God is Generous

Series: The Generosity Series

Why Talk About Money???

-          Stereotype of people

-          #1 reason many don’t like “church”

Yet … Most of stress in life is centered around Money

  • 54 percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives.
  • 62 percent of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels.
  • 73 percent of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level.
  • Larry Burkett, noted financial author, says, "Money is either the best or the worst area of communication in our marriages."

Most of Jesus’ teaching is about money

-          More than sex

-          More than Hell

-          More than prayer


 

Jesus knows something we try to deny…

PRINCIPLE:  There Can Be No Significant Spiritual Growth Unless We Put Our Money and Our Attitude About Money Into God’s Hands.

 

Point 1: Tough Financial Times are Not New … Nor Are They An Excuse To Avoid Generosity (v.1-5)

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ” (2 Corinthians 8:1–5, ESV)

 

By God’s providence, there was a HUGE FAMINE & FINANCIAL CRISIS in the First Century

-          Famine in Jerusalem

-          World-Wide financial crisis

Macedonia was hit harder than Corinth


 

Seattle vs Detroit

  • Officially, Detroit's unemployment rate is just under 30 percent. But the city's mayor and local leaders are suggesting a far more disturbing figure -- the actual jobless rate, they say, is closer to 50 percent.
    • Statewide, Michigan still leads the nation in official unemployment, with a rate of 15.1 percent. Homelessness, especially among those becoming homeless for the first time, is expected to jump at least 10 percent this year.
    • Seattle has an unemployment rate of 7.4%, compared the national average of about 10%.

Yet in Macedonia “their extreme poverty” didn’t hold back “abundance of joy” and “overflowing wealth of generosity”

- gave according to their means

- gave beyond their means

“favor of taking part in the relief of the saints”

Favor  = xarin (Grace)


 

1.  God’s Generosity Is the Foundation For Our Generosity (v.9)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ” (2 Corinthians 8:9, ESV)

A.  Generosity is called “GRACE”

Why use the word “grace” here?

- Work, life, ministry, generosity

Grace = Unmerited favor

Free gift

 

B.  Full Honor To Jesus “Lord Jesus Christ”

- This is His full title

 

 

C.  All Of His Life Was Suffering

Heidelberg Catechism #37  What Do You Understand By the Word “Suffered”?

During all the time He lived on earth,

but especially at the end,

Christ bore

in body and soul

the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race.

 

Thus, by His suffering,

as the only atoning sacrifice,

He has redeemed our body and soul

from everlasting damnation,

and obtained for us the grace of God,

righteousness,

and eternal life.

2.  Jesus’ Life, Giving and Suffering Shows the Full Measure of His Love (v.8)

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ” (1 John 4:9, ESV)

 

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ” (Romans 5:6–8, ESV)

 

Crucifixion

Horrible way to Die

Cursed by God

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— ” (Galatians 3:13, ESV)

 


 

Add this to the list of ways God is generous in general

ü  Creativity in Creation

  • Scenery
  • Flowers
  • Seasons
  • The lyrics of Indescribable by Chris Tomlin put it like this:
  • ‘Indescribable, uncontainable, You put the stars in the sky and you know them by name. You are amazing God! All powerful, unchangeable, Awestruck we fall to our knees and we humbly proclaim You are amazing God, you are amazing God.  Indescribable, uncontainable, You see the depths of my heart and you love me the same You are amazing God!’

ü  Difference in ways to feed our basic needs

  • Different sorts of food
  • Meat, veggies, fruit, milk

ü  Protection from the elements

  • First set of clothes was from a sacrifice (Genesis 3)

3. When We Follow Jesus in Generosity, We Are Showing That Our Love Is Genuine (v.8)

The Macedonians begged for the GRACE (Favor) to give

Jesus is our example in GRACE (Generosity)

If we are saved by grace alone, then we see life based on grace.

 ‘God’s gifts aim at making us into generous givers, not just fortunate receivers. God gives so that we, in human measure, can be givers too…’ - Miroslav Volf


 

-          When we aren’t generous, it shows that our lives are clinging to “things” as safety

  • Can’t blame an unsaved person for not giving
  • Money is the life-jacket they are clinging to
    • Do anything to hold on
    • Drowning person will often drag would-be rescuers to death with them

 

-          When we accept Jesus as Savior, the world changes

  • No longer finding safety in things
  • Our safety is in Jesus
    • We will do anything to hold fast to Jesus
    • He’s the lifeguard
    • Prying our fingers off the old raft of money that we were clinging to
    • Swimming us to the true safety of the Kingdom of Heaven

(Luke 6)

The Beatitudes

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Love Your Enemies

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Conclusion

Have you accepted God’s Generosity?