The document discusses generosity and its benefits. It summarizes: 1) Generosity is a gift from God, as shown by the churches in Macedonia who gave abundantly despite their poverty. 2) Giving creates meaning in life, as the Macedonians eagerly took part in relieving others and gave themselves to God and others. 3) One should strive to excel in generosity as in other virtues, and let it be what they are known for, as Paul encouraged the Corinthians.

2. Scarcity

3. Scarcity
Abundance

4. We want you to know, brothers, about the
grace of God that has been given among
the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe
test of affliction, their abundance of joy and
their extreme poverty have overflowed in a
wealth of generosity on their part. For they
gave according to their means, as I

5. can testify, and beyond their means, of
their own accord, begging us earnestly for
the favor of taking part in the relief of the
saints— and this, not as we expected, but
they gave themselves first to the Lord and
then by the will of God to us. Accordingly,
we urged Titus that as he had started, so

6. he should complete among you this act of
grace. But as you excel in everything—in
faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all
earnestness, and in our love for you—see
that you excel in this act of grace also.
- 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

7. Generosity:

8. Generosity:
1) Is a gift of God
…the grace of God that has been given among the
churches of Macedonia…
- v. 1

9. Did God give you what you
have so that it could be
yours, or so that it could be
yours to give?

10. Generosity:
2) Creates meaning in life
For they gave according to their means, as I can
testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the
relief of the saints—
- v. 4

11. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust destroy and
where thieves break in and steal, but lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys and where

12. thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also.
- Matthew 6:19-20

13. “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves
by means of unrighteous wealth, so that
when it fails they may receive you into the
eternal dwellings.”
- Luke 16:9

14. Generosity:
3) Should be what I’m known for
But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for
you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
- v. 7

15. How Do I Start?
Be Intentional