Choose Your Own Adventure
“Be a Philanthropist!”
Last week we began our series on the ways God calls us to the Adventure of Life he has set before us. Everyone has his or her own path, but we all have the same call. Today we look at the “Life of the Philanthropist!”
phi·lan·thro·py n
1. a desire to improve the material, social, and spiritual welfare of humanity, especially through charitable activities
3. general love for, or benevolence toward, the whole of humankind (formal)
Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
I understand this sounds like “Human Services Part Two”, but when I think of a Philanthropist, I think of someone who doesn’t just give, but gives generously.
We think of Philanthropy as someone with an abundance of wealth that gives from this unending source material. But I can think of several examples of those who give generously, but had barely any material goods (if any). ie: Missionaries, etc.
Today God is beckoning us to walk the path of the Generous Giver…
1. A Heart Condition
Ask yourself this question: How do I view giving?
- Burden?
- Duty?
- Payment for Punishment?
- Joy?!
The truth is our perception of giving (aside from generous giving) begins within our heart. Whatever circumstances, stories or experiences have shaped this perception, it all flows from here.
So for the sake of discussion, I’m going to ask you put aside whatever pre-conceived notions or motivations that you have of giving, and let’s look at the purpose behind giving through God’s Eyes as a foundation for generous giving:
A. Acknowledge God
“We are never more like God than when we give.” - Charles R. Swindoll
The Required Biblical Standard—“Tithe”—“First Fruits”
Leviticus 27:30 (NLT)
One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.
Giving your First Fruits means you are acknowledging God’s ownership of all you have:
- It means you are NOT giving God your leftovers… ?
- It means your gift to God is NOT an afterthought… ?
- YOUR GIFT TO GOD is something you’ve planned
When we give, we need to do so acknowledging that everything we have is not ours.
B. Honor God
Deuteronomy 14:23 (NLT)
Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God.
Giving to God places God in first place and our Tithe then becomes an act of worship, teaching us reverence and position!
C. Trust God
The story’s told of a man who wanted to take his Uncle Dudley on a plane ride. ?This was years ago, when planes were still a novelty. ?It was Uncle Dudley’s 75 birthday and his nephew said “How would you like to go up with me?” His uncle agreed and they went up and circled the old man’s farm. When they set down, the nephew asked “Were you scared, Uncle Dudley?”? “No…, but I never did put my full weight down.”
Contributed by Jeff Strite via sermoncentral.com
“Unless there is an element of risk in our exploits for God, there is no need for faith.”
- Hudson Taylor
So now our giving becomes something more than just giving back, but rather giving while trusting God is going to provide for all my needs!
This is how God perceives giving, but what about giving…
2. Above and Beyond
Ray Stedman shared the true story of a man who lived in Houston that received a letter from a large international radio broadcast seeking support from Christians for their broadcasting. They sent out a letter - the kind that is double-spaced, every sentence is a paragraph, and they underline part of it, etc…?
The appeal of the letter was that God cannot be out-given, that if you give to God, he will give back to you. They announced that they needed a certain tremendous sum of money to maintain their broadcast. They had figured the number of their listening audience and they said in the letter that, if every person who heard their broadcasts would send in $76, this need would be met. Furthermore, they would guarantee, on the principle that God cannot be out-given, that he would find a way to give that $76 back three times over.?
This was, therefore, the appeal of the letter: Send us the $76 and God will give it back to you; just watch how he does it. ?
Well, this man in Houston said he wrote a letter back which said, “Sir, I believe what you have written; I believe it is true that God cannot be out-given; and I believe you have a tremendous need for funds. But I would like to suggest that you send me the $76 and God will give it back to you three times over. You can get rid of your debt a lot faster that way.”
He was removed from the mailing list.
Contributed by Jeff Strite via sermoncentral.com
What we have here is basically a Christian Scam that is masked as “Health and Wealth” Doctrine, and is an easy trap for believers to fall into. Yes, it’s true that:
- We can’t out give God
- God expects His church and its ministries to be supported by our free-will offerings.?
- God will give to us in abundance, in response to our giving to Him.
But IF I use that doctrine as the reason I give my offering… what will become my motivation in giving??
- Because I love God? (maybe)?
- Because I want His kingdom to grow and prosper? (maybe)?
- But more likely, my motivation will be so that my bank account will grow and prosper.
There’s not a thing wrong with my bank account growing and prospering. But we need to remember Jesus words on this topic:
Matthew 6:21
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
What’s our motivation for giving? The answer is in the treasure we seek in life.
God is looking for Generous Givers. So what are the characteristics of the generous giver? How do I avoid seeking “Health and Wealth” and pursue Worshiping God through giving?
A. Generous Givers give Intentionally
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NLT)
Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.
The generous giver understands where everything originates (from God) and is simply returning it to God. If there is a need to be met, the giving is intentional to meet that need! It:
- Acknowledges God
- Honors God
- Trusts God
The intentional giver realizes that God doesn’t need my offering, but desires it. Therefore all they have they give back to God!
B. Generous Givers are Prepared
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)
Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
Look at what Paul is saying here: You have cultivated everything God has given you–now give! But in order to give, you must be ready to give. That is going to take some careful preparation and deliberate action. Look at an example in:
Leviticus 19:9-10 (NLT)
When you harvest your crops, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. 10It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners who live among you, for I, the LORD, am your God.
Being prepared to give generously, means doing everything with the intent on being ready to give at any moment. It might mean
- Changing Your Budget
- Changing Your Schedule
- Changing Your Habits
What if instead of just asking for money, the radio station had asked for help in any way people could outside of financial support?
Position Yourself to Give Generously!
C. Generous Givers give Sacrificially
“I don’t have enough for me!” Ever said that before? Look at this example of Generous Giving:
2 Corinthians 8:1-3,5 (NLT)
1Now I want to tell you, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. 2Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. 3For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
Does the situation of these people sound familiar? So why were they able to give so generously?
Vs. 5
5Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.
They dedicated themselves to the Lord. Generous giving is not always easy, sometimes it requires sacrifice for the betterment of someone else, and ultimate glory of God.
Giving Generously to God will require us to give up something…
D. Generous Givers give Without Expectations
Last week we mentioned that it is easy to love when we know that love is returned. Giving is no different. But when we give expecting returns, we’ve lost sight of our original focus.
Here is the expectation of the Generous Giver:
2 Corinthians 9:12-13
So two good things will happen—the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God. 13You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.
See how the focus shifts? Look at this verse in Proverbs as a motivator:
Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)
The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
E. Generous Givers receive more, TO GIVE MORE!
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NLT)
10For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
11Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God.
Realize this concept goes extremely counter to what we’ve always been taught—Got more? Now go GET more! Or HOARD more! But whatever you do, don’t just give it away!
You are called to USE all that God has given you. I sincerely believe that God will not Give us more, until we can properly steward what’s been given first.
Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
God is seeking those who would not only give, but also give generously.
-Prayer
Go Further! — Personal Study Questions
1. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7. What are the qualities of a cheerful giver? Do you fall in this category? Why or why not?
2. Take inventory of what you give for God, material and immaterial. How can you take what you have now, and give “Above and Beyond” what you have been called to give? It might be easier than you think!
