Part 4
(Proverbs 4:7 TLB) Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.
Knowledge is knowing some principles – wisdom is the ability to apply it in your life.
Hebrew word means “skilled living”.
Words in the Bible:
- Believe = 272 times
- Pray = 371 times
- Love = 714 times
- Give = 2161 times
God is a generous God. People that follow God are generous people.
The World of the Generous
(Proverbs 11:24 MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
Most of the Scriptures on generosity have more to do with what generosity does from the generous person than it does for the recipient of that generosity.
(Acts 20:35 BBE) …keep in memory the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, There is a greater blessing in giving than in getting.
When we live a life that is focused on how we can serve others and make our lives better, it causes us to be better.
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill
“A life not lived for others is not a life.” Mother Teresa
The vision of our church is four-fold. We lead people to:
- Know Jesus
- Encounter God
- Experience Life-Change
- Make a difference
We want your life to make a difference.
✓ The generous are happy.
Being generous is fun. God hard-wired you that way. There are chemicals released in your brain when we are generous.
(Proverbs 11:25 NLT) The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Prosper – be pushed forward
(Proverbs 21:26 NLT) Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!
Examples of our Generosity as a Church:
- Charlotte Rescue Mission – $2500.00
- Freedom Within Walls – $2250.00
- Rooted – $1500.00
- Link Church – $3000.00
✓ The generous are compassionate.
Compassionate people are looking to make things right for others.
(Proverbs 29:7 NIV) The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
(Proverbs 21:13 NIV) If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
✓ The generous are blessed.
We never want this to be our motivation. We are generous because we love God first and people second.
“When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.” Mark Batterson
(Genesis 12:2 NLT) I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
(Proverbs 22:9 NLT) Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.
(Proverbs 28:27 NLT) Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.
✓ The generous are rewarded.
(Proverbs 19:17 NIV) Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
(Revelation 22:12 NLT) “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”
A Legacy Life
A Legacy Life is a life that goes on beyond just us.
“What we do for ourselves usually dies with us. What we do for others lives beyond us.” Chris Hodges
(Psalm 112:9 NIV) They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.
(Psalm 112:5-6 NIV) Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.
(2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT) Since you excel in so many ways–in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us–I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
(2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV) You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Four areas that God gives us that we can be generous:
- Generous with our time. (Dream Team)
- Generous with our talent.
- Generous with our touch. (An encouraging text or call)
- Smile
- Sympathize
- Speak Up
- Serve
- Sacrifice
- Generous with our treasure.
(Luke 6:38 NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
A Little Bit of Wisdom #4:
The value of life isn’t determined by how much I achieve or accumulate but by how much of my life I give away.