3 Qualities of Generous People

Excel in the Grace of Giving

Scripture References

Primary text

• 2 Corinthians 8:6
• 2 Corinthians 8:7
• 2 Corinthians 8:10
• 2 Corinthians 8:11

Other references

• Isaiah 32:8
• Leviticus 27:30
• 1 Corinthians 16:2

Overview

Week two of “More Than Enough” urges us to become world-class givers. Paul told the Corinthians to “finish the ministry of giving” they had started, and Pastor Craig showed that generosity is not accidental—it is planned, willing, proportional, and often sacrificial. We are naturally selfish, so we must train ourselves to give in a way that mirrors God’s own heart: “God so loved … He gave.”

Context

• Corinthian believers had promised an offering for struggling Christians but never completed it.
• Paul’s letter (2 Corinthians 8–9) calls them—and us—to move from good intentions to completed generosity.

Main Points

1. Generous people give willingly

• Paul noted the church’s strong faith, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love, then added, “Excel also in this grace of giving.”
• God watches both the amount and the motive; the heart matters.
• Pastor Craig’s gift-card story (the Chili’s card with only $2.43 left) illustrated how a half-hearted gift misses the mark.
• Giving should not be driven by guilt, image, or obligation but by gratitude to God and love for people.

2. Generous people give proportionately

• “Give in proportion to what you have” (2 Cor 8:11).
• Old-Testament pattern: the tithe—returning the first tenth to God (Lev 27:30).
• New-Testament pattern: set aside a portion on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:2).
• Starting to tithe often requires rearranging life around God, but God invites us to test His faithfulness.
  • Story: As a 19-year-old, Craig tithed the biggest check of his life; days later his grandmother unexpectedly bought him a car, and the momentum of that obedience opened doors for future provision and stewardship.
• If 10 % feels impossible, begin somewhere—a planned percentage trains the heart toward generosity.

3. Generous people give sacrificially

• Jesus praised the widow who put two small coins in the temple treasury; she “gave everything she had.”
• True sacrifice is felt—time, energy, or resources that cost us comfort.
  • Story: Craig and Amy gave their saved vacation money to fund a life-group couple’s adoption. God surprised them with a free condo in Steamboat Springs, a place that has refreshed them for 23 straight years.
• “You cannot out-give God”—His provision may be financial, relational, or spiritual, but He always proves faithful.

Key Truths

• Giving is a ministry on par with praying, fasting, and serving.
• Good intentions do not bless people; completed generosity does.
• There is a vast difference between giving occasionally and living generously.
• Planning breaks the grip of selfishness and anchors generosity into everyday life.
• Sacrificial giving positions us to see God’s extraordinary provision.

Response

• Plan a percentage of each paycheck to return to God first.
• Review current spending to identify where “barn blessings” can be redirected to eternal impact.
• Look for a specific need this week and meet it willingly, without fanfare.
• Pray for a heart that celebrates sacrifice instead of fearing it.
• Revisit unfinished commitments—“finish the work” you once intended to do.

Closing

Paul’s challenge is clear: don’t merely admire generosity, excel in it. When we give first, proportionately, and even sacrificially, we reflect the God who willingly gave His Son. The world is changed by completed generosity, not unfulfilled intentions.

“You may never be more like God than when you give.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of sending Your Son.
I give my life to Him.
Jesus, forgive me, save me from all of my sins, and make me brand-new.
Fill me with Your Spirit so I can know You, serve You, and follow You.
Make me like You—full of love, compassion, and generosity—to show Your love to a world that needs You.
Thank You for new life; I give You all of mine.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.