A Generous People
July 16, 2023 • Ps Anthony Liebenberg • 1 Timothy 6:17, 2 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Corinthians 9:5, Luke 12:16, Proverbs 11:24
As we continue the series "A Generous Life," Pastor Anthony explores another aspect of generous living: being a generous people. As followers of God, we are called to reflect His generosity and become a testimony of His grace.
Through our actions and behavior, we should reveal God's nature to others. When we engage in acts of generosity, we demonstrate the grace that God has bestowed upon us. 2 Corinthians 8:1 teaches us that generosity is an act of grace, and our ability to do good for others is a result of God's grace upon us. To begin this journey of generosity, we must first surrender ourselves to the Lord and establish a deep relationship with Him.
God desires intimacy with us so that we can receive the blessings necessary for a fulfilling life. Just as we strive for excellence in our faith, speech, and various aspects of life, we should also excel in the work of grace, which is generosity. Our generosity is rooted in our relationship with God.
As Christ followers, we must strive to be finishers, maintaining consistency in our acts of mercy and generosity. Breaking promises and procrastinating on acts of kindness can have a negative impact on us. So, to maintain authenticity, our generosity should flow naturally from a genuine desire to give and help others. We should stay true to our promises.
In order to be generous and live a generous life we must be mindful not to consume all our resources without sowing into the next generation. Sowing generously allows us to reap a bountiful harvest which allows us to be generous. We must also note that through our harvest, our generosity should extend beyond personal gain and encompass the well-being of others.
Whatever it is, be it our time, talent, and treasure; we should not be hoarded these selfishly but we must share generously with others. By being generous, we can positively influence those around us, inspiring them to sow seeds of generosity as well. Our actions should mirror God's character, drawing others closer to Him. Our actions should bring glory to God, acknowledging His goodness and drawing attention to His grace. Jesus demonstrated ultimate generosity by giving Himself for us. In turn, we are called to reflect His generosity by sharing generously with others. We must remember that every act of generosity is ministry.
As Christ followers we must note that living a generous life is part of our design and purpose because of how God created us. We should not wait for future breakthroughs but learn to be generous with what we have in the present. By honoring God with our current resources, we open ourselves up to His blessings and cultivate a lifestyle of generosity. So start living a generous life today. It starts with you.