Exodus 36: 1-7 Israel’s generous “free will” offering for the Sanctuary

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 you will not have room enough for it.”

John 2: 1-11 Changing water to wine at a wedding in Cana - 6 Stone Water Jars - Holding 20-30 gallons - “Filled to the brim” 180 Gallons = 682 Liters 908 Bottles of Wine!

Luke 18: 22-23 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

we see go from one of the greediest men in the New Testament Zacchaeus is a guy we see go from one of the greediest men in the New Testament to one of the most generous. By experiencing the Gospel, Zacchaeus became like the Gospel.

Acts 4: 32, 34-35 32 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had… 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”

1 Timothy 6: 3-10 “Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain”

Paul gives motive for Gospel Generosity: 2 Corinthians 8: 1-15 Paul gives motive for Gospel Generosity: Not Guilt Not Greed GRACE!

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

7 … “God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able 2 Corinthians 9: 7-8 7 … “God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:11 “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

“It is better to preserve for the Lord souls rather than gold. He who sent the apostles without gold also gathered the churches without gold. The church has gold, not to store it, but to give it up, to use it for those who are in need. It is better to keep the living vessels, than the golden ones.” - Saint Ambrose