Generosity with Wisdom and Joy | Pastor raph | Jan. 12, 2025

Generosity with Wisdom and Joy

When we gather as a family, it’s a unique opportunity to have conversations that only happen in that safe space—conversations not about lack or need, but about God’s provision, His promises, and the resources He’s entrusted to us.

 Approximately 15% of Jesus’ recorded teachings focus on money and possessions. Of the 38 parables He told, 16 directly address topics like wealth and stewardship (e.g., the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Rich Fool). Money and possessions are referenced over 2,300 times in the Bible—more than prayer, faith, or love.

Many believers today struggle with anxiety, especially concerning finances. However, anxiety is not from God, as He desires us to live free from fear. Reflecting on personal experiences, it’s clear that God often allows challenges to teach us to rely on Him rather than our circumstances or material wealth.

Anxiety is Not From God:

(Matthew 6:25) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (24) “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

The problem is who your heart serves. God, the provider, gives you peace or Mammon, the enslaving greed idol of money.

In biblical texts, Mammon is not explicitly described as a deity or entity but is personified as a master. The pursuit of wealth can become an idol or object of worship. It demands allegiance and devotion. In the Greco-Roman world and ancient Near East, wealth and material possessions were often associated with power. 

(Matthew 6:32) “For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

Mammon is a spiritual force that corrupts and enslaves.

That is why one must be free from the love of Money.

(1 Timothy 6:10) “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

(Proverbs 10:22) “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

 How can you be free from that prison?

(Matthew 6:33) “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

God’s Care is Personal and Complete:

God desires His children to live free from the burdens of anxiety and fear. As believers, we have the privilege of being cared for by our Heavenly Father, who provides for all our needs. Our identity as God’s children means we are not like the world.

(1 John 4:18) “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

(Romans 8:15) “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”

Anxiety is not from God, and it is not for His children:

(Matthew 6:25) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

Besides, anxiety does not solve problems. So why waste your emotional energy on it?

Anxiety began with separation from God in the fall, symbolized by the “sweat of the brow” (Genesis 3:19). There is peace, provision, and rest in God's presence.

(Matthew 6:27) “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”

Whether we face debt, uncertainty, or wealth, which has its own challenges, our security lies in our relationship with Him. The only treasure we can truly hold onto is our trust in the Father, who provides peace and sustains us through all seasons of life.

(Philippians 4:19) “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Being a child of God means living in trust. As children, we can give, serve, and trust God’s provision, knowing our debts are fully paid through Christ. As His children, we are called to live free from anxiety, trusting in His care and faithfulness. Whether in seasons of lack or abundance, we can rely on our Father, who supplies all our needs and ensures that we lack nothing of value.

The solution to anxiety is sowing.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 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.

Giving should stem from faith and relationship rather than obligation. God calls His children to give and sow not out of obligation or debt repayment but as an act of love, trust, and faith. The earth is our Father’s, and as His children, we have the freedom and opportunity to participate in His blessings through sowing and reaping. True prosperity is not just material but reflects a life of trust in God’s provision.

God provides everything—seed, soil, sun, and rain. Our role is to sow as an act of faith, trusting in His provision. Why? Because the earth belongs to God’s children:

(Psalm 24:1) “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

You may ask, but why should I sow and plant if God will provide anyway? 

(Matthew 6:26) “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

God provides for His children in extraordinary ways, often through small and unexpected moments of provision.

(Psalm 37:25) “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

But you are not meant to live like birds. While God provides for birds, you have been given the ability to sow and reap. Do not just passively receive God’s provision like the birds, but actively sow and participate in His blessings. The birds are cared for without laboring, and sowers are encouraged to trust God for the increase after they plant. 

The Mana was a daily invitation of dependence. 

(Exodus 16:19-20) “And Moses said to them, ‘Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.’ But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank.”

God designed manna to teach daily dependence on Him. Giving and sowing remind us to rely on His provision daily rather than hoarding out of fear or distrust.

(Joshua 5:12) “And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.”

(Deuteronomy 11:10-11) “For the land that you are entering to take possession of is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it, like a garden of vegetables. But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven.”

There is a “right way” to sow, which includes sowing generously, with faith, and from a cheerful heart. This aligns with God’s principles and leads to a fruitful spiritual and material harvest.

As His children, we are stewards of what belongs to God. This truth frees us to give and sow generously, knowing that everything ultimately belongs to our Father.

(2 Corinthians 9:10) “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”

God is the source of all provision. The act of sowing acknowledges His provision and reflects trust in His ability to multiply and bring a greater harvest.

 You must discern what is the seed and what is the bread, ensuring that they do not consume what is meant to be planted.

1 Chronicles 29:5-7 […] Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the LORD?”

6 Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. 7 They gave for the service of the house of God […]

The heart behind giving is the understanding of the New Covenant. There is a distinction between giving as a joyful, faith-filled act of love and giving out of obligation, guilt, or necessity. Giving with a Resolved Heart:

(2 Corinthians 9:7) “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Giving should come from joy and resolution, not doubt or external pressure. Not out of sadness or necessity, as you are paying a debt, such as fixing a damaged car. It’s done with no joy, only resentment.

God does not accept offerings with sadness or compulsion because such giving is transactional rather than a relational expression of love built on grace and mutual delight, just as no one desires love or affection out of obligation.

A husband joyfully buys gifts for his wife and children out of love, which is a delight, not a burden. God, who gives generously and joyfully to His children, is expecting the same from us.

Purchasing a meaningful gift, even at a personal cost, reflects the joy and love behind that gift. Sacrificial giving demonstrates how much the giver values the recipient.

(Mark 12:43-44) “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

God values the heart and sacrifice behind the gift more than its monetary value. S An offering to God should come from the same place of love and reverence.

(Proverbs 3:9) “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.”

It’s not about the amount but the value it holds for the giver. If a gift costs the giver nothing, it has little weight before God. Faithful giving often involves sacrifice.

(John 12:3) “Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

Giving represents your life poured. It represents the time and effort of one’s life. It is meant to be a spiritual investment.

Spirit-Filled Generosity

Those who are genuinely filled by the Spirit develop a joy in blessing others. Their generosity becomes a reflection of God’s nature within them.

(1 Chronicles 29:9) “Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.”

Giving should reflect a deep understanding of God’s love and a desire to honor Him.

It is the Spirit that instills a desire to bless others.

God does not need our offerings and does not want them given grudgingly.

Giving to support the church's work is not charity but an act of honor. It demonstrates love for the house of God, where blessings, spiritual growth, and transformation happen.

The promise of enrichment is not limited to material wealth. God’s blessings extend to health, marriage, family, emotional well-being, and spiritual growth.

(Philippians 4:19) “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Aligning Desires with God’s Will:

(Psalm 37:4) “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Expect Abundant Restitution

(2 Corinthians 9:8) “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.”

When you give with the right spirit, God not only meets your needs but blesses you abundantly so they can continue participating in His work.

The Greek word for “sufficiency” refers to an ideal life without any external help. A condition of life in which no aid is needed.

God’s goal is to bless His people abundantly so they can move from being in need to becoming givers who bless others.

(2 Corinthians 9:11) “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

True restitution will prosper you. That is not about the accumulation of wealth but the blessings of peace, joy, and freedom from trusting in God.

Stop rejecting, resisting, and disbelieving your prosperity. You will not have what you do not honor. Yes, prosperity reflects God’s goodness over your life life.

(Proverbs 10:22) “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

Prosperity is not inherently evil, but it becomes a problem when wealth replaces God in our lives. True blessings enrich without causing harm or anxiety.

(Galatians 6:7) “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Giving is not a transaction or obligation but a relational act of trust rooted in the understanding that all we have belongs to our Father. True prosperity flows from aligning with God’s principles and trusting in His provision, allowing us to live in peace, contentment, and confidence in His care.

When God entrusts us with such great work, only three things are needed.

Wisdom, people and resources.

The stories of 1 and 2 Chronicles show how these three elements are aligned to build God’s house.

Jesus has already provided all that is needed for the building of God’s house.

1 Chronicles 29:2 “So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones, and marble.”

1 Chronicles 29:16 O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.

1 Chronicles 29:19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”

Today, the house of God is you and I. But the principles are still there. 

Wisdom:

2 Chronicles 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?”

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

People:

2 Chronicles 2:6-7 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? 7 So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.

Generous hearts:

1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.”

(1 Chronicles 29:9) “Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.”