Generosity isn’t doing what we should expect any decent human being to do; it’s doing MORE than what’s expected of any decent human being.

Generosity is doing or giving MORE than what would normally be expected.

We become Generous when we push ourselves in two areas: our time and our money.

[John 2:1-4]

“ The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,  and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.  The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”  “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.””

WE BECOME GENEROUS WHEN WE LEARN TO SEE INTERRUPTIONS AS OPPORTUNITIES

[John 2:5-8, 11]

“ But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled,  he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions…

“ This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”

The point of this story is that Jesus was willing to be interrupted.

• He allowed his schedule to be changed
• Whenever we behave in a way that people don’t expect, we get to see God do things that WE didn’t expect

Being RADICALLY GENEROUS means that you are willing to be inconvenienced

WE BECOME GENEROUS WHEN WE LEARN TO GIVE MORE THAN WHAT WAS NECESSARY

[John 12:1-6]

“Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead.  A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.  Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.  But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said,  “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”  Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.”

[Matthew 6:19-21]

“ 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.”

Listen, if your question is how much do I have to give? That’s not generous

• What BELONGS to God (all of it)
• What do I need?
• What more can I give that God DOESN’T require? 
• THAT is generosity

If you say you’re too busy to be interrupted by the needs of people around you? That’s NOT generous

• What is needed in this moment?
• What can I do to help meet this need?
• How can I do even MORE than what they are expecting?
• THAT is generosity!

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?

2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?

3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?

4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?