The Big is in the Little
Part 3 of the "Content Life" message series
3 And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 for they all contributed to the offering from their surplus; but she, from her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.” – Luke 21:3-4 (NASB)
The BIG Idea:
A thankful heart is a cheerful heart, and it will always give joyfully and generously. Use acts of thanksgiving and gratitude to share the grace and love the Lord has shown you. When we have a “Content Life,” we live our lives in a way that brings glory to God. Generosity is something that must be practiced regardless of what we have. Followers of Jesus are to always be ready to offer praise to God for God’s provision.
The hallmark of a content and thankful heart is generosity.
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner!” 40 And Jesus responded and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”41 “A moneylender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other, fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he canceled the debts of both. So, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss; but she has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 And then those who were reclining at the table with Him began saying to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:36-50 (NASB)
Understanding the depth of our sin and the magnitude of the Lord’s forgiveness will move us to acts of thanksgiving, which moves us to greater love and greater generosity.
Followers of Jesus should look to the Lord in thanksgiving.
12 I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:12-13 (NASB)
When we have a content life, we live our lives in a way that brings glory to God.
12 If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread. 14 Of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. 15 ‘Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning. – Leviticus 7:12-15 (NASB)
Generosity is something that must be practiced regardless of what we have.
ILLUSTRATION: The Guatemalan Pastor’s family providing the meal of gratitude.
ILLUSTRATION: The widow living in poverty with Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem
ILLUSTRATION: Weightlifting
If we practice sharing and generosity when we have little, it becomes a habit that increases along with gifts the Lord gives to us.
Questions for Reflection:
What are some of the things you first think of when you hear the word “Thanksgiving?”
What is one way to show thankfulness to God for the provision of God?
What are some of God’s blessings and provisions you typically take for granted most days?
When is the best time to practice thankfulness?
Are there times in your life in which you need to work to be more generous with your resources?
What are some ways to practice generosity in your current phase of life?
The BIG Idea:
A thankful heart is a cheerful heart, and it will always give joyfully and generously. Use acts of thanksgiving and gratitude to share the grace and love the Lord has shown you. When we have a “Content Life,” we live our lives in a way that brings glory to God. Generosity is something that must be practiced regardless of what we have. Followers of Jesus are to always be ready to offer praise to God for God’s provision.
The hallmark of a content and thankful heart is generosity.
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner!” 40 And Jesus responded and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”41 “A moneylender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other, fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he canceled the debts of both. So, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss; but she has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 And then those who were reclining at the table with Him began saying to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:36-50 (NASB)
Understanding the depth of our sin and the magnitude of the Lord’s forgiveness will move us to acts of thanksgiving, which moves us to greater love and greater generosity.
Followers of Jesus should look to the Lord in thanksgiving.
12 I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:12-13 (NASB)
When we have a content life, we live our lives in a way that brings glory to God.
12 If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread. 14 Of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. 15 ‘Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning. – Leviticus 7:12-15 (NASB)
Generosity is something that must be practiced regardless of what we have.
ILLUSTRATION: The Guatemalan Pastor’s family providing the meal of gratitude.
ILLUSTRATION: The widow living in poverty with Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem
ILLUSTRATION: Weightlifting
If we practice sharing and generosity when we have little, it becomes a habit that increases along with gifts the Lord gives to us.
Questions for Reflection:
What are some of the things you first think of when you hear the word “Thanksgiving?”
What is one way to show thankfulness to God for the provision of God?
What are some of God’s blessings and provisions you typically take for granted most days?
When is the best time to practice thankfulness?
Are there times in your life in which you need to work to be more generous with your resources?
What are some ways to practice generosity in your current phase of life?