Better Together

The Blessing of Generosity | Better Together Episode 1170

May 22, 2026 | S8 E1170 | 50:59

True generosity is not measured by wealth, but by the condition of the heart. When we give as an act of worship, we receive joy and blessings that transcend material possessions. What is sown in generosity is often returned in ways only God can multiply. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#Generosity #Giving #Blessing #Humility #Serving #Stewardship #Joy #Compassion #Abundance #Kindness #Sacrifice #Prosperity #Offering #Heart #Money #LaurieCrouch #SheilaWalsh #DeeDeeFreeman #FaithEuryCho #NonaJones

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Show Timecode

Better Together | The Blessing of Generosity | Better Together Episode 1170 | May 22, 2026

Beeping sound
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(upbeat music)
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- you cannot out-give god.
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And when we are generous with others, we are sowing seeds
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That change lives
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And grow a harvest of provision for generations.
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Come on, let's talk about it.
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- this week's conversations have been amazing.
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No, really, they have been so enlightening, i'll say that,
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And inspiring.
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It really has been, and i'm praying that everything
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That we have shared has really resonated
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In the hearts of those that have been viewing.
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And so today, we're just gonna continue the conversation,
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We're talking about the blessing of generosity.
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I love this part right here, i really do.
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But proverbs 11 and 24, i wanna read that,
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In 25 it says, "there is one who scatters,
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Yet increases more,
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And there is one who withholds more than is right,
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But it leads to poverty."
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Then it goes on, it says,
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"the generous soul will be made rich,
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And he who waters will also be watered himself."
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And i really like verse 25,
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I really wanted to pull that out a little bit,
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Because it made me think about my parents
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And how we grew up,
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How they raised seven children in a three-bedroom house.
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So you think about, seven kids, two parents,
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In a three-bedroom house with one restroom.
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We had a basement, and we always had someone living with us,
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Always.
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My dad was from north carolina,
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And he had nieces and nephews
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Who always wanted to come to dc, they wanted to live in dc.
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So, we would be like the transitional spot
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Where they all would come and stay,
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Some two years, not a week.
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- [faith] oh wow.
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- two years, three years. - mercy.
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- 10, we had somebody.,
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- still one bathroom.
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- one bathroom in a three-bedroom house.
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I mean, our whole house was not bigger
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Than this whole area right here, "better together."
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And my dad was always making sure
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That everyone was taken care of.
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And it taught me something,
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It didn't really teach me anything then,
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But later, you know, hindsight, when you look back
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And you always ask like, god,
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Why did my parents do all of that with nothing?
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But it taught me
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That generosity is about a position of the heart,
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And not out of abundance.
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So my dad and my mom didn't do stuff,
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Or give to people out of the abundance of what they had,
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It was out of the abundance of their heart.
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Because we never had enough,
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We never had enough space, never had enough money,
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Never had enough of anything, but just that.
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So it made me really see that god, you are so good,
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And the generous soul will be made rich.
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And when you think about it, i think, laura,
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You were talking earlier when you was given that john 3,
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About how god wish above all things that we prosper,
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Even as our soul prosper,
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If we can get it into the prosperity of our soul first
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And start giving out of that,
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And then we can reap all of the things
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That we all want in life.
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Everybody wants to be provided for, you know?
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At a level of whichever is comfortable to them.
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But i would like to say this,
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And then we can really get into this conversation,
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Because i would like to understand more of,
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What does that look like to you?
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'cause i think earlier we talked about having stuff,
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You know, having so much, people want a lot of stuff.
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And one of the things that i've learned is
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That this richness is not always in the abundance of stuff,
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But the abundance of who god is on the inside of you,
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And how everybody should experience the overflow
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Of who god is in you, right?
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But when i think about stuff,
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And if everybody could really understand this,
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Stuff is empty.
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- right. - absolutely.
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- stuff doesn't make you feel better.
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- satisfied.
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- like, you know when people always want a new car
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Or something, they get that new car,
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And then they gotta make that second payment,
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The first payment you're excited about,
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But when you have to make that second payment,
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It becomes empty.
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You know, you're looking like, oh, did i really need it?
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But you're stuck at that point, right?
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And so if you can really become happy
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And satisfied with who you are, and your assignment,
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(gentle music)
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And allow that to be the richness of who god is
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On the inside of you.
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- one of the things i watched
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In my own family growing up was,
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My mom had very little in terms of,
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You know, these kind of world's riches,
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She just really didn't, she had a very small, tight budget
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And three young children to raise.
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And yet, the interesting thing for me about my mom was
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That my mom was generous.
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She would give, and i would sometimes think, mom,
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We've hardly got enough for ourselves,
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Why are you giving to somebody else?
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But what i saw was that because of my mom's heart posture,
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'cause it's all to do with our hearts,
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Because she had the heart to see other people
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And to reach out and touch them.
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Even if it was something as simple as,
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We didn't have a lot of money, so what she would do is,
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My brother and my sister
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And i were each given a vegetable garden,
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And we each got to grow vegetables.
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But we never got to keep them all for ourselves.
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I was potatoes, that was mine, my brother was carrots,
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And i can't remember what my sister was.
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But whenever i would go
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And i would get all the potatoes out,
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Then we would have some for family,
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And then my mom would say, "okay,
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Who would you like to give these ones to?"
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It doesn't matter how little you have,
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We can always do something for somebody else.
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- when i was 16, my parents got me a car,
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And it was with their hard-earned money, you know?
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And it was a great car,
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So i remember thinking like, i peaked.
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(all chuckle)
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And, this is like the best day of my life, you know?
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But i remember driving around in that car
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And coming back home, and kind of feeling like empty,
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You know, almost, and feeling really guilt-
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- guilty about feeling empty,
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Because i didn't wanna be ungrateful.
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You know, i might be butchering this quote,
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But jim carey, at one point,
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He is like, you know, recorded to have said,
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"i wish everybody will get all the fame and riches
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That they ever wanted." - i read that.
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- "so that they could realize
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Just how empty and meaningless it really is."
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After i got this car that came with the red bow
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And, you know, was everything i could imagine,
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And then some, right?
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I remember opening up my journal
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And writing a letter to jesus.
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I was like a newer christian at this time.
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And i remember writing, "jesus, thank you for the car.
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It's really cool.
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But if there is more to this life than just this,
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I want it and can i have that?"
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And i closed that journal,
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I never wrote in it like since actually.
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But i remember, in february of the following year,
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I was at a retreat,
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And got this fresh filling of the holy spirit.
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And, man!
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And i know all of you here
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Know when you receive that filling,
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That encounter with god,
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It's like you could say yes to anything, you know?
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And i remember, like, going through that,
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And then, for some reason,
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The pastor who was leading the service, was like,
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"you know, student over there,
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Why don't you come up here to pray?"
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And i'm thinking, "what a weirdo," you know?
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"pastors are weird," blah, blah, blah.
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I was just a kid, you know?
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And then, i go up and i pray.
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And while i'm praying he's laughing.
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And i'm like, "why is this guy laughing?"
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And he looked at me, and he said, "i don't know why,
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But i feel like the lord
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Is telling me to tell you merry christmas."
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And i got that car on christmas.
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- yeah. - yeah.
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Honestly, when he said that, i remember thinking,
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"i don't know what he's talking about."
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And then, going back to my seat,
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And then upon thinking about it, i realized,
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"oh my goodness, i wrote that prayer on christmas
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And i haven't prayed since." - wow.
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- number one, he's not yelling at me
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'cause i haven't braked since, but this is the more.
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I think we have a distorted desire
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When we think that all we want is just that car,
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Those shoes, that lifestyle.
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Although those are all great-
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- yeah, that's what i was getting ready to say.
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'cause i don't want people to think
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That i would sit here- - yeah, yeah, yeah.
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- and not want those things. - oh, absolutely.
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- you know, but i really want them to know, it's like,
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"yeah, i want the stuff that god told me that i can have."
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But, at the same time, like even giving out of,
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I think about the posture and the position
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That my parents had an understanding
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That prosperity or generosity comes out of your soul.
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And so we think that you have to have everything established
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And all of this stuff in order to be a giver
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Or a partaker of god's goodness, and you don't.
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- what's in your hand?
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God has placed something in your hand.
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We always have something to give,
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Whether it's a smile, or if it's a hug, (chuckles)
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Or whether it's a dollar.
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God will give seed to the sower.
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That's what the "bible" says.
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We all have something that we can give.
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Whether it's sacrificial,
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Maybe you have plenty you wanna just give away,
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Give something, do it for yourself.
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It's more blessed to give than to receive.
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God's word is true,
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And that is a statement in the "bible."
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It is more blessed to give than to receive.
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And you cannot out-give god.
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No matter what you give him.
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He knows what you need,
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And so you know what you need, too.
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So sow what you need, god has got plenty for you.
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- but it's like i like the stuff, too.
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I like the stuff, too.
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But i think there should be a balance in what we desire.
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It's like, what's the purpose of, why do you want this?
00:10:43.688 --> 00:10:46.224
- so many times people want it because,
00:10:46.224 --> 00:10:48.660
And see, having worked at meta for so many years,
00:10:48.660 --> 00:10:50.829
Like i get it.
00:10:50.829 --> 00:10:52.363
Like, on social media, everybody posts their highlight reel.
00:10:52.363 --> 00:10:54.699
Everybody posts the day they got the car,
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They got the house, they got engaged,
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They got the shoes, they got the this.
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And so what people want, really behind the thing,
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Is they want to matter. - mmm.
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- like, people use the stuff as a proxy for "i matter."
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"look at me because i have the thing."
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"look at me because of what i'm doing, i matter."
00:11:11.983 --> 00:11:15.687
I think where the word of god is true
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Is "godliness with contentment is great gain."
00:11:18.356 --> 00:11:20.992
Because when you know that you matter to god,
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It's not the stuff that makes me matter.
00:11:24.629 --> 00:11:26.231
- right. - i enjoy the stuff.
00:11:26.231 --> 00:11:27.599
Like, i agree with you. listen, i like the stuff.
00:11:27.599 --> 00:11:30.001
My husband will tell you.
00:11:30.001 --> 00:11:30.969
He calls me bougie to the max.
00:11:30.969 --> 00:11:33.838
I like the stuff.
00:11:33.838 --> 00:11:35.573
But if i don't have the stuff, i'm not gonna die.
00:11:35.573 --> 00:11:37.408
Like, i'm okay, and i don't have to post it on social media
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To get likes for people to see that i have the stuff.
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I very rarely post anything i have,
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Very, very, very, very rarely,
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Because i'm not looking for somebody to be like,
00:11:48.653 --> 00:11:50.121
"oh, look at what she has."
00:11:50.121 --> 00:11:51.256
It doesn't matter.
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I enjoy the stuff i have, but that doesn't make me,
00:11:52.724 --> 00:11:54.826
And i think that's where people get trapped.
00:11:54.826 --> 00:11:56.361
- yeah. and you're such a generous person though.
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- mm-hmm. - so you will always have,
00:11:59.564 --> 00:12:01.800
And i don't think people see that as well,
00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:04.469
'cause we were talking about the blessing
00:12:04.469 --> 00:12:07.038
Of the generosity, right?
00:12:07.038 --> 00:12:08.840
And so what comes from being generous?
00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:12.010
So you will always be provided for.
00:12:12.010 --> 00:12:14.145
I mean, you have stretched me in some areas.
00:12:14.145 --> 00:12:17.282
We were together in the bahamas or something.
00:12:17.282 --> 00:12:20.518
And we're at the gas station,
00:12:20.518 --> 00:12:22.453
The gas stations, they still pump your gas for you,
00:12:22.453 --> 00:12:25.623
Which is amazing, right?
00:12:25.623 --> 00:12:27.759
So we're at the gas station,
00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.494
And say if i was getting $20 worth of gas
00:12:29.494 --> 00:12:33.231
And i had a $100 bill may be an exaggeration, but not.
00:12:33.231 --> 00:12:36.901
I'm paying giving a $100 bill and waiting on the change.
00:12:36.901 --> 00:12:42.173
And i was gonna tip,
00:12:42.640 --> 00:12:43.608
And nona's looking to me like,
00:12:43.608 --> 00:12:45.143
"you're gonna let him have the whole thing, aren't you?"
00:12:45.143 --> 00:12:47.045
And i'm like, "the whole thing?"
00:12:47.045 --> 00:12:49.314
(everyone laughing)
00:12:49.314 --> 00:12:53.885
I mean. - wow.
00:12:54.285 --> 00:12:55.787
- but people don't get it, that's a posture of your heart.
00:12:55.787 --> 00:12:59.390
You know, that's a position.
00:12:59.390 --> 00:13:01.159
And so we want stuff, but we don't have the heart for it.
00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:05.663
- because generosity is an act of faith.
00:13:05.663 --> 00:13:07.365
- it's an act of faith.
00:13:07.365 --> 00:13:08.666
- and i'ma tell you the revelation god gave me
00:13:08.666 --> 00:13:10.201
About generosity that rocked me.
00:13:10.201 --> 00:13:11.603
I always thought generosity was just giving.
00:13:11.603 --> 00:13:14.072
And, as a matter of fact,
00:13:14.072 --> 00:13:15.306
I would look at the amount that i gave
00:13:15.306 --> 00:13:17.075
And i would think i was being generous.
00:13:17.075 --> 00:13:18.810
But where god convicted me is, he said,
00:13:18.810 --> 00:13:20.945
"it's not the amount that you give that makes you generous.
00:13:20.945 --> 00:13:24.315
It's the proportion of what you give to what you have-"
00:13:24.315 --> 00:13:26.184
- come on. - "that makes you generous."
00:13:26.184 --> 00:13:28.386
Because if i have a million dollars and i give a thousand,
00:13:28.386 --> 00:13:32.590
To some people, that would be incredibly generous, right?
00:13:32.590 --> 00:13:35.026
'cause they don't have that.
00:13:35.026 --> 00:13:36.995
And you're thinking you're being generous,
00:13:36.995 --> 00:13:38.529
But you give according to your faith.
00:13:38.529 --> 00:13:42.066
And that's why the widow's might was so important.
00:13:42.066 --> 00:13:45.937
This woman gave out of scarcity, not out of abundance.
00:13:45.937 --> 00:13:50.275
- generosity is totally an act of faith.
00:13:51.075 --> 00:13:54.579
The "bible" says that "faith without works is dead."
00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:58.549
You had to do something or you have to do something
00:13:58.549 --> 00:14:02.020
To demonstrate your faith.
00:14:02.020 --> 00:14:03.955
Well, generosity is an act of giving.
00:14:03.955 --> 00:14:07.158
It's an act of doing.
00:14:07.158 --> 00:14:09.027
So it's the same thing.
00:14:09.027 --> 00:14:10.795
So you cannot be generous without operating in faith.
00:14:10.795 --> 00:14:14.999
You cannot say, "i have faith" and not be generous.
00:14:14.999 --> 00:14:18.336
So generosity is an act of your faith.
00:14:18.336 --> 00:14:21.572
So be generous today and act on your faith,
00:14:21.572 --> 00:14:24.876
And be a blessing to others.
00:14:24.876 --> 00:14:27.478
(gentle music)
00:14:27.478 --> 00:14:31.716
- if you feel unqualified
00:14:32.283 --> 00:14:34.052
Or for some reason not equipped to help other people,
00:14:34.052 --> 00:14:37.088
I would say you are in great company
00:14:37.088 --> 00:14:39.524
Because most of everyone who has ever done anything amazing
00:14:39.524 --> 00:14:43.494
For god felt the exact same way.
00:14:43.494 --> 00:14:46.931
And the reason for that is god is very intentional
00:14:46.931 --> 00:14:50.802
About using those who are unqualified
00:14:50.802 --> 00:14:53.805
To accomplish his purposes.
00:14:53.805 --> 00:14:55.473
You may feel like, i don't have enough money,
00:14:55.473 --> 00:14:57.508
I don't have enough time.
00:14:57.508 --> 00:14:58.943
I don't have the experience
00:14:58.943 --> 00:15:00.278
That this opportunity requires or calls for.
00:15:00.278 --> 00:15:02.780
And god is saying, "that's exactly why i'm calling you."
00:15:02.780 --> 00:15:05.850
Because it is through your weaknesses
00:15:05.850 --> 00:15:09.187
That god is able to prove his strength.
00:15:09.187 --> 00:15:11.422
And so, all you have to do is say, yes,
00:15:11.422 --> 00:15:13.491
And the grace of god will still work through
00:15:13.491 --> 00:15:15.560
What you consider to be your unqualifications.
00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:18.696
(calm bright music)
00:15:19.163 --> 00:15:20.331
- let's keep the conversation going.
00:15:20.331 --> 00:15:22.533
- connect with us on social media
00:15:22.533 --> 00:15:23.901
And share your favorite moments from today.
00:15:23.901 --> 00:15:26.037
- we are better together because of you.
00:15:26.037 --> 00:15:29.207
- [presenter] be the first to know
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All the latest "better together" updates.
00:15:31.242 --> 00:15:33.644
Visit bettertogether.tv to sign up
00:15:33.644 --> 00:15:36.080
For our weekly emails and never miss the latest news.
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00:15:40.993 --> 00:15:47.226
- one of the great adventures in life offered
00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:50.462
To anybody who loves jesus is to partner with him.
00:15:50.462 --> 00:15:54.299
One of my things that i do now every single day is i'll say,
00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:58.771
Holy spirit, today, help me to see what i would miss
00:15:58.771 --> 00:16:01.373
Without you and help me to hear
00:16:01.373 --> 00:16:02.908
What somebody's actually feeling,
00:16:02.908 --> 00:16:04.576
Rather than what they're saying.
00:16:04.576 --> 00:16:06.111
Sometimes, you know, people are living with a lot of stress
00:16:06.111 --> 00:16:08.714
And sometimes somebody can seem like they're angry,
00:16:08.714 --> 00:16:10.749
But they're actually really hurting.
00:16:10.749 --> 00:16:12.718
Like the last time, last week, i was walking
00:16:12.718 --> 00:16:14.253
Through the airport and saw a woman sitting by herself
00:16:14.253 --> 00:16:17.523
And i just, i felt the holy spirit say,
00:16:17.523 --> 00:16:19.458
"you know, why don't you just go say, hello?"
00:16:19.458 --> 00:16:21.360
So, i went over and you never know.
00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.162
I mean, i don't know if this woman's
00:16:23.162 --> 00:16:24.463
Gonna say, who are you lady and go away?
00:16:24.463 --> 00:16:26.498
But i sat down beside her and she turned
00:16:26.498 --> 00:16:29.168
And she said, "i know who you are."
00:16:29.168 --> 00:16:31.570
And what i didn't know was she was going
00:16:31.570 --> 00:16:33.372
Through a really hard time.
00:16:33.372 --> 00:16:34.773
So, just to get an opportunity to pray with her,
00:16:34.773 --> 00:16:37.309
I mean, that's what we all want.
00:16:37.309 --> 00:16:38.877
We want all want to know god sees us and he cares about us,
00:16:38.877 --> 00:16:41.713
And we get to be that for each other.
00:16:41.713 --> 00:16:44.450
(calm guitar music)
00:16:44.917 --> 00:16:47.953
- and i think that's why jesus, i mean,
00:16:47.953 --> 00:16:50.522
Out of everything that he taught, he taught about money,
00:16:50.522 --> 00:16:53.792
Probably more than most,
00:16:53.792 --> 00:16:55.294
Right? - more than anything.
00:16:55.294 --> 00:16:56.762
- it's where your treasure is.
00:16:56.762 --> 00:16:57.896
- it's because like where you put
00:16:57.896 --> 00:16:59.164
Your resources shows what you trusted.
00:16:59.164 --> 00:17:03.035
- absolutely. - right?
00:17:03.035 --> 00:17:04.303
- it like shows your theology, you know?
00:17:04.303 --> 00:17:06.605
I've realized you don't see someone's belief system
00:17:06.605 --> 00:17:11.043
By how they act in church.
00:17:11.043 --> 00:17:12.611
It's how they spend their money.
00:17:12.611 --> 00:17:14.012
- yes. - right? and it's hard.
00:17:14.012 --> 00:17:15.647
It's hard. i'm not even gonna lie.
00:17:15.647 --> 00:17:17.449
It's hard, you know,
00:17:17.449 --> 00:17:18.884
But like, i'm remembering, okay, 1 chronicles 29,
00:17:18.884 --> 00:17:21.620
It's like david is building the temple.
00:17:21.620 --> 00:17:23.789
Like this is his life, life dedication, right?
00:17:23.789 --> 00:17:26.992
And he gives almost- - yes.
00:17:26.992 --> 00:17:28.594
- like a national treasury amount.
00:17:28.594 --> 00:17:31.964
- [nona] yes. - right?
00:17:31.964 --> 00:17:33.365
And he is challenging other people to give too.
00:17:33.365 --> 00:17:35.968
Like just as generously as he's giving,
00:17:35.968 --> 00:17:38.070
Like he's giving, like discretionary funds.
00:17:38.070 --> 00:17:40.906
Like, you know what i'm saying?
00:17:40.906 --> 00:17:41.940
- right, right. - [nona] yeah.
00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.375
- well, he keeps on repeating in 1 chronicles 29,
00:17:43.375 --> 00:17:44.743
"it was all yours anyways."
00:17:44.743 --> 00:17:46.879
- what could i gain? - it was all yours anyway.
00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:48.480
It was all yours anyway and so much joy.
00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:52.117
- yes. - right?
00:17:52.117 --> 00:17:53.051
It's just all over that chapter.
00:17:53.051 --> 00:17:54.887
And actually, joy and giving are tied together-
00:17:54.887 --> 00:17:59.024
- always. - [faith] in scripture.
00:17:59.024 --> 00:18:00.058
- i feel so much joy when i give.
00:18:00.058 --> 00:18:00.993
- and not joy before giving,
00:18:00.993 --> 00:18:02.761
Joy as you give and after you give,
00:18:02.761 --> 00:18:04.930
- [nona] yes, that's true. - you know?
00:18:04.930 --> 00:18:06.298
- 'cause if your heart was not aligned before,
00:18:06.298 --> 00:18:08.133
It's gonna be aligned after you give,
00:18:08.133 --> 00:18:10.002
(chuckles) right? you know?
00:18:10.002 --> 00:18:12.037
And i think sometimes we are waiting to want to give.
00:18:12.037 --> 00:18:16.008
Yeah. - [nona] yeah.
00:18:16.008 --> 00:18:17.476
- you know, we're waiting to be like a worthy giver.
00:18:17.476 --> 00:18:20.712
- [deedee] yeah.
00:18:20.712 --> 00:18:21.680
- you know, we're like, well,
00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.948
I'm not cheerful enough for this, you know?
00:18:22.948 --> 00:18:24.316
- or we're waiting to reach a certain amount
00:18:24.316 --> 00:18:25.484
In our bank account before we give.
00:18:25.484 --> 00:18:26.185
- right, right.
00:18:26.185 --> 00:18:27.553
- and we feel like if only i had this much,
00:18:27.553 --> 00:18:29.521
Then i would be generous.
00:18:29.521 --> 00:18:30.856
But then you get that much and you're like,
00:18:30.856 --> 00:18:32.858
Well, if i just had a little bit more,
00:18:32.858 --> 00:18:34.359
Then i would be, because it's a heart posture.
00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.527
- you're not faithful with the little.
00:18:35.527 --> 00:18:36.595
- yeah. - [nona] yeah.
00:18:36.595 --> 00:18:37.496
- it's a heart posture.
00:18:37.496 --> 00:18:39.631
I go back to my parents, how,
00:18:38.664 --> 00:18:41.633
You know, they gave what they didn't have.
00:18:41.633 --> 00:18:44.937
- [sheila] yep. - [faith] right.
00:18:44.937 --> 00:18:46.205
- you know, what we think they didn't have,
00:18:46.205 --> 00:18:47.372
But they had enough to like give.
00:18:47.372 --> 00:18:49.541
- yes. - and so,
00:18:49.541 --> 00:18:50.842
I think that's, if we would just see that,
00:18:50.842 --> 00:18:53.378
It's like you don't wait to get more
00:18:53.378 --> 00:18:57.015
To give because you're probably not-
00:18:57.015 --> 00:18:59.618
- [faith] yeah. - gonna give at all,
00:18:59.618 --> 00:19:00.852
Right? - yeah.
00:19:00.852 --> 00:19:02.287
- and i love that you brought that up with that woman,
00:19:02.287 --> 00:19:03.589
With them two minds, you know?
00:19:03.589 --> 00:19:05.023
- [faith] yes.
00:19:05.023 --> 00:19:05.991
- she gave more than them all.
00:19:05.991 --> 00:19:07.993
- more than them all.
00:19:07.993 --> 00:19:09.394
- because it was a position, a posture of her heart.
00:19:09.394 --> 00:19:12.598
She wanted to be able
00:19:12.598 --> 00:19:13.865
To please god with it. - [faith] yeah.
00:19:13.865 --> 00:19:16.368
- god has made so many promises when it comes to giving.
00:19:16.368 --> 00:19:21.707
But i think one of the most important things that we have
00:19:22.874 --> 00:19:24.343
To understand is it's not just about giving,
00:19:24.343 --> 00:19:28.347
It's about the posture of our heart.
00:19:28.347 --> 00:19:30.582
Because we can give grudgingly, right?
00:19:30.582 --> 00:19:32.951
Like we can give to somebody
00:19:32.951 --> 00:19:34.853
And we can say, well, i'll give it to you,
00:19:34.853 --> 00:19:36.588
But you have to pay me back.
00:19:36.588 --> 00:19:37.956
Or we can give with an attitude
00:19:37.956 --> 00:19:40.092
To where they know that we really don't wanna do it.
00:19:40.092 --> 00:19:42.794
But the lord loves a cheerful giver.
00:19:42.794 --> 00:19:46.999
And he loves a cheerful giver.
00:19:46.999 --> 00:19:48.867
Because in order to be cheerful in our giving,
00:19:48.867 --> 00:19:51.169
That means that we know whose it is that we're giving.
00:19:51.169 --> 00:19:54.906
And so, there are so many promises assigned
00:19:54.906 --> 00:19:56.908
To our generosity,
00:19:56.908 --> 00:19:58.644
And god is simply saying,
00:19:58.644 --> 00:20:00.445
"do it cheerfully, and i will prove to you
00:20:00.445 --> 00:20:02.581
That i will be the one who provides."
00:20:02.581 --> 00:20:05.417
- i love the story about your mom and dad.
00:20:06.285 --> 00:20:08.620
I think, that's really beautiful.
00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:10.856
And i experienced the same in in my growing up,
00:20:11.857 --> 00:20:14.259
Even though my mom lived
00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:16.828
On what was called a widow's pension
00:20:16.828 --> 00:20:18.297
In scotland which was very little.
00:20:18.297 --> 00:20:20.065
And remember, she would do her kind of weekly,
00:20:20.065 --> 00:20:22.801
She had a little notebook,
00:20:22.801 --> 00:20:23.969
And she would write down everything
00:20:23.969 --> 00:20:25.537
And what she would get in and what needed to go out.
00:20:25.537 --> 00:20:28.407
It looked like it didn't work. and yet, my mom was a giver.
00:20:28.407 --> 00:20:33.078
She would often invite other people
00:20:33.078 --> 00:20:34.379
To come in and join us for a meal,
00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:36.014
Or she would just, yeah, she just did all this kind
00:20:36.014 --> 00:20:39.551
Of behind-the-scenes stuff.
00:20:39.551 --> 00:20:42.187
- [faith] yeah.
00:20:42.187 --> 00:20:43.488
- and that's why even though technically,
00:20:43.488 --> 00:20:44.589
I look back now and i think, yeah,
00:20:44.589 --> 00:20:46.158
We were the poorest kids in our school.
00:20:46.158 --> 00:20:48.727
I never felt like i was the poorest-
00:20:48.727 --> 00:20:50.095
- yeah.
00:20:50.095 --> 00:20:51.229
- because there was something about,
00:20:51.229 --> 00:20:52.531
My mom was like, it's a blessing to give.
00:20:52.531 --> 00:20:55.901
And i remember when we each turned 12,
00:20:55.901 --> 00:20:59.671
Her thing was, okay,
00:20:59.671 --> 00:21:01.540
We're about to enter this incredible adventure together.
00:21:01.540 --> 00:21:04.843
And i was thinking, "oh, like where are we going?
00:21:04.843 --> 00:21:06.712
This is gonna be amazing."
00:21:06.712 --> 00:21:07.746
We went to the library,
00:21:07.746 --> 00:21:09.481
And she signed us up to have a library card
00:21:09.481 --> 00:21:11.550
And she said, "we can't, at the moment,
00:21:11.550 --> 00:21:13.552
Physically go to all the places god has made,
00:21:13.552 --> 00:21:15.487
But god has made this phenomenal world,
00:21:15.487 --> 00:21:17.756
And we're gonna bring that into our home."
00:21:17.756 --> 00:21:20.058
And there was just, there's just some,
00:21:20.058 --> 00:21:21.293
And i notice that now-
00:21:21.293 --> 00:21:22.494
- [faith] yeah. - in my son.
00:21:22.494 --> 00:21:24.496
He had wanted something really badly,
00:21:24.496 --> 00:21:27.132
And it was quite expensive,
00:21:27.132 --> 00:21:28.867
This particular pair of sunglasses.
00:21:28.867 --> 00:21:30.969
And i was like,
00:21:30.969 --> 00:21:31.837
"you know, that would be
00:21:31.837 --> 00:21:33.238
Your main christmas present, dude, if you want that."
00:21:33.238 --> 00:21:34.606
And he was like, "yeah, mom, i really, really do."
00:21:34.606 --> 00:21:36.875
And then i took him with me.
00:21:36.875 --> 00:21:38.410
I was going to angola, maybe, and i took him with me,
00:21:38.410 --> 00:21:41.947
And we were working with a sweet man
00:21:41.947 --> 00:21:44.015
The whole time we were there.
00:21:44.015 --> 00:21:45.283
And on the flight back, i said to christian,
00:21:45.283 --> 00:21:46.852
"where are your glasses?"
00:21:46.852 --> 00:21:48.019
And he said he'd given them to that man
00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:50.255
Because he said, "i liked him, mom."
00:21:50.255 --> 00:21:51.923
But he has to be out in the sun every day.
00:21:51.923 --> 00:21:54.259
And what i saw in him was the joy that comes from giving.
00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:57.829
- yes. - [faith] yes.
00:21:57.829 --> 00:21:59.164
- and it's like i have a stupid little habit.
00:21:59.164 --> 00:22:01.299
I always carry some cash with me.
00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:03.568
And i just have this thing where i'm like,
00:22:03.568 --> 00:22:05.237
"lord, show me who to give it to."
00:22:05.237 --> 00:22:06.605
- oh, me too. - and i love it.
00:22:06.605 --> 00:22:08.240
And i always think, well, wouldn't that be awkward
00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.808
Just to walk up to somebody and?
00:22:09.808 --> 00:22:11.676
But no, when the lord tells you the right person.
00:22:11.676 --> 00:22:14.045
- it's true. (chuckles)
00:22:14.045 --> 00:22:15.881
- it happened to be not so long ago in a garage,
00:22:15.881 --> 00:22:18.316
I was literally filling up with petrol,
00:22:18.316 --> 00:22:20.986
And this woman came out and i saw her,
00:22:20.986 --> 00:22:24.423
And i'd had some amount of money in my pocket
00:22:24.423 --> 00:22:27.526
And not knowing what to do with it.
00:22:27.526 --> 00:22:28.927
And i felt, god say...
00:22:28.927 --> 00:22:30.662
- you know, give it to her.
00:22:30.662 --> 00:22:32.397
So i just went up and i said, "hey,
00:22:32.397 --> 00:22:34.232
Now i just want you to know god sees you,"
00:22:34.232 --> 00:22:35.901
And i gave it to her.
00:22:35.901 --> 00:22:37.335
And she burst into tears. - aw.
00:22:37.335 --> 00:22:38.503
- and the thing that blew me away
00:22:38.503 --> 00:22:39.771
Was she didn't thank me, she thanked god.
00:22:39.771 --> 00:22:42.240
- wow. - and i realized she had
00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.175
Been praying- - wow.
00:22:43.175 --> 00:22:44.276
- that god would provide for a need
00:22:44.276 --> 00:22:45.343
That i knew nothing about.
00:22:45.343 --> 00:22:46.878
- i love that.
00:22:46.878 --> 00:22:48.280
- it was just something
00:22:48.280 --> 00:22:49.681
That was taking place between her and the lord.
00:22:49.681 --> 00:22:51.550
But i cannot tell you.
00:22:51.550 --> 00:22:52.651
I mean, i could've skipped home.
00:22:52.651 --> 00:22:54.820
There's something about-
00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:56.154
- that joy that comes. - it's beautiful.
00:22:56.154 --> 00:22:58.356
- but scripture, it's better give.
00:22:58.356 --> 00:23:01.660
When you think about how god has been so good to you,
00:23:02.727 --> 00:23:07.933
It will keep you in the posture
00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:11.136
Of always wanting to give back to others.
00:23:11.136 --> 00:23:14.973
Grace has been given unto me,
00:23:14.973 --> 00:23:17.142
So i'm gonna make sure i extend grace to others.
00:23:17.142 --> 00:23:21.179
So if you wanna continue to represent god in the earth,
00:23:21.179 --> 00:23:25.050
Be who he has called you to be in the earth.
00:23:25.050 --> 00:23:27.919
(upbeat music)
00:23:27.919 --> 00:23:29.488
- there was a man kind of down the street from our house,
00:23:29.488 --> 00:23:31.189
About a mile away.
00:23:31.189 --> 00:23:32.724
And he had set up his truck, he was selling watermelons.
00:23:32.724 --> 00:23:34.593
And i ran by his truck in the morning
00:23:34.593 --> 00:23:36.761
And i heard the lord say, "just bless him."
00:23:36.761 --> 00:23:39.531
So i ran and i did my run,
00:23:39.531 --> 00:23:40.932
And then i went to the bank
00:23:40.932 --> 00:23:42.033
And i took out some money
00:23:42.033 --> 00:23:42.868
And i drove up to him
00:23:42.868 --> 00:23:44.302
And i just said, "hey, sir,"
00:23:44.302 --> 00:23:45.570
He was just an older farmer, older gentleman,
00:23:45.570 --> 00:23:47.672
And i just gave him the money.
00:23:47.672 --> 00:23:49.040
And i said, "the lord told me to give this to you."
00:23:49.040 --> 00:23:50.375
And he looked at it and he was just so shocked.
00:23:50.375 --> 00:23:53.211
But it was interesting because he was like,
00:23:53.211 --> 00:23:55.180
"well, i can't just take this.
00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.781
Like, i have to give you watermelons.
00:23:56.781 --> 00:23:58.083
Like, just take the watermelons."
00:23:58.083 --> 00:23:58.917
I said, "no, no, no,"
00:23:58.917 --> 00:24:00.385
I said, "this is just something the lord said to do,
00:24:00.385 --> 00:24:01.887
Not to take anything from you."
00:24:01.887 --> 00:24:03.221
And he was like, "well, just please,
00:24:03.221 --> 00:24:05.156
Just at least take some watermelons."
00:24:05.156 --> 00:24:06.525
And it made me think about how, for some of us,
00:24:06.525 --> 00:24:08.894
It's so hard for us just to receive
00:24:08.894 --> 00:24:10.929
Generosity, right? - that's true too.
00:24:10.929 --> 00:24:12.297
That's true too. - it's like,
00:24:12.297 --> 00:24:13.732
"well, i can't receive this unless i work for it
00:24:13.732 --> 00:24:15.500
Or unless i do something for it."
00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:17.235
And god is like, "i just wanna bless you.
00:24:17.235 --> 00:24:20.205
I just wanna bless you,
00:24:20.205 --> 00:24:21.640
Not even because you deserve it,
00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:23.074
Not because you've done anything to work for it,"
00:24:23.074 --> 00:24:25.110
But we've been conditioned to believe
00:24:25.110 --> 00:24:27.379
That we can only be blessed if we deserve it
00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:29.414
Or if we work for it.
00:24:29.414 --> 00:24:30.682
And that's, to me, what god's generosity is.
00:24:30.682 --> 00:24:33.652
It's like, it's not because you deserved it,
00:24:33.652 --> 00:24:35.086
It's not because you earned it.
00:24:35.086 --> 00:24:36.488
And i think the greatest example of god's generosity
00:24:36.488 --> 00:24:38.290
Is jesus. - and it's not always
00:24:38.290 --> 00:24:39.691
Because you need it.
00:24:39.691 --> 00:24:40.992
- true, exactly, no. - gotta have somebody
00:24:40.992 --> 00:24:43.194
To sew to you. - the rewarder of those.
00:24:43.194 --> 00:24:44.596
- 'cause i'm about to talk about her over here.
00:24:44.596 --> 00:24:46.998
- oh. - she probably
00:24:46.998 --> 00:24:48.400
Don't even remember this.
00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.601
(faith laughing) but i sent her a purse
00:24:49.601 --> 00:24:52.170
For her birthday.
00:24:52.170 --> 00:24:53.905
Do you remember that? - yes.
00:24:53.905 --> 00:24:55.040
- aw.
00:24:55.040 --> 00:24:56.041
She was so like, "why?"
00:24:56.041 --> 00:24:58.777
You know, 'cause it could be very uncomfortable.
00:24:59.778 --> 00:25:03.014
But my thing is, i know good ground.
00:25:03.014 --> 00:25:05.850
- see, absolutely. - so it's not always
00:25:05.850 --> 00:25:08.219
To sew into someone
00:25:08.219 --> 00:25:10.021
Who you think needs. - needs it.
00:25:10.021 --> 00:25:12.090
- it's like, this is good ground over here.
00:25:12.090 --> 00:25:14.359
And she's producing fruit
00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:18.296
That i would want in my life.
00:25:18.296 --> 00:25:20.332
It's like, "let me sew into this
00:25:20.332 --> 00:25:22.434
So i can reap that."
00:25:22.434 --> 00:25:23.768
- and we need to stay on that for a minute
00:25:23.768 --> 00:25:25.103
Because we won't sew into those
00:25:25.103 --> 00:25:27.138
Who we think don't need it- - i know.
00:25:27.138 --> 00:25:28.607
- but we'll be quick to give our resources
00:25:28.607 --> 00:25:31.242
To people who squander it.
00:25:31.242 --> 00:25:33.111
They're constantly in trouble.
00:25:33.111 --> 00:25:34.646
Poor money management.
00:25:34.646 --> 00:25:36.247
And we'll constantly get them out of this issue
00:25:36.247 --> 00:25:38.149
And that issue.
00:25:38.149 --> 00:25:39.250
But if you look like you're okay,
00:25:39.250 --> 00:25:40.085
We won't sow into you.
00:25:40.085 --> 00:25:41.620
And it's like, actually that's perverting the principle.
00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:44.222
- absolutely. - you sow into good ground.
00:25:44.222 --> 00:25:46.091
Like the ones who actually have more
00:25:46.091 --> 00:25:48.360
Will actually reap more
00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:49.628
Because they're sewing more.
00:25:49.628 --> 00:25:50.895
And so sometimes we pervert that principle,
00:25:50.895 --> 00:25:52.631
'cause it's like, "oh, you look like
00:25:52.631 --> 00:25:53.965
You don't need anything," that's the ground
00:25:53.965 --> 00:25:55.333
Where you sew. (laughing) - that's the ground
00:25:55.333 --> 00:25:56.201
I wanna sew into.
00:25:56.201 --> 00:25:57.669
I'm telling you.
00:25:57.669 --> 00:25:58.570
(bright music)
00:25:58.570 --> 00:25:59.871
- everything that god places in our hands
00:25:59.871 --> 00:26:02.273
Is actually not just meant for us,
00:26:02.273 --> 00:26:04.843
It's meant for the people who are assigned to us,
00:26:04.843 --> 00:26:08.446
It's meant for the people in our environment.
00:26:08.446 --> 00:26:10.649
And the reason why the idea of good soil matters,
00:26:10.649 --> 00:26:13.618
The reason why the idea of healthy soil matters
00:26:13.618 --> 00:26:16.321
Is because when we sow into healthy soil,
00:26:16.321 --> 00:26:19.391
It actually replicates,
00:26:19.391 --> 00:26:20.725
It multiplies whatever we sow into it.
00:26:20.725 --> 00:26:24.095
God is a god of replication.
00:26:24.095 --> 00:26:25.930
God is a god of multiplication.
00:26:25.930 --> 00:26:27.732
He even told adam and eve,
00:26:27.732 --> 00:26:30.035
"be fruitful and multiply."
00:26:30.035 --> 00:26:31.803
Well, that requires sowing in good ground.
00:26:31.803 --> 00:26:34.005
And i believe god wants us to do that
00:26:34.005 --> 00:26:36.107
Because he wants us to bear not just some fruit,
00:26:36.107 --> 00:26:38.677
But much fruit,
00:26:38.677 --> 00:26:40.045
Because that is to his glory.
00:26:40.045 --> 00:26:41.913
- but i think about even here on "better together,"
00:26:42.914 --> 00:26:46.251
You have been so generous
00:26:46.251 --> 00:26:49.821
With allowing all of us
00:26:49.821 --> 00:26:52.791
And all of the team
00:26:52.791 --> 00:26:54.225
To be a part of something amazing,
00:26:54.225 --> 00:26:56.995
Something just phenomenal.
00:26:56.995 --> 00:26:59.597
Your yes out of the posture of your heart
00:26:59.597 --> 00:27:03.368
Has positioned so many other people,
00:27:03.368 --> 00:27:07.072
And it's not always about resources-
00:27:07.072 --> 00:27:09.908
- that's good, that's good. - out of your hand,
00:27:09.908 --> 00:27:11.009
Your pocket, but out of your heart.
00:27:11.009 --> 00:27:13.144
What does god wanna use you for
00:27:13.144 --> 00:27:16.514
To increase somebody else?
00:27:16.514 --> 00:27:18.883
- yeah, that's good.
00:27:18.883 --> 00:27:19.918
That's the blessing of the lord.
00:27:19.918 --> 00:27:21.619
But generosity is who god is.
00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:24.723
God is a giver.
00:27:24.723 --> 00:27:25.990
- he is. - he's the giver of life,
00:27:25.990 --> 00:27:27.692
Forgiveness. - abundantly.
00:27:27.692 --> 00:27:29.594
- everything we have, the mercy of god,
00:27:29.594 --> 00:27:31.830
He is generous in everything he does.
00:27:31.830 --> 00:27:34.666
So it's part of him,
00:27:34.666 --> 00:27:36.234
It's part of his character.
00:27:36.234 --> 00:27:37.869
And so we as christians
00:27:37.869 --> 00:27:40.438
Almost can't help,
00:27:40.872 --> 00:27:42.607
But we should absolutely be generous
00:27:42.607 --> 00:27:46.377
And have that heart of generosity.
00:27:46.377 --> 00:27:49.347
You think about when jesus said,
00:27:49.347 --> 00:27:51.182
"the poor, the people in prison, the widow,"
00:27:51.182 --> 00:27:54.819
Goes, "if you've done that- - "you've visited me,
00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.254
You fed me." - to them-
00:27:56.254 --> 00:27:57.722
- "you've done it to me." - you've done it unto me."
00:27:57.722 --> 00:27:59.290
So it's not always money,
00:27:59.290 --> 00:28:01.493
It's mercy, grace, it's helping-
00:28:01.493 --> 00:28:04.696
- time. - it's service, time,
00:28:04.696 --> 00:28:06.865
All of that.
00:28:06.865 --> 00:28:07.799
But i think as a christian,
00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:09.868
When you get transformed
00:28:09.868 --> 00:28:11.436
By the renewing power of the holy spirit,
00:28:11.436 --> 00:28:12.737
That's just part of your nature now.
00:28:12.737 --> 00:28:14.405
(bright music)
00:28:14.405 --> 00:28:15.507
You know, god's whole character
00:28:15.507 --> 00:28:18.076
Is love and generosity.
00:28:18.076 --> 00:28:19.911
He gives love, he gives forgiveness,
00:28:19.911 --> 00:28:23.314
He gives mercy, he gives justice,
00:28:23.314 --> 00:28:26.050
He gives provision, he gives joy,
00:28:26.050 --> 00:28:28.686
He gives life.
00:28:28.686 --> 00:28:30.088
Everything about god is he is a giver.
00:28:30.088 --> 00:28:33.958
That's his character.
00:28:33.958 --> 00:28:35.460
God inside of me is generous.
00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:38.763
We are to be generous people,
00:28:38.763 --> 00:28:41.366
Have a generous heart,
00:28:41.366 --> 00:28:42.534
Because that's who god is.
00:28:42.534 --> 00:28:44.135
And so if god's gonna show himself to the world,
00:28:44.135 --> 00:28:46.971
He's gonna show it through generous people,
00:28:46.971 --> 00:28:49.874
Just like you.
00:28:49.874 --> 00:28:51.075
- when you look at the dwelling places of god
00:28:52.010 --> 00:28:54.445
That were built in scripture,
00:28:54.445 --> 00:28:56.815
Whether it was a tabernacle,
00:28:56.815 --> 00:28:58.216
Or the temple, or even the second temple, right,
00:28:58.216 --> 00:29:01.853
It was always built by free-will offerings,
00:29:01.853 --> 00:29:05.590
You know? - absolutely, those who wanted
00:29:05.590 --> 00:29:06.624
To give, yeah. - so meaning
00:29:06.624 --> 00:29:08.126
There is no legal binding-
00:29:08.126 --> 00:29:10.295
- nope. - for people to give.
00:29:10.295 --> 00:29:11.563
No one was pressured to give,
00:29:11.563 --> 00:29:13.598
No one was required.
00:29:13.598 --> 00:29:16.601
God so wants us to become givers
00:29:16.601 --> 00:29:21.539
That he refuses to create his dwelling places on earth
00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:26.878
Unless we give with our free will.
00:29:27.645 --> 00:29:30.014
You know, and i think it's beautiful
00:29:30.014 --> 00:29:31.316
Because if you look at the exodus account,
00:29:31.316 --> 00:29:33.084
When they were making the tabernacle,
00:29:33.084 --> 00:29:34.419
I mean, they gave so much
00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:35.753
That they had to be stopped, right?
00:29:35.753 --> 00:29:38.323
And i just wonder, you know, 'cause when we give,
00:29:38.323 --> 00:29:40.992
It's not because we pity someone, right,
00:29:40.992 --> 00:29:43.461
It's onto the lord.
00:29:43.461 --> 00:29:44.796
You know, like you were saying, laurie, right?
00:29:44.796 --> 00:29:46.598
God said, "when you give unto them,
00:29:46.598 --> 00:29:48.233
You give unto me," right?
00:29:48.233 --> 00:29:49.534
So it's really about you and god, you know?
00:29:49.534 --> 00:29:52.503
I think sometimes we make it about us and other people,
00:29:52.503 --> 00:29:54.772
But it's about you and god.
00:29:54.772 --> 00:29:57.342
And i mean, because god is a giver
00:29:57.342 --> 00:30:00.078
And we are supposed to be christlike, right,
00:30:00.078 --> 00:30:03.147
Yeah, like there's just something
00:30:03.147 --> 00:30:04.382
About like the dwelling places
00:30:04.382 --> 00:30:07.352
Requiring it to be free-will offerings,
00:30:07.352 --> 00:30:10.855
From you to give from your heart.
00:30:10.855 --> 00:30:13.591
His nearness was hosted with just volunteer giving.
00:30:13.591 --> 00:30:19.397
- well, when you realize it all belongs to him anyway.
00:30:20.498 --> 00:30:23.568
But most people give from a place of what they have.
00:30:23.568 --> 00:30:27.372
It's like, "okay, if i give this, i'm not gonna have."
00:30:27.372 --> 00:30:30.308
- anything,- - exactly.
00:30:30.875 --> 00:30:31.643
- and that's that.
00:30:31.643 --> 00:30:32.777
I'm not giving from my resources,
00:30:32.777 --> 00:30:34.012
I'm giving from his resources.
00:30:34.012 --> 00:30:35.480
If we really understand all of that,
00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:38.750
It's like we'll be so free to give whatever!
00:30:38.750 --> 00:30:42.820
It's like, "god, you can have it,"-
00:30:42.820 --> 00:30:45.189
- all of it. - but we have to position
00:30:45.189 --> 00:30:48.960
Ourselves to be the ones
00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:50.828
That are initiating this process.
00:30:50.828 --> 00:30:54.065
We have to sow, you have to sow.
00:30:54.065 --> 00:30:56.968
Galatians say that,
00:30:56.968 --> 00:30:58.202
"be not deceived, god is not mocked.
00:30:58.202 --> 00:31:00.471
"whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
00:31:00.471 --> 00:31:04.008
"that shall he also reap."
00:31:04.008 --> 00:31:06.144
So whatever you sow, you friendship,
00:31:06.144 --> 00:31:09.113
You going to get friendships.
00:31:09.113 --> 00:31:10.782
You sow money, you gonna get money.
00:31:10.782 --> 00:31:12.450
You so forgiveness, you can expect forgiveness,
00:31:12.450 --> 00:31:15.186
But i cannot expect me to reap something
00:31:15.186 --> 00:31:18.456
That i have not sewn into. - amen, amen.
00:31:18.456 --> 00:31:20.425
- it's like, people look and say,
00:31:20.425 --> 00:31:22.193
"i don't have any friends."
00:31:22.193 --> 00:31:23.227
Well,
00:31:23.227 --> 00:31:24.529
How friendly have you been? (faith laughing)
00:31:24.529 --> 00:31:25.396
- literally, literally.
00:31:25.396 --> 00:31:26.397
- how friendly have you been?
00:31:26.397 --> 00:31:27.999
It says, "if you want friends, you sow yourself friendly,"
00:31:27.999 --> 00:31:31.069
So that's sowing something in that season
00:31:31.069 --> 00:31:34.172
So i can reap in another season.
00:31:34.172 --> 00:31:36.274
- come on.
00:31:36.274 --> 00:31:37.575
- whenever i stepped out in generosity,
00:31:38.409 --> 00:31:40.712
God has always proven himself faithful.
00:31:40.712 --> 00:31:44.382
When you are about to give,
00:31:44.382 --> 00:31:46.384
Especially in a place
00:31:46.384 --> 00:31:47.719
When you have no business giving that much,
00:31:47.719 --> 00:31:51.356
It could feel scary, and stressful,
00:31:51.356 --> 00:31:53.024
And almost like you lost, but god has always shown up.
00:31:53.024 --> 00:31:59.397
I'm telling you.
00:31:59.764 --> 00:32:00.698
I mean,
00:32:00.698 --> 00:32:01.833
Once i felt the lord tell me to buy
00:32:01.833 --> 00:32:05.036
A really nice sunday shirt for a youth group student.
00:32:05.036 --> 00:32:08.773
And he was kind of a difficult youth group student,
00:32:08.773 --> 00:32:12.343
So it was kinda hard,
00:32:12.343 --> 00:32:13.878
But i really felt strongly from the lord to do it for him,
00:32:13.878 --> 00:32:17.081
And so i did.
00:32:17.081 --> 00:32:18.349
And as i did, i felt the lord say,
00:32:18.349 --> 00:32:21.152
"your children will never lack in clothing."
00:32:22.053 --> 00:32:25.957
And which i thought was a nice sentiment,
00:32:25.957 --> 00:32:28.359
But literally, the next day,
00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:30.895
Somebody came to my home
00:32:30.895 --> 00:32:32.730
With five garbage bags full of hand-me-downs,
00:32:32.730 --> 00:32:38.269
But they were all brand name clothes
00:32:39.070 --> 00:32:41.906
Worn once maybe, if at all.
00:32:41.906 --> 00:32:44.776
And it was just all for my little babies.
00:32:44.776 --> 00:32:47.345
And i think moments like that show me,
00:32:47.345 --> 00:32:51.249
Man, you don't really lose when you give,
00:32:51.249 --> 00:32:54.886
And god will never punish you (laughing)
00:32:54.886 --> 00:32:58.122
Just because you obey him,
00:32:58.122 --> 00:33:00.324
But he's always gonna show himself to be faithful.
00:33:00.324 --> 00:33:03.161
- i wanna build on, i can't remember who said it.
00:33:04.195 --> 00:33:06.197
- i did. - it was about,-
00:33:06.197 --> 00:33:07.031
(group laughing)
00:33:07.031 --> 00:33:08.199
It was probably you! - she said it.
00:33:08.199 --> 00:33:09.167
- where you were talking about
00:33:09.167 --> 00:33:11.402
Just the different types of generosity, right?
00:33:11.402 --> 00:33:13.638
Because some people will say, they'll be like,
00:33:13.638 --> 00:33:14.906
"i literally don't have any money to give,"
00:33:14.906 --> 00:33:16.507
But it's time, it is your talent, it's your ability,
00:33:16.507 --> 00:33:19.944
It is money, it's all of those things.
00:33:19.944 --> 00:33:22.413
But the challenge i wanna give to people is,
00:33:22.413 --> 00:33:24.482
I believe that there's an area of generosity
00:33:24.482 --> 00:33:26.284
That god wants to build in us,
00:33:26.284 --> 00:33:27.785
And that's the area
00:33:27.785 --> 00:33:29.087
That we're the least likely to give from.
00:33:29.087 --> 00:33:31.489
Some people will give money easily,
00:33:31.489 --> 00:33:33.991
But when it comes to time- - yeah, that's true.
00:33:33.991 --> 00:33:36.027
- "my time is mine," right?
00:33:36.027 --> 00:33:37.929
Some people will give time easily,
00:33:37.929 --> 00:33:40.131
But when it comes to money, "my money is mine."
00:33:40.131 --> 00:33:43.067
And i feel like,- - that's good.
00:33:43.067 --> 00:33:44.502
- god is saying,
00:33:44.502 --> 00:33:46.037
"that's the area where i need to cultivate generosity."
00:33:46.037 --> 00:33:48.673
It's not just how much you give.
00:33:48.673 --> 00:33:50.508
Again, generosity is what you give out of scarcity,
00:33:50.508 --> 00:33:53.144
So it's the thing where you're like,
00:33:53.144 --> 00:33:54.378
"i just don't have a lot of free time."
00:33:54.378 --> 00:33:56.447
That's what god is wanting generosity for.
00:33:56.447 --> 00:33:58.683
In one chronicles 21,
00:33:58.683 --> 00:34:00.418
David was building an altar for the lord.
00:34:00.418 --> 00:34:02.720
This was after there was a plague
00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:04.255
Because of his disobedience.
00:34:04.255 --> 00:34:05.590
And there was a whole bunch of stuff
00:34:05.590 --> 00:34:06.457
That happened in israel.
00:34:06.457 --> 00:34:08.025
But god tells him to go to, i'm gonna say this name wrong,
00:34:08.025 --> 00:34:10.728
I think it's araunah
00:34:10.728 --> 00:34:12.130
He basically had this land, and he wanted oxen.
00:34:12.130 --> 00:34:14.699
He wanted to build an altar and all of this.
00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:16.734
And so araunah says to david
00:34:16.734 --> 00:34:18.536
In 1 chronicles 21:23, araunah says,
00:34:18.536 --> 00:34:22.874
"take it! let my lord the king, do whatever pleases him.
00:34:22.874 --> 00:34:25.610
"look, i will give the oxen for the burnt offerings,
00:34:25.610 --> 00:34:27.512
"the threshing sledges for the wood,
00:34:27.512 --> 00:34:29.180
"and the wheat for the grain offering.
00:34:29.180 --> 00:34:30.381
"i will give all of this."
00:34:30.381 --> 00:34:31.649
It says, "but king david replied to araunah,
00:34:31.649 --> 00:34:33.384
"'no, i insist on paying the full price.
00:34:33.384 --> 00:34:36.387
"'i will not take for the lord what is yours
00:34:36.387 --> 00:34:38.723
"'or sacrifice a burnt offering
00:34:38.723 --> 00:34:40.057
"'that costs me nothing.'" - "'me nothing.'"
00:34:40.057 --> 00:34:43.127
- it's this idea that, first of all,
00:34:43.127 --> 00:34:45.396
Whatever we do, we do unto the lord.
00:34:45.396 --> 00:34:47.498
It's this idea that,
00:34:47.498 --> 00:34:48.833
"if i'm gonna give, it can't cost me nothing!
00:34:48.833 --> 00:34:52.136
It can't be something where it's like,
00:34:52.136 --> 00:34:53.638
"oh yeah, i have a lot of time. i'll just give time."
00:34:53.638 --> 00:34:55.806
Or "oh, i have a lot of money. i'll just give money."
00:34:55.806 --> 00:34:57.341
It's like, no, what is the thing that's costly?
00:34:57.341 --> 00:34:59.544
- that's good. - that's where generosity is.
00:34:59.544 --> 00:35:01.312
- kids normally it breaks
00:35:01.312 --> 00:35:02.680
That grip of selfishness- - that's exactly right.
00:35:02.680 --> 00:35:06.317
- in whatever area it is.
00:35:06.317 --> 00:35:08.386
- 'cause that's me. - that's what's happening.
00:35:08.386 --> 00:35:09.387
(group laughing)
00:35:09.387 --> 00:35:10.855
I'm just telling you,
00:35:10.855 --> 00:35:11.689
(group laughing)
00:35:11.689 --> 00:35:13.157
My family will have something siblings or whatever.
00:35:13.157 --> 00:35:16.360
And they say,
00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:17.662
"didi, can you do this" and "can you do that?"
00:35:17.662 --> 00:35:18.763
I'm like, "i will give you money."
00:35:18.763 --> 00:35:20.631
- (laughing) yes. - "let me just pay for that."
00:35:20.631 --> 00:35:22.633
- i don't want to do it. (laughing)
00:35:22.633 --> 00:35:24.635
That's really good
00:35:24.635 --> 00:35:25.770
Because i think we've all got things
00:35:25.770 --> 00:35:27.905
Like that in our life where it's like,
00:35:27.905 --> 00:35:29.907
I'm naturally an introvert.
00:35:29.907 --> 00:35:32.009
So even though i enjoy it,
00:35:32.009 --> 00:35:33.477
Like something like this i love,
00:35:33.477 --> 00:35:34.779
Or small dinner parties i love.
00:35:34.779 --> 00:35:36.514
I hate big things where you have to mingle.
00:35:36.514 --> 00:35:38.216
Mingle is a terrible world, (group laughing)
00:35:38.216 --> 00:35:41.252
So i value my private time.
00:35:41.252 --> 00:35:43.988
And when i used to travel
00:35:43.988 --> 00:35:45.323
With this other group of female speakers,
00:35:45.323 --> 00:35:47.959
Every saturday night after the event,
00:35:47.959 --> 00:35:50.261
They all went out for dinner,
00:35:50.261 --> 00:35:51.729
And i never wanted to go. (group laughing)
00:35:51.729 --> 00:35:53.097
I just always wanted to go back to my hotel room,
00:35:53.097 --> 00:35:54.832
And put my pajamas on,
00:35:54.832 --> 00:35:55.967
And watch "everyone loves raymond".
00:35:55.967 --> 00:35:57.068
That's just who i was,
00:35:57.068 --> 00:35:59.136
But i began to realize that what was valuable to them
00:35:59.136 --> 00:36:02.073
Wasn't that they needed a fifth
00:36:02.073 --> 00:36:03.574
Or sixth person to split the cab fare.
00:36:03.574 --> 00:36:05.676
It was the gift of your presence
00:36:05.676 --> 00:36:07.712
And the gift of your company.
00:36:07.712 --> 00:36:09.347
And i learned- - and that was costly to you.
00:36:09.347 --> 00:36:11.682
- yeah, it was, but i learned that,
00:36:11.682 --> 00:36:15.019
The interesting thing is when something's costly to you,
00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:18.055
You also discover that when you give it,
00:36:18.055 --> 00:36:20.091
There's a blessing
00:36:20.091 --> 00:36:21.092
That comes back. - valuable.
00:36:21.092 --> 00:36:22.360
- because there was times when i would think
00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:24.228
I'm probably kind of a lonely person.
00:36:24.228 --> 00:36:26.430
And then it'd be, the lord would say,
00:36:26.430 --> 00:36:27.932
"well, step out of that and go do this thing."
00:36:27.932 --> 00:36:31.068
I'm like, "lord, i don't want to."
00:36:31.068 --> 00:36:32.436
- "i don't want to." - no, i know, but do that.
00:36:32.436 --> 00:36:35.339
And what i would discover in the process
00:36:35.339 --> 00:36:37.575
Was what i'd been kind of really looking for.
00:36:37.575 --> 00:36:40.011
(lighthearted music)
00:36:40.011 --> 00:36:46.350
- there are so many ways to be a blessing
00:36:47.251 --> 00:36:49.754
To someone other than just through your finances.
00:36:49.754 --> 00:36:53.324
We have reduced being a blessing
00:36:53.324 --> 00:36:56.060
By just being generous without funds.
00:36:56.060 --> 00:36:59.330
Well,
00:36:59.330 --> 00:37:01.065
You can be a blessing with someone by just offering a smile,
00:37:01.065 --> 00:37:03.801
A hug, a coat.
00:37:03.801 --> 00:37:05.536
The bible tells us over there in matthews, i believe 25,
00:37:05.536 --> 00:37:09.240
That talks about how when you give unto the poor,
00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:13.177
When you feed someone because they are hungry,
00:37:13.177 --> 00:37:16.013
You're feeding the lord.
00:37:16.013 --> 00:37:17.615
Or when you visited them in prison, you visited the lord,
00:37:17.615 --> 00:37:21.585
So there are ways to be a blessing
00:37:21.585 --> 00:37:24.188
To someone other than with your finances,
00:37:24.188 --> 00:37:26.991
But you have to seek god to find out
00:37:26.991 --> 00:37:29.760
How can you be a blessing to every individually,
00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:32.997
Even if it may look different,
00:37:32.997 --> 00:37:35.166
(bright music)
00:37:35.533 --> 00:37:36.701
- [announcer] stream full episodes
00:37:36.701 --> 00:37:37.802
Of "better together" on demand.
00:37:37.802 --> 00:37:40.237
Go to bettertogether.tv
00:37:40.237 --> 00:37:42.006
To stream all of our latest conversations.
00:37:42.006 --> 00:37:45.992
(gentle music) ♪ ooh
00:37:46.244 --> 00:37:49.147
- i think sometimes we feel like
00:37:49.147 --> 00:37:51.116
Because we're such busy christians,
00:37:51.116 --> 00:37:55.954
That that's a given that we're generous
00:37:55.954 --> 00:37:59.658
And that we're actually paying a cost.
00:38:00.459 --> 00:38:02.961
When actually,
00:38:02.961 --> 00:38:04.996
You could be a busy christian
00:38:04.996 --> 00:38:07.432
And still just try to live a life
00:38:07.432 --> 00:38:09.401
Where you're profiting off of god's presence-
00:38:09.401 --> 00:38:11.703
- ooh, boy.
00:38:11.703 --> 00:38:12.904
- instead of actually being generous
00:38:12.904 --> 00:38:14.873
And being a conduit of god's goodness
00:38:14.873 --> 00:38:19.077
And love as opposed to just a recipient.
00:38:19.077 --> 00:38:22.080
- yes, it's true. - and i wonder
00:38:22.080 --> 00:38:23.615
How many of us does the blessing stop with us? (laughing)
00:38:23.615 --> 00:38:26.651
- you're right. - we're full of blessings.
00:38:26.651 --> 00:38:28.086
- right, we're just- - we're just.
00:38:28.086 --> 00:38:29.287
- full of blessing. we're just so blessed.
00:38:30.188 --> 00:38:31.423
- [nona] we're literally. - and it's just
00:38:31.423 --> 00:38:32.657
Not getting past us, right? (chuckles)
00:38:32.657 --> 00:38:34.659
- but has there been times
00:38:34.659 --> 00:38:36.495
Or opportunities that you've had, any of you,
00:38:36.495 --> 00:38:40.031
That god has told you to do something,
00:38:40.031 --> 00:38:42.968
Or give up something not knowing at the moment that was god?
00:38:42.968 --> 00:38:47.272
- yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:38:47.272 --> 00:38:48.273
- yesterday. (all laugh)
00:38:48.273 --> 00:38:49.674
- yesterday. okay.
00:38:49.674 --> 00:38:50.942
- yesterday at my house, matt is inside,
00:38:50.942 --> 00:38:55.213
And i had walked out of the kitchen for a little bit
00:38:55.213 --> 00:38:57.449
And when i came back in, he looks at me,
00:38:57.449 --> 00:38:59.684
And i could tell his eyes were just kinda wet.
00:38:59.684 --> 00:39:02.687
And he said, "i wanna tell you a little story."
00:39:02.687 --> 00:39:06.625
So, i walked in there and he said, "i was just outside,"
00:39:06.625 --> 00:39:10.796
And he had some workers out there doing something.
00:39:10.796 --> 00:39:13.932
And he said, one of them came up
00:39:13.932 --> 00:39:16.201
And he said, "i looked down and looked at his work boots,"
00:39:16.201 --> 00:39:19.504
And he said, "they were really worn and stuff."
00:39:19.504 --> 00:39:22.240
And he said, "i looked for a second."
00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:25.076
And he said, "i heard as clear as a bell,
00:39:25.076 --> 00:39:27.679
'give him $300 for boots.'"
00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:29.614
- wow.
00:39:29.614 --> 00:39:30.582
- and he said,
00:39:30.582 --> 00:39:32.117
"i didn't hesitate 'cause i knew i was supposed to do that."
00:39:32.117 --> 00:39:34.619
He said, "i went to your purse."
00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.554
He said, "i just got $300."
00:39:35.554 --> 00:39:37.656
And he said, "i came back out."
00:39:37.656 --> 00:39:38.890
And he said, "when he saw the money,"
00:39:38.890 --> 00:39:40.959
He went, "no, mr. matt, no."
00:39:40.959 --> 00:39:43.028
And he goes, "listen to me." he said, "be quiet."
00:39:43.028 --> 00:39:45.964
He said, "listen to me." he said, he, yes.
00:39:45.964 --> 00:39:49.434
He said, "go buy yourself a new pair of work boots."
00:39:49.434 --> 00:39:54.773
And he said, "i'm not gonna give it to you,
00:39:55.707 --> 00:39:57.175
Unless you go buy some work boots."
00:39:57.175 --> 00:39:59.044
And he went, "oh, mr. matt."
00:39:59.044 --> 00:40:01.713
He said, "they just fell apart this weekend."
00:40:01.713 --> 00:40:05.617
He said, "they just have all come apart."
00:40:05.617 --> 00:40:07.619
- wow.
00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:09.187
- and that touched matt so deeply because the bible says,
00:40:09.187 --> 00:40:11.656
"it is better to give than to receive."
00:40:11.656 --> 00:40:13.692
- yeah. - [nona] absolutely.
00:40:13.692 --> 00:40:14.993
- and so, i love just the truth of that.
00:40:14.993 --> 00:40:17.429
- yes.
00:40:17.429 --> 00:40:18.363
Yes.
00:40:18.363 --> 00:40:19.598
- it's beautiful. - when god says it
00:40:19.598 --> 00:40:20.732
In his word, it's just the truth.
00:40:20.732 --> 00:40:23.268
- [nona] yes. - [deedee] yeah.
00:40:23.268 --> 00:40:24.636
- we can live by that. it is better to give.
00:40:24.636 --> 00:40:26.037
The joy, the participation with god's heart
00:40:26.037 --> 00:40:30.442
When we are generous, and that we give to people.
00:40:30.442 --> 00:40:32.978
And how many people can just shrug
00:40:32.978 --> 00:40:35.280
That little voice off.
00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:36.414
- [faith] oh, yeah. - oh, yeah.
00:40:36.414 --> 00:40:37.549
- [laurie] easily, you know? - yeah.
00:40:37.549 --> 00:40:38.850
- and i almost makes me wanna get on my knees
00:40:38.850 --> 00:40:40.418
And say, god, i'm so sorry
00:40:40.418 --> 00:40:41.953
For all the little times i maybe thought that the lord said,
00:40:41.953 --> 00:40:46.291
"turn and say that to that person,
00:40:46.291 --> 00:40:48.493
Or give them this, or do something for that person,"
00:40:48.493 --> 00:40:52.330
And i just shrugged it off.
00:40:52.330 --> 00:40:53.632
Maybe, i thought that was just me.
00:40:53.632 --> 00:40:55.200
- it was just me.
00:40:55.200 --> 00:40:56.468
- you know, but the blessing you missed.
00:40:56.468 --> 00:40:58.503
- [laurie] the blessing you missed.
00:40:58.503 --> 00:40:59.905
- the blessing that you miss. i mean, it's amazing.
00:40:59.905 --> 00:41:01.506
- we just act on those little things, but he was so touched.
00:41:01.506 --> 00:41:03.675
And then we're sitting at the table last night,
00:41:03.675 --> 00:41:06.511
And my son was sitting there.
00:41:06.511 --> 00:41:07.812
I said, "tell him about what happened today."
00:41:07.812 --> 00:41:09.781
And he told, and everybody's eyes just water up
00:41:09.781 --> 00:41:11.917
Every time we even said it.
00:41:11.917 --> 00:41:13.451
It was just a little something that you
00:41:13.451 --> 00:41:16.254
Just were obedient. - the goodness of thought.
00:41:16.254 --> 00:41:17.556
- and you touched someone's heart,
00:41:17.556 --> 00:41:19.724
And you just showed for just what god would do.
00:41:19.724 --> 00:41:23.628
- because what it him, what it did for him
00:41:23.628 --> 00:41:26.031
Without even matt probably thinking of it,
00:41:26.031 --> 00:41:27.766
Is it reminded him that god sees him.
00:41:27.766 --> 00:41:29.868
- yes. - [faith] yeah.
00:41:29.868 --> 00:41:31.136
- it reminded him that god even sees
00:41:31.136 --> 00:41:33.939
The condition of my work boots.
00:41:33.939 --> 00:41:35.373
- yes, exactly. - like that,
00:41:35.373 --> 00:41:37.609
That's a gospel message right there.
00:41:37.609 --> 00:41:39.744
- one of the greatest joys in life.
00:41:40.545 --> 00:41:41.846
And scripture says this, i mean, it says, it's,
00:41:41.846 --> 00:41:44.015
You know, "more blessed to give than to receive"
00:41:44.015 --> 00:41:46.217
Which just sounds like, you know,
00:41:46.217 --> 00:41:47.452
A really nice bumper sticker,
00:41:47.452 --> 00:41:48.753
Until you start living like that,
00:41:48.753 --> 00:41:50.155
And you discover the truth of it.
00:41:50.155 --> 00:41:52.657
There's something about having a,
00:41:52.657 --> 00:41:54.559
And it's to do with the posture of your heart
00:41:54.559 --> 00:41:56.861
More than the posture of your wallet, to be honest.
00:41:56.861 --> 00:41:59.497
When you have a heart where your daily prayer becomes,
00:41:59.497 --> 00:42:02.100
"lord, give me eyes today
00:42:02.100 --> 00:42:04.469
To see somebody who might need some help.
00:42:04.469 --> 00:42:06.571
Give me ears to hear
00:42:06.571 --> 00:42:07.872
What might be going on in somebody's life,
00:42:07.872 --> 00:42:09.507
Behind the words that are coming out in their mouth."
00:42:09.507 --> 00:42:12.110
And then i just like to think
00:42:12.110 --> 00:42:13.545
Of as almost like this underground army.
00:42:13.545 --> 00:42:15.547
Like we're god's boots on the ground.
00:42:15.547 --> 00:42:17.582
And that when we walk into a room,
00:42:17.582 --> 00:42:19.384
The atmosphere shifts because of who lives in us.
00:42:19.384 --> 00:42:22.487
We have this incredible privilege of being able
00:42:22.487 --> 00:42:25.557
To be the hands and feet of jesus in a world
00:42:25.557 --> 00:42:27.993
Where people are wondering,
00:42:27.993 --> 00:42:29.194
"is anybody gonna help me anymore?"
00:42:29.194 --> 00:42:30.595
And we can say, yes. and we come in his name.
00:42:30.595 --> 00:42:33.765
- as somebody that has always been pursuing dopamine highs
00:42:34.933 --> 00:42:39.871
Since as long as i can remember,
00:42:40.505 --> 00:42:43.575
Like, i think, i love this conversation
00:42:43.575 --> 00:42:47.012
Because what we're challenging,
00:42:47.012 --> 00:42:49.347
Our friends that are listening in
00:42:49.347 --> 00:42:50.915
And even just ourselves afresh-
00:42:50.915 --> 00:42:53.551
- [nona] yeah.
00:42:53.551 --> 00:42:54.986
- is, i know it's enjoyable to buy what you want.
00:42:54.986 --> 00:42:59.190
- [nona] yeah. - and when you want it.
00:42:59.190 --> 00:43:01.359
You know, and i know that anybody
00:43:01.359 --> 00:43:03.428
That goes from having no money
00:43:03.428 --> 00:43:05.363
To some money experiences that high.
00:43:05.363 --> 00:43:08.233
- [nona] yes. - [deedee] yeah.
00:43:08.233 --> 00:43:09.501
- and almost, it could be addictive too,
00:43:09.501 --> 00:43:11.536
You know? - right.
00:43:11.536 --> 00:43:12.837
- where you just need it, and you want it,
00:43:12.837 --> 00:43:15.774
And it's like easy to let it go for yourself.
00:43:15.774 --> 00:43:20.311
But when it's for others,
00:43:20.311 --> 00:43:21.646
It's like you're starting to count pennies.
00:43:21.646 --> 00:43:22.847
- yep. - but i think the challenge
00:43:22.847 --> 00:43:24.349
Of this whole week is there is a prosperity
00:43:24.349 --> 00:43:28.787
That is from god that we may not fully know of.
00:43:28.787 --> 00:43:32.824
- yeah.
00:43:32.824 --> 00:43:33.758
- because we're trying to hoard-
00:43:33.758 --> 00:43:35.060
- yes. - our prosperity-
00:43:35.060 --> 00:43:36.494
- yes. - here on earth.
00:43:36.494 --> 00:43:37.862
- yes.
00:43:37.862 --> 00:43:39.130
- we have such a narrow view of what prosperity
00:43:39.130 --> 00:43:41.266
And blessing is supposed to look like.
00:43:41.266 --> 00:43:44.235
And it's keeping us from experiencing this joy
00:43:44.235 --> 00:43:48.173
Of having an entire family cry over a dinner table.
00:43:48.173 --> 00:43:50.909
- yes. - over some boots.
00:43:50.909 --> 00:43:52.577
- over boots. - [laurie] over some boots.
00:43:52.577 --> 00:43:54.245
- you know, and it's just like we're.
00:43:54.245 --> 00:43:56.548
- [nona] and the same thing happened at his dinner table.
00:43:56.548 --> 00:43:58.283
- yeah. - yeah.
00:43:58.283 --> 00:44:00.085
- that's good.
00:44:00.085 --> 00:44:01.252
- it's like, it becomes generational.
00:44:01.252 --> 00:44:02.554
That's what i'm saying is when we let god,
00:44:02.554 --> 00:44:03.822
And there's actually, if you, i'm not a gardener,
00:44:03.822 --> 00:44:05.790
But if you find yourself in a situation
00:44:05.790 --> 00:44:07.892
With soil where the water does not pass through the soil,
00:44:07.892 --> 00:44:10.128
And it just kind of sits there,
00:44:10.128 --> 00:44:11.796
Eventually, that water will become putrid,
00:44:11.796 --> 00:44:13.465
And it'll kill whatever's there.
00:44:13.465 --> 00:44:14.933
So, you gotta have some sort of flow through
00:44:14.933 --> 00:44:17.902
Or else it becomes unhealthy. - that'll preach.
00:44:17.902 --> 00:44:19.471
- [deedee] yes. - right?
00:44:19.471 --> 00:44:20.572
We're supposed to be flow through.
00:44:20.572 --> 00:44:21.706
- [deedee] yeah.
00:44:21.706 --> 00:44:22.640
- we're supposed to be conduits.
00:44:22.640 --> 00:44:23.708
- [deedee] a conduit. - yes.
00:44:23.708 --> 00:44:25.076
- god'll give it to you if he can give it to you.
00:44:25.076 --> 00:44:26.010
- yes. - but that's it.
00:44:26.544 --> 00:44:27.812
But that's, i mean, god will give it to you
00:44:27.812 --> 00:44:30.982
To give others if you know you're going to give to others.
00:44:30.982 --> 00:44:35.220
Some of us, we get it,
00:44:35.220 --> 00:44:37.021
And we wanna hoard it all on ourselves.
00:44:37.021 --> 00:44:39.190
And that's never the heart of god.
00:44:39.190 --> 00:44:41.159
- which is a lack of faith. - yeah.
00:44:41.159 --> 00:44:42.293
- should be the characteristics of god,
00:44:42.293 --> 00:44:43.862
Is a part of that, is his generosity.
00:44:43.862 --> 00:44:46.297
- [nona] yeah.
00:44:46.297 --> 00:44:47.398
- like you said, we are a conduit.
00:44:47.398 --> 00:44:48.733
And the good thing about it,
00:44:48.733 --> 00:44:50.001
It's like when water go through a pipe-
00:44:50.001 --> 00:44:52.203
- [nona] yes. - water wets that pipe.
00:44:52.203 --> 00:44:54.706
- yes.
00:44:54.706 --> 00:44:56.074
- so, i'm just a pipe and it has to get on me too.
00:44:56.074 --> 00:44:58.376
- [nona] yes. - [faith] yes.
00:44:58.376 --> 00:44:59.944
- so, we don't have to even be concerned about being wet-
00:44:59.944 --> 00:45:02.147
- yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:45:02.147 --> 00:45:03.081
- because we gonna get wet, too,
00:45:03.081 --> 00:45:04.048
While we are in this process.
00:45:04.048 --> 00:45:05.550
- the joint for matt, too, is the king of the universe,
00:45:05.550 --> 00:45:09.187
The one who's holding everything in place right now.
00:45:09.187 --> 00:45:11.890
- right now. - spoke to me.
00:45:11.890 --> 00:45:13.825
- [deedee] yes. - and said, "let's do this."
00:45:13.825 --> 00:45:15.960
- [deedee] yes. - [nona] yeah.
00:45:15.960 --> 00:45:16.895
- and i heard him and i did it.
00:45:16.895 --> 00:45:17.996
- what a pleasure. - [faith] yeah.
00:45:17.996 --> 00:45:18.930
- i mean, what an honor that is.
00:45:18.930 --> 00:45:21.132
I think, with generosity, you know, you can have,
00:45:22.133 --> 00:45:24.035
You might think, well, three months ago,
00:45:24.035 --> 00:45:26.104
I did that and i gave to that person,
00:45:26.104 --> 00:45:28.239
So, you know,
00:45:28.239 --> 00:45:29.574
I feel good about that
00:45:29.574 --> 00:45:30.275
- i feel good about that.
00:45:30.275 --> 00:45:31.176
And honestly, i've done that too.
00:45:31.176 --> 00:45:32.944
But what i ask now the lord every single morning
00:45:32.944 --> 00:45:36.014
Is i ask lord for opportunities.
00:45:36.014 --> 00:45:38.483
You know, because some days we don't get things
00:45:38.483 --> 00:45:40.485
'cause we don't ask them.
00:45:40.485 --> 00:45:41.853
And some days we think that just means that,
00:45:41.853 --> 00:45:43.521
Well, we won't receive things for ourself
00:45:43.521 --> 00:45:45.123
If we don't ask.
00:45:45.123 --> 00:45:46.391
I think it also means for other people.
00:45:46.391 --> 00:45:47.992
So every single day i'll say,
00:45:47.992 --> 00:45:49.260
"lord, is there somebody today
00:45:49.260 --> 00:45:50.995
That you would like to touch?
00:45:50.995 --> 00:45:52.630
And would you let me be the conduit?
00:45:52.630 --> 00:45:54.632
Would you let me be the one to do it?"
00:45:54.632 --> 00:45:56.568
And i promise you,
00:45:56.568 --> 00:45:57.635
When you ask the holy spirit
00:45:57.635 --> 00:45:59.103
To open your eyes,
00:45:59.103 --> 00:46:00.505
You'll begin to see things you never saw before.
00:46:00.505 --> 00:46:02.841
And the joy that you get.
00:46:02.841 --> 00:46:05.443
I mean, literally,
00:46:05.443 --> 00:46:06.744
My last experience with that was wonderful,
00:46:06.744 --> 00:46:08.313
Where the lord told me to give something to someone,
00:46:08.313 --> 00:46:10.849
And to see the tears pouring down their face,
00:46:10.849 --> 00:46:13.618
And them then turning to the lord and thanking him,
00:46:13.618 --> 00:46:16.654
I literally skipped back to my car, i was so happy.
00:46:16.654 --> 00:46:19.624
It's a beautiful thing
00:46:19.624 --> 00:46:20.892
To be part of heaven's business.
00:46:20.892 --> 00:46:22.493
(bright music)
00:46:22.493 --> 00:46:23.828
- you know, and i always love to remind people
00:46:23.828 --> 00:46:26.331
That god wants to use you
00:46:26.331 --> 00:46:29.133
To heal other people,
00:46:29.133 --> 00:46:30.768
To give to other people,
00:46:30.768 --> 00:46:32.070
To show forth who he is.
00:46:32.070 --> 00:46:34.639
That's what this is.
00:46:35.173 --> 00:46:36.307
That's what the holy spirit is for.
00:46:36.307 --> 00:46:37.775
That's what salvation's all about,
00:46:37.775 --> 00:46:39.878
Is that we turn to him and we become like him.
00:46:39.878 --> 00:46:43.181
We're transformed by the power of the holy spirit.
00:46:43.181 --> 00:46:46.384
We get to walk in the truth of god's word.
00:46:46.384 --> 00:46:49.120
And then god wants to heal others through us.
00:46:49.120 --> 00:46:51.789
That is that generational blessing.
00:46:51.789 --> 00:46:54.893
- beautiful. - that flows down
00:46:54.893 --> 00:46:56.361
To our children, our children's children,
00:46:56.361 --> 00:46:59.597
And our children's children's children.
00:46:59.597 --> 00:47:02.200
- come on. - come on.
00:47:02.200 --> 00:47:03.768
- no, that's so good.
00:47:03.768 --> 00:47:05.737
I mean, 'cause i think about,
00:47:05.737 --> 00:47:07.772
You know, the love of god, right?
00:47:07.772 --> 00:47:10.174
And how love is not about getting,
00:47:10.174 --> 00:47:14.512
But it's about giving.
00:47:14.512 --> 00:47:16.681
And i mean, even the commandment over there,
00:47:16.681 --> 00:47:20.418
John 14 which says that,
00:47:20.418 --> 00:47:21.719
"love, you know, as he has loved you."
00:47:21.719 --> 00:47:25.823
It's like, how does god love us?
00:47:25.823 --> 00:47:28.459
- vigorously. - god loves us
00:47:28.459 --> 00:47:29.894
Just endlessly. - lavishly
00:47:29.894 --> 00:47:31.796
- holds nothing back.
00:47:31.796 --> 00:47:32.730
- and holds nothing back.
00:47:32.730 --> 00:47:34.866
And if we can have that same heart
00:47:34.866 --> 00:47:37.035
And that same position
00:47:37.035 --> 00:47:38.937
To love everyone the same way,
00:47:38.937 --> 00:47:41.639
No one will go lacking.
00:47:41.639 --> 00:47:43.474
- that's right. - oof.
00:47:43.474 --> 00:47:44.475
I mean, just think,
00:47:44.475 --> 00:47:45.743
There is enough resources- - absolutely.
00:47:45.743 --> 00:47:48.046
- in the body of christ-
00:47:48.046 --> 00:47:49.714
- absolutely. - right now
00:47:49.714 --> 00:47:50.815
That could take care of the needs
00:47:50.815 --> 00:47:52.016
Of everyone- - everybody.
00:47:52.016 --> 00:47:53.284
- in the body of christ. - through the world.
00:47:53.284 --> 00:47:54.919
- through the world.
00:47:54.919 --> 00:47:56.287
But everyone doesn't have that same heart posture
00:47:56.287 --> 00:48:01.059
To look after the next person.
00:48:01.059 --> 00:48:03.795
We always want to look after like ourselves,
00:48:03.795 --> 00:48:07.298
"i gotta take care of me
00:48:07.298 --> 00:48:08.700
'cause ain't nobody else gonna take care of me."
00:48:08.700 --> 00:48:10.501
I mean, i've heard those things, you know?
00:48:10.501 --> 00:48:12.303
But god wants us to be so loving,
00:48:12.303 --> 00:48:14.572
To be thinking about, "how can i give to somebody else?"
00:48:14.572 --> 00:48:18.443
So when i'm thinking about giving to you,
00:48:18.443 --> 00:48:21.145
God could be moving upon faith heart
00:48:21.145 --> 00:48:23.648
About giving something that i need to me.
00:48:23.648 --> 00:48:26.751
You know, it's like a cycle
00:48:26.751 --> 00:48:29.420
That we all should be able to experience
00:48:29.420 --> 00:48:32.457
And be able to receive from,
00:48:32.457 --> 00:48:34.926
But we gotta jump in it
00:48:34.926 --> 00:48:36.794
And just be so free about giving.
00:48:36.794 --> 00:48:38.997
(bright music)
00:48:38.997 --> 00:48:40.164
- it is so tempting to wanna give
00:48:40.164 --> 00:48:41.699
Because you feel like
00:48:41.699 --> 00:48:42.867
God's gonna give something back to you.
00:48:42.867 --> 00:48:44.635
And i think that's when there is a timestamp
00:48:44.635 --> 00:48:48.206
To how much you could really give,
00:48:48.206 --> 00:48:50.041
Especially when your generosity
00:48:50.041 --> 00:48:51.509
Is just a means to an end.
00:48:51.509 --> 00:48:53.511
I would say we need to give
00:48:53.511 --> 00:48:55.480
Because we become more like jesus,
00:48:55.480 --> 00:48:57.448
Because we're aligned with his heart,
00:48:57.448 --> 00:48:59.217
Because we become his hands and feet
00:48:59.217 --> 00:49:02.220
Here on this earth.
00:49:02.220 --> 00:49:03.755
And that's the reward.
00:49:03.755 --> 00:49:05.390
If the purpose of your life
00:49:05.390 --> 00:49:07.191
Is to know jesus intimately,
00:49:07.191 --> 00:49:09.060
Authentically and passionately,
00:49:09.060 --> 00:49:11.162
We will give for that very reward.
00:49:11.162 --> 00:49:14.065
- you know, when we all can really get to that place
00:49:15.266 --> 00:49:17.635
And realize that god loves everyone enough,
00:49:17.635 --> 00:49:21.806
That he will move upon everyone's heart
00:49:21.806 --> 00:49:24.275
To be able to sow into someone else's heart,
00:49:24.275 --> 00:49:27.045
It's a beautiful thing.
00:49:27.045 --> 00:49:28.312
Faith, can you go ahead and pray?
00:49:28.312 --> 00:49:30.048
'cause it's like you really have revelation in this light
00:49:30.048 --> 00:49:34.018
That i would love to just be exuded
00:49:34.018 --> 00:49:36.554
Upon the hearts of people. - absolutely, be my honor.
00:49:36.554 --> 00:49:40.391
Lord jesus, we just speak into those
00:49:41.325 --> 00:49:45.096
That are carrying fear and anxiety,
00:49:45.096 --> 00:49:47.165
That feel like the matter of their survival
00:49:47.165 --> 00:49:49.467
Is in their hands.
00:49:49.467 --> 00:49:51.402
And jesus, we look to you,
00:49:51.402 --> 00:49:53.871
And we know that we have a father
00:49:53.871 --> 00:49:55.640
That knows everything that we need.
00:49:55.640 --> 00:49:57.775
And god, you are our ultimate reward.
00:49:58.709 --> 00:50:01.913
Lord, give us the strength
00:50:01.913 --> 00:50:03.481
And even the revelation
00:50:03.481 --> 00:50:05.349
To know how to live open handedly.
00:50:05.349 --> 00:50:08.052
God, give us your eyes
00:50:08.052 --> 00:50:09.587
That we may see those that need to be sewn into,
00:50:09.587 --> 00:50:13.658
Need to be blessed.
00:50:13.658 --> 00:50:15.493
Jesus, help us not to overlook you
00:50:15.493 --> 00:50:18.296
In the places that we go.
00:50:18.930 --> 00:50:20.998
Lord, may we not be too busy to overlook you.
00:50:20.998 --> 00:50:25.303
May we never walk past you.
00:50:25.303 --> 00:50:27.638
May we never ignore your cries for help, lord,
00:50:27.638 --> 00:50:31.209
Amongst those that are marginalized on this earth.
00:50:31.209 --> 00:50:35.179
Jesus, help us to be conduits of your blessing.
00:50:35.179 --> 00:50:39.183
In jesus name we pray, amen.
00:50:39.183 --> 00:50:40.485
- amen. - amen.
00:50:40.485 --> 00:50:42.420
- [presenter] connect with us on social media
00:50:43.454 --> 00:50:45.056
And let us know how our team can pray for you.
00:50:45.056 --> 00:50:48.025
(upbeat music)
00:50:48.025 --> 00:50:49.160
Watch better together on the go.
00:50:49.160 --> 00:50:51.129
Download the free tbn+ app
00:50:51.129 --> 00:50:53.531
To stream all of your favorite conversations.
00:50:53.531 --> 00:50:55.733
(bright music)
00:50:55.733 --> 00:50:56.701
♪ ooh, ooh, ooh
00:50:56.701 --> 00:50:56.701

The Blessing of Generosity | Better Together Episode 1170

May 22, 2026 | S8 E1170 | 50:59

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