The Crock Pot Theology. The practice of Generosity. Become like Jesus. We are in a season where we are concentrating on becoming more like Jesus. The fact is for all becoming someone. Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. God’s part is transforming us. Our work is to get the right practices into this crockpot, the right ingredients, so that God has something to work with. Today we are talking about the practice of generosity and giving. In 2021 $500 billion in charitable giving was donated. $100 billion of that went to churches. That averages about $300,000 per church. That sounds like a lot, but charitable giving is dropping. Only 50% of Americans give. You may have heard the word “tithe” in church; people who give 10% of their income to the Lord. That represents only 5 to 10% of members. People on average give about 2 – 4% of their income away. And on average, 50% of the people sitting here today contribute less than 10% of all the giving to this church. That means that a small number of donors here are carrying the weight. 3 things that my heart has been exposed to when it comes to this practice of giving. My heart was exposed to the fact that I was indoctrinated with the world’s view of money and possessions. Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” What exactly is mammon? Mammon is the evil spirit attached to your money. When we live under this cloud of fear that there is not enough, we tend to get greedy, and we start hoarding things. 2. I got exposed me to the fact that God is a generous host. Luke 12:22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. He wants to give it. And now he says something radical. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Maybe we should believe what Jesus believed; that we live in a good and stable world hosted by a generous God. Have you ever considered that wherever Jesus showed up there was always enough? What if this is the plan? 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 3. I was exposed to the happy life of giving. Go ahead and give and get happy. I’ll try to sum up the giving life in these 4 verses. Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Matthew 10:8 Freely you have received; freely give. Acts 20 :35 …. remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Quoting a book by Erwin McManus… The generous see themselves as stewards of God’s treasures. They are not cautious in giving themselves away, for God himself is their source of replenishment. Wherever they are, there is more. They never leave a place, or a relationship having taken more than they have given. Yet somehow, they never leave empty. In giving, they find themselves enriched. The takers of this world always need more. They are always hungry, always craving. The givers are unexplainably full. The giver is always open-handed, yet never empty-handed the generous have found the secret to happiness. They have found the joy of living through serving others. When we become generous, we become like God. Every creative act of God is created not out of selfishness or self-indulgence, but out of his generosity. Generosity is the overflow of love. Generosity is about being free. The generous are free from the things of this world. While they own possessions, their possessions don’t own them. Their agenda is to contribute. The goal is not to have less, but to give more. Generosity is the result of a life in continuous overflow Let’s see what GOD can do! Pastor Brian Harrell