In this Podcast, the speakers explore the sermon on generosity from the book of Proverbs, emphasizing its importance in building a healthy community. They discuss the paradoxical nature of Proverbs and how it challenges conventional wisdom. The concept of freely giving and withholding what is due is examined, highlighting its impact on a person's character and position. The speakers stress the need for guidance in navigating the challenges and expectations that may arise when giving. They conclude that generosity, whether in financial currency or other forms, leads to abundance and should include God in the equation.
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[00:00:10.09] - Mitchell Buchanan
Hello. Hello. Hello. My name is Mitchell Buchanan. This is the sermon podcast for the church Community for God.
[00:00:18.10] - Gregg Garner
Did you say pardcast?
[00:00:19.10] - Jason Carpenter
That was a pard.
[00:00:20.30] - Mitchell Buchanan
We're not starting over. This is the pardcast now. I'm joined by bible teacher extraordinaire, Greg Garner. He's taught many of us, is so excellent at the word. This is our chance to sit down together for those who spoke at church, Hear the thoughts behind the sermon, hear really interesting points that we wanna talk about, and how we can practically live this out with one another. So for this episode, we're joined by Jason Carpenter What's up? Experienced speaker at church, and he spoke through our Our sermon or our series on generosity From Proverbs. It was great. And, Greg, if you wanna kick us off on just some thoughts on Proverbs, or we can go right into kind of Let
[00:01:02.70] - Gregg Garner
Let me read the key verse. Proverbs 11:24 to twenty five. Some give freely, Yet grow all the richer. Others withhold what is due and only suffer one. A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water. That was your text. If you were to summarize into a couple of sentences Mhmm. What it was you wanted everyone to take what would it be?
[00:01:28.09] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah. I think for sure of a vital point I was trying to make is that generosity, is a paramount component of a healthy community if if it's gonna be God's community.
[00:01:41.09] - Gregg Garner
Mhmm.
[00:01:41.70] - Jason Carpenter
And I tried to drive that home with this verse because there's this idea that the expectation isn't that you would just look out for your own self, because there's, like, this idea, this exchange between someone who has, but then The expectation is that they would give what they have even though they themselves need. So then there's this secondary element that I was trying to hit on of reciprocity, that there's this expectation that not only are we expected to give, but we're expected to be a part of a community where everyone's giving. So if everyone's giving, It may feel vulnerable for you to be a person who's generous giving of your own possessions or or wealth or whatever resources, But the idea is that you would embrace that and so that in the expectation that others would do the same. So you're not left In the end, vulnerable, but you're participating in a community, God's community, where everyone is generous. And in that sense, there's a reciprocity there. And I think I really enjoyed going dealing with Proverbs. I haven't spent a ton of time studying the book of Proverbs, so it was it was really cool to, like, Look through it. I I did a little bit of research. I listened to some podcasts, some different, like, Bible scholar guys, and they're talking about Proverbs and stuff. And I I think something else I really was trying to drive home and even some of the other verses I brought up is that Proverbs is a wisdom Work. So it's not something that you can just take at face value and be like, oh, yeah. Give to others. You know? Water those so that you'll be watered. Like, if you give, you'll be given to or, you know, a rich man's wealth is a strong city and, like, a high wall in his imagination. Like, there's these seemingly contradictory statements and paradoxes that we're faced with, and then we're we're left to to wrestle with it, and, hopefully, take the truth from it. And it would be something that is not just like a Hobby Lobby, Like a thing that
[00:03:39.09] - Mitchell Buchanan
Oh, it's gonna be in Hobby Lobby.
[00:03:41.50] - Jason Carpenter
It will be.
[00:03:42.50] - Gregg Garner
But I'm trying to get what you're saying here. Because you're by highlighting that this is part of the wisdom literature genre You're saying that The advice given to us shouldn't be taken at face value, but I think there upon?
[00:04:00.09] - Jason Carpenter
yeah. I I think what I was trying to say or try to get across in my sermon is that, yeah, there is some some face value to some of these things. Like, trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, and always Acknowledge him. But there should be a deeper consideration and meditation, like you said, because even in the verse that we that I Preached on with with generosity, it could seemingly be contradictory. Like, why would I give away what I already need? Like, can I just Keep it so I don't put myself in a position where I need somebody else to give it to me?
[00:04:34.80] - Gregg Garner
But where does it Say in the text that you give away what you need.
[00:04:39.19] - Jason Carpenter
I was following the, imagery, where it talks about let's see. The watering. So one who waters will himself be watered. Yeah. So kind of, use that imagery to to make the argument that If if if you're watering, you're you're thinking about a plant. So if you're a plant and you're gonna water so that you can be Water, to me, it's like if I'm a plant and I have water, why would I water someone else? Why won't why wouldn't I just water myself? So if I'm watering another plant Waiting to be watered in return, to me, that's a little bit it's something that would, like, provoke me to think, okay. Why would they Say it that way. Why didn't they just Right. Why don't you just take care of yourself? Like, why don't you just water yourself if you have the water? That was that was kinda how I was.
[00:05:26.89] - Gregg Garner
It doesn't go with the first part. Like, one who gives water will get water, and the first part was the person who gives freely grows all the richer.
[00:05:33.50] - Jason Carpenter
Mhmm.
[00:05:34.19] - Gregg Garner
So If this person has water yet decides to also give water They get more water. I didn't think that it was trying to communicate that this person had a limited supply of water Mhmm. Gave away all their water, and now I was hoping Someone else will give them water or maybe that the formula equals someone needs to give them water.
[00:05:58.30] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah. I think I was trying to, Grab on to this. I thought the author was trying to say, like, hey. Look. There is a expectation that generosity Would which is by giving, you know, and watering would be a part of what characterizes this community because you're obviously the verse is It's not just an individual. Mhmm. You're considering others. Right. So one who gives will be give be consider will grow all the richer. Another who withholds what he should give only suffers one. So that, I think, also kinda hints towards like, okay. Well, if you're saving, why would you Suffer want because you're keeping what you have. That also is kinda, like, makes it, like, sparks my mind to think, well, why would that be the case? Because Conventional wisdom would be you save so that you have what you need. So I think that I think that the writer was trying
[00:06:52.19] - Gregg Garner
And you got that from withhold? Yeah. But isn't the verse withhold what's due?
[00:06:58.50] - Jason Carpenter
Another withholds what he should give.
[00:07:01.19] - Gregg Garner
Yeah. Or what he should give, I think, is another way of saying what's due. To me, that that means, like, there's an obligation that exists Mhmm. Right. That this person's now not accommodating Mhmm. And then they find themselves suffering one. So they They they're obligated to do something or they there's a sense of obligation. But instead of meeting the obligation, they hold on to it. Yet what they held on to wasn't enough for them to accomplish whatever goal they had. They still had one. That that that's that's what I'm seeing. So, like, a practical example, I think we've we've all had that experience where maybe maybe we I don't know. We owe a friend some money. We We went out. We didn't have our wallet. No. We all have that friend. We've got my wallet. And, they we paid for whatever it was. Say it was twenty bucks. Right? Now we find ourselves in a situation where we know we should give them back that twenty bucks, but at the same time, I anticipate this thing coming up that I'm gonna need, and I probably need this twenty bucks for that. So I don't give them The twenty bucks. Mhmm. Because it's due. It's what I should give.
[00:08:11.89] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:08:12.19] - Gregg Garner
But I withhold it, and now I still find myself not having enough To accommodate. I I would I think that might be one of the ways you can interpret that element there.
[00:08:23.50] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah. I definitely didn't consider the debt Aspect, like, there being something that I owe.
[00:08:28.39] - Gregg Garner
I think people do this all the time. They're like, they have obligations. Right? Like, some people think the the minimum payment on their credit card is their obligation. Mhmm. It's a totality of debt on your credit card. Right.
[00:08:43.39] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right. That's Right.
[00:08:44.10] - Gregg Garner
That you are obligated for. Right? Like, if you don't pay those payments, they're not gonna come after you for your minimum payment. They're gonna come after you for the whole lump sum. So when a person's like, I cover my minimum payment, I'm gonna get me now my third pair of shoes, they they Have not done what they should have done. Something was due. They didn't use their resources to go in that direction, And now they find themselves suffering one. I really think this is how people culminate increasing amounts of debt because They they don't make consideration for what's due or what they should give Yeah. Which includes to me ties With the Lord because the Bible will teach. That's what belongs to God. Absolutely. And, I think it goes with the first part that there because there's contrasting people. Right? This is a Antithetical Mhmm. Communication in the proverbs. The so proverbs are couplets, and, one's gonna say one thing, one's gonna say another, and you figure out Between the two and the relationship here is antithetical. So on the first one, some give freely and they grow richer. That seems paradoxical. Yeah. Right? That I would I would give Mhmm. And be generous in that way and find myself receiving more. That that that seems to be where God is active. Mhmm. So that it exceeds our understanding of how even, finances or stewardship works. Yep. Right? That doesn't make sense. But on the other side, I think people are doing what now makes sense. It makes sense for me to save this twenty bucks. My friend doesn't need the twenty bucks. I know I owe it to him, but he doesn't need the twenty bucks right now. I see the car he drives. I know what job he has. I'm I'm gonna go ahead and hold on to this twenty bucks and Use it towards this other thing that I think I would like to have or need. Mhmm. And and then we find ourselves in one. Mhmm. Because The the so to me, the first part is, like, it works outside the scope of rational thinking. The second part where you're withholding, that's the rational person going, this makes the most sense. I'm gonna hold on to this. But in the end, you you what you thought was going to create for you more resources by holding on to it, you found yourself in one. And I think God exists on the side of the wisdom that doesn't make any sense Right. Where it's like, You you find these very generous people, and and they they're just, growing in their resources. Yeah. And I've noticed that with people who do well with their resources, you do discover that they've tapped into that wisdom. Mhmm. That they are generous people.
[00:11:18.89] - Jason Carpenter
Mhmm.
[00:11:19.29] - Gregg Garner
And they seem to, just continue to have a flow of resources despite being generous. But then you find other people are like, I'm gonna be wise. Mhmm. I'm gonna withhold even what I think is due. And I'm not saying everybody does that, but sometimes people will do that with respect to, I know, like, in in in ministerial circles, whether I brought up, like, tithes or or or it could even get to be, like, Social things. Yeah. Like, they maybe their kids are signed up for a sport Mhmm. And their payments for the sport. And, they know that maybe the team's not gonna, like, kick the kid off the team if you don't pay the payment, but But they don't pay the payment, and they withhold it. Yeah. Even though it's due, even though it's what they should give, and they they put it towards something else they thought they need it and they find themselves in one.
[00:12:10.39] - Jason Carpenter
Right.
[00:12:11.00] - Gregg Garner
So like, even here, the get giving freely and the generosity concept Is contrasted with obligatory payments . You know?
[00:12:22.89] - Mitchell Buchanan
The freely the freely and withholding Yeah. It definitely does I think it leads us to even the mindset and I think the disposition someone has where if you're freely giving, It I think, you know, we're coming from a position of faith or at least a position where you are not giving power to that Financial giving or that gift. I think when you're withholding, I think there definitely is that especially what's due. You're you're holding on as much as possible Well, because there's anxiety or fear that's driving or even just an uncertainty where like, hey. I I'm not, like, trying to be selfish. I just See all these payments that I can't make. Mhmm. So this is the easiest one to hold on to, and I'll kick that one down the road two weeks or whatever. It reveals a mentality that we can get as people where when we approach our money either freely or withholding, it reveals something about ourselves And, like, the position we're in.
[00:13:19.89] - Gregg Garner
Because in the context you're speaking, like, to give freely, it's even a mentality. Right? You're saying, like
[00:13:26.29] - Mitchell Buchanan
For sure.
[00:13:26.89] - Gregg Garner
I'm not I'm not gonna have anxiety over this obligation. I'm just gonna give towards it. I'm gonna make sure that's paid. I'm gonna pay that. and That's in contrast to the person who is developing, that anxiety mindset, which says I need to withhold this. So you're talking about
[00:13:44.10] - Gregg Garner
So you're talking about mentalities. Yeah.
[00:13:46.00] - Mitchell Buchanan
yeah I think the text lends to that with the freely and withholding. It's not just some some give yet grow richer, others Don't give and only suffer one. It gives those, like, you know, contextual, like, the mentality of holding on to it a little longer, you know, withholding a payment and Just freely giving.
[00:14:05.39] - Gregg Garner
So the freely giving contrast there would be, like, not withholding the payment, just paying it.
[00:14:09.70] - Gregg Garner
That's what you're saying. That'd be the contrast. Just pay it.
[00:14:12.89] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. I think so.
[00:14:13.79] - Gregg Garner
Yeah.
[00:14:14.10] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. Like, if it were just because the withholding communicates something a little bit.
[00:14:19.00] - Gregg Garner
You really can't just agree huh? You have to have a some kind of qualifier, like, I think so. Look at look them.
[00:14:27.60] - Mitchell Buchanan
I believe, yes, that is the case.
[00:14:30.29] - Jason Carpenter
You might be right In some occasions.
[00:14:35.00] - Mitchell Buchanan
It's deep down, I never wanna wanna come to a place of finality, I think, In in approaching... There's something about my personality where finality is just the worst. Even if it's Sometimes, are you coming? Like, yeah. I'll be there soon. Like, there's always a wiggle room where it's like I to be staked down on, like, this is what Mitchell thinks, I'm like, oh, man. This I don't wanna be that, but I don't know why.
[00:15:03.29] - Gregg Garner
It's all good, man. It's cool. We're learning you.
[00:15:06.20] - Jason Carpenter
It makes it fun. Like a dance.
[00:15:08.79] - Gregg Garner
And the the second half then, you do have the generous person who's gonna be enriched. So you highlight that that generosity is connected to the giving freely. So I do I do wonder if if we can, like, make the comparison. This is the person who just pays their stuff. Though I think that That's likely an implied reality to it. But the the one who gives water will get water. I think it that would parallel with the hold what's due, only to suffer want in in a way that is, contrasting. Right?
[00:15:40.70] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah.
[00:15:41.00] - Gregg Garner
Because, like, the the ones giving water, they're not withholding. And then the one who withhold suffered want where the person who who gave the water had that want met. Yeah. They they got the water. So So I think that goes directly with the generous person who's enriched or the person who gets freely grows the richer. So it seems like there's this only this one Of the of the four Yeah. Different points, only one of them has that, you owed something. You didn't You held on to it thinking things will go well. It didn't.
[00:16:12.70] - Jason Carpenter
Right.
[00:16:13.20] - Gregg Garner
And the other three are like, give freely, be generous Mhmm. Water. And I I'm I'm I'm curious about, how someone gets to this place when maybe they're strapped by obligations. Like debts and such.
[00:16:30.20] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah. That's a tough question. I think that's why I I felt the need to leave my sermon a little open ended because I was like, I didn't wanna I didn't feel the confidence to be like, so you just need to give Right. Yeah. Like, you know, like, a broad sweeping statement in that way. That's why I like the proverb because Everyone can come to it and wrestle with it for whatever their context is. You know?
[00:16:56.70] - Gregg Garner
But people kinda need guidance, though. Right? Isn't that one of one of our jobs as preachers? Because, like, if I get that we can leave it open, but but sometimes when you leave a door open, people don't walk through it.
[00:17:09.90] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah.
[00:17:10.79] - Gregg Garner
So, like, if if I'm forcing you to make me choose a door to walk through, Like, what advice do you have to give you based upon your study of this text?
[00:17:19.90] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah. I think for me, the thing that I was really impacted by is that In the end, the idea is that you're generous because, you're a part of a community that is is trying to please God. And by doing so, you are participating with God in the type of dynamic that the community should have.
[00:17:39.09] - Gregg Garner
So you're saying that the the reciprocity that exists in the text is not something magical. Right. It's a result of people's In the community's obedience to God so that this type of generosity does find a return Yeah. In people who are obedient because they too are giving. Yes.
[00:17:56.20] - Jason Carpenter
I think that's an element of it for sure. And I think because I think sometimes people might interpret this and be like, you give and then God will magically bless you, Like and you'll be prosperous. You know?
[00:18:05.90] - Jason Carpenter
And I think that there because there is a other Element here, like, there's you and in other element, then there is an expectation that that would if everyone is practicing this, then There would be an element of return based upon everyone exemplifying that generosity.
[00:18:25.79] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. That was something I was thinking is Can can even this be read as in it as a wisdom saying where it's like, some give freely and yet grow richer where there is that social element. Mhmm. And it's a very alive where if I'm withholding payment, the next time I need something, I'm gonna be left with want. Like, people are gonna be like, dude, don't give to Mitch. But if I'm generous, even when I'm able to be generous, if I'm generous, then it's like that's gonna be given back simply as a fact of my Active generosity and the social capital, not just, like, financial capital, the social investment I've had into you and your family. If I'm generous And, like, hey. Let me help you out. When I need, you're gonna help me out in their cycle.
[00:19:06.29] - Jason Carpenter
And, I mean, I know I've I can testify that's been true in my own life that I I love investing into, like, the social capital that I have with my friends because I know That when the time comes, I need investment. They're gonna return.
[00:19:20.79] - Gregg Garner
So we're we're definitely not limiting generosity and giving here to Currency. Financial currency. Right?
[00:19:27.90] - Jason Carpenter
Just Monetary. Yeah.
[00:19:28.50] - Gregg Garner
We're highlighting here that our time, our skill sets , Other forms of resources Can be given and shared. And I I do I do wonder though, do you think that some people will get caught up in A new economy along these lines where they're just like, hey. I was so generous with my time to so many people, and now I'm in need. That didn't work.
[00:19:51.90] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah. I mean, I think that's something that people in our own community and church have struggled within in over the years as people are, like, very generous volunteers, But then they they maybe misinterpret that as like, exempting them of even something like a tithe Or, like, being generous during the holiday campaign, like, is just because, like, you know, I can even think in my own Mine, like, I can think, man, I I give him so much time to serve in this way. I, you know, I don't I could give this towards this client campaign, but it's gonna sting. I think I'll just wait till next month or whatever it might be, and I can justify or make myself feel okay about that because I'm like, man, I'm I serve, dude. Like, I give myself, like, my energy, my time, but that doesn't exempt you of the expectation to give of resources. So in this I I think this text you could would support that argument. So, yeah, I think that's definitely something to work through.
[00:20:51.50] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right. And then are you saying, Greg, that people, if they're kinda faced with the The call from the word of, like, hey. If you freely give, even if your time and then they give it with an Expectation that it's given with, hey. I'm gonna give this out while I have it, whether it's service time or it's financial, whatever it may be, and that They're giving it so they can request back? Or you just or is your kind of question of, like, when people freely give, no. I don't want anything back. And then they ask an attorney's doesn't happen that they feel burned and like, hey. This doesn't work because you didn't come through for me. Is that what you're asking?
[00:21:33.70] - Gregg Garner
I'm wondering whether or not people will think along those lines. Mhmm. And when I look at the text, the first two lines Seem to be observations. Right?
[00:21:44.70] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah.
[00:21:45.00] - Gregg Garner
These are observations about some people who get freely and others who withhold. Yeah. The second half Seem to be statements of of fact Right. That this this is a generous person, the one who gets rich. Mhmm. And then the one who gives water gets water. And so, again, comparing those with the the first two, you can see that the rich and enriched go together. And and the the contrast there is Instead of withholding, you're giving that water. And you're experiencing that. So I think that the proverb is highlighting things you can observe in the way the world works, And you're just kinda wondering how that happens. Mhmm. But then there's just a statement that generosity is a key to to enrichment. And the the person who doesn't withhold but gives what's due. And water is a necessary resource. Right? When you're when you're looking at that and sometimes, you know, things it it definitely embodies, like, the concept of need, that they need Water. So giving that out, it it's it's the idea is, like, in their time of need, they get it too. So I I don't I don't know. I just I'm I'm always leery of whenever people create out of the Bible some kind of formulaic way of approaching life So that you implement the formula and you get the result Mhmm. And take, God out of the picture. Right. Because I do think the Bible teaches us that God's searching the heart, That he's looking at our motives, that, we're we're not it's not possible to lie to God, that God can see What it is they're trying to do. So, if, you know, if I heard this when I was a kid and I didn't know any better, I would just think that's the way it works. Like, if I I don't really wanna be generous, but I'm gonna be generous because it's gonna make me rich. So I'm gonna go ahead and get generous because really what I wanted was to be rich. Yeah. But it seems here that it's talking not about an action a person should implement, but, like, the kind of character a person has. Because there are people who are generous. Mhmm. And then there are people who give because, remember, Gia told the story about the The guys giving out of their surplus.
[00:23:55.40] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:23:55.59] - Gregg Garner
They gave a lot of of re of their resources, and he identified, well, they did that out of their surplus. Mhmm. Where in contrast, the widow, She had those two mites where she gave everything that she had. He was able to see beyond the act itself and look at Persons Right. And where and their context and where they're at. So I again, I'm leery of anybody who just implements a formula exempt of, a self evaluation or the, like, looking at motive Right. And heart. Mhmm. So I just wouldn't want anyone to to practice that because I I grew up in a church, Where that was exactly the way it felt. Like, you give more, god's gonna give you more. Yeah.
[00:24:35.90] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah. And I definitely wanted to stay away from that a plus b equals c Yeah. Type of conclusion. And for me, I I found that it was in the fact that you have to demonstrate Faith to give what you need, not just faith in your the person that you're a part of a community with, but the you wanna have faith in God Who's gonna help you by the his hands and feet in in the community.
[00:24:59.00] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. And I think, If it becomes transactional in that way and it's like this is a formulaic or transactional, it can very much your your faith and your, I think, hey. I'm counting on all of you to not let me down, but in an unhealthy way where it's like, even if you do, I'm not forgiving you or I'm holding on To this moment where it's like I think approaching each other even in generosity, approaching each other as like, hey. We're brothers and sisters in Christ. And, like, even if you let me down, I'll forgive, and I'm willing to trust again. Right. But if you see this transactional, you're counting, and you're you're keeping a record of, like, no. I can't I can't go there again because he's let me down here and here, and I'm supposed to, you know, get a return. It it definitely It skews where we're putting our faith and our trust, and it becomes in this transactional system of, I I guess, being watered by, You know, some skewed way of giving, I think
[00:25:57.29] - Jason Carpenter
I don't think the idea is that we have, like, a ledger or, like, keeping track of, like, I've I've done this for this person. I've done this for this person, and now I need help. I posted on workplace, and nobody responded. And what is this community in about? What is this church in about? It's like, that's I don't think that should be the result of this, Ethic. I think it's more so
[00:26:15.70] - Mitchell Buchanan
People get there quick, though.
[00:26:17.00] - Jason Carpenter
I think so too. And I think, a way to avoid that is if People put their faith in God because God won't let you down. And if God's a part of our community and he's forming our community and people are Doing their best to follow God and become more like him, that's the faith we should have...
[00:26:33.29] - Gregg Garner
so how does this work then? If I'm if I'm like, okay. I'm really trusting God. I'm gonna be a generous person. And I'm giving freely. And I noticed that I'm not being watered. No one no one's giving anything to me.
[00:26:45.70] - Gregg Garner
Should I then, by default, acknowledge that God would be the source of my reception? In that case, I must have, like, ill motives, or I I'm there's something wrong with what I'm implementing?
[00:26:57.70] - Jason Carpenter
No. I don't think necessarily. I think that you definitely wanna go to the Lord with your burdens, but I think that there's also possibility on your part to, make known what needs you have.
[00:27:09.00] - Gregg Garner
I I hear you say not necessarily, but is it a possibility? Because I would think that might be a good, A fuel light or oil change light in your life.
[00:27:19.00] - Jason Carpenter
Like If you're running on fumes?
[00:27:20.90] - Gregg Garner
well, just well, I guess what I'm trying to communicate is that If you believe you're implementing what it is that God wants and you're not getting the result Uh-huh. The easy thing to do is blame others. But if you are doing what you're saying and going to God, it becomes really hard for people to blame God. Right. Like, as if God and even though people can and do, but I I'm saying, is it possible that when things aren't working out the way that they should, There should be a a self evaluation Yeah. That's deployed where we're we're asking God to search our hearts And looking to see if there is any kind of mixed motive in us. Absolutely. Because it's the pure and hard to see God. Right? People who don't have That mixed motive. Because I I really do think if I hear someone like this and they're like, give it a holiday campaign, and I'm like, man, I wanna be watered, and I wanna do things. So Family, let's sacrifice. Let's give all our money. We're gonna give three thousand dollars a holiday campaign. You give it. And then February, Your, transmission goes out on your car.
[00:28:25.90] - Jason Carpenter
And you're like, oh, dang.
[00:28:27.29] - Gregg Garner
And you're like, that three thousand dollars is gone. And you're, like, praying about it. Lord, what happened? And and you're going, maybe that was you that gave me the three thousand dollars so that you knew the future when the transmission breakdown, And you knew I needed it. Or or, like, do you look around? Who's gonna give me three thousand dollars on it? Do you put it on the credit card and go trust God to to pay back the debt? I just think that, It's it's easy for us to, again, move to the rational explanations for what's happening and how to make sense of a formula Mhmm. Mhmm. Instead of looking at what it is that god's actually trying to produce. And I don't think that god's trying to produce Wealth independent of God producing in us A person who's generous. And I think Pure generosity doesn't look for a return.
[00:29:18.00] - Mitchell Buchanan
Mhmm. Right.
[00:29:19.20] - Gregg Garner
Right? And so, like, they're Has to be, I think. And I think it's a good indicator that if things aren't working out the way that you thought they would, that you should go before God and ask him to search your heart. And I think a person who is humble and honest, in that, pursuit may walk away learning some important lessons. Yeah. You could even find out, man. I god didn't want me to give that three thousand dollars. I pushed that, the holiday campaign, because I was trying to be generous To see what he would do for me, and now that ended up being the money that I needed for this transmission. I don't know. I don't know where it could go. Yeah. Yeah. But then again, you don't wanna be the person who withholds. So you do you do have to implement some discernment Right. Into this process.
[00:30:07.20] - Mitchell Buchanan
yeah. I think it's discernment and then going to the Lord and having that as the the that we do that you're not having circumstances dictate to you either what you give or don't give or, hey. This was You should have done this or shouldn't have done this. My card broke down. I shouldn't have given it. It's like, I think going to the Lord just ensures, like, hey. Like, We want to be alive. We want God's spirit to speak to us. Like, let me, like, even submit myself, humble myself, see what I need to learn to get from this as opposed to, You know, transactional or circumstances are now speaking to me. It's like, no. No. No. I speak to my lord.
[00:30:45.90] - Gregg Garner
good. Because you don't even know the story's over. Right? Yeah. That three thousand dollars could lead you to to all of a sudden decide, okay. I'm gonna humble myself. I'm gonna pick up some extra shifts in the thing. In that extra shift, you meet somebody who ends up becoming instrumental to your future or whatever it is. You don't know how God's writing the story. So I I think that's really good. And you you affirmed it. Go to God.
[00:31:07.00] - Jason Carpenter
Yeah. I think God is an essential character in this whole dynamic. Like, if you leave God out, it's like you're, that's the most important pair character in this whole thing.
[00:31:17.20] - Gregg Garner
Well, I think it wouldn't be, uncommon for people these days to See, God left out a wisdom bits. I mean, who hasn't seen the Instagram, little slides that pull up from a business growth mentor or someone like that who's Who's just trying to tell you, hey. Do this and do this, and you'll get this and you get that. And god's not in the formula.
[00:31:37.20] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:31:37.70] - Gregg Garner
And, I I think that's important. And I think with that, we can we can wrap up this episode
[00:31:43.79] - Jason Carpenter
Nice.
[00:31:44.70] - Mitchell Buchanan
I Feel good.
[00:31:45.79] - Gregg Garner
Proverbs 11:24 to twenty five.
[00:31:56.59] - Gregg Garner
see you guys next time.
[00:31:58.70] - Mitchell Buchanan
Thank you for listening to the sermon podcast and the church community for God. Wherever you're listening, leave us a five star review and for future episodes. More than anything, keep pushing these conversations in your homes, in your hangouts, in your texts with friends. We want this word to carry us all we want this word to carry all of us everywhere we go until we see you back at church again.
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