Living Generously - Understanding the Journey, Part 1

Did you know that the happiest, healthiest and most fulfilled people in the world all have one thing in common today will to learn what that is and how we can make it a part of our statement. Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge Chip Ingram, Living on the Edge features the Bible teaching of Chip Ingram on this international discipleship program. This program should begins a new series called living generously giving us 10 very specific reasons why living generously is the smartest most exciting way to live your notetaker trip and maybe get text message notes while you're at it you'll find them LivingontheEdge.org just click the broadcasts tab for tap filling notes on the okay let's get going there strip with part one of his message. Understanding the jury so I was a brand-new pastor super nervous and was my first Easter and so we knew that the little church a 35 probably mushroom to 50 people and I was just, I mean beside myself. I couldn't sleep all night and I worked on the message and it still wasn't very good and so I went into the office about 4 AM and 530 or so. The sun was coming up and probably was in a really good plan, but I so want to do a good job and across the street was a small African-American church where we made some friends and I heard a car door slam and I thought, it's Don. I wonder what's going on and I saw a yellow bright, a Cadillac pull-up and then I saw a man that I recognized who was the chairman of our board is a guy who came to Christ light his name was John and I watched he and his wife got out in the predawn hours and all along the resulting steps probably 25 steps and they put baskets of fruit and all kind of different things all across and I then little bit later. Those people came to church and it was for my life who practice did you do the sister and they can't figure out what's going on and I to I just wants to grow and grow and grow and the people came over and said what did you all do this. Where did this come from, and people were just so excited and blessed and pretty soon there picking it up and sharing it with one another and I never I dared not say a word in course I never told John Maisel who did it.

Generosity going out of our way to love people is at the heart of worship. Jesus said it was more blessed to give than to receive. I don't think you turn on the faucet and you become generous overnight and so I want to ask and answer five questions because when I realize when I grew up.

If you would've asked me. Am I generous. I think it was said yes. And yet when I look back I don't think it was generous at all because I didn't understand it. So first let's let's ask question number one is what's it mean to be generous of a definition.

This is Webster's it's showing a readiness to freely give her share money or other valuable things noticed providing more than the amount needed or normal it's it's giving an abundance ample showing kindness and concern for others and sometimes you know when you get a definition I like to ask so what is it your arms around what are some synonyms people there generous or liberal, lavish, magnanimous, openhanded freehand, bountiful, unselfish, un-grudging, benevolent, charitable, bighearted free, noble Hon. good about you. I would love to have some people drinking coffee and talking about me and using just some of those words when you may not just the kind words you just long for someone to say and she so bighearted there so magnanimous for such generous there so unselfish.

Another way to get your arms around a concept is to ask.

So what's the opposite.

Antonyms the opposite of being generous is mean, stingy, selfish, meager, miserly, unwilling to share cheap, greedy, tight, unkind, thrift and self-seeking.

Now you need a rage had anybody like that to be how people would characterize you writing that is ugly right so here's what I want you to get. We all have thoughts and words and time and stuff and money and influence to share with others. You have to be rich to be generous. In fact, the research tells us that the poorest people are far more generous than the wealthiest people we all have words we all have positive thoughts. We all have time will have some level of money will have some influence, and to be generous is to be ready and willing to share, to be kind to be concern for others not to do something that's really dangerous for me to give you 10 specific reasons both biblically and one scientific fact of why being generous is so absolutely important.

It's important for your relationships. It's important for your eternity.

It's important for your relationship with God is important about your money. It's important about your friendships and I'm getting the 10 reasons but what I want you to see is to step back and go. The Bible says a lot about being generous. In fact, common sense says a lot about it but why's it so important to live generously number one generosity is commanded by God. The apostle Paul right instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us notice with all things to enjoy number two saying instruct people that are wealthy and by the way, in the context.

Historically, if you had enough food, both for today and tomorrow. You are wealthy.

Most people would go to work and then that's why if you didn't pay people to ranges they would need that night and the notice he goes on, he says, instruct them to do good to be rich in good works to be generous to be ready to share. Notice the focus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future so they can take hold of the life which is life indeed are literally the word is so they can take hold of the life that is truly life. So, if for no other reason God commands us to be generous so we invest in what's can account so we can take hold of life and we can store up treasure for herself.

Second, generosity is the antidote to idolatry in your notes. It says Luke one through 15. It's the story of the unrighteous steward and at the end of it. Jesus said you can't serve God and Mammon God and money. And so he tells them generosity can break idolatry in our lives. Third, generosity today determines the harvest for tomorrow. All through Scripture, Old Testament, New Testament, the Proverbs there's this picture of sowing and reaping an innocent agricultural picture Jesus would say Luke 638 give to be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over back into your lap.

For what ever size measure that you give it a be getting back into you know Paul would say in second Corinthians, he would say this now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and who sows bountifully will reap also bountifully. Each one must do is purposed in his heart, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver. All I want you to know is think of your time and your words and your money and your influence like seeds and if you plant a lot of them. There's a harvest and if you plant good ones and there's a harvest if you play just a few get a few back and so there's this law of reciprocity in Scripture that your future relationships. Your future connection, your future positivity if you will, and I don't mean that in the think you know positive and wonderful things happen. I'm talking about. There's a law of sowing and reaping with your time, your energy, your words and your money that as you so. The Bible is really clear there's a harvest fourth.

It's the way generosity expresses God's love and kindness to others. Let your light so shine before men, that they might see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The young gal or the child that gets pulled out of the sex trade that the kindness of work that the school that gets remodeled just generosity is how you express God's love for his generosity result in joy to the giver and six generosity results in praise and thanksgiving to God by the recipients second Corinthians says you will be enriched in every way and generous in every way which through us will produce thanksgiving to God for the ministry of the service.

Speaking of giving is not only supplying the needs of the saints also overflowing and thanksgiving to God. So there's this weird thing that happens when you're generous there's an joy that you experience but as your generous to this person.

It's like the people who have those baskets approved. Thank you Lord I just couple is life. Thank you Lord thank you Lord.

I didn't have any food. John got the joy of giving. But they think and praise God. And that's what happens. Reason number seven generosity is God's method to fund his kingdom work for scripting 16 says that on the first day of the week. Each Christian should set aside money from, whether it's a little or a lot, depending on what God gave you to support God's kingdom work number eight. Generosity requires us to put our finances in a priorities in order. It's interesting if you give God the first and the best instead of what's left over, then sometimes you gotta get on a budget and sometimes you have to figure out wait a second, working to offer ourselves first to God hears his promise.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things and in the context it's food, shelter, close whatever you need will be given to you. The ninth reason generosity is important.

It grows our faith and develops our intimacy with Christ.

As you study the sermon on the Mount. It's so interesting as he talks about walking with God and that he talks about giving and giving privately and praying in private privately he gives us radical thought. When your father was a radical thought. Then when your father sees what you do in secret he will reward you. Generosity is is one of the ways in your heart and God's heart because he's generous. And when you become the conduit.

He actually draws you to himself. Number nine.

Generosity grows our faith and develops our intimacy with Christ and the number 10 generosity is a prerequisite to claiming God's promise to me dollar needs that promise is for people who are generous with the resources and so those are just 10 reasons just from Scripture, and Dr. Steven Post did a longitudinal study. He picked it up from a group that started the study in 1920 and so he did a study to find out what was the impact of generous people. The impact of generous people habitually were generous.

They are happier, have deeper relationships and they literally live longer that amazing.

I guess it's not coming if God designed us and wired us and of his kingdom practices and purposes because he's generous is he wants us to be generous and it gives us life and were generous. It only makes sense that when were miserly and living to the opposite of the way God wants they would have negative impact and has positive impact.

In fact, the research now is when were generous. And when we give you the same endorphins that go off when you're working out really hard or like when you eat food, or when you have sex the same things are happening in your brain when your giver God literally has wired us to be generous people, and here's the amazing thing that may be true but it doesn't come naturally doesn't mean whether it's too little kids were two older people left to ourselves. If there's only one of something and there's two people you know sometimes were polite about it but your human nature and my connectors about that for me. I want more time. I want things for me it's all I want you know it's a journey in generosity know logically if all these things are true, and I think they are there true, practically, the truth scientifically, there certainly true biblically.

Here's the summary living generously is the most logical, wise and rewarding way to range our lives and resources. So pause okay I'm done with my quick run through the Bible, living generously lean back leaned back looking for second is the most logical wise this rewarding way to arrange your life and resources, at least intellectually, would you sign off on that right your relationship to be better idols come down your arranging your finances as you give, you know, when you give away friendship to get friends when you give love to get love back when you give away money God multiplies it. So here's the question if generosity is this good. It's designed by God.

And it's even commanded why are so few Christians generous Juno of all the Christians in America that 50% of all Christians give nothing to their church give nothing to any charitable cause of all the Christians in America, only 3 to 5% give what's called a high or 10% of their income coming. We'll talk about that as we go on the long before there was a law Abraham gives to Melchizedek 10%. Just as an offering to say thank you and then that was a part of the Mosaic law when when they would when the harvest would come in they would give you know when the first grapes came in for the first week they just take the first 10% and as an offering to say thank you and then later, at the very end of the harvested what they would bring in a 10% when it's all full to say thank you for just a personal offering I did a little research. Once this is completely unscientific. Anecdotal, but it's been repeatable. I've done this a couple times I go to like a little like a mall or try not to act too weird and I just have a look board act like you have time thinking survey and I'm gonna just ask people excuse me sir, would you consider just basically paying what he do it. Just one question just yes or no. Would you consider yourself to be a generous person yes or no excuse me ma'am, would you consider yourself to be a generous person yes or no.

You know what comes out every time 80%. I don't know what people are Christians or non-Christians, but I can tell you that 80% of all the people you ever meet, probably including the person sitting in your seat.

We think were generous, we do that presents a problem because if we think were generous, but were really not then were not sort of asking God to help us be more generous or learning how to be generous grant so were going to go on a journey of generosity and in some of you just will lighten up okay there's no big ass coming, there's no big project coming you know what I want you to get.

I want you to experience the joy of generosity. I want the kindness and the love of God to start trickling in your families home at your neighborhood to say what happened to Joe what happened to Mary people at your work going well in the world are you learning of that church are bringing us coffee here you find a prankster were here.

You took care of me here alchemy being nice to me. Now you forgive me over there because generous people change the world, the most generous person of the world is Jesus became his life actually is the second most generous person. As difficult as that was the father gave his son and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead together came in just said we love you all so if you want to learn to be generous this is.

If you're expecting a guilt trip and a lot of statistics and get with the program and why don't you get more sorry. At best I can pump you up for two weeks and you'll fall right back to your old way of thinking. I want you to learn how to experience generosity and it just gets birthed inside your heart where you get so excited you start saying you know are we going overboard on this and what you learn as you can go overboard. So how how do you become more generous. Here's our first steps toward living a generous life number one recognize it's a journey you know if you want to be a classical guitar player, a great athlete, no one went from putting on the skates to doing one of those dances.

No one just put on some skis and then you know what you like 7 million miles up in the air and land and you know it's it's a journey. So I want you to really think about is what would it look like for you personally to say wherever you're at on a scale of 1 to 10 or one 200 if I'm here. What would it look like to move toward becoming more generous and you might even at this moment, whisper, I'd like generous, would you help me be more generous. Second, reevaluate view of God the right if you're just joining us, you're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram and ships talk today understanding the journey is from his series, living generously, living generously gives us a practical guide to becoming the winsome generous spirit.

We so admire when we see it another's ship uses biblical examples and Jesus teaching to illustrate the rhythm and harmony of the law of the harvest and how that applies to living a more generous life yourself if you like to dig in and learn more.

You'll find the discounted living generously resources on our website LivingontheEdge.org for more information just give us a call at 888-333-6003 will ship as we begin this series on generosity. I would you take just a minute and tell us why these messages are so important.

I'd love today.

Growing up just because of my background. I really thought the only people that could be generous would be mega wealthy people are like super holy people, and I completely missed you know that it's the most logical. It's the wisest it's the most rewarding unit at the top of the program I talked about it. There is amazing research that says that generous people actually have a stronger immune system, generous people are happier, generous people have much more positive relationships.

So I think there's a lot of confusion about what it means to be generous. And this is a little series that super practical because generosity scripturally is at the core of experiencing God's joy and it's at the very center of loving people and I just I just can't think of anything the skin to be more winsome more encouraging and I mean just practical to help people experience more of God and express his love for other people think strip will, in addition to the discovered resources of this series, living generously were also discounting chips amazing little book, the genius of generosity, only about 100 pages. This is a quick read that will profoundly change the way you view everything God's given you including your life. Once you learn the genius of generosity. Look at your circumstances and people in a whole new way to order a copy for yourself or to order more to give as gifts. Just give us a call at AAA 83336003 Special offers on the app or go online to LivingontheEdge.org. The genius of generosity. Check it out today as I wrap up today's program. I kind of flew through some of these very practical somewhere your relational summer spiritual so actually even physical reasons why generosity is so smart, you know I always think of generosity as something that's genius you know the world has created a system that says get get get keep keep keep hoard toward toward because something bad might happen and you have to take care of you and Jesus says the kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom. That means it's counterintuitive and so what he teaches us, and then it plays out in every area that being generous giving, caring, sharing every aspect your time, your money, your talent it it just is amazing that it's the wisest, most logical, beneficial way to live.

So this is what I have to tell you, go to the website or go to the app and download the notes you need to see this for yourself.

So are you ready to lean back for just a second.

Here's some quick quick reasons why being generous is so smart one. It's commanded by God to it's the antidote to idolatry.

In other words, it protects us, it determines tomorrow's harvest in your life it expresses God's love and kindness in practical and powerful ways. It results in joy to the giver and Thanksgiving and blessing to the receiver. It requires us to realign our priorities in our finances.

It causes our faith to grow.

It allows us to get more intimate relationship with Christ and it's the prerequisite for experiencing a lot of God's promises.

All I want you to know is that people that are habitually generous, have a life it's really life. Check it out. You'll find the message notes trip just mentioned it a couple of places online. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org and click the broadcasts tab Listeners will find them by tapping fill in notes all those points. Trip went through were there for you. In addition to all Scripture references so you can dig in and study for yourself as we wrap up I want to say thank you to those who make this program possible through your generous financial support.

Your gifts help us create programs purchase airtime and develop additional resources to help Christians live like Christians. If you've been blessed by the ministry of Living on the Edge. Would you consider sending a gift today. You can call us at 1-888-333-6003. Tap the donate button or donate online at http://livingontheedge.org. Your support is greatly appreciated. Until next time, this is Dave brewing saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge