Tough Questions: Jesus and a Generous Heart
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“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ― Winston Churchill
Transforming Question: Are you allowing Jesus to make you a radically generous person?
As Chicago is presently, the city of Corinth was one of the wealthiest cities in the world in Paul's day. Paul was writing, however, to a people who were not generous in heart. Their lives were not centered around the gospel, so living generously became an inconvenience to them rather than a joyful thank offering to God. In this section of Corinthians, Paul poses his own set of questions to the church so that they might become generous in heart, like Jesus. In doing so, he helps us understand how our generosity shapes the church and how our generosity should impact our ministry to the world.
How Generosity Shapes the Church
God is radically generous. The gospel begins like this:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)
When God's generosity is present in a church, souls are saved, lives are restored, families are built, the hungry are fed, people are healed and cities are changed to the glory of God. God makes us like Himself when He calls us to give that His gospel might advance. (Pastor Rollan referenced the Love in a Box outreach weekend.)
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:1-18 NIV)
Paul was not just another Corinthian sophist coming through town expecting an honorarium for his oratory display. He was a commissioned agent of Jesus whose primary goal was to see people reconciled to God in Christ. Despite their lack of esteem for Paul or the gospel, Paul continued to model a heart of generosity. He said that though God intended that he be paid by the church for his service to them (v. 3-12), he'd rather work as a tentmaker and preach to them free of charge than have them focus on the wrong thing. This he did until resources became available, after which time he devoted himself exclusively to preaching (Acts 18:1-6).
“The price is certainly high for people who don’t know Christ and who live in a world where Christians shrink back from self-denying faith and settle into self-indulging faith. While Christians choose to spend their lives fulfilling the American dream instead of giving their lives to proclaiming the kingdom of God, literally billions in need of the Gospel remain in the dark.” ― David Platt
Without a doubt, generosity is a gospel issue.
As certainly as we are all missionaries for Jesus in the city, there are also appointed individuals who God calls into occupational ministry as opposed to marketplace ministry. In the New Testament, this was exemplified by Jesus (Luke 8:1-3), as well as the leaders of the early church. Their full-time responsibility was prayer, the ministry of the word of God (Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:27-32; Acts 6:1-7), and the running of the church, which was synonymous to Paul's reference to those who minister at the altar (I Corinthians 9:13,14). Ministry takes time, attention, and resources. Just as you are paid for your marketplace work, God designates generosity in the church to pay for the care of His house and advancement of His gospel.
This is how Jesus practically builds His church, mobilizing the resources to forever fund its work.
Your salvation is based on God's generosity to us in giving His first and His best, Jesus Christ, so that you could be reconciled to God. When we think of giving in the church, the tithe is our first reference point.
“ ‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. (Leviticus 27:30 NIV)
A tithe literally meant a tenth, and through it God is going after your heart. God went on to say,
“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God." (Exodus 34:26a NIV)
This is really the issue. As God did for you, you need to ask yourself if you are giving Jesus your first and your best in everything. Are you doing it not only with your finances, but with your thoughts, in the workplace, in your relationships, how you serve, and in the way that you utilize your time?
We can see the attitude of radical generosity that Jesus esteems in the gospel of Mark:
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44 NIV)
Just as Jesus gave his entire life for the sin of the world, we are called to be "all in" with our giving.
“But then I realize there is never going to be a day when I stand before God and He looks at me and says, 'I wish you would have kept more for yourself.' I'm confident that God will take care of me.” ― David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
You think that when you are a student or do not have much that your generosity is not a big deal, but it is a pleasing offering to the Lord. That is why you do it, and your heart is shaped through it. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21 NIV)
It is through the tangible act of giving that your trust is placed in God rather than your paycheck, and your heart is molded to become like Christ.
No matter how large or small, your giving counts. Jesus takes your faithful offering and multiplies it to feed the multitudes who are starving for life in their souls as He did with the two fish and five loaves.
As opposed to the Corinthians, I am so thankful that for such a young church, we have seen such a wonderful group of people who are both generous and sacrificial.
Since our launch this Easter 2013, we have already been able to give away nearly $5000 as a church towards church planting and ministry in America, Europe, and the Middle East. In addition, hundreds of books, Bibles, Bible studies, and apologetic materials have been distributed to seekers throughout Chicago, and equipment has been sent to India to serve unreached people groups with the gospel throughout that nation. Over 4000 invitations to church have been passed out in the city where people have gotten connected to our website to hear the good news of Jesus. Thousands of dollars have been spent in food, meeting spaces, and hospitality so that those who come can be connected to the community of Jesus. Through this, many people have found their church home and are growing in their love and devotion to the Lord.
This is what your generosity has accomplished thus far; and you should be exceedingly glad, because this is only the beginning.
How Generosity Shapes our Ministry
“It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But, it is absolutely vital to grasp that he didn’t call you there so you could settle in and live your life in comfort and superficial peace.” ― Francis Chan, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit
Once we partner in our roles as missionaries to the city and resources flow as we cultivate a generous heart, we only have to learn the keys to effective ministry to see Jesus transform the city. Generosity of heart deals not only with what we give financially, but the way that we inconvenience ourselves for the benefit of others.
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV)
There is a misconception that to reach people with the gospel you have to do exactly what they do. "When in Rome," many say, "you must do as the Romans do." This is not what Paul is advocating here. Instead, what Paul is saying is that to serve those in need of the gospel, you need to work to understand their mentalities and mindsets so that you might have a bridge of communication. As you do this, you are able to love people where they are presently. Then you should look for opportunities to testify to them about the life of Jesus.
It is a general pride of heart and laziness of spirit to think that people need to come to you on your terms. In such a scenario, we begin making excuses for all the reasons why we are unfruitful. Jesus called us to be fishers of men. If the fisherman lives like this, without making adjustments, he will soon go out of business. As seen in the life of Jesus, God humbles Himself to meet people where they are, in terms that they can understand, to bring them to the truth.
Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. (Proverbs 26:12-16 NIV)
When we are generous in heart towards those who do not yet know Jesus, we are not simply looking for a platform on which to speak. We often think too much about ourselves, our preferences, and how we think things should be done. What matters is that we are serving people, the Bible is being taught, and that people are learning how to practically walk with Jesus. If you have no relationships that lead to effective ministry in the lives of those who are needy, you are too wise in your own eyes and are actually a sluggard who will remain unfruitful until you make generous adjustments.
“We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.” ― David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV)
Finally, Paul is also saying that preaching to someone does not give a Christian immunity in their personal responsibility to holiness. Instead, Paul says that to win the prize of making practical connections with people so that individuals, communities, and cities might be saved, you must have the mentality of a professional athlete who goes into training. To be effective as a minister, you must first prioritize your own love for and growth in God.
“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” ― Zig Ziglar
As a Christian, this means you need to have practical goals of how you will grow in your personal walk with God, the cultivation of a generous heart, and your ministry to others.
In conclusion, it is not a matter of whether this type of generous living is on God's heart, but whether you will align yourself with Jesus for effective ministry. When everyone embraces the truth that their full contribution as partners in the gospel and cultivating a generous heart are necessary for the kingdom of God to advance, the move of God for which we are praying in Chicago will be absolutely imminent.
Take Home Truth:
1) This week, prayerfully set practical goals for how you will grow in your walk with Jesus, your generosity, and your ministry to others.
Second City Church- Tough Questions Sermon Series 2013