[Kainos] Joy of GenerositySample

Open to Generosity

In all Christianity, there has never been a sermon called “The Joy of Selfishness.” That has never happened! What we do have is the joy of generosity. This is what King David demonstrated. He sought to provide the materials and resources needed for his son, King Solomon, to build a magnificent temple for God. His vision was so compelling that everyone wanted to help.

The Bible tells us that those who gave to build God’s temple included leaders at home, leaders of Israel, leaders in the military, and leaders in the government. They gave gold, silver, bronze, iron, and more. All leaders gave. Generosity is a key part of leadership. It demonstrates what is in your heart.

God wants to work in our hearts. He wants us to demonstrate generosity in the giving of our time, attention, resources, and money. In the New Testament, Jesus speaks a lot about giving. He knows that our money and possessions can grab our hearts, so He warns us against having a selfish attitude. A key mark of leadership is generosity.

If you are a parent, you know there is a word you will never have to teach your kid; that word is mine. There has never been a parent laying out Cheerios on a tray as a reward, coaxing a toddler, “Let’s say mine. Say, mine. Come on, say mine.” We teach babies to say, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, brother and sister. We work on Jesus and Bible, please and thank you; we work on those all the time. If you are a parent, just know that you are going to work on these forever. They’re going to be 22, and you’re going be there saying, “Say thank you, say please.” You’re going to aggravate them at that point, so don’t do it, ok? But you’ll never have to teach them the word mine.

Mine comes naturally to all of us. We want to hold things close and protect them. But what does God want us to do? He wants us to open our arms wide and to give things away. A selfish stance is quite naturally defensive and closed, but a posture of generosity is open-handed and open-armed.

Father, help us to be open to Your work in our hearts and to give generously like King David did.