In His Steps: Week 3 Radical Generosity
“The less I spent on myself and the more I gave to others, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become.”
Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China
The Promise: (Proverbs 3:9–10) Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.
The Warning: (1 Timothy 6:9-10) 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
How can I honor God with my money?
1. Everything I have comes from God.
(1 Chronicles 29:14) But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you?
Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
(Deuteronomy 16:17) All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the LORD your God.
2. Every material thing God gives me in this life will not go with me to the next.
(Ecclesiastes 5:15) Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.
(1 Timothy 6:7) 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
3. When I give willingly, I am responding to God’s goodness in my life.
The People and Moses:
(Exodus 25:2) Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.
(Exodus 35:22) Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the LORD their offerings of gold—brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the LORD.
The People and David:
(1 Chronicles 29:9) The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD, and King David was filled with joy.
(1 Chronicles 29:17) I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.
4. Being generous is a decision.
(2 Corinthians 9:7) You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
(Matthew 22:21) “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
5. God tells me to plan to be generous.
(Proverbs 11:25) The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
(1 Corinthians 16:2) On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
(Luke 6:38) Give, and you will receive…the amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
(2 Corinthians 8:12) Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
6. What I do with money shows me who I really trust.
(1 Timothy 6:17-19) 17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life
7. What I do with money show me who I really love.
(1 John 3:17) If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
(Matthew 10:8) Give as freely as you have received!
(Luke 12:34) Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.