Reimagining Generosity If you’re new to Lifpoint | Worthington, take 30 seconds to fill out our Welcome Card! Have a question about today's message? Ask it here. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV) 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. Series Recap & Introduction We are often tempted to view a church series on money as a religious sales pitch. Without realizing it, we have been profoundly formed by our American culture regarding our possessions. We can easily settle for a counterfeit generosity that talks about God's Kingdom but actually builds our own. The earliest followers of Jesus practiced a generosity that was personally costly. It was their radical generosity that made them unique and turned their world upside-down. Context Paul is taking a collection of financial resources for famine relief in Jerusalem. The Macedonian churches begged to be a part of this work despite their extreme poverty. They gave beyond their means, meaning they actually went without something. Paul shares their story not to shame us, but to show us two movements we must make as followers of Jesus. Movements of Generosity Movement One: From Closed to Open Handed Paul uses a farming metaphor to show that when it comes to generosity, you reap what you sow. We all naturally start with a closed-handed posture toward our resources. Behind this tight grip is rarely just selfishness; it is usually driven by fear. In our modern context, protecting our money doesn't feel like fear—it feels like wisdom. Have a question or pushback on this? Ask it here. God's economy is entirely backwards: we are truly free when we live under His rule. Being open-handed requires believing a better story about our Heavenly Father. Choosing to give is an act of rebellion against the fear that so easily grips us. Movement Two: From Obligation to Invitation When we view giving as an obligation, we treat God like a vending machine or a toll booth. A transactional view of God creates a toxic relationship built on fear and power. Generosity is an invitation to ask: “Father, what are you asking of me?” To evaluate our generosity, we must ask two difficult questions: Do I feel it? What is enough? Have a question or pushback on this? Ask it here. Generosity is not a formula; a small gift out of poverty can be profoundly more generous than a massive check out of wealth. The Gospel shifts our primary question from “How much do I have to give?” to "How much do I need to keep?" We do not have to live with a closed fist because we are entirely safe in the hands of a Father who provides. Jesus opened his hands on a Roman cross so that we could be forgiven, healed, and brought into the family of God. As always, if you'd like to talk more with me about anything we discussed, you can sign up for meeting time. If you have any questions from the message today, send them here and I'll follow up!