Treasure: The Treasure of Generosity

Treasure: The Treasure of Generosity

Pastor Aaron Sutherland

The kingdom of God has built into it the principle, of a giving life, requiring generosity of our time, talents, and resources.

Acts 20:35

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Luke 12:15

Jesus says “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Generosity is not just a switch we flip, it is a road we walk together with Jesus one step of trust at a time.

I. TREASURING GENEROSITY BEARS THE FRUIT OF KINGDOM VALUE

Matthew 6:19-24

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The place where our heart rests is revealed by money. 

Tim Keller

In this world money is leveraged to buy something temporary for us, yet in God’s world money is leveraged to produce something eternal in us and in others.

II. TREASURING GENEROSITY BEARS THE FRUIT OF CLARIFIED VISION 

Matthew 6:22-23

The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,  but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. 

C.S. Lewis.

It’s not about what your gift means to others, it’s about what your gift means to you

III. TREASURING GENEROSITY BEARS THE FRUIT OF SINGULAR ALLEGIANCE

 Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Money does not love you, so why should it deserve your allegiance

2 Corinthians 8:3 

For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord...

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you seen what you treasure reveal what’s in your heart? If so, how?

2. How can we be blinded by materialism and greed?

3. In what ways does our interaction with treasure reveal who we trust?