Extravagant
A Generous Response to a Generous God
December 13, 2020
Last week, I showed you extravagant generosity through a parable Jesus gave us about the Good Samaritan.
This week, I’m going to show you extravagant generosity in the Torah, in the Psalms and in the Epistles of Paul. Extravagant generosity is found throughout the Bible.
Genesis 14:17-20 NIV
“After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
What’s our response when God blesses us?
We respond with generosity.
We give so we can give more of ourselves to God!
Genesis 14:21-24 NIV
“The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself." 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me …”
How do we talk about money? “Look what I did” vs. “Look what God did”
When we give, we’re making a prophetic declaration that we worship the God Most High!
Psalm 112:5-7 NIV
“Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. 6 Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. 7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
Good comes to the generous and just.
God blesses generosity and integrity.
Even Al Capone was known for his generosity. He would frequently tip a waiter $100, had standing orders to hand out coal and clothes to the needy during the cold winters, and opened some of the first soup kitchens during the Great Depression.
We don’t give to get something from God. That isn’t holy motivation.
However, when we give, we get something from God! We get Him!
Generous people don’t fear bad news because they’re steadfast and trusting people.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Psalm 46 – Be still and know that I’m God…
“To release your grasp, to unclench your fist.
Story of trapping Monkeys with Coconuts
Generosity is an invitation to release our grip on worthless things and take hold of a life that’s truly life.
