Acts 4:32-4:37

You Can’t Outgive God: A Lesson in Generosity

Growing up, my dad often told me, “You can’t outgive God.” Though I memorized the phrase, it took years for me to understand its profound truth. It’s about recognizing that God’s generosity, through Jesus Christ, far surpasses anything we can ever give back. This revelation of sacrificial generosity comes in two parts: spiritual and practical.

Spiritual Revelation: Grasping Christ’s Sacrifice

The spiritual revelation begins when we understand the magnitude of what God has given us through Jesus. We receive forgiveness, salvation, spiritual gifts, and eternal life—blessings that surpass any earthly gain. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 8:9 capture this truth: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

This revelation isn’t merely intellectual; it’s spiritual. It’s about God opening the eyes of our hearts to grasp the depth of Christ’s love. Once we have this understanding, any gift or sacrifice we offer feels insignificant compared to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. It’s a profound spiritual truth that shapes our view of generosity.

Practical Revelation: Obedience and Generosity

But generosity doesn’t stop at revelation—it must be acted upon. The practical revelation occurs when we obey God’s Word, putting Him first in every area of our lives, including our finances. Generosity is simple to understand but challenging to practice. Too often, like the lawyer who questioned Jesus about the definition of a neighbor (Luke 10:29), we overcomplicate what is actually a call to simple obedience.

True joy and fulfillment come from obeying God’s Word, even when it challenges us to step out of our comfort zones. It’s not enough to understand generosity; we must practice it.

The Obstacles to Generosity

So, what prevents us from being generous? It’s not just personal hesitation; it’s also the larger force of spiritual opposition. In Acts, we see that whenever God is at work, Satan counters. He attacks the early church through persecution (Acts 4 with imprisonment), moral compromise (Acts 5 with Ananias and Sapphira), and distraction (Acts 6, as the apostles face the risk of professional distraction with the care of widows). Satan uses every tactic to keep us from being generous.

God’s desire is for His church to flourish in unity and sacrificial generosity. Satan’s goal is the opposite—to keep us distracted, divided, and focused on ourselves rather than on God and others.

Generosity in the Early Church: A Spirit-Led Movement

Acts 4:31-32 tells us that when the early church prayed, the place where they gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Their boldness in speaking God’s Word was fueled by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s presence led them to hold loosely to material things, resulting in a community where “no one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”

This wasn’t forced generosity. It wasn’t mandated by the apostles or any institution; it was a Spirit-led response. The believers were united, with one heart and mind. They protected this unity by sharing their resources freely, ensuring that no one among them was in need.

Tithes, Offerings, and Sacrificial Generosity

The early church exemplifies what it means to embrace sacrificial generosity. It’s not about a superficial display of giving; it’s a deep-seated response to God’s grace. In our church, we talk about Tithes and Offerings as practical ways to live out this rhythm.

• Tithes: The tithe represents the first 10% of our income. It’s a discipline seen throughout Scripture, starting with Abraham and continuing through the Mosaic Law. The tithe belongs to God and is given as an act of obedience and faith. Proverbs 3:9-10 reminds us to “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” By putting God first in our finances, we trust that He will provide, even when it doesn’t make sense on paper.
• Offerings: Offerings go beyond the 10% tithe. They are freewill offerings that support special initiatives, help those in need, and advance God’s kingdom work sometimes even beyond our local church. Offerings are about sacrificial generosity, where we give beyond the minimum as a joyful and worshipful response to God’s grace.

Amy and I have consistently practiced tithing and offerings, even during challenging financial times. We’ve seen God’s faithfulness as we’ve put Him first. We’ve experienced firsthand that you truly cannot outgive God. He always provides.

The Power of Community in Sacrificial Generosity

Generosity is not meant to be practiced in isolation. The early church laid their gifts at the apostles’ feet, trusting the church to steward those resources for the common good. The church becomes a community where sacrificial generosity is fostered, needs are met, and people are empowered to give.

Today, we partner with various local organizations to meet needs in our city. We trust that God has called us not only to give financially but to engage relationally and spiritually with those in need. This is why our church has established a benevolence ministry, offering support to those in our community and beyond. God’s provision through sacrificial generosity enables us to continue serving others.

The Challenge of Sacrificial Generosity

Sacrificial generosity looks different for each person. For some, it may mean starting to tithe, putting God first in their finances. For others, it may mean going beyond the tithe, giving generously to meet specific needs or support special projects. It might also involve opening our homes or giving our time and resources in ways that feel uncomfortable or costly.

It’s not about the amount; it’s about the heart behind the giving. Sacrifice means giving up something valuable for something even more valuable—God’s kingdom work and the good of others. As David said, “I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). True sacrificial generosity goes beyond convenience and taps into our deepest trust in God’s provision.

Conclusion: Embracing the Rhythm of Sacrificial Generosity

Sacrificial generosity is a rhythm that builds resilience in our faith and our community. When we trust God with our finances and our resources, we declare our dependence on Him. We acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him and that we are merely stewards. By practicing sacrificial generosity, we witness God’s power and grace at work, both in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.

Let’s not be distracted or fearful but embrace the joy and challenge of sacrificial generosity. May we be a church that reflects the early believers’ heart—Spirit-filled, united, and open-handed—trusting that God will meet our needs as we prioritize His mission. As Jesus said in Luke 12:15, “Be alert and guard your heart from greed… for your life can never be measured by the amount of things you possess.”

Sacrificial generosity is not just a one-time act but a continual rhythm that draws us closer to God, strengthens our faith, and meets the needs of a hurting world. May we, like the early church, be known for our generosity and trust in God’s abundant provision.


The above post is a summarized version of the full sermon. Please click the link below to watch the full message: