“More Thankful”

Grow your Heart

2 Samuel 24:18-25 (see also 1 Chronicles 21)

“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God…” Psalms 68:5

“She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20

Two Generosity Postures:

• Generosity Posture #1: At the Feet
  See v20, (also 1 Chronicles 21:16)
• Generosity Posture #2: Outstretched Hand

 Two Postures in one Story in the New Testament

         Acts 4

• v30, “Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
• v34-35. (ESV), “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

 CENTRAL TRUTH: There’s a relationship between God’s outstretched hand at work in miraculous ways—and our willingness to lay at his feet our lives, our offering, our all.

Generosity Ladder: (begin at the bottom and work your way up)

Eternal Generosity

Sacrifice Generosity

Sacrifice is giving up something you love; for something you love more.

Percent Generosity

Do Good Generosity

Safe Generosity

Self-Sooth Generosity

Self-Focus Generosity

Not So Generous

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”                                                                Matthew 6:19-21

Final Thought: To climb the generosity ladder, you need to know, the higher you want to go; the lower you have to go into humility and surrender.