Ep. 44 | Generosity as a Lifestyle | Philippians

Listen in as Pastor Eddie Blalock shares today’s daily devotional featuring Philippians 4:16. Let’s be Formed by The Word together!

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Transcript

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Welcome to Formed by the Word, a podcast where we don't just read the Bible, we invite it to shape our lives. In each episode, Pastor Eddie Blaylock will provide daily devotionals seeking to connect real scripture to real life. We'll be starting with the book of Philippians. This incredible letter clearly reveals how life in Christ shapes a resilient faith and a joy that is not dependent on circumstances. So wherever you're listening, whether you're driving, working out, or just scrolling for something meaningful, lean in, open your heart, and let's be formed by the word together.

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John Wesley, as the founder of Methodism, is one of the clearest historical models of living generously rather than just merely giving. He earned a very good income as a writer, a preacher, and a publisher, and early in his life he decided on a simple, contented lifestyle and committed to giving away everything above what he really actually needed to live modestly. His famous rule was earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can. His commitment was to live on a fixed, modest amount of money and to give the rest away. Often he would give as much as ninety percent of his income away. Wesley did this systematically year after year, not just in response to emotional appeals or when he felt wealthy. Even when his income grew, he kept his personal spendings the same and increased his giving. No, that's unusual, right? Wesley famously said that he feared dying with money in his pocket while others were in need. He died with very little in his estate because he had already given it away. Sounds like somebody I know. Probably the greatest single influence in my life in the area of generosity was my dad. Charles Blaylock, or Charlie as he was known to his friends, didn't just talk about generosity. He demonstrated it over and over again in his life. It wasn't a one shot thing for him, it was daily. He was generous to his family, to his friends, and even to people he didn't know. In other words, his generosity wasn't relegated to some moment that stirred him emotionally. It really was his lifestyle. His generous lifestyle was a calculated, heart-driven plan that reflected deep contentment. He held resources loosely and didn't mind ordering his financial life around giving generously. Just to recap, our current paragraph masterfully observes several major biblical themes. The first was found in verse 15 that we looked at yesterday, gospel partnerships. The second major theme is in this section, and we're going to call it generosity as a lifestyle. Verse 16. Here's what Paul writes. He says, For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need. Now we read that yesterday, but then he adds something to qualify it a little bit. Let me read it again and add the word. He said, For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. The Philippian generosity wasn't just a response to a one time felt need. Evidently it was an intentional decision. Evidently it was one that was repeated, as Paul says, several times. Notice that they gave to Paul's ministry when he was near, that is with them, and also when he was far away in Thessalonica. They gave when it was convenient for them, and they gave when it wasn't convenient. True generosity is not a one-time experience, it's a lifestyle. It's not an event, it's a pattern. It's not something we do only when it's convenient or only when it's easy. It's something we do as a lifestyle. Andy Stanley frequently teaches on this distinction between giving and generosity. He emphasizes that giving is something almost anyone can do. Often it's sporadically, spontaneously, or in response to emotion, guilt, or marketing. While true generosity, he adds, is a deeper lifestyle and a heart posture. So true, isn't it? Generosity goes against what we feel like we should do because we feel guilty about something or moved or stirred by something. It's a posture of the heart. There are three things I think we should know about this generous living, and these three things can help us distinguish between generous living and generous giving. Well, for example, first of all, generous giving is when we have some extra change in our pocket. But generous living is intentional. It clearly sets generosity apart from giving. You see, giving and being generous are two different things, Andy says. Generous people do not need to be told to give, they just give. Andy stresses that generous people give proactively because of who they are, not because someone inspires, motivates, or guilts them into giving. And giving happens when we are moved, usually emotionally, but generosity, generous living is an attitude that leads to giving that comes from the heart that is aware of a need to give. So generous living is intentional. The second distinction is this giving is a spontaneous response, but living generously is planned. Everybody gives, but few are generous. Everybody gives on occasion, but few plan to be generous. Giving is usually spontaneous, but living is planned. This is not to suggest that generosity can't be spontaneous or that generous living cannot be spontaneous, but the spontaneous giving is part of the plan. Third, giving is sporadic, but generous living is consistent. Generosity is consistent because, as Andy says, rich people are rich, generous people are generous. I like that line, don't you? Rich people are rich, generous people are generous. You see, generosity isn't tied to how much money you have or if your heart is touched. It's a heart issue, not a financial one. It's not how much we have that's important, it's the posture of our heart. At the risk of overdoing it, let me leave you with one more definition from Andy Stanley. Andy says, generous living is the premeditated, calculated, designated emancipation of personal assets. I like that, don't you? Maybe I should read it one more time. Generous living is the premeditated, calculated, designated emancipation of personal assets. In other words, generosity is planned in advance with a specific percentage or amount set aside, thus allowing a consistent engagement with people. Well, I tell you, I know this is a tough subject to hear sometime because it's not an easy one, but I'm convinced that it's a very important part of our spiritual formation. It's a very important part of how we live out our faith, and no doubt why Paul includes this as he's beginning to close out the letter. He understands, and we need to come to understand, that part of our spiritual formation is learning generous living, not just an occasional generous gift, but a daily living out of generosity. So how do we do that? A couple of thoughts. First, develop a pattern of generosity. Now, how do we do that? You plan it, you practice it, you prioritize it. Three Ps so it's easy to remember. Develop a pattern of generosity and then plan it, practice it, prioritize it. If we'll do those three things, our giving will become living. We will not only be generous givers, we will be living generously. Now remember, here's your takeaway. Generosity isn't an event, it's a pattern. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the time together today. Lord, we are so blessed in so many ways. Help us to share that blessing with others. Help us, Lord, to turn from the urge, the tendency to be greedy and to hold on to everything that we have. Help us to open our hands and release it to you through helping and ministering to other people. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Thanks for joining us today. We are so glad that you chose to spend a few moments with us in God's Word. If this episode has encouraged you, we ask that you leave us a review or maybe share this episode with a friend. Also, would you consider sending us a note to let us know what God is doing in your life? Pastor Eddie would love to hear from you. You can find this email in the show notes. Until next time, stay in the scriptures, keep following Christ, and allow your life to be formed by the Word.