
One day at the door of the throne room a young boy asked to enter that he might give something to the king. With amused looks, the guards moved to allow him to pass. One led the boy into the king's presence and announced with a smirk on his face, "Lord, this child has come to present you with a present."
"You may proceed," the king said, extending his hand toward the boy.
The boy took two steps forward, cleared his throat, and began to sing a song of his own creation. He was slightly off-key, but the words spoke praise and thanksgiving to the king for the mercy and generosity the king had shown the boy's family during the recent death of the boy's mother.
The opposite of joy isn’t sorrow…it’s unbelief…either we believe God is the supplier of every good and perfect gift or we don’t, but if we do, His gifts must flow through us…generously, freely, regularly and cheerfully.
When the boy was done, the king who owned everything, with tears on his face, descended from the throne, hugged the child, and said, "Thank you for that beautiful gift. You have brought great joy to my heart."
This is a picture of us in worship. The King we serve owns everything - there is nothing we can bring Him that He does not already possess. And yet, in our simple and imperfect words of thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude, we share a gift that warms the very heart of the King who owns everything. Everyone can take some time to spend some time in relationship. Even 5 minutes a day to focus on one another relationships can produce great rewards.
Let’s pray.
Let’s pray.
Leadership Magazine carried a story about 4 young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this bedraggled-looking old man. His eyes were kind of marbleized, & he had a silvery stub of whiskers on his face. His clothes were ragged & torn. His shoes didn’t match. In fact, they were both for the same foot. And he carried a wicker basket full of unappealing vegetables that he was trying to sell. The boys felt sorry for him & bought some of his vegetables just to help him out. Then he went on his way. But from that time on, every Saturday he appeared at their door with his basket of vegetables. As the boys got to know him a little bit better, they began inviting him in to visit a while before continuing on his rounds. They soon discovered that his eyes looked marbleized, not because of drugs or alcohol, but because of cataracts. They learned that he lived just down the street in an old shack. They also found out that he could play the harmonica, & that he loved to play Christian hymns, & that he really loved God. So every Saturday they would invite him in, & he would play his harmonica & they would sing Christian hymns together. They became good friends, & the boys began trying to figure out ways to help him. One Saturday morning, the story says, right in the middle of all their singing & praising, he suddenly said to them, "God is so good!" And they all agreed, "Yes, God is so good." He went on, "You know why he is so good?" They said, "Why?" He said, "Because yesterday, when I got up & opened my door, there were boxes full of clothes & shoes & coats & gloves. Yes, God is so good!" And the boys smiled at each other & chimed in, "Yes, God is so good."He went on, "You know why He is so good?" They answered, "You already told us why. What more?" He said, "Because I found a family who could use those things, & I gave them all away."
From a sermon by Michael McCartney, Preach This: The difference between tithes and offering? 11/30/2009
Generosity isn’t always as generous as it might seem. There is a story out of Miami, Florida about six Royal Palm trees that had been vandalized and cut down along Miami’s Flager Street. Due to the expense involved in replacing them Dade County wasn’t sure how soon, if ever. they would be replaced. Along came a generous donation of six new trees. Not only were the trees paid for but they were even planted by the donor.
The former trees had been 15 feet tall and formed a beautiful foreground for a “Fly Delta” billboard. The new trees were 35 feet tall and now hid the billboard completely. The donor of the trees was Eastern Airlines.
One day at the door of the throne room a young boy asked to enter that he might give something to the king. With amused looks, the guards moved to allow him to pass. One led the boy into the king's presence and announced with a smirk on his face, "Lord, this child has come to present you with a present."
"You may proceed," the king said, extending his hand toward the boy.
The boy took two steps forward, cleared his throat, and began to sing a song of his own creation. He was slightly off-key, but the words spoke praise and thanksgiving to the king for the mercy and generosity the king had shown the boy's family during the recent death of the boy's mother.
When the boy was done, the king who owned everything, with tears on his face, descended from the throne, hugged the child, and said, "Thank you for that beautiful gift. You have brought great joy to my heart."
This is a picture of us in worship. The King we serve owns everything - there is nothing we can bring Him that He does not already possess. And yet, in our simple and imperfect words of thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude, we share a gift that warms the very heart of the King who owns everything.