TRAINING GROUND

Big Idea: Generosity isn’t just about giving money—it’s about giving God your heart.

Key Points:

[1 Timothy 4:7b-8] “Train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

[Matthew 6:19-24] “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. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

3 Ways God Uses Generosity

Generosity Repositions Your Trust

[1 Timothy 6:9-10] “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

• Giving is never just about the amount—it’s about allegiance.
• Every time you give, you’re saying, “God, I trust You—not my bank account.”
• The love of money isn’t just shaky ground—it can be destructive.

It leads to:

• Poor decisions
• Damaged relationships
• (And worst of all) Spiritual drift
• Money itself is neutral—but love of money reorders your trust.
• It makes you serve the gift instead of the Giver.

Biblical Tithe

• Cane and Abel gave their “first fruits” portion way back in Genesis 4
• In Gen 14, Melchizedek, the priestly king of God the Most High, institutes the “tithe” (tenth)
• Under Moses, tithing became part of Israel’s covenant with God. The people gave 10% of their crops, livestock, and income
• In Malachi 3, God calls out Israel for withholding the tithe, calling it “robbing God.” He promises blessing for those who return to faithfulness.
• Jesus Affirms the Heart, Not Just the Habit of the tithe in Matthew 23:23.
• In Acts… they gave literally everything… regularly, cheerfully and sacrificially

[1 Corinthians 16:2] “On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.”

• Paul is teaching them discipline. This isn’t impulsive or emotional giving—this is consistent, intentional generosity.

“Every time you give, you declare: ‘God is my Provider.’ Not my job. Not my savings account. Not the economy. God alone.”

Generosity Reshapes Your Character

[2 Corinthians 9:6-7] “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. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

• Generosity is spiritual weightlifting. You don’t build strength by wishing—you build it by practicing.
• Giving doesn’t just change your budget—it changes your perspective.
• You stop seeing people as problems and start seeing them as opportunities.
• You stop focusing on what you don’t have and start celebrating what God has given you.

But here’s the warning: When you resist this discipline, your soul shrinks.

Unfaithfulness in stewardship isn’t neutral—it’s dangerous:

• It normalizes selfishness.
• It numbs compassion.
• And It can disqualifies you from greater Kingdom impact.
• Jesus didn’t avoid talking about money—He talked about it more than heaven and hell combined.
• Because He knew that money is one of the strongest competitors for your soul.
• Generosity is a tool God uses to transform you.

“You can’t be spiritually mature and financially selfish at the same time.”

Generosity Redirects Your Impact

[Acts 2:44-47] “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

• Faithful giving doesn’t just change your life—it impacts eternity.
• Radical generosity created an environment for revival.
• Needs were met. The community grew. Lives were changed. People got saved.

[1 Timothy 6:18-19] “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”

• Paul says giving is how we store treasure in heaven. It’s how we experience the life that is truly life.

“You may never know the full impact of your generosity—but eternity will. Every meal, every dollar, every act of giving—it echoes forever.”

Application: Live the Discipline

Here’s how to begin living open-handed:

1. Audit your treasure Where are your money and resources, and even attention going? Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”
2. Tithe faithfully It’s not a law—it’s a tool. A starting line. A training plan to develop trust. What better place to have accountability for generosity than the local church! You don’t give to a church, you give through a church!
3. Give cheerfully and consistently Set aside something weekly (1 Cor. 16:2). Don’t give what’s leftover—give what’s first.
4. Stretch yourself What would it look like to give in a way that requires faith?

“I shovel out the money, and God shovels it back – but God has a bigger shovel” – R.G. LeTourneau

“It’s not how much of my money I give to God—it’s how much of God’s money I keep for myself.” – R.G. LeTourneau

“God doesn’t want something from you—He wants something for you.”

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