Last Sunday, we began a short series on generosity, hearing Jesus’ warning about the sneaky but deadly enemy of greed (Luke 12:13-21). We heard how the gospel sets us free from fear, greed, and the lie that wealth can bring security and contentment. As we repent from loving and trusting money more than God, He sets us free to live new lives of generosity, lives that are in open rebellion to the greed-infused materialism of our world. How can we press on to be and become the generous people and church God has called and empowered us to be? Following are three suggestions.
1. Remember that you live in a dangerous place.
We live in a dangerous city. For most of us, our experience of crime is considerably less than many people in other places. Still, I contend that we live in a very dangerous place. Why? Because we live in a wealthy city and wealth brings seductions. Jesus warns that it is harder for rich people to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Matt. 19:24). Jesus teaches us that “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word” (Mark 4:18-19). The love of money can choke out the love of Christ! I understand that most of us probably don’t feel like rich people, but if we have indoor plumbing, heating and air conditioning, a car, and access to a dentist, we are richer than the kings and queens of old and the vast majority people alive today. “Take care, and be on guard against greed,” Jesus says.
2. Ask the Owner what He wants you to do with His stuff.
The rich fool we heard about last Sunday believed the lie that his stuff was his own, when it really all belonged to God. As Randy Alcorn says in The Treasure Principle, “God owns everything. I’m his money manager.” This captures the truth that God is the Creator and never stops being the owner of all He’s made. If you’re house-sitting for a friend, you don’t remodel the kitchen and put in a hot tub while they’re gone, because you’re not the owner. So we want to learn to pray often and fervently about what we have, asking God to lead and guide us to be good stewards of what he’s entrusted to us. 1 Tim. 6:17-19 is one of my favorite passages to help us with this, and I’m excited to hear Justin preach this passage for us on Sunday
3. Bring this conversation into community.
It’s hard to talk about money matters, isn’t it? Now, I’m not suggesting we should start putting our paystubs out on social media, but if Jesus has so much to say about money and generosity, and if materialism is such a great threat, why not enlist some trusted saints in the journey? We hope this series will help us as a congregation normalize asking each other questions like:
- Where have you experienced joy in giving something away?
- What’s your strategy to guard against greed?
- How do you stir up generosity?
- When you are able to give money away, how do you decide where it goes (your church, missions, serving the poor, family members in need, neighbors, etc.)?
Finally, here are three resources we’ve found helpful:
- Creation, Fall, Redemption – And Your Money by Dr. Timothy Keller
- Treasure Principle book – in our bookstore for more than half off at $3!
- Generosity Project – in our bookstore for half price at $8!
One of the most powerful things that God does in His people is to deliver us from the ruling power of greed, selfishness, and fear into people characterized by generous hearts and lives. The gospel makes this possible and God’s character makes this desirable. I look forward to seeing how God uses this series to help us grow to be increasingly cheerful and generous givers.
Mark Mullery
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