Generous Life - Part One
Loving God in Every Way
But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in generosity (a grace in giving). 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)
What images come to mind when you hear the words, "radical generosity?"
Giving and Generosity are two different things
Giving: A financial transaction
Generosity: Is a posture of extravagant worship in every area of your life
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 (NIV)
What are the qualities of somebody who is generous?
Traits of Generous people:
1. Live to know God in every way
You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 12:32-34 (NIV)
“The Jewish law begins with worship, with the love of God, because if it’s true that we’re made in God’s image we will find our fullest meaning, our true selves, the more we learn to love and worship the one we are designed to reflect. No half measures: heart, soul, mind and strength—that is, every aspect of human life—is to be poured out gladly in worship of the one true God. Whatever we do, we are to do for him. If we truly lived like that for a single day, God’s kingdom would have come on earth as it is in heaven. And—this is the point—Jesus seems to think that through his kingdom-work this commandment is now within our reach” N. T. Wright, Mark for Everyone, (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004), 170.
O nations of the world, confess that God alone is glorious and strong. Give him the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship him. Worship the Lord with the beauty of holy lives. Let the earth tremble before him. Psalm 96:7-9 (TLB)
2. Live grateful of kindness toward us
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. Mark 14:3-5 (NIV)
Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” Luke 7:41-42 (NIV)
You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:45-47 (NIV)
3. Live with an eternal perspective
He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "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. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many year. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." "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?' "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:17-21 (NIV)
What can you do to express your love for God in ways you currently are not?
Compassion Offering : 12/21/2020
Every year we provide Christmas relief to hundreds of families through our Christmas Store. We invite you to be a part of making a child's Christmas memorable by giving an offering of thanksgiving for the lives that will be touched through our compassion ministries this Christmas season.
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. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest." 2 Corinthians 9:11-13 (NIV)
WAYS TO GIVE
- Ask others who might be purchasing gifts for you and your family to give to the Compassion Offering instead
- Skip a holiday meal(s), either eating in or out, and give those dollars to the Compassion Offering
- Opt out of your holiday movie at the theater and rent on instead
- Give to the Compassion Offering in the name of someone you would normally give a gift to for Christmas
HOW TO START THE CONVERSATION
- Pick a night to sit down and talk about how this might impact your Christmas. Set a time limit, maybe 15 minutes
- Text, Facebook or email the date to anyone you need at the meeting
- For your youngest, a simple reminder on the refrigerator or in their lunch box will do
WHAT TO TALK ABOUT
- Decide how you will spend differently this year
- Discuss the suggestions above
- Decide now what you want to do and give using the link below
