GENEROSITY— LET THAT BE YOUR LIFE’S FOCUS!
GENEROSITY— LET THAT BE YOUR LIFE’S FOCUS!
A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. —Ecclesiastes 1:4
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die… —Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! —II Corinthians 9:6-15
It is pretty humbling to consider that these bodies are aging and death is getting closer. Our generation is nearing the grave as all the generations have done before us. Yet the earth remains. The sun will rise and set after I am gone. The waves will be still lapping at the shorelines after my departure. The moon will still reflect the sun’s light at night when I am not remembered. Life will go on after I die as it has previously.
And yet the time I was born and the time that I will die was orchestrated by my Lord for His purposes— “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being’” (Acts 17:26-28). Yes, our life is in Him and I am so glad that He has revealed this to me. Now I am to live for Him who has done so much for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD6khv6pGkw&t=3s
May I be generous with the life and the resources my Lord has given me to be steward of. May I give with an “attitude of gratitude” whether it be finances, time or the using of the gifts and abilities my Lord has given me to use for His glory. What He has planned for me He has provided for me to serve others. Oh, that others would be thankful to God in the harvest of righteousness. Yes dear Father may this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. Please help me to be sensitive, yielded and faithful as I walk through this day.