"Generous Beyond Measure" - Will you Grow? Series (Week 3 of 3) - 2 Corinthians 9:6-12)

Hello Friends,

This is it!...the last installment in this mini-series entitled, "Will you Grow?"  It is inspired by my desire to help the members of our church to grow beyond the infancy stages of faith so that we might live mature lives for Jesus Christ.

Without a doubt, the last aspect of life that is submitted to God, for most of us, is our checkbook.  Finances seem to have a control over the deepest parts of who we are.  Some preaches lay guilt trips to bully parishioners into tithing.  Yet, tithing is not God's goal for stewardship...it is a benchmark to show us where we are on the path.

God's hope for you and me is generosity...that we would emulate him in dealing with the needs of others.  God has richly blessed us beyond what we deserve or need, then we hoard God's "stuff" for that rainy day that we might need that 15th pair of shoes we have in our closets.

What if we were generous beyond measure?  What if we gave to help others meet their needs?  What if the material world didn't control us but we controlled it?

I hope you'll listen to the Lord as Holy Spirit speaks in this message.  By the way, we are starting an Endowment Legacy program at our church, which is part of the impetus for this message.

Be well!... be generous! - Kirk McCormick

Developing a Life of Generosity

Principle 1 - Generosity does not happen magically.

2 Corinthians 9:6 - “Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a

generous crop.”

Principle 2 - Generosity is measured by motive more than outcome.

2 Corinthians 9:7b - “And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’”

Principle 3: God’s purpose for generosity = meeting needs.

2 Corinthians 9:8 - “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”

The First Generosity Challenge: Ask the Lord during prayer and search the Scriptures to see how you are doing with the Generosity Measure.

God’s Benchmark for Giving: Tithing

God’s Goal for Giving: Freedom…not building the church budget, not making you suffer…

…but freedom from the bondage of finances and freedom FOR the JOY of immolating the generosity of God.

Principle 4: Generosity is the best legacy we can leave.

2 Corinthians 9:9 - As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

Potential Practical Steps Toward Generosity:

1.  Increase your regular giving to the Lord by 1% each year until your reach the 10% Benchmark of Tithing.

2.  If you see a need, fulfill it in the Name of Jesus.

3.  Consider participating in Royal Palm Church’s new Legacy Endowment.