Session 9: Generosity
One of the hallmarks of Christ’s life was His generosity, even giving of His very life. John 3:16
NKJV – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Tithing is for today! Abraham tithed before the Law,
Moses commanded tithing under the Law, and Christ mentioned tithing after the Law.
The Practice of Generosity:
Proverbs 11:24-26 NKJV – 24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there
is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be
made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. 26 The people will curse him who
withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
One of the trademarks of a leader is generosity.
Whoever controls our money controls our heart.
What we give our finances to speaks of who we are on the inside, and our world needs
generous people.
The practice of radical generosity releases the spirit of inclusion and breaks the power of
division.
Genesis 24:10 NKJV – 10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all
his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of
Nahor.
Abraham – represents God the Father
Unnamed servant – represents us or the Holy Spirit
Isaac – represents Jesus
Bride – represents the church
The unnamed servant took 10 of Abraham’s camels.
In the 10 is the all.
Malachi 3:9-10 NKJV - You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole
nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me
now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour
out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
A tithe is 10%
Through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, every curse was broken.
As a result, we are no longer cursed when we don’t tithe. However, if we do not practice
the radical sacrificial practice of generosity, then our finances are not blessed.
You could be a blessed human being because you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, yet not
have your finances blessed.
When we tithe, we witness that Jesus lives.
How could you have a single heart for God but yet not practice radical sacrifice and
reckless generosity?
God is outlandish with His giving and so we should be too.
Genesis 24:19-21 NKJV – 19 And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will
draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 20 Then she quickly emptied
her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21 And
the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his
journey prosperous or not.
For Rebecca to give water to all 10 camels, she would have had to draw 225-250
gallons of water. This demonstrates a model of how the church should be in its radical,
sacrificial generosity.
Psalm 35:27 NKJV – Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let
them say continually, “let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His
servant.”
Prosperity isn’t about having the most expensive things; it’s about living with more than
enough so that we can help those who do not have enough.
Luke 6:38 NKJV – Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use,
it will be measured back to you.”
We cannot give to get. Our giving should have no strings attached to it.
Genesis 26:12-13 NKJV – Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that
you use, it will be measured back to you.”
God desires for us to prosper.
3 John 1:2 NKJV – Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as
your soul prospers.
The stingy pocketbook reflects a broken mind.
Genesis 39:2;23 NKJV – The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was
in the house of his master the Egyptian… The keeper of the prison did not look into
anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he
did, the LORD made it prosper.
Success came to Joseph as a result of the presence of God being with him.
2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV – For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV – Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be
wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. 9 Honor the LORD with your
possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
You cannot out-give God.
As modern monks, we have to have the grace to give and also the grace to receive.
We need to have the wisdom and conviction to build “barns” that God can fill.
God cannot fill a barn that hasn’t been built.