Genius of Generosity - Why It's Genius To Be Generous, Part 1

Are you tired of hearing about what's not working about all the issues on Wall Street. Why got news for you. When I talk about how to live in a way that smart with your money smart with your time smart in a way that brings joy in life and encouragement and working to hear from the wisest financial counselor in all the universe to help you personally stay with welcome to this Tuesday edition of Living on the Edge with gibbering Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Chip Ingram today.

Chip begins a new series called the genius of generosity over the next couple of weeks were gonna learn why living generously is the best way to open the floodgates of God's blessings.

If you don't get to hear the entire broadcast. Remember you can always hear it on the chipping remap now with his message why it's a genius to be generous years Chip until my probably late 20s.

The word generosity. I thought, was reserved for two very special groups of people. People that were very very rich.

They should be generous because they have a lot or people that are very very holy because they're so holy God will do special things for them. I'm serious on the eye. It's not like I wanted to be like selfish. I thought I should be moderately generous, but I mean to be open lavish kind. I mean over the top.

Being willing every day in every way to share with people. I thought if I win the lotto.

If I start my own business. If I make it major-league baseball someday then you know it's something to aspire to be really generous, but I don't have a lot of money so you generosity would be like graduate-level Christianity.

Someday you know like the few, the proud Marines.

Someday if I get really holy. Then maybe I'll be generous, but for right now you and I don't be greedy and selfish because that would look good and I don't think I would like it so I would just sorta like to be a little generous and that's what how I looked at things until I met a man named John Seibel, now John, you have to know is he was 75 years old, to come to Christ in his 60s, and had been gone broke a couple times in and live the life that in some ways he thought boy he really had wasted.

And so even a Christian about 10 years and had the sense of urgency.

In fact, had just this heart to share and love people and so he 75 years old and I'm the pastor of this mini church we get 35 people and I'm 28 and on the new young pastor and I'm filled with zeal and not very much knowledge and and he's filled with lots of knowledge not very much zeal and he's the chairman of the owners and sod never been an elder and there been a pastor. I told much too young to be an elder, but they said well the Constitution says your ones are. You just have to figure it out along the way. I said okay and and so but John and I sort of. We would go to meetings and once a month.

I'd see him at Sema church. We had nothing in common. Wooden into sports I he owned a CPA firm in downtown Dallas called Sabin.Jewell and you know she's like he was a really nice needle guy.

It was a little kooky.

Honestly, you know, I was pretty into you had to be a cool Christian and something good what happened, and John would rare back in a meeting go pro Laura to go rather please don't do that when in public, you know, and so I was about a year and John gave me a call in sick Chip. I like it come down to Dallas and have lunch with like to talk to you okay, sounds good.

He said that you need to wear a tie were going to go. You have have a time back to the coat that oh brother.

I own two ties and one coats okay so I got my beat up car and I drove down downtown Dallas got to the address and it's a all glass building and with all the other glass buildings and find a place to park and go up like the 38th floor something in the doors open and it's all wooden universes saddle Dodge, you know, CPA firm, big firm and they had this whole floor and Mr. Saffold will see you now, and I walked back to his off a Chip how you doing, he put his arm around me and we walked over to here and we went to the this glass elevator.

He punched it did open women all the way to the top floor and it opened and there was this restaurant and then racquetball courts all made out of glass.

You could see all over the city and we sat down and someone with a white how came here and someone with the towel was over here and they gave me a menu and I've never seen a menu like this because there was no prices on I said. How would you know what order there's no prices on it. I mean it was like very upper upper upper and Johnson. I really want to get something you really like Chip the fillets great here and will thank you Mr. Seibel. No doubts, John. Come on Gino, and so we sat down we had this luncheon has as we got done with lunch. He said let's get some coffee and it sort of cleared out a little bit. John had this little white box and he put in front of me and he open the white box and that he pulled out of a brownish, looking checkbook and he handed to me and said open that up. So I opened it up and it said Pastor's discretionary fund and said, look, look at the look at the stubs in the bacchants I went to the back and it had deposit 5000, $5000. He said she appears I like to do a been watching you for year and I think I can trust you.

I want have a secret pact you can't tell anyone about this civil what's this all about. He said I'm not gonna live that much longer and I have a real heart for people that are hurting people that are poor and so you every day are touching people that are hurting and poor where we lived was a little bit of a depressed area out in the rural area of Texas and so what I'd like you to do is I'd like you to take this checkbook and I could put in your back pocket every day and any time you feel God prompting you to meet the need of a poor person or hurting person or some sort of ministry that you think would bring joy to my heart and glory to God.

I want to take care of it and just do it in my name's don't tell anybody. It's me that I want you to do is and so you'll notice on the front of your notes. Actually yeah put this it says John had a desire help toward hurting people. I had an opportunity. I interacted a lot of porn hurting people and so we made a deal in and then what he said is like every three or four months. I'll give you call and will have lunch like this. And I mean it was a lavish luncheon was and I would sit down about every four months and I would tell John stories about what I did with his money and early on, you know, like the first, a member driving back my little un-air-conditioned car and thinking oh man. What if I mess up and this is his money and whom I get to give it to. And I don't know when and why I got really uptight like three or four days and I thought you know what the heck, how bad can it be. Give people money away and so member the first time was in a in a grocery line and and there is this a young mom and you know you ever been where someone has groceries and they don't have enough money to pay and are trying to figure out you know how much what that you take out of the basket and you know she is.

I'm really sorry but my husband you know he's he's kind of on a binge right now and he's left us in so I don't have him going to drive to my mother's, but I don't have gas and here's my three kids and you know this is sort of like a no-brainer. And I said excuse me Mandy you like needs more food to go to school I and I checked it out and it was for real. And I said you know what you get your basket and get what you really need and she did and she came back in and I said night and I paid for that and I said don't you need some gas.

I heard she was in the Safeway 7-Eleven was their answer will come on over here that took care of that and pretty soon there was someone who's ice cold and the elderly couple and they couldn't pay their electric bill. I took care of that and you know it went from sort of like oh I am afraid to mess up to. This is fun. I mean II lost my keys, about 20 times in the first three years of our marriage and so finally right next to where I went out the door there's a little ledge and I put my wallet my keys in John's checkbook and every day.

It was just my ritual wallet, keys, checkbook, into every day I'm walking around.

Can you imagine every damn walking around thinking I wonder who God wants me to bless and love and help with John's money and got to be a blast actually was really fun and you got to see what would happen in, and so story after story after story and then John would cause a house ago I said grace is the Lord, come on down have lunch so you not go down, and pretty soon it was like a up glass elevator walking hey I'll see what Mr. Seibel we would go up and sometimes we have a three hour lunch and I tell them story after story after story and then after a while I noticed that when I gave the money to certain ways with certain people. I got a real loud as the Lord wanted to know the things all praise the Lord some not done I started looking to I think I like to get the money more. What really hires him up in three things happen. This is an amazing relationship. I did this about six, seven years and later moved from that little church in John later went home to be with the Lord with three things happen number one rarely a day went by that I didn't think of John. Nothing about me before, like once a month elders meeting or might seem. I never thought of John we needed. We didn't work out together would have any common interest, but now that I'm spending his money every day.

I'm thinking about John asking question. I wonder what John would want me to do second thing that happened is I strangely became far more meticulous about balancing his checkbook than my own and I'm a big picture person.

I didn't really like details and so and I never had that much money so I didn't think it mattered. So if I had for $500 in bank statement, if it was within 20 bucks I was close enough for me and other banks probably right. Anyway, will this was not a good plan for my wife is not made it all like that she was. We need to know exactly while units can it take me two hours or three hours to figure out because I would very good at details then either. So what I realize, however, I couldn't tell Therese about this, so I just somehow learn to get very meticulous. I mean, I'm going to give an account to an accountant. Are you kidding me. I mean it's not like will hey John, you know, I spent about 12 $1400 last couple months or in a while people 3000 bucks coming give or take 500. I mean, that's not to work with John's. I mean I got really good at keeping very clear track. The third thing that happened in this. I never expected is John and I became best friends. Literally best friends. I started going to this prisons with we hung out together as he bought extravagant lunches and I told extraordinary stories of our quarterly celebrations and what you need to hear.

There was no sense of obligation. There was no sense that we were doing some big righteous thing. We weren't martyrs we weren't saving the world was like an adventure, a celebration of taking someone else's money and his heart and being his representative and just having a blast.

Does anyone here think there might be a parallel seat generosity. The genius of generosity. First, it has nothing to do with how much money you have or don't zero. It has nothing to do with how holy you think you are or are not. It has everything to do with understanding God has given us all things, time, energy, money, talent, but belong to him and every day is an adventure where he's bringing people across your path that he wants some of the time depositing you to go over here and some of the talent to go over there and some of the money to go over there and it's like and by the way, when you give it out. Here's what God promises I'll make sure I fill up the account is after my lunch is John would never say a word, but I get my bank statement so I spent $2000 one quarter and maybe $3000. Another quarter maybe only 1100 another quarter, and then I get my bank statement. Guess what $5000 he would just fill it up and that's the way it is with God. The goal of generosity. The goal with our money and our time and our talent really. His heart is to build a relationship. His heart behind this is not that we just quote get things done is not just that were generous with our money. It's the gateway to intimacy is one of the major ways God connects our heart with his heart effect. Let me give you a definition of genius and of generosity and I think you'll see why I name the series. This the were geniuses from the root word meaning to produce to be genius. Actually it's to produce something. It's the personification of quality we call someone a genius who has great natural ability for a particular activity and so Einstein is a genius in Phoenix physics and and Bill wash was a tough genius in terms of offense in football or any person with a high intelligence, a high IQ. We call them a genius.

The special ability is being wise it's being a little bit beyond smart another word generosity comes from a root word. This is interesting to be generous. The root word comes from noble birth or something that's excellent generous having qualities associated with being like a king or queen, or a prince or princess is to be noble minded and gracious, magnanimous. It is has that the underlying a willingness every moment of time to share the Hebrew word for generous literally means overflowing with water. It's a picture of not just meeting people's needs, but soaking it and overflowing and water being a picture that which gives life a bit. The Greek word for for generosity. It is the word for writing at any moment to distribute ready to share ready to give and all I want you to know is working to talk about being beyond smart beyond wise about being genius to see the bright idea on the top of your notes. It says to be smart and you should be smart, you should spend carefully to be wise and you should be wise, you should save regularly, but to be genius. You should give extravagantly. That's what I got to do with John's money and it taught me a lot about how God my father has entrusted things to me and he wants me to be smart and he wants me to be wise, but he wants me to be genius. Let me give you four reasons. Now why it is genius to be generous, but because I'm just going to guess at least there's one or two people that maybe have my background and you smell like you want to be selfish. And heaven forbid you don't want to be greedy, but the idea being extravagantly generous is like fearful and like it might be for someone else. So let me give you for specific reasons why generosity is in fact genius number one generosity changes our lives. Generosity changes our lives. It blesses our lives. It enriches our lives.

It makes life better.

The very last words we ever hear in the Bible from Jesus are this and are not in the Gospels. It's a quote from acts with the apostle Paul quotes Jesus and says Jesus said it's more blessed to give than to receive the word blessing remains happy wealthier good uplifting encouraging people who give are more blessed even than those who give receive. This is the ultimate win-win proposition when you gathered when you're generous. A good feeling comes inside will guess what, here's the win-win. You get a good feeling by giving the people who receive what you give, they get a good feeling by receiving and God says when I find people that are liberal and generous. I will fill up their account again because I'm looking for people to be a stream I'm looking for people that I can drop things in the stream and it goes and I can use whatever they need and it goes on and they love people, but a lot of people were a damn God drops it in and it's the damn well you never know. Rainy day.

A lot of difficult languages and so they just keep saving saving hoarding hoarding and it and when even when they share become a share with this well II feel obligated.

I guess I guess I'm supposed to help out with this. But what's it what's it like when you're around someone it's okay I got the bill. This time what what people are winsome and attractive and people are generous with their time. People say I know you're moving. Does anyone like to move so I'll be over Saturday morning. I'll help you out when you think about this, people doesn't tell people you want to be around generous people have friends, generous people are attracted generous people are happier.

What's the opposite of being generous, miserly we say oh he's an old miser me how many people this year saying I want to be like Scrooge. I mean he's no one's hero.

Are you ready the root word for a miser's same root word as miserable, selfish, greedy, non-generous people are alone, isolated and miserable in Christian circles, what happens is we work at appearing generous and can be miserly in her heart because we want to appear like work. We want to appear like were generous would appear like were loving but real generosity comes out of the heartbreak you really want to help others you're willing to share. Knowing that as you get away. God will take care of you. Second reason is generosity connects us with others. A generous man will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 1125 I generous literally that would prosper a generous man will be fat doesn't mean you know like need to go to Jenny Craig weight watchers but it's it's this idea that you prosper, you have more than you need, and he who refreshes others when you given her kind others will himself be refreshed when you give. And when you're generous of your time and generous of your talent generous with your money generous with your stuff, but people use your car let him use your house. Let them use this when you're generous. It connects you with people never forget.

I learned the Senate in a graphic way, when I was pastoring in Santa Cruz and I had no for kids under the roof and I had to get my part done early in the way I worked it is.

I just I just got up real early so I could get my my sermon and my time done and we were to rule rapidly growing time and I had a lot of people report to me so I knew that by 830 in the morning or nine when I came in. If I didn't have my work done for the day I was in trouble so there was a little actually called a doughnut shop. They make bagels and was of the Cambodian family that came to the states and the whole family did it and it was sort of a hole in the wall and they would start those bagels like at 334 in the morning and so I get there about 430 and they would put on a couple pots of coffee and there was a little table in the corner and about 430 I get some coffee and I'm study from 430 to about 88 30 and when I came by.

Usually, then a guy came in. His name was Mike and he sat and he was a homeless guy and he sat in the Argus had enough money for just one cup of coffee if you ever seen people done really heavy duty drugs. I mean etched and he was always really really dirty and he looks scary convincing people to look scary. And every day he would sit there like this and I'm hi Amanda knows name and unit's walk by and he was just in a stupor.

This went on for like over year and so I'd be in the corner and then at 630 about you guys every day they would come 67 they were talking to about 88 30 group would come in. It was just my little corner. You know, one that I just thought I was actually studying about generosity and acid hey Mike can I buy a couple coffee. I mean it.

You know what one a bagel to and any kind of turned his head he goes to so II got a cup you take anything in an abrupt. I'm just thinking maybe can't talk and so bring couple coffee and he didn't want to bagel and okay great no so much for that. I Lord I was really generous on what I was expecting about five minutes later he turned around his people came in and I'd say hi to is your name Chip yeah Chip, you see the sunrise this morning and you know I did notice you look and we were there was glass next to us. It was beautiful. I mean pink like you just couldn't hardly imagine, and that he pointed.

He says you said you see that bright star right there you says is venous going to be like that to maybe three more days. I don't know why I said hey guys who were there, come look at this would look off all these guys and were looking at the sunrise in the star and thinking how does this guy know this and I just sat down with him cost me a dollar and 1/2 to buy a guy and I found out why and how his children were gone, what he'd been through where he'd been doublecrossed why he was on the streets why he slept in the car. He was a master craftsman. He was actually a very very smart guy.

We actually became friends. If I'd even after I left Santa Cruz when I would come back and visit.

I would get up real early and go over and there's Mike and I'm the guy with cost me about Dragon just to talk more about this message. But if you're just joining us, listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram chips teaching today is from a series the genius of generosity, though, as this four-part series unfolds you'll discover the generosity is far more than just a financial issue.

It's a lifestyle and according to Jesus, it's the smartest way to live. If you'd like to learn more about how to develop living a truly generous life. This is the series for you better take a closer look at all of the genius of generosity resources go online to LivingontheEdge.org you'll find the book CDs and you can download chips, message notes or the MP3s absolutely free again. The web address is LivingontheEdge.org or just give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 for the genius of generosity will chip you got a new release just coming out. What would you tell us about be glad today fact the matter is I'm really excited about this year, especially in a sometimes people talk about books and their big and their thick can you so intend to get into them.

This is one of those little books just 100 pages is like one of those little books that you find yourself reading that inspire you and motivate you. It's called the genius of generosity and of all the things I think of had the privilege of writing. It grew out of a relationship where an older man gave me a checkbook in which I was to spend his money to help people and and I look back and just remember the joy in the excitement I had this checkbook and you know every time thinking who could I help and and then he and I would have this lunch and we would share stories about what God did, and you know so often we long to be generous were we feel joy when were generous, but we somehow think it's for super spiritual people instead of smart people and I think this book will really radically inspire you, but also give you a whole different view of generosity and what we've done is rather than just a single book we bundled these in groups of five, and discount them in a big way so that you and for five other people get into them.

I had a guy who said you'd I've given three boxes of this book away, he's a doctor.

He said I keep amount on the shelf and people say. While this is I just keep putting them in people's hands. This is that kind of a book that doesn't feel super religious, but I mean gets to the heart of what happens in our heart when we become generous like God so genius of generosity. Dave wanted you tell them how they can get this happy to chips book the genius of generosity has just been released was a beautiful little volume perfect for you or to give as a gift to someone you know, it's just 5 x 7 with a soft leather like cover that fits neatly in a handbag or briefcase. Remember, Christmas is all that far off this little gift addition would make the perfect present for anyone you want to bless or to hand out your small group or Sunday school class that help you do that we've discounted the five pack bundles. So check out the new release of chips book the genius of generosity and order your copies today just go online to LivingontheEdge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 as we wrap up today's program. I just have to tell you the amazing lifelong impact that John Sabol had on me.

And here's here's a confession you you probably won't believe this but you know this picture that I shared with you. I didn't get it while it was happening and I never made the connection that all this is exactly like it is with me and God. He's entrusted all this money to me and whether I have a little or a lot. It's all his and you know when I think about it that way then the same thing happens in my relationship with God. I thought of this at the time very old man that we had nothing in common. I thought about him every day because I carried his checkbook in my back pocket and I was really I got to know him and I studied him. Are you ready for this. I studied John Savo because when I went to those lunches.

I wanted him to rare back and go praise the Lord I made it embarrassed me, but was like hey that's what floats his boat. I want to put money where it makes him happy and I just realized that what would happen to me what would happen to us as followers of Jesus. If instead of these internal struggles about you, how much should I give and is it on the grocer is that on the net torque you know I feel you know so torn wife.

We really believed that generosity is the gateway to intimacy with our heavenly father that he's entrusted us with this and that, as we share it we experience this joy. We experience this connection with this heart and actually we actually learn what faith is all about.

Could I encourage you what a better time of the year start taking some baby steps.

I might do something for someone like I did for the guy in the coffee shop and let it grow from there. God loves generous people just before we close.

I want to thank those of you who make this broadcast possible through your generous giving.

If Living on the Edge is been a blessing to you. Would you prayerfully consider sending a gift so others can receive that same blessing. You can donate online at http://livingontheedge.org or by calling us at 1-888-333-6003.

We so appreciate your partnership will, I hope you will be with us again tomorrow. It's just continues a series genius of generosity. For now though, this is the saying thanks for listening to this edition of living all the