Foundations: Generosity, Pt. 2 1 Timothy 6. Generosity Quick Layman Primer: ◦ Show vs. Participatory ◦ Scriptural Integrity/Authority ◦ Goal

Foundations:Foundations:Generosity, Pt. 2Generosity, Pt. 2

1 Timothy 61 Timothy 6

GenerosityGenerosity

Quick Layman Primer:Quick Layman Primer:

◦Show vs. ParticipatoryShow vs. Participatory

◦Scriptural Scriptural Integrity/AuthorityIntegrity/Authority

◦GoalGoal


Review:Review:

◦Generosity is a mark of a Generosity is a mark of a follower of Christ and follower of Christ and engages my motives, faith engages my motives, faith and source of security, and source of security, resulting in unbelievable resulting in unbelievable freedomfreedom


Foundational Truth:Foundational Truth:

◦Everything money promises Everything money promises and can’t deliver, God and can’t deliver, God freely gives when I seek freely gives when I seek him as the priority and am him as the priority and am willing to be generous with willing to be generous with what he provideswhat he provides


What does it mean to be What does it mean to be “rich”?“rich”?


Controlling PrincipleControlling Principle::

The sins of some men are The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden- 1 that are not cannot be hidden- 1 Tim. 5:24-25Tim. 5:24-25


If anyone teaches false If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not doctrines and does not agree to the sound agree to the sound instruction of our Lord instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. and understands nothing.


He has an unhealthy interest He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and in controversies and quarrels about words that quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant suspicions and constant friction between men of friction between men of corrupt mind…corrupt mind…


……who have been who have been robbed of robbed of the truththe truth and who think and who think that godliness is a means that godliness is a means to financial gain- 1 to financial gain- 1 Timothy 6:3-5Timothy 6:3-5


TruthTruth= healthy (sound) teaching= healthy (sound) teaching

Therefore go and make Therefore go and make disciples… teaching them to disciples… teaching them to obeyobey everything I have everything I have commanded you- Matt. 28:19-commanded you- Matt. 28:19-2020


Robbed= Robbed= Learning becomes an Learning becomes an end in itself and a source of end in itself and a source of pridepride

Robbed= Robbed= “Explain away” the “Explain away” the hard teachings of Christhard teachings of Christ

Robbed= Robbed= Ignore the teachings Ignore the teachings that are not expedientthat are not expedient


Do these things happen Do these things happen today?today?


Do these things happen Do these things happen today?today?How?How?

……godliness is a means to godliness is a means to financial gainfinancial gain

◦Religion can make you rich or Religion can make you rich or you can put God in your debt by you can put God in your debt by living a godly lifeliving a godly life

◦People who are rich are more People who are rich are more godly than everyone elsegodly than everyone else

◦People who are poor must not People who are poor must not love God very muchlove God very much


Are these things true?Are these things true?


But godliness with contentment But godliness with contentment is great gain- vs. 6is great gain- vs. 6

Mindset: Mindset: ◦Seeking vs. HavingSeeking vs. Having

◦Serving to Get vs. Serving as Serving to Get vs. Serving as WorshipWorship


Godliness- Godliness- The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit rearranging my priorities, rearranging my priorities, mindset and character to mindset and character to line up with God’s, and line up with God’s, and using it all for Christ’s using it all for Christ’s glory and others’ goodglory and others’ good


What is contentment?What is contentment?


I rejoice greatly in the Lord I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have that at last you have renewed your concern for renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you been concerned, but you had no opportunity to had no opportunity to show it. show it.


I am not saying this because I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have I am in need, for I have learned to be learned to be contentcontent whatever the whatever the circumstances. I know what circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have know what it is to have plenty. plenty.


I have learned the I have learned the secret secret of being contentof being content in any in any and every situation, and every situation, whether well fed or whether well fed or hungry, whether living in hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. plenty or in want.


I can do everything through I can do everything through him who gives me strength- him who gives me strength- Philippians 4:10-13Philippians 4:10-13

Not for receiving, but for Not for receiving, but for doing without doing without while staying while staying contentcontent


One of the marks of One of the marks of maturity is being fmaturity is being faithaith--centered rather than centered rather than ccircumstanceircumstance-controlled-controlled


Contentment is an attitude Contentment is an attitude of the heart that eof the heart that expectsxpects nothing, is gnothing, is gratefulrateful for all for all things and serves out of a things and serves out of a desire to gdesire to giveive rather than rather than getget


Godliness with Godliness with contentment is great contentment is great gain…gain…


Where comparison reigns, Where comparison reigns, contentment is destroyedcontentment is destroyed


Where comparison reigns, Where comparison reigns, contentment is destroyed.contentment is destroyed.

Why?Why?


The gospel according to The gospel according to Sheryl Crow…Sheryl Crow…


““It's not having what you It's not having what you want.want.

It's wanting what you've It's wanting what you've got”got”


Great gain is not getting Great gain is not getting what I want, but “getting” what I want, but “getting”

what I havewhat I have


For we brought nothing For we brought nothing into the world, and we can into the world, and we can take nothing out of it- vs. take nothing out of it- vs. 77

God destroys the myth of God destroys the myth of oownershipwnership


But if we have food and But if we have food and clothing, we will be content clothing, we will be content with that- vs. 8with that- vs. 8

What does God say is the What does God say is the minimum needed to be minimum needed to be content?content?



Why aren’t more people at Why aren’t more people at happy?happy?



Why aren’t more people at Why aren’t more people at peace and joyful?peace and joyful?


People who People who want towant to get rich get rich fall into temptation and a fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and plunge men into ruin and destruction- vs. 9 destruction- vs. 9


The issue is dThe issue is desireesire, not , not ppossessionossession


People who People who want towant to get get rich fall into temptation rich fall into temptation and a trapand a trap

What’s the temptation?What’s the temptation?

What’s the trap?What’s the trap?


Perceiving and striving for Perceiving and striving for satisfaction, happiness and satisfaction, happiness and security in money is isecurity in money is idolatrydolatry

And- like all false gods- it And- like all false gods- it never delivers on the never delivers on the promisepromise


For the love of money is For the love of money is aa root of all kinds of evil. root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for Some people, eager for money, have wandered money, have wandered from the faith and from the faith and pierced pierced themselves themselves with many with many griefs- vs. 10griefs- vs. 10


Abstain from passions Abstain from passions which wage war against which wage war against the soul- 1 Peter 2:11the soul- 1 Peter 2:11


Love of money:Love of money:

Other people- in the wayOther people- in the wayOwn family- expendableOwn family- expendableValues- bent and corruptedValues- bent and corruptedLife- means to an end ($$)Life- means to an end ($$)


But you, man of God, But you, man of God, fleeflee from all this, and pursue from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith- vs. good fight of the faith- vs. 11-1211-12


Running from also means Running from also means running towardrunning toward

Running from something Running from something destructive towards destructive towards something else something else destructive is a poor tradedestructive is a poor trade


PursuePursue::◦Righteousness (external)Righteousness (external)◦Godliness (internal)Godliness (internal)◦Faith (trust)Faith (trust)◦Love (faith in action)Love (faith in action)◦Endurance (steadfastness)Endurance (steadfastness)◦Gentleness (strength under Gentleness (strength under control)control)


Command those who are Command those who are rich rich in this present worldin this present world not to be arrogant nor to not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, put their hope in wealth, which is so which is so uncertainuncertain……


The Beauty Queen &The Beauty Queen &The Football PlayerThe Football Player

At 22At 22

Source of prideSource of prideFoundation for future securityFoundation for future security


The Beauty Queen &The Beauty Queen &The Football PlayerThe Football Player

At 50At 50


……but to put their hope in but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us God, who richly provides us with everything with everything for our for our enjoymentenjoyment- vs. 17- vs. 17

Who is the source?Who is the source?

Why does he give?Why does he give?


My self-effort outside My self-effort outside God’s will short-circuits God’s will short-circuits God’s desire to bless me God’s desire to bless me with all I need and the with all I need and the ability to enjoy itability to enjoy it


For our enjoyment…For our enjoyment…

Command them to do Command them to do good, to be rich in good good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be deeds, and to be generousgenerous and and willingwilling to to share- vs. 18 share- vs. 18


How do I enjoy what God How do I enjoy what God has provided?has provided?


A generous man will himself A generous man will himself be blessed,be blessed,for he shares his food with for he shares his food with the poor- Proverbs 22:9the poor- Proverbs 22:9

The generous prosper and are The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be others will themselves be refreshed- Proverbs 11:25 refreshed- Proverbs 11:25


““Statistical analyses revealed Statistical analyses revealed personal spending had no link personal spending had no link with a person's happiness, with a person's happiness, while spending on others and while spending on others and charity was significantly charity was significantly related to a boost in related to a boost in happiness”- LiveScience, happiness”- LiveScience, March 20, 2008, Jeanna BrynerMarch 20, 2008, Jeanna Bryner


In this way they will lay up In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that the coming age, so that they may take hold of the they may take hold of the life that is life that is truly lifetruly life- vs. - vs. 1919


TakeawaysTakeaways::

Have I believed that I could put Have I believed that I could put God in my debt by my works? God in my debt by my works?

If so, am I willing to repent and If so, am I willing to repent and serve humbly and out of serve humbly and out of gratitude?gratitude?



Am I marked by contentment Am I marked by contentment or constant and unfulfilled or constant and unfulfilled desire? What do I need to do desire? What do I need to do about that?about that?

Am I faith-centered or Am I faith-centered or circumstance-controlled?circumstance-controlled?



Am I an owner or a Am I an owner or a manager? Who decides what manager? Who decides what I do with money?I do with money?

Am I marked by good deeds, Am I marked by good deeds, generosity and a willingness generosity and a willingness to share?to share?



If Jesus were standing here If Jesus were standing here right now, what might he say right now, what might he say I need to do differently when I need to do differently when it comes to money?it comes to money?

Will I?Will I?

Documents

Foundations: Generosity, Pt. 2 1 Timothy 6. Generosity Quick Layman Primer: ◦ Show vs. Participatory ◦ Scriptural Integrity/Authority ◦ Goal