Radical Generosity

Christ Restoration Church Sermons

Proverbs 11:24-25, 28, Proverbs 3:9-10, Matthew 6:1-4, 21
October 13, 2024
preached by Pastor Chris Audino
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“I am not a greedy man. If I was, why would I donate to charity? I care about others as well.”

~John Rockefeller

“I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for alms from me, the rich man for the alms of my envy, the poor man for the alms of my guilt.”

~Ben Hecht, American writer

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

~Jesus (Luke 12:15)

“All treasures will demand that you die for them, but Jesus – the greatest treasure – died for you. He lost everything for you. You are more valuable to Him than the universe — than even His own glory… YOU are His treasure! You are the ultimate treasure of His life.”

~Tim Keller

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

~Jesus (as recounted by the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:35)

“Why do we not observe how the charity of Christians to strangers… has done the most to advance their cause? For it is disgraceful that… the impious Galileans [aka Christians] support our poor in addition to their own, while everyone is able to see that our coreligionists lack aid from us!”

~Roman Emperor Julian, Letter to Arsacius, 360 AD

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”

~C.S. Lewis

Sermon Passage

Proverbs 11:24-25, 28, Proverbs 3:9-10, Matthew 6:1-4, 21 (ESV)

Proverbs 11

²⁴ One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give,
and only suffers want.
²⁵ Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered…
²⁸ Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

Proverbs 3

⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Matthew 6

¹ “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

² “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you….

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.