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Passage: 2 Corinthians 8-9
Topic: Living a Generous Life



“The value of my life isn’t determined by how much I achieve or accumulate
but how much of my life I give away.”

Proverbs 11:24 - The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. (MSG)


Proverbs 11:25 - A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(NIV)


Psalm 112:5 - Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. (NIV)

1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow.


Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous.


If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. (MSG)

Acts 20:35 (NIV) The Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (MSG)


2 Corinthians 8:1-12 - And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.


In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.


For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.


And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.


But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—


see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.


For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.


Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. (NIV)


You can follow God because He said to or because you want to.

1. Choose to give joyfully.


2 Corinthians 9:7 - “…God loves a cheerful giver.”

Wall Street Journal
“Hardwired for Giving”
August 31, 2013

2. Choose to give selflessly.


“If one first gives himself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.”
~John Bonnell


2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

3 Choose to give willingly.


Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (NIV)

4. Choose to give intentionally.


2 Corinthians 9:7 – “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure.” (NLT)


2 Corinthians 9:11 - You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (NIV)

Intentionally give my time.
Intentionally give my talent.
Intentionally give my touch.
Intentionally give my treasure.


2 Corinthians 9:10-11 - Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.


You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

5. Choose to give thankfully.
Psalm 116:12 – “How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? (NIV)


Exodus 13:14-15 - “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery…


That’s why I make a sacrifice for every first male birth from the womb to GOD and redeem every firstborn son.’” (MSG)

GIVE US ONE YEAR OF YOUR LIFE.

1 PETER 1:17 // MSG

You call out to God for help and He helps - He’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, He’s also a responsible Father and won’t let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.