A Generous God - A Generous Life
By Ryan Dawson
When our kids were little, we once encountered a homeless man on the street. They were deeply moved and wanted to help. We gave him some bagels, but that didn’t feel like enough to them. On the way home as they were asking more questions, we told them about a ministry that serves people in need—Ottawa Inner City Ministries.
When we got home our kids ran upstairs and broke open their piggy bank and gave everything they had. We wrote a cheque to the ministry for $13.17.
It wasn’t a large amount—but it was a huge act of faith. There was no hesitation or calculation in the hearts of our children. They were motivated by love and compassion. They simply believed Jesus when He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
And I remember wondering: Do I believe like that?
Because generosity reveals what we truly believe. Our giving reveals who we trust.
Scripture teaches that generosity flows from our identity. We were created in the image of a generous God—a God who gives life, provision, grace, and ultimately His Son, so that we can experience the fulness of life in Christ.
When we live generously, we reflect our Creator. The Apostle James reminds us of God’s generous nature. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows". (James 1:17)
And secular research confirms what the Bible has long taught for thousands of years: generosity strengthens relationships, increases joy, reduces stress, and gives life greater purpose. Giving pulls us outward and frees us from the grip of self-absorption.
But the Bible goes much deeper than psychology. In the Old Testament, God never asked His people to give before He first gave to them. Before Israel was commanded to bring offerings, God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Redemption came first—then generosity followed as a response of gratitude and trust. When they brought their firstfruits, tithes and offerings to God, they were declaring something powerful: “God, everything we have comes from You!”
Giving wasn’t about funding the temple or following religious rules. It was about training their hearts. It was about forming their allegiance. It was about love and devotion returned to a good and generous God.
In our culture, money and wealth is one of the strongest competitors for our hearts. We so often trust in our wealth for security and significance more than we trust in God. That’s why giving is ultimately about trust.
Jesus reminds us of this when He says… “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be…No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:21,24)
Every financial decision quietly declares what we trust, what we treasure, and who rules our lives. When we give God our first and our best, we are saying:
God, You are my provider.
God, You are my security.
God, You are my King.
Right now, at Sequoia we’re exploring these themes in our sermon series “Generous God – Generous Life.” Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at what Scripture teaches about generosity—from Old Testament foundations to the radical generosity Jesus calls us to, along with practical ways to live this out.
My prayer is that this series doesn’t just change how we think about money, but how we trust God. Because when we truly see the generosity of God, generosity stops feeling like loss and it becomes true worship. So, let’s give God our first and best—and trust Him with the rest.
I’m grateful to be on this journey with you,
Blessings, Ryan
When our kids were little, we once encountered a homeless man on the street. They were deeply moved and wanted to help. We gave him some bagels, but that didn’t feel like enough to them. On the way home as they were asking more questions, we told them about a ministry that serves people in need—Ottawa Inner City Ministries.
When we got home our kids ran upstairs and broke open their piggy bank and gave everything they had. We wrote a cheque to the ministry for $13.17.
It wasn’t a large amount—but it was a huge act of faith. There was no hesitation or calculation in the hearts of our children. They were motivated by love and compassion. They simply believed Jesus when He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
And I remember wondering: Do I believe like that?
Because generosity reveals what we truly believe. Our giving reveals who we trust.
Scripture teaches that generosity flows from our identity. We were created in the image of a generous God—a God who gives life, provision, grace, and ultimately His Son, so that we can experience the fulness of life in Christ.
When we live generously, we reflect our Creator. The Apostle James reminds us of God’s generous nature. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows". (James 1:17)
And secular research confirms what the Bible has long taught for thousands of years: generosity strengthens relationships, increases joy, reduces stress, and gives life greater purpose. Giving pulls us outward and frees us from the grip of self-absorption.
But the Bible goes much deeper than psychology. In the Old Testament, God never asked His people to give before He first gave to them. Before Israel was commanded to bring offerings, God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Redemption came first—then generosity followed as a response of gratitude and trust. When they brought their firstfruits, tithes and offerings to God, they were declaring something powerful: “God, everything we have comes from You!”
Giving wasn’t about funding the temple or following religious rules. It was about training their hearts. It was about forming their allegiance. It was about love and devotion returned to a good and generous God.
In our culture, money and wealth is one of the strongest competitors for our hearts. We so often trust in our wealth for security and significance more than we trust in God. That’s why giving is ultimately about trust.
Jesus reminds us of this when He says… “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be…No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:21,24)
Every financial decision quietly declares what we trust, what we treasure, and who rules our lives. When we give God our first and our best, we are saying:
God, You are my provider.
God, You are my security.
God, You are my King.
Right now, at Sequoia we’re exploring these themes in our sermon series “Generous God – Generous Life.” Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at what Scripture teaches about generosity—from Old Testament foundations to the radical generosity Jesus calls us to, along with practical ways to live this out.
My prayer is that this series doesn’t just change how we think about money, but how we trust God. Because when we truly see the generosity of God, generosity stops feeling like loss and it becomes true worship. So, let’s give God our first and best—and trust Him with the rest.
I’m grateful to be on this journey with you,
Blessings, Ryan