God calls us to the way of generosity and Dan Kent shows how this call is much larger than a set of rules for how we use our money. It’s about recognizing the story of the world versus the story of God. To be shaped by the world’s story is to only see what we possess because there is no ultimate victorious ending. But to be shaped by God’s story is to see the grandeur of what God is doing and the culmination of all things, which dwarfs anything that we can store up for ourselves.
Watch/Listen
The Way of Generosity
• Dan Kent
Show Extended Summary Hide Extended Summary
In this sermon, Dan Kent invites us to enter into the way of generosity, which stands in contrast to the pattern of greed. He acknowledges that we do not actually need to be told that generosity is a valuable virtue, but that the world changes us and shapes us to operate out of fear and self-protection. Each day we must recognize the way that the world shapes us and choose to go in a different way.
The way that we choose will be influenced by the story that shapes our imagination. A story is only as good as its ending. The world’s story is that of a sinking ship, and therefore, we must grab hold of all that we can while we can. The story of God has a shore, an eternal one that guarantees that we can trust God for our futures, and therefore we can trust God with our well-being.
These two stories will shape how we will view our possessions. Dan argues that the story of the world might look like pleasure and luxury are fulfilling, but ultimately they lead to boredom. Possessions themselves are not inherently evil, but the pursuit of them causes us to be consumed by them. Psalm 49:20 says that those who boast about money don’t understand. They don’t see how the story that they are living has shaped them. They can only see the things that they possess. When we buy into this story, we can never have enough. This is especially true when we compare ourselves to each other.
But the story of God is much larger than our possessions. This story opens our eyes to see that it’s not about what we own but what we are willing to give away. This is about more than money. It’s about time, attention, work and gifts. It’s about who we are as we encounter others.
The world’s story trains us to think it’s all about what we can get, like the encounter of Jesus with the Rich Young Ruler in Luke 18:18-25. He was not looking to change but to get more. In contrast, Zacchaeus (Luke 19:8-10) heard the story of God and gave away his wealth. He saw the lie of the world’s story and the truth changed him. His transformation led him to generosity.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Generosity, Greed, Transformation
Sermon Series: Walk the Way, Wholehearted
Downloads & Resources
Audio File
Study guide
Transcript
Group Study Guide
The MuseCast: July 22
Focus Scripture:
-
Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
