Quality Characteristics – Generosity
Let us begin this morning by reading our text. It is found in Luke chapter ten:
"Who is my neighbor?" Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ’Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:30-37 (NKJV)
In our text today a man – a lawyer – asks Jesus, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responds by asking the lawyer a question, “What is written in the law?” What a great question to ask a lawyer – what is written in the law? The lawyer obviously knows the scripture for he answers, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and you shall love ’your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus commends the lawyer for he has answered the question correctly. But the conversation does not end there.
The lawyer wants more. In fact the Bible says he wanted to justify himself so he asks, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ reply is the story of the Good Samaritan which we just read.
Did you know that in the story of the Good Samaritan there are three distinct attitudes toward life found there? Follow along with me here:
The first attitude that we find is that of the robber. He had the attitude that:
I. What’s yours is MINE.
He had the attitude that as long as he was the bully on the block – he could take whatever he wanted. He had an overpowering attitude.
The second attitude that we find is that of the Levite and the Priest. Both of them had the attitude that:
II. What’s mine is MINE.
Both had the attitude that since I earned it – or since I have it – it all belongs to me – and if I’m not willing to give it to you I have every right to keep it. We would call this attitude stinginess.
The third attitude that we find is that of the Samaritan. He had the attitude that:
III. What’s mine is YOURS.
He was willing to use what he had for the good of others. He was willing to share his abilities, his time and his resources for the good of others. He had the attitude of generosity. He was generous.
Today we are going to look at five keys to becoming a generous person.
The first key is:
1. Respond to the NEEDS around you.
Folks you don’t have to go very far to find people in need – they are all around you. Look at the story of the Good Samaritan again – notice that it says – “as he journeyed… he saw him”. What this means is that – as he was going about his daily business – as he was traveling along – as he was passing by – he ran across someone in need. Someone who is beat up – beat down – left on the side of the road like a piece of garbage – useless – worthless – meaningless. But not to the Good Samaritan.
His eyes are open – he sees the man lying on the side of the road – he sees that there is pain – he sees that there is suffering – he sees that there is a need – and he responds. Even in the busyness of his day – even as he journeyed alone – even though he had other plans – he stopped.
Had no one else seem the man by the side of the road? Didn’t others look his way? Of course they did – the story says that both a Levite and a Priest saw him – looked at him – they stared at him – they moved out of the way – passed on the other side of the road – because of him. But not the Samaritan. He saw – he responded.
Have you ever missed something that is right in front of your face? I know I have. I get wrapped up in my own agenda – my own busyness – and because of that sometimes I walk through life as though I am walking through a fog. I miss things that are right in front of my face. There is a mist out there that I have created – and it only allows me to see so far. Yet there is so much more that I could see – that I should see. I miss people who need help – I miss people who are hurting – I miss people who need to hear some good news – the Good News.
Jesus says:
“Don’t you say, ‘In four more months the harvest will be here’? I’m telling you to look and see that the fields are ready to be harvested (NOW).” John 4:35 (GW)
I like the way The Message translation phrases this verse:
“Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These … fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!” John 4:35 (MSG)
Folks we need to pray that God would open our eyes and that we would see the needs that are around us and that we need to:
2. Respond with COMPASSION.
That is key number two.
The Good Samaritan’s response was a response of compassion – a response of love. Look at what our text says again, “he had compassion” and “he went to him.” His love for him – would not hold him back. His love for him would not allow him to walk away. His love for him would not allow him to pass by – he had to do something. He could see the suffering – he could see the pain – and he was moved with compassion to do something – he did – “he went to him.”
Did you know that there are a least ten times in the New King James translation of the Bible that it says that Jesus was moved with compassion? Jesus saw the multitudes and He was moved with compassion – because they were like sheep with a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36) Jesus saw two blind men sitting on the side of the road begging – He had compassion on them and healed them. (Matthew 20:34) A leper came to Jesus saying, “If you are willing you can make me clean.” Jesus said, “I am willing.” He had compassion on him and healed him. (Mark 1:41) A dead man was being carried to his grave – the mother walked beside the coffin – weeping. Jesus was moved with compassion and brought the son back to life. (Luke 7:13) Just like the Good Samaritan – time and time again Jesus was moved with compassion – He was moved with love.
Let me ask you – what moves you to action? What causes you to respond to a terrible situation? Are you moved by compassion for other people? Are you moved with love? Look at what the Bible says in First Corinthians chapter thirteen:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NKJV)
Christians we are to be a people of generosity – we are to be a people of compassion – we are to be a people of love – just as the Good Samaritan was – just as Jesus was. When we see people weeping we are to weep with them. We are to have compassion on them - we are to help them - we are to go to them - we are to love them.
Key number three is:
3. Respond with PRACTICAL help.
Folks notice that the Good Samaritan offered practical help. He bandaged the wounds and cleaned them with oil and wine. He set the injured man on his own animal – brought him to an inn and took care of him. He even took two coins out of his pocket and paid for the room at the inn. He did those things that would make a difference at the moment. Isn’t that practical help? Isn’t that help that really helps – that really means something?
So often we as Christians tell people that we will pray for them – that is a good thing – that is an excellent thing to do – but sometimes we need to do more. Sometimes it takes filling the person’s car up with gas. Sometimes it takes going to the store for them – doing their laundry for them – driving them to a doctor’s appointment. Sometimes it takes buying the school supplies for the children. Feeding them a meal. Spending time with them. You see the Good Samaritan saw what needed to be done and did it! He reached in and handed out! The injured man touched his heart then he touched his life. Time was used - money was used – talent was used – resources were used – and the injured man was ministered to.
The book of James tells us:
“If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?” James 2:15-16 (HCSB)
You see the help that we give needs to be practical help.
Key number four is:
4. Respond with FOLLOW UP help.
Not only did the Good Samaritan provide practical help – he provided follow up help too. He paid the Inn Keeper for the room and told him, “Take care of his needs and when I come back – if I owe you more – I’ll pay you. I’ll give you whatever it costs. I’ll go the extra mile. I’ll do whatever it takes to see that his needs are taken care of.”
This reminds me of a story that I heard. It took place at Lake Elementary School in Oceanside, California in March of 1994. It seems that one of the students in the fifth-grade class was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. His name was Ian O’Gorman. All the students in the class had told Ian how sorry they were that he was sick. They felt bad about the situation. Well as chemotherapy treatments came - Ian’s hair began to fall out - so he had his head shaved.
That’s when a class mate, Kyle Hanslik, got the idea to have his head shaved too. So he did. Soon other boys in the class had there heads shaved too – till all fourteen boys in the class had shaved heads. They just didn’t want Ian to feel out of place. They didn’t want Ian to feel alone. They put into practice Galatians chapter six - verse two:
“Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (HCSB)
You see practical help is a great thing – but follow up help is greater still. The Good Samaritan made sure that ALL the injured man’s needs were totally met. He went the extra mile.
The last point we have today is the overall principle of generosity:
5. Model Your MAKER.
Did you know that our God is a generous God? He is! Look at what the book of James tells us:
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (HCSB)
In the book of Revelation Jesus is speaking and He says:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the thirsty from the spring of living water as a gift.” Revelation 21:6 (HCSB)
Even the best known verse in the Bible, John chapter three verse sixteen, speaks of giving:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)
You see – our God is a giving God. He gives so much more than we deserve. Do you think that if God sees us by the side of road – beat up – beat down – that He is just going to walk on by? Do you think that He is going to just leave you lying there in the ditch? If you think that - think again. He will not leave you there. He will not walk on by. He will not move to the other side of the road. He will not turn His back and pretend that you are not there. He will never do that!
In the scripture God is often portrayed as a loving, generous, compassionate Shepherd who watches over His sheep. In Ezekiel chapter thirty four God is telling us how He cares for His sheep:
“I will tend them with good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will tend My flock and let them lie down.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak.” Ezekiel 34:14-16 (HCSB)
God cares for us and He has asked us to care for our neighbor.
Who is your neighbor? Those you see that are in need – by the side of the road – in the ditch – beat up – beat down. Will you bend over pick them up – will you lend a helping hand – will you be generous – compassionate – loving – because that is what God would do for you.
