Are you generous? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares two stories from scripture that can teach us valuable insights about handling resources.
What is generosity?
Generosity is when you live a life that’s open-handed with your resources so that you can bless others when the opportunity arises.
Generosity assumes just because a resource COMES to me doesn’t mean it BELONGS to me.
Greed assumes the opposite: This resource came TO me so it must be FOR me.
Greed produces owners, generosity produces stewards.
Generosity is important
God uses our level of generosity to determine how much of His kingdom He can trust us with.
Luke 16:10-12 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
Two people in similar financial situations with completely different spiritual results:
The Rich Young Ruler:
Mark 10:17-23
The Rich young ruler had everything we think we want, but missed out on what he truly needed.
Zacchaeus
Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus was rescued by through repentance.
How can we be generous?
- Recognize that this life is temporary.
The desire to accumulate stuff is shortsighted in light of eternity.
1 Timothy 6:18-19 ”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…”
Instead of accumulating more stuff, accumulate good works. How? When you give something away, you just stored it up in heaven. If you gather here, you store up here; if you give it here, you store up there.
1 Corinthians 4:18
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - Recognize the spiritual war over money.
1 Tim 6:9-10 “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
How do I know if I love money? If you’re willing to depart from your convictions to get it.
Luke 16:13
Mammon is a master—that means he’s looking for servants.
We would never bow down to a false god, but our obedience determines our allegiance. - Recognize your role in helping others.
James 2:15-16 (MSG)
1 Cor. 16:2
If you don’t plan to give, you won’t give OR you’ll make bad giving decisions. Give to what feeds you and give to what moves you.
Are you generous?