The sermon emphasizes the importance of generosity in stewarding resources as a Christian, highlighting it as a crucial antidote to greed and a means of extending Kingdom-building work beyond individual circles.
In 1913, Dayton, OH experienced the greatest natural disaster in Ohio history. In March of that year, a series of severe winter rain storms hit the Midwest. Within three days, 8–11 inches of rain fell throughout the Great Miami River watershed on already saturated soil, resulting in more than 90 percent runoff. The river and its tributaries overflowed. The existing levees failed, and downtown Dayton was flooded up to 20 feet deep. By comparison, the volume of water that passed through the river channel during this storm equals the monthly flow over Niagara Falls. Approximately $100 million worth of property was damaged and 360 lives were lost.
The people of Dayton were determined to prevent a flood like that from ever happening again. The governor appointed people to the Dayton Citizens Relief Commission, and in May 1913, the commission conducted a 10-day fundraiser, collecting more than $2 million (in 1913 dollars) to fund the flood control effort. The result was the construction of the Miami Conservancy District’s flood control system, which has prevented flooding in this area more than 1,500 times since its completion.
When water has no place to go, it can be destructive. It continues to accumulate and rise, and with nowhere to go, it floods homes and businesses and can take lives. But water can also be life-giving. When it is allowed to overflow and run off as it goes, water can provide nutrients for growing crops, feeding livestock, and producing life and fruit. Water needs to overflow in healthy ways.
Our money is much the same. Just as a lot of water can be used to produce life or destroy it, so can money. When money is worshiped it becomes blocked up and hoarded, resulting in greed. But when we allow it to overflow where it is needed, the result of that generosity is fruit and life and growth. When money is not allowed to go anywhere, it can result in damage to our own hearts and a withholding of blessing from others. The amazing thing is when money is allowed to overflow in healthy ways, just like flood waters, there is always more than enough. This is what the practice of giving does in comparison to worshipping money. This is a crucial topic and why we saved it for last in our week 4 Money Talks series: The world’s money says, “Worship Me.” God’s money says, “Give Me.”
The world’s money says, “Worship Me.” God’s money says, “Give Me.”
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth to encourage them to give generously as they have promised. Paul then sends Titus and several others to collect their offering for those in need, saying: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 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. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
If you want to worship God instead of money and enter into this journey of overflowing generosity, the best place to start is with gratitude. You have to let gratitude well up in your heart. Gratitude is a form of worshiping God. Focusing on our stuff, or the lack thereof, is also a form of worship—a form of worshiping material wealth. That’s why gratitude is so powerful. It breaks the power of negativity and selfishness. It stops the downward spiral and starts to lift you up.
Start a practice of giving thanks. It can be a written list when you notice yourself focusing inward, on your own wants and needs. It can be a spoken list as you drift off to sleep at the end of a long day. It can be part of a spiritual practice of journaling. Or it can be something you do with loved ones around a dining room table.
2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
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