RESPONSIBLE GENEROSITY – PART 1: A FOUNDATION

PASTOR, DR. LARRY LAMB

• An overwhelming attitude among many is that all churches do is ask for money.
• When faithful, generous, and obedient people give to the Lord at their church, what do they receive? tangible in return.
• If you are the giver in a relationship and view the other as a lifelong taker, the motivation to keep giving becomes joyful over time. Why? It’s one-sided giving.
• Reluctant giving usually the attitude of someone who sees their money as theirs (owner) rather than God’s, and themselves as a steward.

• Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive.
• Matthew 6:19-21 19 Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
• As important as prayer, evangelism, discipleship, preaching, and worship are to spiritual formation, the truth about managing God’s money is equally important.
• Being taught well what God’s Word says about finances is not something to . It’s a responsibility to cherish.
• The heart of God is to give.The life of Jesus is to offer Himself. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to give conviction of sin and consolation as a Counselor.
• Proverbs 3:9-10 9 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.
• Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
• Proverbs 11:24-25 24 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. 25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
• Proverbs 11:28 Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.
• God’s Word speaks directly, clearly, and with conviction about money, not because He wants our money, but because He does not want money to have .
• Messages about mature financial responsibility, as described in the biblical text, have nothing to do with guilt.
• Perhaps Christians who have rewritten what God says about financial responsibility are not greedy but are living from a place of in this area.

• The word that surfaces to the top when Christ-followers get serious is the word .
• Why is surrender such a challenge?

1. Confusion – It shakes down to one word – . We can resist the Living Christ, who laid down His rights and gave to people.

Philippians 2:5-11 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2. Fear – If I surrender my finances to God’s plan, will He really come through?

What wasn’t said today:

1. The pastor was given a sales pitch today, trying to get my money.
2. All churches talk about is money.
3. The pastor is preaching guilt today.
4. If I never give, God will stop loving me.

What was said:

1. God’s word is clear that being a faithful disciple of Jesus has a financial component. This cannot be erased, regardless of how hard people try to diminish it.
2. A generous person is like Christ than a stingy person.
3. Please refrain from claiming to be a devoted follower of Jesus if giving is not a practice.
4. Living as a recipient of God’s grace breaks chains and makes surrender to His will a lifelong joy. Surrender to the Lordship of Jesus clears up a lot of confusion.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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