Playbook For Christian Living - Living Generously

Play Number Five: "Live Generously"

11.22.15

Christmas is quickly approaching. Marketing and store web sites provide daily and hourly countdowns until the 25th of December. We are encouraged to give extravagant gifts (which of course means more profit for the stores), and these great gifts will show our love and appreciation for people who receive the presents. This form of generosity is a forced and contrived one. It is opposite of the description Paul gives in 2 Corinthians 9:7 -  "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." 

Giving is a part of the Christian life. Today we unpack five truths about living a life that is centered on biblical generosity. 

1. We are conduits, not collectors. 

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. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”

2 Corinthians 9:8-9

God blesses us so that the blessing may flow through us to others. He does not give to us so that we simply collect the blessings. It is like the man who buried his coin in Luke 19 and failed to bring a return on the investments the kings had made. We are to use God's  blessings as a resource, not a reservoir. 

2. God is the supplier.

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.

2 Corinthians 9:10

All good gifts come from God. We must seek him as the source of all our blessings. Pursuing other sources is what causes us to sin (i.e., seeking the truth of good an evil in the garden). 

3. Generosity leads to gratitude. 

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. 

2 Corinthians 9:12 

When we pass along the blessings God has shared, it allows others to experience it as well and if will lead them to thanking God. Notice they will thank God, not us. Be mindful that we do not seek God's spot of thanks. 

4. Generosity leads to praise.

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. 

2 Corinthians 9:13

The natural reaction of blessings from God is praise. He is worthy of praise and we are responsible to deliver it. It is praise for the gift, and praise for the demonstration of the true belief in the gospel of Christ. It is praise for our testimony of a great God! 

5. We give because we were given grace. 

And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:14-15

We have moved from death to life, unclean to clean, unrighteous to righteous! This gift was just that, a gift (Romans 6:23) from God. Since we who had nothing have been given everything, we should reflect the awesome generosity of our Father God.