John L’hommedieu profoundly explains what true generosity is. He believed that the closer he got to a generous God, the more he was prompted to be generous.
John L’hommedieu
The young adults pastor of Church Eleven32, John L’hommedieu, talked about radical and true generosity. He mentioned Genesis 22, wherein God tested Abraham’s heart. According to Pastor John, this story would teach people about radical generosity. He believed that generous people have ears that hear. He explained that Abraham’s radical generosity started when he heard the voice of God.
Then, he highlighted, “If you struggle when pastors or preachers or churches talk about generosity, that’s okay. Just ask God how He feels about it. Because I have learned that the closer I get to a generous God, the more I am prompted to be generous.” He also mentioned that God asked Abraham to offer Isaac. In Genesis 22:2, it was written, “Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.'” He said that oftentimes, generosity was not a giving problem but a hearing problem.
Church Eleven32. (Screenshot). (2024). Kingdom Multipliers. Retrieved November 6, 2022 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pokO841hGKA
Generous God
Furthermore, he emphasized that if people could have ears to hear God’s voice, then they would be able to generously offer what God asked them to give. Since God asked Abraham for Isaac, it seemed He asked him for what he valued the most. At that time, Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was not the son of promise. Isaac was. Yet, God wanted him to offer his beloved son.
Moreover, he wondered if it would have been easier for Abraham to give up Ishmael than it was to give up Isaac. Then, he elaborated, “I think that there are a lot of believers who are willing to lay Ishmael on the altar while we hold on to Isaac. We are willing to lay down the idols we don’t care about, while we hold on to the things that we value the most.”
Lastly, he said that true generosity wasn’t about laying down ‘Ishmael,’ but it was about surrendering ‘Isaac.’ God wasn’t after Abraham’s son; He was after his heart. “I want you to know God does not need your money. God doesn’t need your time. He doesn’t need your gifting. He’s not trying to steal all of your possessions. God is after your hearts,” he shared.
Watch the full sermon here.
Reference | Church Eleven32
Header Image: Church Eleven32. (Screenshot). (2024). Kingdom Multipliers. Retrieved November 6, 2022 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pokO841hGKA