Generosity (2)

Intro

Baptisms next week out at Wylie Park.

Cool t-shirts

Generosity is a practice

“Practicing your righteousness”

We know what this is like.

Workouts. If you’re single, yeah you go to the gym to get fit, of course but we all know what you’re doing when

Working out isn’t an option, it’s mandatory.

When you work for something bigger than you your motivation is different.

When your practice is about you and what you can get, it wont turn out well.

Working out with the girls teams or weight lifting class.

Practice is the gateway to a more disciplined and fruitful life.

Generosity is the gateway to seeing into someones life.

You begin to see people in a different light.

When you give not to get, when your generosity is about the other person and not yourself,

Generosity isn’t for you

Generosity isn’t for you to get praise from others. It isn’t to move you up the social ladder so more people like you.

God wants you to detach you from you.

God knows the only way you will be the better you is if he has you.

Matthew 6:3–4 ESV

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.

When you give with the intent of getting attention, you are stealing glory.

My Story (Living for myself)

My faith wasn’t my own, I was living for myself.

My life was leading to a place of death and I needed something to transform me.

Generosity is for you

Matthew 6:3–4 NLT

3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

The Father will Reward you

When you give in Private it shows that you get it.

It’s not about building up oneself, but emptying oneself.

When someone is generous to you, you want to be generous others.

I went through the McDonalds line a while back and bought a three dollar coffee when i pulled up to the window the person in front of me paid for my drink. I was excited so I asked how much the next person in lines order was, thinking it would be a couple bucks like mine and it was like $15! So I drove away. I mean come on man I ain’t made of money people.

That generosity changed how my afternoon went.

A small thing brought change to my life.

If a small act like that can bring a little bit of change to my day; imagine what a big act of generosity, what that would do!

When someone is generous toward you with no strings attached then it makes you want to be generous back.

But what if someone tried to help you and they didn’t want it.

What if I rejected that gift?

The person wouldn’t of known, but if they had they might of been a little offended but probably offered it to someone else or kept it a little upset you didn’t take their generosity.

They little rejection would have very little impact on my life. But what if the rejection was for something bigger? What if it was something that could save your life?

What if you were sick and someone offered you the medicine or organ you needed to survive but you refused. That rejection would have great cost to you and your loved ones.

So, What if?

What if someone gave you a gift that was so big it would change your life?

What if someone offered you that gift and you refused, how much would it affect your life?

My Story

Jesus is working in me the good, the holy, the righteous, the beautiful, the peace, the patience, and he’s working out of me the anger the pride, the sin, the selfishness.

Jesus puts us in “practice” to work in and out of us the things he desires.