Generous Living (Week One)
Culture has taught you the lie that you must fend for yourself because what God has given you isn’t enough.
KEY VERSES
Matthew 6:19-33 (NASB)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” 25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? 27 And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.”
Philippians 4:19 (NASB)
19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
UNDERSTANDING
If you could give an extraordinarily generous gift to someone, what would it be and who would you give it to? Why?
Would you say it is more fun to be generous and extravagant in giving gifts to special people or giving to God? Why?
Who is the most generous person you know? Do you think they are generous because they have the means to be so or is it because of some other reason? Explain.
In your own words, what was Jesus’ warning to His people in this passage?
What affect do moths, rust, and thieves have on valuable objects? What was Jesus’ intention with this illustration?
The statements Jesus made in verses 19-20 are very similar, but what was the key difference? What separates earthly treasures from heavenly (spiritual) treasures?
What do treasures in heaven look like? How do we acquire them?
Why are we so tempted to pursue earthly treasures when heavenly ones have such greater value?
What are three specific reasons Jesus gave for not worrying about the basic provisions of life?
What’s required for us to take seriously Jesus’ instruction not to worry about the necessities of life?
How essential is the doctrine of creation to Jesus’ teaching on worry?
When we worry, what are we saying about our view of God and our relationship with Him?
What is the relationship between worry, seeking God’s kingdom first, and a lifestyle of generosity?
Can a person seek God’s kingdom first and not be a generous giver? Explain.
What promise is attached to this command? What “things” did Jesus promise to provide?
If you seek first the kingdom of God, what are some things you currently prioritize that may become less important?
Do you ever struggle to trust the truth in this verse? Why or why not?
How does a believer draw on God’s unlimited resources in daily life (v. 19)?
How do you know the difference between things you need and things you want?
Why is it important for us to know and believe that our sovereign God provides for us?
APPLICATION
In this week’s message, we learned the following two points of application: Laying up treasures in Heaven involves giving now, not accumulating now. Possessions on earth are not for accumulating, they are for distributing. What, then, is the main thing Jesus has in mind for you to do in response to His teaching in Matthew 6 and Philippians 4:19?
What would change in your life this week if you were to choose generous giving over accumulating? What scares you about that?
How have you seen God use someone’s generosity to make a difference in the lives of people? How might He use the generosity of this group to make a difference in the lives of people?
Be specific. How can you be generous this week? This month? This year?
WANT TO DIVE DEEPER?
Joining a group is a great way to know people and strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. Take a look at available groups to get plugged in to and find the group that is right for you.
GIVING
Everything that happens at LCC is because of your generous gifts. When you give to God through LCC, you're helping reach thousands with the Gospel each week and are making a difference for the Lowcountry and around the world.