Devotions based on week 12 of Joy in the Journey: Generosity (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Generosity comes from a heart of abundance.
Do you remember as a kid hanging onto a toy with such a grip that your knuckles turned white? WIth all your might and vocal power you ensured your friend knew that the toy was “MINE!” When asked by your mother to share the toy with your friend, you said even more emphatically, “NO! IT’S MINE!”
Does this child ever go away?
Perhaps the decibel level of the reaction is minimal and your mother isn’t around to challenge your willingness to be generous and share, but inside our hearts can react with a solid, “NO! IT’S MINE” whenever the topic of giving and generosity comes up.
Why is that?
First we have a sinful nature that is naturally selfish. We just don’t want to.
Second, we have a great sense of ownership and what we have earned, purchased or received is the product of hard work and we are not going to part with it easily.
Third, we believe giving and generosity is a “Zero Sum Game.” By this we think that if we give something away, it naturally creates a void that will not be filled. What we give is subtracted from us so we end up with “zero.”
So, if you are not feeling like being generous and this message series is a bit triggering, it’s to be expected. You too have a sinful nature.
But for every person with a sinful nature comes a Savior who is abundantly generous. He was willing to give up all to give you what stuff could never buy, a ticket to heaven. When we are unwilling to share our possessions in generosity, he comes to remind us all we have is really a gift of grace from him. When we feel like if we are generous we won’t have enough for ourselves, he points us to the creation he made and reminds us that what he gives to provide for his creation is limitless.
So he changes our hearts from selfishness to generosity, from scarcity to abundance.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Your heavenly Father always has more to give. He is able and willing to give you all things that you need so you can abound in every good work. You CAN be generous because you live as recipients of God’s abundance of grace and goodness. You CAN be generous because God is more than willing to replace and multiply what you give away. You CAN be generous because the Spirit of God is working to replace you scarcity, zero-based heart with a heart that is filled with abundance and generosity.
The Philippians and their gift to Paul is just one example of Christians who freely were willing to give to support the Gospel of Jesus. For sure, they were not lacking after they gave, but rather were filled with the knowledge that the God who gave them all things was the very God who loved them and gave all for them.
Give abundantly and watch your generosity bless others richly and bless you tremendously!
Apply: What situations do you find yourself like a child saying, “No! It’s mine”? Try doing the opposite of your sinful nature and be led by the Spirit to be generous.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that in all circumstances you have been generous. Forgive me for my scarcity and selfishness. Renew me by your Spirit to live and give from a heart of abundance and generosity. AMEN.