God calls us to generosity — not for his sake: but for ours!
Generosity says: I am rich, I am blessed, I have a hope and a future that isn’t just in my possessions, I have more than enough, and so I am free to give. Generosity changes us from thinking that we need to give God our money, to recognising that God lets us keep so much of His money! It changes us from a famine mentality to a feast mentality. It encourages to celebrate what we have, rather than focus on what we lack. Whatever out life circumstances we can always find a way to be generous.
Generosity is also an investment. It is an investment in God’s Kingdom. It is an act of trust that acknowledges: everything we have is a gift, and that he has big plans for this world.
As a community, we want to be investing more.
We want to see God’s kingdom and vision for our church growing.
That is why we encourage regular giving at Glen Osmond. We want to be serving God more and more. We want to invest generously in what God is doing. Giving empowers us to follow Gods vision for our community. We ask all regular members of our community to give regularly through electronic giving (BSB: 704922, Account Number: 100014362, Glen Osmond Baptist Church Inc Operating Account).
But offering is also an act of worship. We take up a physical offering each week as a part of our worship of God. If you are giving electronically: thank you! But each week we would ask you to bring a small coin to place in the collection as a token of your electronic gift, as an act of worship, and as a way of role modelling generosity: particularly to our kids.
When we give God promises to bless. He actually invites us to put him to the test.
Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Malachi 3:9-10
And again:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.2 Corinthians 9:6–11
At Glen Osmond we practice generosity, trusting in God’s provision and blessing:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
1 Timothy 6:17–19