Stop Living in the Not Enough | Jabin Chavez

Why Generosity Matters Now

Scripture References

Primary text

• Philippians 4

Other references

• Proverbs 11:24
• 1 Timothy 6
• Genesis 22:2
• 2 Corinthians 9
• Galatians 6
• Matthew 10:42

Overview

Guest pastor Jabin Chávez closed the “Good Life” series by showing that a truly good life is a generous life. Working from Philippians 4, he explained that giving isn’t God taking from us; it’s God forming us—freeing our hearts from money, tying us to eternal purpose, reshaping our view of life, and blessing the next generation. The message blended clear Scripture teaching with vivid stories and ended with Pastor Craig’s challenge to trust God by giving and, ultimately, by surrendering our whole lives to Christ.

Context

• City Light Church (Las Vegas) planted in 2018; Pastor Jabin credited Life.Church for vital mentoring.
• Service wrapped up a three-week focus on “The Good Life” and prepared the church for Neighborhood Fall Fest, baptisms, and the upcoming “Unshakable” series in Daniel.

Main Points

Generosity sets me free

• Giving breaks the love of money and the fear of not having enough.
• 1 Timothy 6 warns against putting hope in wealth; hope belongs in God, “who richly provides…for our enjoyment.”
• Illustration: At In-N-Out with his 7-year-old, Jabin took a single french fry; she protested, “Those are my fries!” He reminded her every item on the table—and the car and the house—actually came from him. Likewise, everything we “have” is God’s.
• We don’t pray our way out of greed; we give our way out of greed.

Generosity connects me to Kingdom purpose

• The Philippians were the only church that partnered financially with Paul, and the impact reached 100 miles away in Thessalonica—places they would never travel.
• 2 Corinthians 9: giving meets needs and causes people to thank God.
• Money becomes ministry when it is sewn into God’s work: every salvaged life, Bible downloaded, child discipled, and inmate reached is credited to the giver’s eternal account.

Generosity changes how I see my life

• Galatians 6: we reap what we sow; giving moves money from the world’s system of decrease into God’s economy of increase.
• Like a farmer who trusts the unseen harvest, givers live for future impact, not momentary consumption.
• “I don’t give to get; I give to give again.”

Generosity links my heart to the next generation

• Matthew 10:42—God rewards those who serve “little ones.”
• God told Jabin: “If you build for the rich, they will be your source; if you build for the next generation, I will be your Source.”
• City Light re-centered its vision on kids and students; God provided even after its three largest givers moved away.

Key Truths

• God is a giver; loving always results in giving.
• The world of the generous grows larger, while stinginess shrinks the soul.
• We cannot out-give God—He becomes Jehovah Jireh to those who trust Him.
• Money only brings lasting joy when it carries a Kingdom mission.
• Giving turns every believer into a full-time minister, partnering with God to change lives we may never meet.

Response

• Recognize everything you “own” already belongs to God.
• Start tithing—put God first in your finances and trust Him with the rest.
• Look for ways to bless the next generation: serve in kids’ ministry, fund Bible resources, support student outreach.
• Move a specific possession or amount of money from personal use into Kingdom impact this week.
• Invite a neighbor to Fall Fest or church, extending generosity beyond money to relationships.

Closing

Pastor Craig thanked the church for leading “with irrational generosity” and prayed that each person would find joy in blessing others. He especially urged those hurting financially to test God’s faithfulness by tithing, then invited anyone far from God to put Jesus first—an act of surrender even greater than financial giving.

“We truly believe it’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

Prayer

Pastor Craig asked God to increase faith for first-time and lifelong givers alike, to meet every need “according to Your riches in Christ Jesus,” and to make Life.Church a continual blessing to people everywhere.