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The Good Life - Sandy - 10am
Sermon Summary
Sandy invites us to embrace the generous, abundant life God offers by putting down our barriers, living with open hearts, and choosing to receive and share God’s unconditional love, which leads to the true "good life.".
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The Good Life gets named not as cozy ease but as a pilgrimage into generosity. Sandy shares about her postwar childhood, an absent father, and a praying mother. This childhood frames how God’s kindness shows up in people and helped draw her heart to Jesus. The Good Life begins with surrender and then learns, over time, where the hidden strings are and how lies about not being enough get unseated by love. A good God created a good world and placed good people in it to enjoy the good life with God by doing good works. As God's image-bearers, we remain sacred, even when marred - including that one a person we cannot get on with.
God’s world belongs to God, not to owners on paper; we are caretakers who simply house-sit and do royal duties. Everything is God’s, and God shares. God’s love then is likened to rain. We can, across a lifetime, raise 'umbrellas' to keep God's love off our skin. The call is simple and hard: put the umbrellas down and be soaked. God’s love has no degrees; the Father loves his children as he loves Jesus and pulls them into the Trinitarian current of giving and receiving. The Good Life is that life of blessing, abundance, harmony, and joy, not scarcity. Scarcity is not about bank accounts but about brokenness that turns our vision inward and fragile.
Genesis shows how Adam and Eve lifted umbrellas and lost the tree of life and connection with God. Jesus stands in that place and says, I came to give abundant life. God sets a choice before every person: death or life. Along the way, the Spirit changes our stingy, grabbing hearts into generous ones. The rule becomes plain: do to others as you would like them to do to you. Generosity takes practical shape in rides, meals, laundry, tutoring, hospitality, and secret giving that draws a smile known only to God. The stories are costly and sweet. Love always wins.
Jesus himself is the pattern and power. Though rich, he became poor, so by his poverty others become rich. He emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and then taught about treasure and the heart.
A healthy eye is generous and fills a life with light; a bad eye is stingy and dark. No one can serve two masters. So, when curveballs come, contentment can be learned. Jesus is the treasure. From that treasure, the abundant life becomes the generous life, here and now.
Key Takeaways
1. Put the umbrellas down:
God’s love rains on everyone, all the time, but defences go up out of fear, pride, or hurt. The good life begins by lowering those defences and letting love soak the soul. That soaking reorders identity and loosens the grip of scarcity. The choice is daily and concrete.
2. Steward everything as God’s:
Ownership is a mirage; stewardship is the truth. Seeing home, time, skills, and money as God’s gifts turns anxiety into availability. All that we have is a gift from God, we are called to steward it well for His glory and Kingdom.
3. Keep a generous, healthy eye:
Jesus names the eye as the body’s lamp, using an idiom for generosity. A generous focus fills a life with light because attention flows outward toward God and neighbour. A stingy focus warps perception until even light feels like darkness. What the eye treasures, the heart follows.
4. Learn generosity on the pilgrimage:
A grabbing heart can become a giving heart, but it happens over time with the Spirit’s inner work. Simple acts carry deep weight when done for Jesus and often belong in secret where God’s smile is enough. God uses our circumstances to deepen our trust in Him.
5. Choose life, practice contentment now:
Abundant life is not postponed to heaven; Jesus offers it here. Contentment can be learned in plenty or in want, because the treasure is Christ, not the circumstances. That choice resists envy and frees a person to bless without tallying the cost. Joy grows where devotion is clear.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Day 1: Umbrellas Down, Soaked in Divine Rain
Scripture:
Romans 8:38–39 (NIV)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A38-39&version=NIV
Devotional:
The love of God pours relentlessly like rain, yet we often shield ourselves with umbrellas of self-reliance, fear, or distraction. These barriers—formed by past hurts or lies about our worthiness—keep us from experiencing the drenching grace that says, “You are loved as deeply as Christ himself.” To live the good life means standing vulnerable under heaven’s downpour, trusting that every drop reshapes our identity. It requires releasing control, silencing the voice that whispers “not enough,” and letting love rewrite our story.
Reflection:
What “umbrella” have you unconsciously raised against God’s love this week?
How might lowering it today change your posture toward yourself and others?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to put down the umbrellas I have raised against Your love. Teach me to be soaked and saturated in Your endless, generous love that reaches all people all the time. Remove the barriers in my heart so I can fully receive Your grace and live the good life You have for me. May I walk freely in Your love without fear or hesitation. Amen.
Day 2: Pilgrimage, Not Perfection
Scripture:
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201%3A6&version=NIV
The good life is a slow journey, not a destination of instant holiness. Like a traveller trusting the path, we learn generosity and grace through missteps and divine detours. Early zeal for perfection often fades when life’s curveballs humble us, yet God walks every dusty mile, reshaping stingy hearts into open hands. This pilgrimage isn’t about arriving but becoming—a lifelong unravelling of self-sufficiency to embrace God’s patient work.
Reflection:
Where have you been striving for “instant holiness” instead of trusting God’s pace?
How might today’s challenges be part of your shaping?
Prayer:
God, I thank You for the journey You have set before me, a pilgrimage, not a sprint. Teach me to be content in every season, whether I have plenty or little. Help me to trust You fully, knowing that You are my treasure and my heart’s true desire. May I live with an abundance attitude, embracing the good life You offer. Amen.
Day 3: Secret Smiles with a Generous God
Scripture:
Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV)
'But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.3-4.NIV
Devotional:
Generosity thrives in hidden moments, tutoring a struggling student, handing cash to a stranger, or sitting with someone’s grief. These quiet acts mirror the Trinity’s joyful giving, creating “secret smiles” between us and God. Unlike transactional charity, this divine economy values small obediences: a shared meal, a carried bag, a withheld judgment. The good life isn’t measured in grand gestures but in daily yeses to love’s nudge.
Reflection:
What unnoticed act of generosity have you hesitated to do?
How might it become today’s “secret smile” with God?
Prayer:
Father, transform my stingy, grabbing heart into one that is generous and open-handed like Yours. Teach me to give not just from my abundance but from my heart, in small acts of kindness and service. Help me to live out the motto: do to others as I would like them to do to me. Let generosity be my way of life, reflecting Your character in all I do. Amen.
Day 4: Scarcity’s Lie
Scriptures:
Philippians 4:12–13 (NIV)
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A12%E2%80%9313&version=NIV
Isaiah 25:6 (NIV)
'On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ISA.25.6.NIV
Devotional:
God lays out abundance before us – a feast that we all get to enjoy. Brokenness whispers scarcity—that love, resources, and worth are limited. But Christ’s cross declares abundance: we’re invited to feast at a table where even “the least” receive the same portion as the Son. Our call isn’t to hoard blessings but to channel them, believing there’s always enough. Scarcity lies about our ability and capacity to love others and share with them, poisoning and breaking our relationships.
Reflection:
Where has scarcity thinking poisoned your relationships or self-view?
How might abundance look different today?
Prayer:
Lord, heal the broken lens through which I sometimes see the world that makes it seem like I don't have enough. Help me to be content in all circumstances. May I live in the blessing of harmonious relationships, love, and generosity. Restore my identity as Your beloved child, created in Your image, and lead me into the fullness of the good life You intended. Amen.
Day 5: Healthy Eyes, Healing Hands
Scripture:
Matthew 6:22–23
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A22%E2%80%9323&version=NIV
Devotional:
Jesus’ metaphor of the “healthy eye” rebukes our cultural cataracts, viewing others through lenses of utility or threat. A generous gaze sees sacredness in every face: the addict, the immigrant, the annoying neighbour. Like light flooding a room, this vision transforms hoarding into sharing, judgment into curiosity, and isolation into kinship. The good life isn’t a possession but a posture, choosing to see as God sees.
Reflection:
Who have you been viewing with a “bad eye” lately?
How might seeing them as God’s beloved shift your next interaction?
Prayer:
Jesus, help me to keep my eyes healthy and my heart focused on You, my true treasure. Guard me from greed and selfishness that bring darkness. Teach me to store up treasures in heaven by living generously and loving others well. May my life reflect Your light and generosity, serving You alone as my master. Amen.
Day 6: Where is Your Treasure?
Scripture:
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
' “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.19-21.NIV
Devotional:
Jesus invites us to think deeply about what we truly value. Our treasures reveal the condition of our hearts. If we chase after material things—money, possessions, status—we risk filling our lives with things that decay or can be taken away. But if we invest in what lasts—kindness, generosity, love, and faith—our hearts will be anchored in what is eternal and good. This is the Good Life that God is calling us to, life where He is our treasure.
Reflection:
What do your treasures reveal about the condition of your heart?
How can you invest in eternal treasure today?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to see where my treasure truly lies. Teach me to hold lightly to earthly things and to invest in what lasts forever. Fill my heart with generosity and love, so I may live the Good Life You have promised. May You be my treasure and my all. Amen.
Day 7: Reflecting Jesus' Practical Generosity
Scripture:
Philippians 2:5-8
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202%3A5-8&version=NIV
Devotional:
Paul encourages us to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who, though He was God, humbled Himself and became a servant. This shows us that the good life is not about grasping for power or possessions but about humility and generosity. Jesus emptied Himself for our sake so that we might be rich in love and grace. Living the good life means following Jesus’ example of self-giving love, putting others first, and trusting God with everything.
Reflection:
What small acts of generosity, like helping with washing or tutoring, can you do to reflect God’s love in practical ways?
What is one simple way you can begin to live more generously this week?
Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for Your endless generosity and love that You pour out on us every day. This week, give me eyes to see the needs around me. Not just big needs, but the small everyday opportunities to serve and give. Teach me to live with open hands and an open heart, reflecting Your generous nature in all I do. Amen.
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Your Questions Answered
The sermon answers several important questions about life, God’s love, and generosity.
1. What is the good life?
The good life is living generously, enjoying God’s love, and doing good works. It’s a life of abundance, completeness, joy, and harmonious relationships with God and others. It’s not about instant perfection but a lifelong pilgrimage of learning to live generously and reflect God’s character. The good life is about being good people created in God’s image, caring for God’s good world, and living in love and kindness.
2. Who owns the world and everything in it?
Everything belongs to God. We are merely caretakers or house sitters entrusted with God’s creation. This means we should live with generosity and stewardship, recognising that what we have is God’s gift to us.
3. Does God love everyone equally?
Yes, God loves everyone all the time, without degrees or limits. God loves the poorest and the richest, the broken and the whole, just as much as He loves Jesus. God’s love is constant and unconditional.
4. Why do people sometimes not feel God’s love?
People often put up “umbrellas” or barriers that block God’s love from reaching them. These umbrellas represent doubts, fears, or resistance to God’s love. To be soaked in God’s love, we need to put those barriers down and accept His love fully.
5. What does it mean to live generously?
Living generously means more than just giving money; it includes acts of kindness, hospitality, time, and service. It’s about having a heart that is open and willing to give, reflecting God’s generosity. Even small acts of generosity are seen and valued by God.
6. How does Jesus model generosity?
Jesus, though rich, became poor for our sake so that by His poverty we might be rich. He humbled Himself and taught us not to store up treasures on earth but in heaven, showing that generosity and humility are key to the good life.
7. What is the connection between our focus and our life?
Jesus teaches that the “eye is the lamp of the body.” (Matthew 6:22-23). A healthy eye (focus) means a generous, open-hearted life full of God’s light. An unhealthy eye means selfishness and darkness. Where our treasure is, there our heart will be. We cannot serve both God and material things.
8. Is the good life easy to live?
No, it’s a pilgrimage with ups and downs, curveballs, and challenges. But it is a blessed life of abundance and contentment, learned over a lifetime with God’s help and the support of others.
9. What choice does God give us?
God invites us to choose life—to accept His love and live abundantly—or to keep putting up barriers and live in scarcity and brokenness. The choice is ours.
Check out the full sermon above for more answers to your questions about how to live the Good Life in Jesus.
