Redeemer Core Values

Courageous Generosity: How Much?

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!      – Psalm 119:33-40

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.      Genesis 4:3-5

Courageous Generosity: Eyes on Jesus

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. “14But he said to him, “Man who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”15And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”16And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,17and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?”18And he said, I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? “21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. “22And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.24Consider the ravens, they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!25And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26If then you are not able to do a small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.28But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown in the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.32“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’ good pleasure to give you the kingdom.33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

- Luke 12:13-34