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Developing generosity

Developing generosity. Sunday Times Rich List Alisher Usmanov at the top with wealth of £13 billion. Sunday Times Giving list David Kirch at the top – he ’ s pledged £100m to Jersey ’ s elderly. Giving among the rich has increased by 21%

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Developing generosity

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  1. Developing generosity

  2. Sunday Times Rich ListAlisher Usmanov at the top with wealth of £13 billion

  3. Sunday Times Giving list David Kirch at the top – he’s pledged £100m to Jersey’s elderly. Giving among the rich has increased by 21% Economic down turn - giving by the general public reduced over the last year.

  4. Australia most generous country. UK is 8th. Globally, average participation in giving has fallen since 2007. 2011 – 100m fewer people engaged in charitable giving to good causes.

  5. Final statistic… Sales of chocolate are up since the economic downturn.

  6. What do the statistics show? Some very rich people in UK. Some very generous people. People in general are being more cautious… What does the Bible teach us about money and generosity? What might our response be?

  7. Developing generosity • The importance of generosity • Recognising and breaking a poverty spirit • Tithing and radical generosity • Living a generous life

  8. The Bible… Old Testament: 2nd most common topic after idolatry New Testament : 500 verses of direct teaching That’s 1 in 16 verses Jesus talked about wealth & poverty more than heaven & hell, sexual morality, the 2nd coming Luke: 1 in 7 verses James: 1 in 5

  9. Developing generosity … About our personal possessions and money. But not about church finances.

  10. Developing generosity … One of the most important discipleship lessons to learn. And maybe the hardest.

  11. Cultural moments like the one we are in provide us with an opportunity. Many people are now more open to the Bible’s warnings that money can become much more than money. It can become a powerful life-altering, culture-shaping god, an idol that breaks the hearts of its worshippers. The bad news is that we are fixated on the problem of greed, which we tend to see in “those rich people over there”. The money god’s modus operandi includes blindness to our own hearts. Tim Keller: Counterfeit Gods

  12. The importance of generosity

  13. 6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 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. 8 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. 2 Corinthians 9: 6 - 15

  14. 9 As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures for ever.’ 10 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. 11 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.

  15. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

  16. Paul: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. v6 Jesus: 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. Luke 6:38 Paul says, “Remember this…”

  17. Proverbs: One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will be refreshed himself. Prov 11: 24 - 5 Paul says, “Remember this…”

  18. Shocking fact… There is a direct linkbetween what we giveand what we get. A Kingdom principle which is at theheart of our life with Jesus.

  19. Generosity releases something of the Kingdom. Increase & multiplication: not just replacement. A spiritual dynamic for us to get hold of.

  20. v11 You will be made rich in every way. What’s our understanding of prosperity? Danger of prosperity gospel – that if we work hard for God we will earn material blessing and financial prosperity.

  21. To prosper: to have what we need. Spiritual or material benefit - all the same to God. Dependent on • our motives • God’s intentions

  22. Requires a basic understanding that God is good and for us. Paul doesn’t say that wealth or surplus income is a sign of God’s blessing.

  23. v7 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. God is always after our hearts. Sustained generosity of the hand always comes from radical generosity of the heart.

  24. It requires resolve, commitment, a change of heart. Opposite of duty, percentages, rules or law. If we are looking from that perspective we are grossly missing the point. Giving of itself isn’t applauded – a generous spirit and lifestyle is.

  25. Basic bottom line… It all belongs to Godanyway. v10 We surrendered our livesto him – and our moneyand possessions too. Freely you have received; freely give. Matt 10:8 Purposely that way round. We can give without loving, but we can’t love without giving.

  26. Generosity promotes God-dependency in us. Opposite of one of the major things that separates us from God – subtle sin of self-sufficiency. “As many have learned, you don't realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” Tim Keller

  27. Without generosity deep in our lives we are living with our spiritual hands tied. What holds us back?

  28. Greed: an appetite for the latest gadget. Materialism: an unhealthy attachment to things. What we deserve: for trying hard at life. Anxiety: of not having a large cushion for the knocks of life. Fear: of not having enough, borne out of family history. Blindness: to any of the above.

  29. Digging the well: increasing our capacity for God. Right now we can only give to our capacity. How much deeper can God go with us? Generosity produces righteousness that endures forever. v8

  30. God loves us to have open hands. A challenge for us this week…

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