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TRUE GENEROSITY
February 17, 2008 Jay Davis Robison Philippians 4:12-20
Today talking about True Generosity, word Generosity means
marked by abundance or ample proportions above & beyond
All of us have benefited from generosity of others many in church
Natural for us to be this way
Name was Ott Elliott during Great Depression said if God sees me
through this if ever have $$ will give to God for God’s use
Ott created foundation for scholarships I got 1 4 yrs never met him
1st ministerial job I had FBC Leichfield Gary and Suzy Garrrett,
invited me to live in their home for no rent, while working
When Micki and I married Becky and Buzzy, budgeted blessing $$
Used blessing $$ to buy plane ticket for sister-in-law for wedding
Ladies from church did reception for us free
When became pastor in Paris lived in Louisville Jean Stewart ,
Said I’ve got bed but no board, stay with me
Jeremy on the way Teresa single lady in church made crib set
Phil 4:12-20 gives us an example of True Generosity look at it
1. REASONS FOR being generous
Why is it that people are generous in the first place?
Struggle in US to be generous, because we are nation of
Discontentment and consumer driven have so much want more
It’s a HEART CONDITION
Generosity is not giving out of obligation or from guilt
It comes from the heart, so vs 12 TNIV Paul talks about heart
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Generosity comes as identify with the need of another,
Give yourself Show interest, and then get involved
Matthew 10:8 Freely you have received freely give
Generosity is a response of loving obedience
Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given unto you
Can’t afford to be generous Americans feel they’re just making it,
39% households making $50,000 yr say cannot afford all they need!
33% households at $100,000 a yr say cannot afford all they need!
27% households at $100,000+ yr say cannot afford all they need.
Nearly 20% of these say they "spend nearly all their income
on the basic necessities of life." being generous would be a stretch
Generous is a heart condition, Poet said
It’s not what you do w\the million if fortune should ere be your lot,
but what are you doing at present w\the dollar & quarter you got.
Are you open to being generous to giving at all, sharing time or $$?
Find a REAL NEED AND MEET IT
Look for who you can bless
In this day and time we are bombarded with requests to give
And if you give once then get all the more
Address labels, magazines, letters, nobody ever has enough
Are excellent causes out there,
good stewardship involves keeping your eyes open find best needs
If you don’t check out the need that’s not generosity its STUPIDITY
The Youth Development Fund & A Child’s Dream, grant wishes
of sick & dying kids, run by Rick Bowen from his Knoxville home
2006 raised $3 million but just over $102,000, 3 cents of every $
went directly to grant dreams for 52 children and their families,
Bowen paid himself salary and benefits of $174,000
$2.5 million went for fundraising expenses, mostly to pay for-profit
call center that solicited donors nationwide.
Most Christians see qualifying gift is important part of generosity.
Not ashamed to tell you TBC worthy of your gifts, generosity
Bible teaches us to bring tithes into God’s storehouse
Reality is, it costs money to do things to invest in people’s lives.
To help families, do MOW, reach out, $$ to work with youth,
children, RALI, singles,Internationals, Men.
It costs money to have a building as tool gas bill almost 3K
God’s plan to pay for these things is found sitting in these pews. Only Christians give to pay for spreading message of Jesus.
Always when you see a need easier to be generous
5 years ago yesterday ice storm hit and we were generous
Opened our doors, as many as 72 feed over 100
Did not call the insurance company or poll the deacons
Saw a need and did it, never missed a meal, worked hard
God supplied what we needed everyday
Focusing on God’s Spirit, realizing God wishes to work through us.
Surrounded by needs in the community concerned about AIDS
Sufferers in Lexington no Bapt church doing anything substantive
What ideas do you have? How do we need to plug in generously
Being generous WILL COST YOU
This is why we are not generous
We have other things to do with the $$ or the time we may give
We are afraid of providing for our daily needs
Difference between according to and out of giving
Billionaire who gives $1000 is giving out of her wealth,
Not according to her wealth, why Jesus spoke of widows mite
Not we should give small gifts, but give sacrificially generously
He who gives what he would as readily throw away,
gives without generosity; for the essence of generosity
is in self-sacrifice. Sir Henry Taylor, quoted in New Beginnings
Wealthy man was a cheap husband went get Valentine gift for wife;
He was looking around ladies perfume area of a store
when a sales clerk ask if she could help.
Said was looking for something for his wife for Valentines, so clerk
brought him a bottle of perfume, he asked how much is it?
She said $50 he said too much could she find something cheaper,
she returned w\smaller bottle how much? She replied $30.
He again too much. Next she brought a very small bottle for $15.
Time he frustrated told her wanted to see something really cheap.
Clerk “if you want to see something really cheap look at this.”
She handed him a mirror.
2. RESULTS OF being generous
Not just reasons for generosity
But what will happen if I am generous?
You BLESS OTHERS
When we are generous we bless others
Stories I told at beginning part of my blessings in life
Generosity echoes in the lives of others
See Vs 14 TNIV Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles
Vs 15 Paul had no friends except church at Philipi
Philippians were generous, shared where there
was little or no possibility of return
Paul was not looking for a gift from them, he saw true generosity
As you and I are generous we bless others
Part of reason on earth to bless others
Imagine if this was goal in our church, bless others
Meet the needs to help out in lives of others
You BLESS GOD
God is pleased when we are generous loves cheerful givers
Our generosity makes God smile Vs 18 NLT
At the moment I have all I need & more! I am generously supplied
with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-
smelling sacrifice that is acceptable & pleasing to God.
Acceptable to God who is pleased with our generosity
As SS teacher when you reach out for God, he smiles
Bake cookies for others, God will smile
As you give offering in cheerful, hilarious way God pleased
You BLESS YOURSELF
When you are generous, you receive as well
Its about far more than $$ or time we find a key to living
that will radically deepen and widen their lives
Paul explained to the Philippians
Progressing toward sanctification in following Christ
Really, it is not that I want to receive gifts from you, but I want you
to have the good that comes from giving Vs 17 CEV
Man died went to heaven, as arrived told would be taken to his home.
They passed by many beautiful mansions. Finally, on outskirts of
heaven he was shown a very small, rundown house here it is.
He complained & protested, but was told, “We’re sorry, but this
is all we could do for you with the materials you sent up.”
One generous man was asked how he could be so generous
& still possess great wealth. as I shovel it out, He shovels it in, &
the Lord has a bigger shovel. Today in the Word July 1990, p. 28.
God works DIVINE ENDS through HUMAN MEANS
God equips people spiritually as they minister practically,
Not because He has to…. but because He chooses to.
Next time you are challenged to practice True Generosity remember
God may be doing spiritual work through you.
If our desire is to go deep and wide in our relationship with God,
we need to lose the excuses & grab hold of faith He asks us to use.
And my God shall supply all your need according to
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Vs 19 NKJV
When I give, I know I will be blessed, but does not mean I become
a blessings broker trading spiritual stocks for higher return
Kenneth Copeland says Vs 19 guarantees as we give in faith
God has to bless us abundantly in return,
God will bless our generosity but we do not know how
Is a crossover effect: When I give money,
I will be cared for in a material sense but I will also be given
blessings that have nothing to do with my original gift.
The result is an opportunity to be generous in other areas.
And so on. Chris Oswald
Vs 19 must be linked with Vs 12 and 13 Think of who wrote this.
isn’t some young buck, with a new career with a 7 figure income.
Nor a man who worked all life to accumulate wealth now relaxing
Is a 60+-year old Jew chained to a Roman guard under house arrest,
not knowing if tomorrow will be killed, sent to court, or set free. Though he doesn’t have a clue about his future, he is content.
Whether he has a little or a lot,
Vs 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
He is empowered by God for whatever may come his way
Remember the cross of Christ Wherein Jesus suffers & dies for us
Are you generous? Question is not, do you have a lot to give,
question is, before a generous Savior, are you like Him?
Time are you ready to give it to people in need, or to the ministry?
Talent are you offering what God has given you to reach out, to e?
Treasure are you consistent and cheerful
God’s objective is generosity.
Am I a generous giver?
Notice that I didn’t ask if you give. Are you a generous giver?
I didn’t ask if you tithe. Are you a generous giver?
I didn’t ask what you can do for me. Are you a generous giver?
We all like the reputation of being generous, and we’d all like to buy it cheap.”
Don’t ask how your investment will be paying off in 30 years
Ask how it will be paying off in 30 million years
