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Born for Generosity

Generosity, expressed in giving, is of vital importance not only to every Christian but to every family. It generates the very nature of God which we received in our new birth (2 Peter 1:4).

Super generosity in the character of God was expressed to us...

  1. By the Father in giving us His Son (John 3:16).
  2. By the Son in dying for us on the Cross (Matt.20:28).
  3. By the Holy Spirit in giving us spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians. 12:1 on).

Every child of God is called to show this same generosity in life (Philippians 2:5-11).

Special Promises

God wants us to be generous in every area of our life but He chooses the area of finances to encourage and teach us to live unselfishly in our expression to others. To this end He has given special promises to giving people.

1. Increase (Proverbs 11:24-25; Luke 6:38).

2. A good future (1 Timothy 6:18-19.

3. Seed for more sowing (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).

Guides to our Generosity

Much of Jesus' teaching concerned the area of giving, for it deals with one of the basic issues of heart-motivation. Having a proper attitude as a foundation, Jesus emphasized that:

We must Choose between Earthly and Heavenly Wealth

"... your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Luke 12:33-34 (see also Lk 12:16-21; Luke 16:13-15; Matthew 6:19-21; 19:16-24).

Read carefully 1 Tim. 6:3-11. a major challenge to every believer.

We Should Not Be Generous for the Sake of Reward

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" Matthew 6:2-4.

Our Giving Pleases God Only When It Is Genuine

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on'" Mark 12:41-44.

Our Giving Determines Our Receiving

"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 (Matthew 7:2; Mark 4:24-25).

The Starting Point of Giving

1. God expects us to begin with a percentage (Malachi 3:10).

2. We are to give systematically and regularly (2 Chronicles 31:11-12).

3. We are to give the first and the best to the Lord (Proverbs 3:9-10).

As children learn from an early age to share with one another and be generous, that same spirit of generosity becomes the prevailing atmosphere of the family which then multiplies into the wider Church family and ultimately effects the whole community - this is the nature of God.