Be Generous

Scripture: Luke 12:21-34

33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (Luke 12:33-34 NLT)

33 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. 34 It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (Luke 12:33-34 MSG)

Be generous! In the preceding verses, Luke records that Jesus said, “Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met!” (Luke 12:31 MSG)

I remember what was for me a defining moment, on a visit to the US from Jamaica sometime in the 80’s, riding in a mini-van in Atlanta with my friend Phil. We were discussing our attitudes toward money. Phil said, “When I have money, I feel that if I don’t give it or spend it, I won’t get any more.” As he said that, the lights went on for me, and I realized that my attitude toward money was, “When I have money, I feel that if I don’t hang on to it or use it exactly right, I won’t get any more.”

Phil’s attitude was based on an infinite supply, mine based on a limited supply. My behavior with money began to change from that moment. I still feel the responsibility to be a good steward of money, and to be carefully accountable for how I use it. But I’ve experienced in life what I learned in faith, that as a Christ-follower I am giving and spending out of God’s unlimited supply, not out of my own limited resources.

Another defining moment occurred in conversation with a fellow missionary couple we met in St. Louis many years ago, when they told Jean and me that their biggest supporter was another missionary. In that moment, we decided to give to other missionaries, and our lives changed again. In the years since, there have been times when we were another missionary’s biggest contributor. How cool is that?

Living and giving from an infinite supply of God’s resources is a faith choice!

Prayer:

Father, Thanks for today’s reminder of your unlimited supply and my privilege to be generous in giving to others who have less than I have. With your promptings and help, I am going to learn to do it more and better and more creatively than ever. Help me make some generosity and blessing stories this year. Amen.