Pastor Paula admits she struggles to give freely while her husband Curtis buys gifts for the Angel Tree all year.
Pastor Paula opens the final installment of the Generosity Secret series by introducing the topic of giving freely from 1 Timothy 6. She immediately establishes personal credibility by admitting this is a core practice she struggles with, contrasting herself with her husband Curtis who gives naturally. The Waffle House story illustrates this difference: when a waitress had car trouble, Curtis insisted on buying her a new mirror while Paula only considered a larger tip. A thank-you letter reveals Curtis's generosity impacted three generations. The sermon examines 1 Timothy 6:17-19 in three parts. First, listeners must recognize they're rich in this world - Paula reveals that $85,000 household income in Broken Arrow places someone in the top 5% globally. She shares a Peru mission trip story where a mother with four children lived in a tarp enclosure with one mattress after an earthquake. Second, listeners must decide whether to trust God or money, noting money's unreliability through examples like raises being consumed by increased expenses. Third, listeners must live with open hands, illustrated by the shuttle bus story where Curtis felt prompted to buy and donate a bus for $2,500, then immediately received a $3,000 job moving soccer goals. The sermon concludes with practical holiday generosity ideas and a call to be godly examples who point people to Jesus through free giving.
