Kingdom Generosity
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Introduction
People always told me how intoxicating it is to have a grandchild. When Taya came into this world as a primi, there was a lot of anxiety, just hoping everything would be alright. But now she is doing so well. Her weight is right on the marks, and her personality is starting to come out. And now I'm about to have my second granddaughter.
Before Taya was born, other grandparents would tell us, "Start a saving account for fun with the grandkids. You’re going to need it." I am beginning to understand what they mean. These babies have stolen my heart. I want to spend as much time with them as I can. I want to experience life with them. I want to spoil them. It's because I love them with my whole heart.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
People spend their time and money on what they love. Show me someone's spending habits, and I can tell you what is dear to them.
Today we're going to talk about the Spiritual Habit of Kingdom Generosity.
And like all the Spiritual Habits, Kingdom Generosity has nothing to do with your time, talent, or treasure. It has everything to do with your heart. In everyone one of the Spiritual Habits we have discussed, we desire to move past the checkbox of religion and find the heart of the matter.
Here is what we have covered so far:
Biblical meditation is the willful subjection to God's Word allowing it to transform your heart and mind into the heart and mind of Christ.
Prayer is the communion of heart and mind with God, and solitude is the space for God to speak.
Sacrificial Servitude is serving from a heart of love and concern even when it cost you something.
All of these require a heart alignment to God. God doesn't want you checking boxes; he wants your heart. If God captures your heart, you will naturally check all the boxes.
All of these require a heart alignment to God. God doesn't want you checking boxes; he wants your heart. If God captures your heart, you will naturally check all the boxes.
When we say "Kingdom Generosity," people assume we're talking about money. The Bible has a lot to say about money, but even more to say about the love of money. If you grew up in church as I have, you were taught to tithe. Tithing is giving the first ten percent of everything you get in honor of the Lord and has become the checkbox of religion that we must get past. Although Jesus never changed or dismissed the tithe, he wanted to take people to the more profound matter of the heart.
Kingdom Generosity is giving from the abundance of your heart to produce kingdom results.
The question becomes very quickly, “What do you really want?” Your generosity or lack thereof reveals the love of your heart.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Ananias and Sapphira
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
Peter wasn’t concerned with the money but the character of his heart.
So how do we move from the checkbox of religious giving to giving from the abundance of your heart to produce kingdom results.
Kingdom Generosity has nothing to do with money.
Kingdom Generosity has nothing to do with money.
During a time of great tribulation for the Jerusalem Church, Paul had decided to take up a love offering to help support them in the persecution. As he traveled he would collect as much as he could to help them in their time of need.
When he got to the churches of Macedonia, he found them in the same boat. They were afflicted and under persecution as well. They were destitute. I’m sure Paul was forming a plan in his mind of how he could help them as well.
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
A generous heart has nothing to do with your financial status.
A generous heart has nothing to do with your financial status.
A kingdom heart trusts in the King to provide. They understand their wealth is measured by the King they serve and not their personal wealth.
Elijah and the Widow. 1 Kings 17:8-16
15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
Sometimes I feel like that man of God coming to you. When you feel you have nothing to give and I’m saying, but first make me a little cake. But I know that Lord has an endless supply if you would just trust him.
Elijah was measuring her substance by the Kings portion and not her own.
A kingdom heart must give because of the abundance of joy that has been given to them.
A generous heart finds a way to give to others.
A generous heart finds a way to give to others.
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—
Kingdom Generosity flows from the heart of God.
Kingdom Generosity flows from the heart of God.
5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
First, give your whole heart to the Lord.
First, give your whole heart to the Lord.
We struggle so much with double-mindedness today. We are pulled in so many direction that we loose our focus.
We struggle with commitment to God.
We struggle building our own kingdom instead of building the kingdom of God.
Total surrender to His will and heart.
Second, give from the overflow of God’s heart.
Second, give from the overflow of God’s heart.
They gave according to the will of God.
God was now in charge of their measure of generosity.
Kingdom Generosity is grace from grace.
Kingdom Generosity is grace from grace.
6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
Grace is a generous act of kindness.
Grace is a generous act of kindness.
Grace is the outpouring of a heart of love.
Grace is the outpouring of a heart of love.
8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
Our love is proven by our grace
Our love is proven by our grace
Christ’s love is proven by his grace.
Christ’s love is proven by his grace.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Next Steps
Next Steps
So how do we move from the checkbox of religious giving to kingdom generosity.
Chose the the desires of your heart.
The common man choose to love himself.
The righteous man chooses to love others.
Refocus your heart on the heart of God.
What does God want to do with your time, talent, and treasure.
Put God in the drives seat of your Kingdom Generosity.
Experience the joy of Kingdom Generosity.
You will never be more fulfilled until you are filling others.
Jesus found joy through the sacrificial grace.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
