II. TRUE GENEROSITY FOLLOWS OUR GIVING OF OURSELVES TO THE LORD

They went further than Paul had hoped they would go, 8:5. They who are surrendered to God have no difficulties with contributing to the needs of others. All they had and were belonged to God.

This is the essence of true religion.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God, Romans 6:13.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, Romans 12:1.

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself, Romans 14:7.

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again, 2 Corinthians 5:15.

He who senses that he and all that he has belongs to God will not hold back from giving according to God’s will.

III. GENEROSITY IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW MUCH BUT BY HOW!

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 2 Corinthians 8:12. Mark 12:42-44.

1. It is the disposition of the heart that matters to God. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver, 9:7. It is better not to give than to give grudgingly.

2. Giving according to ability evenly distributes the burden upon all. 13-15.

3. Our gifts and giving come up before the Lord for acceptance. Is this not a most solemn matter. Are our gifts acceptable with God?

4. This principle is true of all our service for God. Mark 12:30.

IV. GENEROSITY WAS EXEMPLIFIED AT THE CROSS

1. Christ was rich.

2. He became poor. A voluntary act of mercy.

3. His purpose in becoming poor was to make His poor people rich.