STEWARDSHIP

LIVING

GENEROUSLYNgari KariithiKarura Community Chapel

19th October 2014

Money: It’s not about how much you have. It’s about

your walk with God.He owns it all!

So far we’ve learnt about:•Getting wealth—through hard work and thinking and creativity.

•Guarding wealth—knowing the state of your flocks, keeping tabs on what comes and goes, keeping a budget, sorting out debt; and

•Growing wealth—Saving & Investing

Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)1…“Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

2 Corinthians 9:11a

• NLT: “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.”

• NIV: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.”

“… the motivation for the gift is as important as the act of giving itself. Our actions as generous stewards are not to be devalued. However, throughout the New Testament, Jesus teaches us that money and motivation, money and trust, money and worship are often at odds with one another. For Jesus, generosity is an attitude of the heart long before it is the description of an act.”

Scott Rodin

• Col. 1:16 (NIV) “For all things were created by Him: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”

God Owns it all, and its ultimate purpose is to serve Him.

“12 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, 13 and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! 14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. … 18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfil the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”

Deuteronomy 8:12-18 (NLT)

1 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, 2 put some of the first produce from each crop you harvest into a basket and bring it to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. 3 Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, ‘With this gift I

Deuteronomy 26:1-12 (NLT)

acknowledge to the Lord your God that I have entered the land he swore to our ancestors he would give us.’ 4 The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the Lord your God.5 “You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in

Deuteronomy 26:1-12 (NLT)

number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation. 6 When the Egyptians oppressed and humiliated us by making us their slaves, 7 we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He heard our cries and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression. 8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and powerful arm, with overwhelming terror, and with miraculous signs and

Deuteronomy 26:1-12 (NLT)

wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! 10 And now, O Lord, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.’ Then place the produce before the Lord your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him. 11 Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the Lord your God has given to

Deuteronomy 26:1-12 (NLT)

you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration.12 “Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.”

Deuteronomy 26:1-12 (NLT)

a. Give from the first fruits—bring before completion of the harvest.

Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) “honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.” • The Bringing was accompanied by a

testimony! You come confessing how you recognize what God had done for you.

Principles to Learn

b. Giving the 10%. • Tithe is a start in our giving to the Lord. It is

not the end of how we serve Him. Matthew 23:23 (NLT) “You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.” – Jesus.• Giving in proportion: “Give according to what

you have, not what you don’t have.” 2 Cor 8:12 (NLT)

Principles to Learn

c. Giving the needy. • God wanted them to learn to give to the

poor and needy deliberately.• 10% every three years works out to about

3.33% of your income. • Giving to the needy is part of your

relationship with God.

Principles to Learn

Proverbs 3:27-28 (NLT). 27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it; when it’s in your power to help them.28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

• About more than money—it is a lifestyle.

Generosity as a life attitude.

• Looking to the LambLuke 19:8-9 (NLT) “Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown

Generosity is about where your treasure is

himself to be a true son of Abraham.”• Generosity that is truly Christian begins

with acknowledging and embracing what God has done for you—that you have nothing except what you have received, and so, you can give.

Generosity is about where your treasure is

13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

2 Cor 9:13-15 (NLT)

Growing in generosity: Think about why you give, start making standards and goals for now and for growth.Plan and give.

Application:

17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)

those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)