Romans 8:29… He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness]
James 3:14-22, 25-26
The best way to identify a citizen of Heaven is by their good deeds.
True citizens of Heaven are marked by generosity.
Generosity Misconception #1: Tithing to your local church is generous.
When you tithe, you are “not robbing” from God, and “not robbing” does not equate to generosity.
Malachi 3:8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
Generosity Misconception #2: You have to be wealthy to be generous.
Mark 12:41-44
For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
The value of the gift is determined by what it costs the giver.
If you are waiting for more to be generous, you’ll forever be waiting to be generous.
Generosity Misconception #3: Stewardship is greater than generosity.
John 12:1-8
John 12:4-8
The world doesn’t understand Kingdom generosity, so don’t be surprised when your generosity upsets them.
Generosity Misconception #4: Money is the currency of generosity.
Every citizen of Heaven has something of value to give.
Colossians 3:5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
How do we KILL Greed? Don’t water it. Don’t feed it.
Behavior: Greed Be Shoppin’
Root: Idolatry & Gluttony
Behavior: Greed Be Hoardin’
Root: Fear
Philippians 2:4-7 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
Behavior: Greed Be Ignorin’
Luke 10:30-32 A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Root: Pride
Romans 11:36For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.
Colossians 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
If you have a problem with generosity, you have a problem understanding who you are in Christ.
