"Lifestyles of the GENEROUS and FAITHFUL"
by
Rev. Bob Thomas
Senior Pastor
November 4, 2007
the New Testament Lesson . . . Acts 20:18b-22, 27-28, 31-33, 35
Lifestyles of the Generous and Faithful…Sounds like a take off on the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, the television series that ran from 1984 to 1995. You’ll recall that the show featured the usually extravagant lifestyles of wealthy entertainers, athletes, and business moguls. It was hosted by Robin Leach who ended each episode with his signature phrase “champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” Well…today we’ll be thinking about the biblical principle that generous people live their lives based on the truth that God blesses giving more than receiving. I want us to focus on Jesus’ signature saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The key verse from the New Testament lesson for today is from Acts chapter 20. St. Paul is speaking, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of our Lord Jesus, that he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The context for our Bible lesson is Paul’s farewell address to the new church in Ephesus . The Ephesians were an exceptional body of believers. Paul had a very special place in his heart for them. But obeying the Holy Spirit’s direction, Paul was leaving them and going to Jerusalem . This was their last face-to face meeting. They would not see him again, he would not see them. With that in mind, Paul gave some final, personal words of pastoral instruction and encouragement to this very special church.
Paul reminded them of his ministry among them. Paul lived the lifestyle of the GENEROUS and FAITHFUL. He generously and faithfully gave his time, talents, and financial resources. Paul’s hand and heart was always open to meet the needs of the precious people to whom he ministered. Paul reminded them that he coveted no man’s wealth and that he had held nothing back. That’s why he was admired, respected, and loved by the church at Ephesus . In this farewell address he warned the Ephesians to be on their guard in the days ahead. Paul wanted them to remember his example—and the promise of Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Let’s look at four characteristics of the lifestyles of the Generous and faithful.
First, the Generous and faithful are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus’ words are true. Believing deep down in their spirits first, then practicing it in real life, they are certain that the phrase “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” is a scriptural fact and is a key part of their internal core values.
Generous people give because they are convinced that liberal giving is the right thing to do. They are convinced that God blesses those who give generously.
Second, the generous and faithful are compassionate because their lives have been touched by God’s grace.
Grace is unmerited favor. Because of God’s grace, we receive what we don’t deserve. We are freely given what we can’t earn. Christ paid the price for our sin and failure when he freely laid down his life on the cross. When accept God’s forgiveness and allow the saving mercy to cover our sin, and wash us clean, we then can truly experience the grace of God and we become free to be gracious and compassionate in turn to others. Men and women who understand that they are recipients of God’s grace find it easy to adopt a lifestyle of the generous and faithful. Because of all that God has given—love, forgiveness, hope, peace the gracious and faithful respond by being compassionate. Psalm 37 describes the third characteristic of the lifestyle of the Generous and faithful—their lives are consistent: “All day long (the righteous man) is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing.” A telling mark of a generous lifestyle is consistency. Generous people are regularly and predictably about the task of finding needs and determining ways to meet those needs. It is in their hearts and their bones to be gracious, generous givers. They always give and they find true blessing and pleasure in faithfully giving. The fourth characteristic of the generous and faithful is they know their lifestyle is commendable. Paul told us that Jesus himself was the one who said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Paul believed and endorsed it, but it did not originate the idea. Jesus did. Now Jesus did not say there was anything wrong with being on the receiving end from time to time and he makes it clear that receiving too is blessed, but giving is more blessed! Because God has been so gracious to us, we can choose to be gracious givers and bless others with our generous gifts. Proverbs 22:9 states: He who is generous will be blessed. Proverbs 11:24 tell us: The generous man will be prosperous. The Generous and Faithful decide that because God’s word has promised it, they believe it, and as a consequence they receive the promises of God’s blessing. Proverbs 11:24 and 25 tell us; “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. In some parts of the world, hunters have an interesting way of catching monkeys. The hunters drill a small hole in a coconut and scrape out the inside. They then insert something sweet and fasten the coconut to a tree. When a monkey comes along, he sticks his hand through the hole and grabs a hold of the sweet treat; but because his arm just fits through the hole, the monkey can’t pull his fist out. The only possible way to escape is to let go of the treat. But the monkey is too greedy for that. He’ll screech and bang on the coconut, but won’t release what he has. Eventually, the hunter arrives, thumps the monkey on the head and puts him in a bag. The monkey does not want to get captured. He would much rather remain free. But his stubbornness robs him of the ability to make the right choice. Sometimes we Christians are like that. When it comes to giving, we’re so afraid we’re not going to have enough that we won’t let go of even a little. We have a difficult time understanding how nine-tenths can go as far as the whole amount. We look at the numbers, and to our way of thinking they just don’t add up. So we convince ourselves we must hold on tightly to what we have. When we allow things like a lack of trust, difficult circumstances, the desire for security, the desire to be in control at all times, or our own selfishness to cloud our judgment, we will give either what we think we can spare, or not much at all. Throughout the Bible, God invites us to choose the lifestyle of the GENEROUS and FAITHFUL. Hear these scripture truths: “Give and it will be given unto you… Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give…because: God loves a cheerful giver… Freely you have received, freely give… Give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord… See that you also excel in this grace of giving… Next week is Commitment Sunday, when we will all have the opportunity to come forward and re-dedicate our lives and offer our pledge of support for the mission and ministries of the Lord through Epworth. This is our opportunity to choose to be part of God’s purpose and plan, through our giving. This is the time not to focus on what we need to hold on to but what we should release to God. God has blessed us in so many ways. Now is our opportunity to choose to honor God and thank Him by returning a portion of what He has so freely given to us. Choose the lifestyle of the GENEROUS and FAITHFUL. Don’t just settle for “champagne wishes and caviar dreams,” Jesus himself has promised this: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Generosity is the true mark of Christ-like giving. Amen.
