Daring To Be Generous Series

DARING TO BE GENEROUS

A few years ago, there was a story out of Miami, Florida about six Royal Palm trees that had been vandalized and cut down along one of Miami’s main streets. Due to the expense involved in replacing them Dade County wasn’t sure how soon, if ever, they would be replaced. However, along came a generous donation of six new trees. Not only were the trees paid for but they were even planted by the donor. The former trees had been 15 feet tall and formed a beautiful foreground for a “Fly Delta” billboard. The new trees were 35 feet tall and now hid the billboard completely. The donor of the trees was Eastern Airlines. The ‘generous’ gift was really not that generous when the true intent of the gift was discovered.

Today I want to talk about generosity. We are continuing in our series Daring Faith and I want to speak today about Daring to be Generous.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

When I am speaking about generosity this morning I am not just talking about money. I am talking about being generous with your time, your energy, and your talent. Being generous with every area of your life. Learning generosity is learning to become an unselfish person.

There are a lot of promises in the bible concerning generosity. So why is God so interested in us becoming generous people? Why is He so interested in us learning how to give out of the abundance that we have been given?

The answer is because generosity is love in action. You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. You cannot be loving without being generous. God so loved the world that he gave. God want us to mirror His love by giving as well, and generosity is simply love in action.

The word BELIEVE is used two hundred seventy-two times in the Bible. Belief is important. The word PRAY is used three hundred seventy-one times in the Bible. Prayer is also important. The word LOVE is used seven hundred fourteen times in the Bible. Loving is important, but the word GIVE is used two thousand one hundred fifty two times. Why? Because God is a giver.

In this passage we read today, Paul is speaking specifically about financial generosity so let me address that.

1. Generosity leads to Worship

Giving is an act of worship and it is a recognition that everything you have is a gift from God. Generosity draws me closer to God. Why? Because whatever I invest in is what I am focused on. If I invest my time in something, I invest my money in something, I invest my energy in something – whether it is golf or a new business, whatever I invest my time and money in shows what’s important to me.

2 Corinthians 9:11b-12 … and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Generosity leads to worship for both you and the people around you. When I invest in God and his work it not only honors God it draws me and others closer to him because wherever my money and time go is what attracts me.