Generosity and Giving

Sometimes we cringe when there is going to be another sermon on generosity. This will be the preacher telling me I need to put more in the offering plate. Don’t they understand I’m giving all that I can.

2 Cor 9:6-15

Being accepted by God through his love and forgiveness, I maximize my opportunities to love and be generous to others.

I know I have had those thoughts over the years and I’m a preacher! So, I want to start today by saying we are all in the same boat. You and I are called to live generously, to give out of our resources as an expression of our love of God and others.

What, therefore, motivates generosity? Because I have received generosity. The curve of my sinful heart is to be selfish. Therefore, it actively works against selfless generosity. But, as a follower of Jesus, I have received the most abundant generosity through the love and salvation of Christ.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Phil 2:5-8 NIV)

Knowing I am loved, generosity is not meeting the minimum obligations to be accepted by God. Rather, being accepted by God through his love and forgiveness, I maximize my opportunities to love and be generous to others. Paul appeals to this love with the Corinthian church’s offering in 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. He encourages them to be generous, knowing God will supply their needs:

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinth 9:7-8 NIV)

We all have limited time and resources so let us decide wisely in our hearts to give what we have been given so that God’s name is exalted, others experience his love through us, and we know His blessing receiving all he has for us.

God bless,

Pastor Stephen