Jesus Was Generous (Jesus Habits Series)

Jesus was generous.  We should develop the habit of living generously.  The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled "Jesus Habits:  Generosity."

Jesus was generous.

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What does it mean to be generous?  Generosity is defined as being intentional in life by offering yourself and resources to others in the name of Jesus.  We are never more like Jesus than when we are generous.  Generosity is a foundational Jesus habit.

Jesus Habits:  Generosity

Generosity was a habit in the life of Jesus.  

Jesus gave healing to those who were hurting.

Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” - Mark 1:41

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”  When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”  Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” - Matthew 9:27-29

A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”  The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”  Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”  Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. - John 5:5-9

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.   And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. - Luke 7:21-22

If you are hurting, Jesus is willing to heal you.

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Jesus was generous with His time. 

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” - Matthew 19:13-14

 

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Jesus always made time for those who were hurting.

Jesus was generous to His enemies.

Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.”  Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.  And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. - Matthew 26:48-50

But Jesus responded and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. - Luke 22:51

³⁴ But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves. - Luke 23:34

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. - Romans 5:10

And you were dead in your offenses and sins, ² in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). - Ephesians 2:1-5

Jesus gave Himself to us.

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16

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¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. - John 1:12

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. - Philippians 2:3-8

When we see how much we have been given, it is easy to give. 

What does the habit of generosity look like in our lives?

The biggest lie Satan wants you to believe is that you have to already have a lot in order to be generous.  Not true!  Let's read the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.

¹⁴ “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. ¹⁷ In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. ¹⁸ But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

²² “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ - Matthew 25:14-23

God has given each of us a "measure of talents" to be used to invest in God's kingdom.  Some of have 5 and some of us have 2.  The "talents" we are given are to be used as Jesus commands and that is to love Him and love others.  How do we love others?  We follow Jesus' example.  We are to be generous to others. 

We do not need a lot to be generous.  We only need a changed heart.

There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?” ¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat.” Now there was plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. - John 6:9-11

Generosity is not just and act.  It is an attitude of the heart.

Generosity is not just a feeling.  It is a lifestyle choice.

We don't always feel like being generous.  Sometimes we don't want to be generous because we feel the other person doesn't deserve our generosity.  Well, generosity is not based on how we feel or whether or not the receiver deserves our generosity.  Our generosity is based on who we are in Christ Jesus.

How can you be generous?

Be generous with your words.

Be generous in prayer.

Be generous with your time.

Be generous with your money.

Be generous with your home.

When we embrace the Jesus habit of generosity, our lives become transformed.  We become others-centered.

How is God calling you to be generous today?  

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