7/5/2020 - How To Be Generous - Philippians 4:10-20

My friend told me he wanted to know everything Jesus taught. I said it might surprise you to know that one-fourth of the time he spoke about money. He said, "Really? What else did he talk about?" One of the effects of the gospel going deeper into our souls is that it frees our fingers to loosen their grasp on our stuff. Generosity is one of the great evidences of truly being a disciple of Jesus Christ. But for the Christian, the issue is not just that we give, but how... “God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7. Christian generosity happily finds its' motivation from Jesus himself — our Savior, Lord and greatest treasure — demonstrated the ultimate in generosity in coming to save us... “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” 2 Corinthians 8:9. If Jesus is in us, then increasingly such an open-handed tendency will be in us as well. We don't own anything. Instead we steward what we've been given. This leads to freedom. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 Since our treasures reveal our hearts and our hearts are idol making machines then money reveals our idols. So we need help. Paul gives it to us in two simple paragraphs as he concludes his letter to the Philippian church. Contentment, needs vs wants, and the sacrifice of Jesus compel all believers to be generous stewards. Remember, the theme of the book of Philippians is joy and joy comes when you share with others!