The Genius of Generosity Part 5

                                                          “Generosity’s Measure”

Our God is SO GENEROUS:
          - I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!
          - I get to experience the release of extraordinary Joy as I do river-life!
          - I get to start by “returning the first of me and mine” to Him and His Kingdom. 
          - I get to trust Him, focusing on His Promises as I step out in faith to give generously.


“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” Luke 21

Jesus-styled generosity is measured not by the size of the gift but the size of the sacrifice!
It’s a heart thing!  He noticed what was left more than what was given!

“In severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Cor. 8

 Sacrifice – Human view?

 Sacrifice – Jesus view?

 What does this mean for me?      “…in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” Rom 12

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34
Tuesday:        2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10
Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10
Friday:           Malachi 3:8-10
Saturday:       Psalm 131

 

 

The Genius of Generosity Part 4

                                   “The Generosity Key”

Our God is SO GENEROUS:

     - I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!                                                          - I get to experience the release of extraordinary Joy as I do river-                 life!                                                                                                                          - I get to start by “returning the first of me and mine” to Him and His             Kingdom. 

The KEY to actually living Jesus-styled generosity is faith which always leads to action!  “without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6

Living generously is impossible unless my focus shifts from trusting me to trusting Him!

My Ability and Effort                                 God’s Promises and Resources

 

 

 

What do I need to believe about my God to do what He wants me to do?   “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”   2 Corinthians 8:9

 

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34                                                                           Tuesday:         2 Corinthians 8:1-5                                                                         Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10                                                                            Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10                                                                     Friday:            Malachi 3:8-10                                                                               Saturday:        Psalm 131

The Genius of Generosity Part 3

                              

Recap:   
 If I trust God is truly generous then I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!
 Jesus styled generosity releases extraordinary Joy into our lives because it takes Faith!

 Getting Practical – First things First

Jesus:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…  Matthew 6
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”Luke 12:21

  Generosity begins with “bring”, “return,” “give” back to God and His Kingdom.  This is the foundation of a generous life!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on our own understanding… Honor the Lord with your wealth the first-fruits of all of your crops” Proverbs 3

“Bring the whole “tenth” into the storehouse….. test Me in this…!” Malachi 3

 What about bringing the “first tenth” (tithe)?

 It is a matter of Trust which always places us under the waterfall of blessing!

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:31-34
Tuesday:         2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Wednesday:   Proverbs 3:5-10      
Thursday:       2 Corinthians 8:8-10
Friday:            Malachi 3:8-10
Saturday:        Psalm 131

 

 

 

The Genius of Generosity Part 2

Recap:    If I trust God is truly generous then I get to live like a “river” not a reservoir!  

Generosity releases extraordinary Joy into our lives because…

John15 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

         … Generosity is lived “by Faith” in flow with the Holy Spirit!

Galatians 5 6 For in Christ Jesus …The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love….13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love…22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

           … Generosity helps Free us from small living and joy-robbing idols!

Matthew 6 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

          … Generosity helps us Invest in what matters!
Luke 12 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 6:19-24
Tuesday:         John 15:9-13
Wednesday:   Luke 12:13-21      
Thursday:       Galatians 5:13-18; 22-25
Friday:            2 Corinthians 9:11-15
Saturday:        Psalm 84

Generosity! Is God Generous?

Is God Generous? 

 The meaningful life Christ intends for us depends on His generosity! 

God intends His generosity to flow “to us” AND “through us!”

We are created to be “rivers” not reservoirs”!   

 Rivers give ……. Reservoirs hoard! 

 Is God’s generosity enough!   

 Genesis 3 He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 

 Hearts of generosity are crippled by mindsets of scarcity!

  Hearts of Generosity flourish with mindsets of God’s Abundance!

 1 Samuel 17

32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

 Matthew 18 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

 2 Corinthians 9 8 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…..10 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. 11 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. 

 We get to flow with 3T Generosity (time, talent, treasure)!

 WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Genesis 3:1-7
Tuesday:         Psalm 136
Wednesday:    1 Samuel 17:32-37      
Thursday:       Ephesians 3:14-21
Friday:            2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Saturday:        Psalm 19