We are natural-born takers, not givers. You have to train yourself to be generous in life. Pastor Jeremy unpacks the core reasons why we’re called to be generous. To feel good about ourselves isn’t why we give; generosity unlocks a rich and fruitful life! Obedient giving constantly reminds us that God is our source, not money.
Notes 📓✏️:
We are all “Natural born takers”
Acts 20:35 (NIV); “…Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
“I should be generous because it makes me feel good” (Although it does)
“It’s probably the right thing to do.” (Although it is)
1. God is generous and He instructs us to be like Him.
John 3:16 (NLT); “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
1 Corinthians 6:20; “…for God bought you with a high price.”
2. Giving Keeps Selfishness and Self-Sufficiency In Check.
Obedient giving is a constant reminder that God is our source and money is not.
Giving kills selfishness.
Giving makes us truly rich.
I Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV); “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
In America, according to Forbes Magazine in July 2022, you must make roughly $597,000 a year to be considered in the top 1% of wage earners.
If you make approximately $34,000 a year, you are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world.
Americans are 4.23% of the world’s population.
I Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV); “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
With blessing comes responsibility.
Use your God-given blessing to lift burdens in Jesus’ name.
3. Your giving has a boomerang effect.
Luke 6:38 (NLT); “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
4. Giving changes the size of your world.
Proverbs 11:24 (Msg); “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.”
If you want to be TRULY rich, be rich in GOOD WORKS, GIVING, and SHARING.
Generosity requires a plan.
Isaiah 32:8 (NLT); “But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.”
PRAY
PLAN
COMMIT
GIVE
God’s Priorities: His Church and Reaching People
Give to what is going to bring the most “EROI” (Eternal Return on Investment)
Originally the word Generosity was derived from the Latin word “Generōsus” meaning “Noble in lineage”
True nobility is not defined by what we inherit but by what we give.
True greatness isn’t about being seen as important—it’s about making a meaningful difference.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- What does the scripture “It is more blessed to give than to receive” form Acts 20:35 mean to you, and how is it significant in your life?
- Pastor Jeremy mentioned that generosity keeps selfishness and self-sufficiency in check. Why do you think regular giving is crucial to our spiritual growth?
- Why is it so important to create a plan when it comes to generosity?
- Pastor Jeremy spoke about the importance of being a conduit for blessing rather than a bucket. How does this influence the way we view our resources and responsibilities?