Rhythms: Week 02
A Rhythm of Stewardship

Myths about Generosity 

✓ Generosity is Spontaneous 

✓ Generosity is determined by cash flow 

✓ Rich People are Generous  

Key Thought: I cannot be a good steward and not be generous, but I cannot be generous if I’m not a good steward.

(Haggai 1:5-7) Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.

Developing A Rhythm of Stewardship

1. Put God  

(Leviticus 27:30 NLT) One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.

(Deuteronomy 14:23 TLB) The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.

(Malachi 3:10-11) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse … Test me in this … and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes …

(Proverbs 3:9-10) Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing …

2. what I have.

(Matthew 24:14-29 NLT) 19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ 23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ 

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ 28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

3. Give .

(2 Corinthians 9:6-7a NLT) Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

(2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT) You must each decide in your heart how much to give and don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure…

(Matthew 6:21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

4. Live in the of generosity.

(2 Corinthians 9:7b NLT) “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 

(Acts 20:35 NLT)And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

(2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NLT) For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. 

I cannot be a good steward and not be generous, but I cannot be generous if I’m not a good steward.