Sunday, 10/4/2026

Living Generously

Acts 20:35 (NCV) “I showed you in all things that you should work as I did

and help the weak. I taught you to remember the words Jesus said: ‘It is

more blessed to give than to receive.’”

The word “blessed” (μακάριος) means: pertaining to being happy, with the

implication of enjoying favorable circumstances—which pertains to God’s

blessing.

Happiness is based on living generously.

Biblical Emphasis on Giving

The word believe / believer / believing is used 275 times.

The word pray / prayer / praying is used 371 times.

The word love / lover / loves / loving is used 714 times.

The word giving / give is used 2,162 times.

The Bible puts the most emphasis on giving. It is the essence of Christian

living. Jesus was the ultimate giver.

Luke 6:38 (ESV) “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed

down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the

measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

1. Giving makes me more like God.

God is a giver.

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

To be like God (who is love), you must learn to become a giver.

2. Giving draws me closer to God.

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also.”

Every time I give to God, it moves me a little bit closer to Him.

God is much more interested in raising disciples than in raising dollars.

3. Giving is a victory over materialism.

You make a living by what you get.

You make a life by what you give.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV) “Command those who are rich in this present world

not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but

to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our

enjoyment…”

Deuteronomy 14:23 — The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put

God first in your lives.

4. Giving strengthens my faith.

Malachi 3:10 (NLT) “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… If you do,” says

the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I

will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!

Try it! Put me to the test!

There are more promises regarding giving than anything else in the Bible.

With every promise there is a premise.

Proverbs 3:5, 9 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… Honor the Lord by

giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns to

overflowing.”

5. Giving is an investment for eternity.

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (paraphrased) — Give happily to those in need and

always be ready to share… By doing this you will be storing up real treasure

for yourselves in heaven. It is the only safe investment for eternity.

6. Giving blesses me in return.

Proverbs 22:9 — “A generous man will himself be blessed.”

Psalm 112:5-6 — “Good will come to him who is generous…”

Proverbs 11:25 — “A generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others

will himself be refreshed.”

Whatever you give out is what you will get back in life (the law of sowing

and reaping).

7. Giving makes me happy.

It is the source of joy.

1 Chronicles 29:9 “The people rejoiced for they had given freely and

wholeheartedly to the Lord. David also rejoiced greatly.”

There are only two types of people: takers and givers. The happy people

are the givers.

(Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Giving – from 1 Chronicles 29)

God cares more about your attitude than the amount.

1. Give willingly.

2. Give generously.

3. Give joyfully.

Give joyfully because you want to be like Jesus.

4. Give thankfully.

5. Give expectantly.

God doesn’t need money—He wants what it represents: you.

You cannot outgive God.