The Beauty of Generosity

The Beauty of Generosity

Pastor Brandon Berg

How a wealthy woman in the Bible's life was changed when she had a generous spirit, and what this means for us in how we experience true contentment.

Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money.

Jackie Mason

Always borrow money from a pessimist, he doesn’t expect to be paid back.

Author Unknown

My formula for success is rise early, work late and strike oil.

JP Getty

Five minutes after I die, what will I wish I would have given away while I still had the chance?

Randy Alcorn

1. We don’t want something from you, we want something for you

2. We believe in giving, giving generously and giving consistently

3. We believe generosity is downstream from ownership, and ownership is downstream from trust

4. The process of being conformed to the image of Christ will travel through our bank account 100% of the time

5. At no time do we look more like Jesus that when we’re living generously

BIG IDEA: God has an outrageously generous heart for people, and he uses the generosity of people to reach people.

2 Kings 4:8-17

8-10

One day Elisha went to Shunem. A rich woman lived there. She urged him to eat something, so whenever he passed by, he would stop in to eat some food. She said to her husband, “Look, I know that he is a holy man of God and he passes by regularly. Let’s make a small room on the roof. We’ll set up a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him there. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”

11-13a

So one day Elisha came there, headed to the room on the roof, and lay down. He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call this Shunammite woman.” Gehazi called her, and she stood before him. Elisha then said to Gehazi, “Say to her, ‘Look, you’ve gone to all this trouble for us. What can I do for you? Is there anything I can say on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’”

1. Generosity triggers reciprocity

Galatians 6:7

Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant.

Proverbs 11:24,25

Those who give generously receive more, but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy. Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

2 Kings 4:13b

She said, “I’m content to live at home with my own people.”

2. Contentment is the key to outrageous generosity

Contentment may be the most powerful financial principle. You can give more, avoid debt and live better.

Dave Ramsey

1 Timothy 6:6

Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy with what you already have.

2 Kings 4:14-17

Elisha asked, “So what can be done for her?” Gehazi said, “Well, she doesn’t have a son, and her husband is old.”Elisha said, “Call her.” So Gehazi called her, and she stood at the door. Elisha said, “About this time next year, you will be holding a son in your arms.” But she said, “No, man of God, sir; don’t lie to your servant.” But the woman conceived and gave birth to a son at about the same time the next year. This was what Elisha had promised her.

3. God’s reciprocity reaches beyond our material world