21/8/16
Blessing of Generosity
There is a dark period in the life of King David where he committed adultery and successfully planned
a murder. God sent Nathan to rebuke David. Nathan tells David a parable that causes David to burn
with anger at the actions of the bad guy in the story. Nathan exposes David’s sin by telling him, ‘You
are that man.’ David repented. During the week that incident in the Bible came to mind as I reflect on
the personal impact of the current series on generosity. God convicting me through his word as I teach
others. In fresh ways the depth and breadth of God’s generosity has come alive to me. Growing an
appreciation of the God who owns everything yet has freely given me so much. Humbled by the
supreme generosity of Jesus in giving up the glory of heaven to come into the world and die for me.
Freshly challenged by the many examples of practical generosity in the Bible. Thankful and moved by
the specific generosity of others towards me and my family. Encouraged to more thoughtfully examine
my own heart as to the motivation of my giving. Do I expect something in return when I give? God
continues to convict me in this message as the word of God introduces each of us to another twist in
the story of the generosity of God. The twist: there is abundant blessing for the generous giver. Giving
without expecting anything in return brings a return; brings blessing. Jesus said, ‘It is more blessed to
give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35 In quoting Jesus, Paul makes the point;
it is more blessed to be
generous than accumulate wealth for yourself. Using the picture of measuring out grain to completely
fill up a container, Jesus makes a promise in Luke 6:38, ‘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.’ A promise of blessing shaped by the measure of your
generosity. A far deeper blessing than the warm fuzzy feeling inside when you generously give to
others. Blessing from God flowing from the generosity of God. The blessing: God provides for us as we
exercise generosity so we can keep being generous. The Old Testament reveals this in verses such
as Proverbs 3:9-10, ‘Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your
barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.’ Exercise generosity on
the Lord’s terms and you will receive that which enables you to be generous. This is not a ‘you scratch
my back and I’ll scratch your back’ arrangement between us and God. This is not the prosperity gospel.
If you give to God you’ll get plenty of stuff in return so you are materially rich, free to enjoy the fruits of
your giving. Here is a principle about walking in a manner worthy of the Lord. Godly living displayed in
the God honouring, expression of faith that trusts God as we give sacrificially. Godly living that humbly
rejoices in the overwhelming generosity of God in so providing that we are able to continue to be
generous givers. This principle is powerfully taught in 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. Listen well. ‘Remember
this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap
generously. 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. 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.” 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. 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.’ Did you
hear in the passage the blessing of generosity? Generosity reaps generosity. Generosity from God.
God’s love for the cheerful giver experienced through the ways he makes it possible to give. If believers
are willing to give, God will always make it possible for them to give. He generously provides so that
whenever there is opportunity to be generous we are able to be. Generosity that is the fruit of a right
relationship with God. Righteousness of life is rewarded by God. Another twist; the blessing of God,
being enriched in every way, is not for our benefit. It is for the benefit of those we are generous towards.
It is to the praise and glory of God. One writer said we are to be rivers not reservoirs. The blessings of
God are to flow through us not be stored up for us. The passage also warns us about diminishing
returns. A lack of generous sowing leads to a small, diminishing harvest of blessing in our lives.
‘Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly’ Robert Le Tourneau was an engineering genius who
pioneered the invention of giant earth moving equipment. Becoming a Christian aged 17 he endured
many financial ups and downs including bankruptcy in his early business years. Growing as a Christian
he began to practice generous giving. He began to experience the generosity of God and his provision.
His generosity grew to the point of giving 90% of his income away. He was a very wealthy man but also
extremely generous. His testimony as to the growth of his business and to how he could give so much
money away, ‘Í shovel out the money and God shovels it back to me, but God has the bigger shovel.’
Brothers and sisters, maybe this is the first time you have heard with your heart and mind this stunning
aspect of the generosity of God. Please spend time reflecting on its implications for your life. Ask the
questions this truth raises for you. Work it through. This is teaching from the Bible that calls for a
response. A promise of God to be trusted and lived by faith. You only experience the truth of God’s
promises when you put them to the test. So in Malachi 3:10 ‘Bring the whole tithe into the
storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if
I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room
enough to store it.’ Living by faith in generous use of our money and possessions moves us beyond
working our way into generosity as we grow our asset base. From declaring that we cannot be generous
because we don’t have the means to be. The Bible’s teaching; you receive the means to be generous
as you are generous. Please take on board that biblical generosity is not measured by its size but by
godly motivation and sacrificial giving. Sisters and brothers, if you are generous God will not let you
down.