Growth Through Stewardship of Treasure (Part 1)
Matthew 22:37 – “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Luke 9:23 – “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:25 – “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
I. Generosity flowed from Affliction, Joy and Poverty (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)
II. Generosity came from their Means (2 Corinthians 8:3)
Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,”
III. Generosity came with Eagerness (2 Corinthians 8:4)
IV. Generosity flowed from a Devotion to God (2 Corinthians 8:5)
Romans 12:1-2 – “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
V. Generosity is a Result of Christ’s Work (2 Corinthians 8:9)
John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Ephesians 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”
1 John 2:6 – “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
VI. Generosity is practiced because of Trust in God’s Provision (2 Corinthians 8:15)
Haggai 2:8 – “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.”
1. Give to the church.
1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”
2. Support the needy.
1 John 3:17-18 – “17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
3. Bless others.