It’s All About the Heart (2)

Developing A Heart of Generosity (2)

Good morning, CHURCH!

(Opening joke)

Y’all want me to tell you about this man that came home from church with two black eyes.

His wife takes one look at him and exclaims, "how in the world did you get two black eyes at church!?" "Well" the man answers, "When we stood up to pray, I noticed that the woman in front of me had the back of her dress tucked into her pantyhose.

I didn't want to embarrass her by telling her, so I reached forward and pulled it out.

She turned around and punched me in the eye!" "That explains one black eye" said his wife, " so how did you get the other one?" "Since she punched me, I thought she must have wanted it that way, so I tucked it back in!"

Are you ready to be equipped today?

Let me see your Bibles.

Let’s go to the book of 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 for this week’s wisdom Vaccination.

This Week’s Wisdom Vaccination

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

It’s like if I offered a sucker to a 5-year-old and told them they could either eat it now or they can go and give it away to another kid. And if they choose to give it away, I will give them 5 suckers tomorrow.

If you sow sparingly your like the kid who keeps the sucker instead of giving it away.

If you sow bountifully your like the kid who will reap 5 more.

Today’s message title is:

Developing a Heart of Generosity pt.2

Let’s do a quick review of last week.

But before we do, I was blessed by what one of the men wrote in the men’s group-me this week. (Brother Alonzo)

What he learned and took from last week’s message was:

The ultimate expression of love is GIVING!

Giving means to FREELY transfer possession of something.

We are love agents and in order to give love, which is the ultimate gift to give, we must first possess it ourselves.

This also applies in our homes to our spouses. If our spouse truly has our heart, we will give freely and willingly.

Last week we looked at 2 parallel passages in the gospels.

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Luke 6:37-38 ESV

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 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.”

We understand that money is not the context of these passages. Giving is, and what you give expect it in return.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

This is God’s plan for all of his children, that we be generous. But a heart of generosity is not automatic in us. It usually has to be developed.

Point #1

Deal With a Selfish Heart

Don’t think of reasons to not lend or give.

(Don’t think that because this is the 6th year, I won’t get paid back for the loan because of the debt release in the 7th year.)

Giving more than any other activity we can do, works selfishness and greed out of our lives.

(Marriage, ministry, family, friendships and especially money)

Point #2

Deal With a Grieving Heart

Deuteronomy 15:10 ESV

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

If you give with the right attitude, God will bless you in all that you do.

Selfishness attacks us before we give and then grief attacks us after we give.

So, we’ve dealt with a selfish heart and with a grieving heart.

Point #3

Develop a Generous Heart

Deuteronomy 15:14 ESV

You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.

It’s clear that God’s heart for us is, He has blessed us to be a blessing.

The problem is that in this world we were born selfish.

But we need to recognize that we were born again generous.

We just have to renew our minds.

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

This world is selfish and greedy.

But the will of God for His children is that we be generous.

How do I renew my mind in this area?

*Every time the opportunity to give, share or lend comes up and I have the ability to do it, just do it.

*And if I’m not in position to give, get in position.

There are only 2 things that would stop me from being generous.

1. If I’m greedy and selfish.

2. If I don’t trust God to do what He said He would do if I’m generous.

I know we read Luke 6:37-38 but a few versus earlier from 27 to 31 we see the context was that giving was connected to loving.

Luke 6:27-31 ESV

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

God is trying to develop a generous loving heart in us.

And change that selfish heart that started in us as a child.

When a child sees someone playing with one of their toys, they drop the one they’re playing with and go take the one that the other kid has.

That may seem funny when watching kids.

But God is asking all of his children, when are you going to grow up and be like your heavenly father.

He’s the greatest giver of all time. (He’s the G.O.A.T. of giving)

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

At some point we should say, “Lord what do you want me to give.” And whatever he tells you, your response should be, “I’ll do it.”

God even told his children that they could test him in the area of tithes and offerings.

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.

It’s as if God is saying “I double dog dare you to trust me”.

This is not something where you are demanding or commanding God to do give you a return on your investment.

This is more like God asking you to trust that He loves you and will take care of you.

It’s like God is saying “I dare you to trust me”.

So points # 3 was:

Develop a generous heart.

Point #4

Develop a Grateful Heart

Deuteronomy 15:15 ESV

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.

What is God commanding you this day?

You were a slave, I redeemed you, now out of the gratefulness in your heart, I command you to be generous.

We were once slaves to sin, Christ redeemed us, now out of the gratefulness of our hearts we are commanded to be generous.

It would do us good to often remember what Christ did for us at the cross.

This means that you wouldn’t even have what you have if it wasn’t for God.

Everything we have and are, is because of God and what he has done for us.

And it’s not just money that God has given.

(Closing illustration)

I remember taking my wife to meet some of my high school classmates.

And with many of them, the first time she saw them, she thought they were old enough to be my uncle/aunt.

I remember her seeing a guy I graduated with at a QT once. I talked with him for a moment. When I returned to the car, she asked who it was.

When I told her it was a guy I graduated with, she couldn’t believe it.

I can’t help but be grateful of how a life serving God from a young adult age has kept my youth; has produced a great marriage; has produced a close family; has given me a reputation above reproach.

Everything I am and everything I have is because of God.

And everything that is good in your life is because of God.

If you’re watching online or here in the room, I have a very important question to ask you.

What is Holy Spirit saying to you right now?