Following Jesus… in Luke’s gospel Handling money well Growing in generosity

The Bible talks a lot about money. It’s a heart issue with a spiritual dynamic. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:21 God wants us to be wise about money. And to be a generous a people.

2 Corinthians 9: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 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. 8 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. 9 As it is written: They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever. 10 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. 11 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. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the

obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Like packing a car – our priorities determine our capacity. Put the big important things in first. In life this helps us to be proactive not reactive.

We step off the treadmill and look at what’s going on in our life. Billy Graham If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life. Often culture seeps in. Materialism reigns. Debt is the norm.

1. We’re stewards not owners We look after what God has given us. Now he who supplies… v10 His resources for his purposes. We’re blessed to be a blessing. We get to give away.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. v6 What we do with our money has spiritual consequences. Kingdom principles apply. Not give to get but… get to give.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. v6 Fear can make us sow sparingly. But God promises to give us all that we need v8.

Generosity is a heart issue. Give… what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. v7

2. Earn more than we spend When we’re young this seems easy! If our outgoings equal our income – stress. If our outgoings exceed our income – very stressed. If we spend what we earn we’ll be even – no!

Overspending is a spiritual issue. Debt steals our freedom. Proverbs 22:7 …the borrower is slave to the lender.

How do we manage that stress? The myth of more… More money won’t defeat debt; statistically we just spend more. We need a strategic plan – and maybe some help. Swim against the tide! Earn more than you spend. Decide to get out of debt.

1.Spend 2.Save 3.Give 3. Prioritise what we have USUAL LIST

1.Give 2.Save 3.Live/Spend 3. Prioritise what we have GOD’s LIST

In general we agree that giving and generosity are a good idea. Next question… How much should I give? An important question. It helps us to put our heart into action. It helps us to get a measure of how we are doing.

FACT ONE: There isn’t an amount that puts us in the generous category.

FACT TWO: We give to be more like God. We reflect his nature when we give. His giving – extravagant and unlimited. Generosity is evidence that God is near. God loves a cheerful giver. v7 The Greek: hilarious. Giving to the point of hilarity!

FACT THREE: As stewards we give our offering back to him. v10 Not a “collection” but part of our worship. We give because it pleases God. He gives us Jesus free of charge. Our giving is a response to his outrageous gift.

So… How much? Is this the right question? Or even a helpful question? A different question may be… Not how much should I give? But how much of God’s money is he happy for me to keep?

‘Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. ‘But you ask, “How are we robbing you?” ‘In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the L ORD 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. Malachi 3:

What about tithing then? Malachi speaks of tithing - offering 10%. OT law; offer the first fruits – the best. Matt 23:23 An assumption from Jesus that we will tithe. Not just an Old Testament principle. Jesus moves from law to grace but doesn’t abolish the law (Matt 15:17–19) The tithe begins with the local church - and extends from there.

Will a man rob God? v8 What about tithing then?

What might radical generosity look like?

God’s encouragement to us. Test me in this,’ says the L ORD 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. Mal 3:10

Saving… Not about sitting on a hoard – Luke 12 Have margin money in our budgets; for emergencies. Otherwise in each emergency we’re back into debt.

Living… It’s purposely last! And if we’ve prioritised well it’s guilt free.

4. Assess how we’re doing… No guilt..! Money is a spiritual and emotional issue. Chose to deal with the feelings it brings up. God wants to help. God is able to make all grace abound to you. v8

4. Assess how we’re doing… Determine our priorities. Decide to get out of debt. Discipline ourselves in small financial ways. Discover the joy of hilarious generosity. Do it today - adopt the habit of now.

God loves us to have open hands. What would happen if we prayed for an outbreak of radical generosity rather than revival?

Following Jesus… in Luke’s gospel Next week: Handling money well Things that corrupt our heart