Series Summary

One of the topics most frequently discussed in the Bible is the topic of money and possessions. But it’s one that we don’t talk frequently about in the church. We try to avoid it… It’s uncomfortable… It feels like the church is always asking for money… But the truth is something far different. God talks about money a lot, and it would be wise for us to know what he thinks about it, and how he sees finances, wealth, money, and possessions… and the things that are opposed to a proper use of our money — things like greed and covetousness.

This year, we’re starting off with a look at how we should see money and wealth with God’s perspective. How should we view money? And how should we use it well? These questions, and more, have answers that can be found in the Bible.

Sermon Summary

Jesus’ parable of the sower reminds us that the condition of the soil matters just as much as the seed itself. The seed is the same in every case — the word of God — generous, life-giving, and full of promise. What changes is the heart that receives it. When we think about giving, tithing, and generosity, this parable presses us to ask not first how much we give, but what kind of soil our hearts have become. God is always sowing; the question is whether our lives are receptive to what he entrusts to us.

Some seed falls on hard ground, where it never penetrates. In the same way, generosity can bounce off a heart hardened by fear, control, or distrust. We may hear God’s call to give, but worries about security or a reluctance to loosen our grip keep the word from taking root. Other seed springs up quickly in rocky soil but withers under pressure. This reflects the impulse to give only when it is easy or emotionally stirring, but to pull back when sacrifice is required. Still other seed is choked by thorns — Jesus names them as the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches. Even sincere intentions toward generosity can be strangled by busyness, debt, or the constant pull of “more.”

But then there is the good soil — the heart that hears the word, understands it, and bears fruit. In the context of giving, this is the life that sees generosity not as loss, but as participation in God’s kingdom work. Tithing becomes a first response rather than an afterthought, and generosity grows beyond obligation into joy. Fruitfulness looks different in every life, but it always multiplies what God has sown. When we receive God’s word with open hands, our giving becomes an act of trust, worship, and abundance. God delights in hearts made ready for his seed, because in that soil, generosity doesn’t just grow — it flourishes.