The Responsibility of Being Blessed

Rich Enough to Be Generous

Scripture References

Primary text

• 2 Corinthians 9
• 2 Corinthians 9:8
• 2 Corinthians 9:11

Other references

• Ecclesiastes 5
• Luke 12
• Luke 18

Overview

The message closes the “More Than Enough” series by confronting two linked truths: most of us are far richer than we realize, and that very richness can either trap us spiritually or release astonishing generosity. Drawing on 2 Corinthians 9, Craig Groeschel shows that God “enriches” His people so they can “always be generous.” The sermon dismantles the myth that “more is for me,” invites every listener to own the declaration “God has blessed me with more than I need—I'm rich,” and illustrates how small, faithful acts converge through the church to change lives locally and worldwide.

Main Points

Most of us are richer than we feel

• Wealth lines keep moving; once we reach a number, the “rich line” shifts.
• Everyday indicators of hidden wealth: $1,000 phones, choice between homemade or barista coffee, name-brand groceries, multiple cars—some even housed in garages.
• Illustration: Driving past 7–10 restaurants to reach a preferred one and then arguing about where to eat reveals surplus most of the world never sees.
• Blockquote power statement (first occurrence):

  “God has blessed me with more than I need—I'm rich.”

Wealth brings spiritual dangers

• Riches are a gift, yet they can dull dependence on God.
• Ecclesiastes 5 affirms wealth and the ability to enjoy it as God’s gift—nothing to apologize for.
• Jesus’ encounters with the rich young ruler (Luke 18) and the rich farmer (Luke 12) show how possessions can possess us.
• Spiritual disadvantage: full cupboards keep us from praying “Give us today our daily bread” in earnest; trust drifts toward bank balances instead of God.

God blesses us so we can always be generous

• 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11—“enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.”
• Greek word for “enriched” appears only three times, each in Corinthians; translations render it “blessed,” “made rich,” or “rich enough.”
• New combined confession:
  “God has blessed me with more than I need—I'm rich. Because I have more, I will do more and give more.”
• The mistake: assuming extra is automatically for personal consumption. God intends overflow for sharing.

Together, the church multiplies our “little” into global impact

• No one feels like they do much—an hour in LifeKids, a smile at the door, a percentage of income—but unity amplifies impact.
• Story & stats:
  • 28-year average growth of 21 % per year in physical attendance.
  • Millions attend Life.Church Online weekly; tens of thousands saved.
  • 700,000+ pastors worldwide download free resources—double the number of U.S. churches.
  • YouVersion Bible App now on 700 million devices, fully donor-funded; goal: Scripture for “everyone, everywhere, every day.”
  • 130 local and 13 global mission partners covering needs from clean water to human-trafficking rescue (comprehensive list shown).
• The church is “big enough to reach the world and small enough to care for the one.”

Personal story: Beth—met by generosity, transformed by grace

• Beth, angry at God and newly single, visited anonymously after repeated invites.
• Hearing the campus pastor say people in need could take from the offering stunned her; she did so week after week.
• Revelation: the cash was God’s tangible love, pointing to the greater gift of Jesus. She surrendered to Christ, was prayed for, joined a small group, found a better job, and eventually married a group member.
• Today she tithes faithfully and adds a $20 cash gift weekly, hoping someone else in need will meet God’s kindness as she did.

Key Truths

• Richness is not primarily a feeling; it is objective provision from God.
• Gifts from God (including money) are meant to flow through us, not stop with us.
• Wealth without purpose becomes a spiritual handicap; wealth with generosity becomes Kingdom leverage.
• Collective obedience turns individual “little” into global Gospel reach.
• Declaring and believing “I’m rich” positions the heart for responsibility, not pride.

Response

• Admit your richness out loud until it feels true.
• Budget generosity first—return the tithe, then plan offerings that stretch faith.
• Serve regularly in the local church; pair time with treasure.
• View every increase as potential seed, not merely supply.
• Celebrate church wins; let evidence of impact keep your heart open.
• Tell someone this week how God has provided for you and invite them into the same grace.

Closing

Craig reminded the congregation that being “enriched in every way” is both blessing and assignment. Our surplus exists so we “can always be generous,” leading others to thank God. When each member offers their part, the church becomes an unstoppable force for hope—global in scope, personal in touch.

“Because I have more, I will do more and give more.”

Prayer

The pastor thanked God for His goodness, asked Him to relieve those under financial pressure, and prayed that every believer would grow in “irrational generosity,” using their surplus to meet needs and point people to Jesus. A salvation invitation followed, celebrating hands raised and lives made new.