1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Generous With His Gifts

The “Why” Behind What’s Next

Welcome to The Well Community Church. I am so glad you are hanging out with us today—whether you are joining us here in our Clovis auditorium, online, in our Student Center venue, or outside at Fig Garden. We have people joining from all over, and I am just so grateful to share this time with you. If we have not met yet, my name is Brad, one of the pastors here, and I get the privilege of handling God’s Word with us this week.

We are in a very significant season here at The Well. We are doing a four-week series called Cultivate, sharing some of the next steps of where we believe the Lord is leading us. We handed out a brochure over the last couple of weeks. If you did not get one, it is worth grabbing just to get a preview of what is coming next, and we will cover those details more next week.

Before we get to the “what,” we wanted to take a couple of weeks to talk through the “why.”

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about the importance of reaching the next generation. What we are doing here is not just for us. While we certainly want to strengthen this generation, our heart is to plant trees and sow seeds for the benefit of generations to come, so that they might experience the gospel as well. Last week, we talked about the purpose of the church as a place of teaching, training, equipping, and discipling. We reminded one another that the church’s role is not entertainment, nor is it merely to provide consumer ministries that cater to our preferences. We exist to equip disciples to walk intimately with Jesus. When we look at the early church, as they grew, their focus on that core mission only intensified.

Today, we want to talk about what it means for us as followers of Jesus to partner with God through personal generosity.

Acknowledging the Elephant in the Room

Let’s address the elephant in the room right away: had you known this was a message on giving, many of you might have stayed home. To be completely honest, I don’t blame you.

If we are candid, the hesitation is usually not because of what the Bible actually says; it is because of what we have seen. Some of you have witnessed things in churches that are not biblical whatsoever. You have seen shady leaders fleece a congregation for personal gain. You have seen church leaders mismanage finances, misappropriate funds, or line their own pockets. That leaves a terrible taste in your mouth—and rightfully so.

Think about it this way: if personal generosity is a mark of spiritual maturity, but we abandon it because of bad examples, where does that logic end? If someone mishandles the Word of God, do we stop reading our Bibles? If a church service gets weird, do we stop gathering altogether? Do we quit praying, worshiping, serving, or living in community simply because someone, somewhere, made a mess of it? In a fallen world, people will make mistakes. But that doesn’t mean we jettison what God’s Word invites us into for His glory and our good.

I want to rewrite the narrative. I want to walk candidly through what the Bible says—and what it does not say—about personal generosity, and explore our responsibility and privilege to partner with God.

The Nature of Our Generous God

Before we can talk about our generosity, we must understand the nature and character of our God. Our God is inherently generous.

When you read the creation account in the opening chapters of Genesis, God speaks the world into existence. He forms humanity from the dust of the earth. In Genesis 1:16, the text notes almost casually: “He made the stars also.”

Genesis 1:16 (NASB)

God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; [He made] the stars also.

Why did God do that? God is preexistent, completely self-sufficient, and fully satisfied in Himself. He needed nothing. He did not make Half Dome, the Sierra Nevada mountains, or a Pacific sunset because He was lacking something. He created them for us to enjoy. Creation itself is a massive act of divine generosity.

Psalms 104:24 (NASB)

O LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.

God created something beautiful for us, and even after humanity fell, His generosity moved Him to redeem us. In Genesis 3, sin enters the world. Adam and Eve rebel against God, passing down a devastating inheritance to all of us: spiritual and physical death, shame, guilt, corruption, separation from God, and autonomy—the innate desire to live life on our own terms, apart from God.

Genesis 3 (NASB)

1. Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ’Indeed, has God said, ’You shall not eat from any tree of the garden ‘?’ 2. The woman said to the serpent, ’From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3. but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’’ 4. The serpent said to the woman, ’You surely will not die! 5. ‘For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ 6. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make [one] wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8. They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ 10. He said, ‘I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.’ 11. And He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ 12. The man said, ‘The woman whom You gave [to be] with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.’ 13. Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ And the woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’ 14. The LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; 15. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.’ 16. To the woman He said, ‘I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.’ 17. Then to Adam He said, ’Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. 18. ‘Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19. By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.’ 20. Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all [the] living. 21. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 22. Then the LORD God said, ’Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever ’– 23. therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Yet even in our rebellion, God gave.

John 3:16 (NASB)

’For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

God was under no obligation to redeem us. He would have remained entirely holy and just had He left us in our sin. But in His rich mercy and great love, while we were dead in our transgressions, He made us alive together with Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NASB)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

The gospel reorients our lives. Following Jesus isn’t merely snapping God into an already busy schedule. We have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NASB)

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Because of sin, our default is autonomy and selfishness. But through Christ, we are being restored to reflect God’s image—an image defined by open-handed generosity.

The Internal Tension

We must acknowledge that generosity feels unnatural to our fallen nature. Even as believers, we battle the flesh, which tempts us toward selfishness and self-preservation.

Galatians 5:17 (NASB)

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

There is an ongoing clash between the flesh and the Spirit. Generosity serves as a dashboard light for the soul. It reveals whether we are operating in the flesh (“this is mine”) or walking in the Spirit (“this belongs to God”).

That is why Jesus spoke more about money than almost any subject other than the Kingdom of God. There are more verses in the Bible about money than about heaven and hell combined. Eleven of Jesus’ twenty-nine parables deal with wealth and possessions. While there are roughly 500 verses on prayer, there are over 2,000 on money and possessions. Money is a clear window into the condition of the human heart.

Let’s walk through five general biblical observations about our resources before looking at practical application.

Observation 1: Everything We Have Has Been Entrusted to Us

Whatever we possess has been given to us by God.

Psalms 127:1-2 (NASB)

A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved [even in his] sleep.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents. A master embarks on a journey, calling his servants together and entrusting his property to them.

Matthew 25:14-19 (NASB)

’For [it is] just like a man [about] to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. ’To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. ’Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. ’In the same manner the one who [had received] the two [talents] gained two more. ’But he who received the one [talent] went away, and dug [a hole] in the ground and hid his master’s money. ’Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.

We often hear the word “talent” and think of natural gifts or musical ability, but in the ancient world, a talent was a large unit of weight, specifically used here for silver coins. The master distributed varying amounts based on each servant’s ability—five talents to one, two to another, and one to another.

God entrusts each of us with different amounts according to what He knows we can steward. Whether we have been given much or little, it all originates from His hand.

Observation 2: We Are Called to Be Content

Contentment does not mean we cannot work hard, pick up an extra shift, or earn a living. It means we rest in what God has provided rather than constantly craving more.

A survey once asked people earning $30,000 a year how much they needed to be satisfied; they answered $60,000. When they asked people making $60,000, the answer was $100,000. People making $100,000 said $500,000, and people making a million said five million. Across every demographic, the answer to what it takes to be satisfied was always the same: more.

When our sights are set on accumulation, wealth is like a bird that sprouts wings and flies away. Paul speaks to this in Philippians:

Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB)

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

This passage is not about athletic achievements or hiking Mount Everest; it is about learning the secret of contentment in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. Contentment must be learned because our flesh naturally craves accumulation.

Money itself is not evil. The Bible nowhere condemns the possession of resources. What Scripture warns against is the love of money.

1 Timothy 6:10 (NASB)

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Observation 3: We Are Wealthier Than We Realize

Wealth is relative, much like physical stature. I am a fairly large guy, and in most rooms, I am one of the biggest people there. But a few years ago, I did a chapel service for the Baltimore Ravens. I walked in, looked at the roster, and realized that even their punter was bigger than me. Every single person in that room looked capable of crushing me. Perspective changes everything.

Globally speaking, if you make more than $35,000 a year, you are in the top 1% of income earners worldwide. If you have choices regarding what clothes to wear, what food to eat, or what car to drive, you are wealthy. Roughly 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day. When viewed through a global lens, we are exceedingly wealthy.

Observation 4: We Are Stewards, Not Owners

Before knowing Christ, we lived under the illusion of ownership—believing our car, house, income, and possessions were entirely ours. But in Christ, we recognize that God owns everything.

Psalms 24:1 (NASB)

A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He simply sold a few cattle at auction and placed the proceeds into our bank accounts to see how we would manage them. A steward manages someone else’s assets according to the owner’s desires.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)

’Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ’But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Observation 5: We Are Invited to Invest in Kingdom Initiatives

Every investor looks for a return on investment (ROI). In God’s economy, we are invited to pursue a Kingdom ROI by investing temporary resources into eternal initiatives.

In the Old Testament, God’s people supported the Tabernacle and later the Temple through the tithe (a tenth of their harvest or income) along with various offerings. When you calculate the required tithes and offerings across Leviticus, giving amounted to roughly 25% to 35% of an individual’s income. This systematic giving reinforced their dependence on God, funded the ongoing work of worship, supported sacred feasts, and prioritized God in the community.

In the New Testament, believers are invited to support the local church, fuel ministry, meet the needs of others, and honor God with their resources.

What the New Testament Teaches on Giving

When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth—a wealthy, bustling trade hub—he laid out foundational principles for generosity:

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NASB)

Now this [I say], he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one [must do] just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

If you hold what God gives you with a clenched fist, do not be surprised if He stops placing more into it. But when you live with an open hand, God can channel resources through you to bless others. This is not the prosperity gospel; it is the principle of spiritual stewardship.

Notice Paul’s standard: each person must give as they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion. God loves a cheerful giver. If you cannot give with joy, the issue is not primarily your money—it is your heart. Take that before the Lord.

In 1 Timothy, Paul gives specific instructions regarding wealth:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NASB)

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. [Instruct them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

God gives us good things to enjoy. There is nothing inherently wrong with taking a vacation, driving a reliable vehicle, or traveling. But alongside that enjoyment, we are commanded to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share. That is how we lay up treasure for the future and take hold of true life.

Practical Principles for Cultivating Generosity

If you want to grow in personal generosity, here are seven practical principles to guide you:

1. Give prayerfully. Start by asking the Lord how He wants you to participate. Generosity begins in personal communion with God.
2. Give systematically. In the early church, believers set aside resources regularly as they gathered. Establishing a regular rhythm of giving keeps our stewardship front and center.
3. Give proportionately. A flat percentage may be out of reach for a college student working an entry-level job, while 10% might require very little faith from someone with significant wealth. Give in proportion to how God has prospered you.
4. Give sacrificially. Jesus commended the poor widow who gave two small coins because she gave out of her poverty rather than her surplus.

Mark 12:41-44 (NASB)

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and [began] observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.’

True generosity involves real sacrifice. It should stretch our faith and demonstrate our trust in God’s provision.

5. Give quietly. Generosity is not for public acclaim.

Matthew 6:3 (NASB)

’But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Keep your giving between you and the Lord.

6. Give joyfully. God invites willing, cheerful contributions.

Exodus 25:2 (NASB)

’Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.

If you cannot give with joy, pause and ask God to cultivate a willing heart before you give.

7. Prioritize the local church. Biblically, regular giving flows first to the local spiritual community where you are fed and discipled, with additional offerings supporting outside ministries and kingdom causes.

Generosity at The Well

The Well Community Church is a non-denominational church. There is no denominational headquarters sending us financial support. For more than two decades, our ministry has been supported entirely by people who believe in the mission of connecting people to God and to one another in every neighborhood.

We intentionally choose not to pass offering plates during services. If you are visiting, we do not want you to feel awkward or pressured. We are not after your money; we care about your heart. You can give online, use the give boxes located in the back of our auditoriums, or mail a contribution to our office. To ensure integrity, we undergo an independent, self-imposed financial audit every year, and our financial records are openly available.

To those who call The Well home: thank you. It is a genuine privilege to pastor a generous church. For years, God has provided for every initiative He has called us to because this body understands that open-handed giving is a direct reflection of the gospel.

May our generous God continue to lead us as we faithfully steward all He has entrusted to us, doing so with great joy.

Benediction and Prayer

Father, we are so grateful for the work of the gospel, for the eternal return on investment we have witnessed over the last two decades, and for the work that still lies ahead. As we seek to be faithful to Your Word in our culture, help us to be a community that stewards well everything You place in our hands. Lead us in our personal generosity, without guilt or compulsion, but with willing and joyful hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.