Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Living Generously


But seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33
This passage begs the all-important question: What do you seek first? What drives and motivates how you spend your money, your time, and your talents? We are called to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with, but we are also called to be obedient and generous towards others.
When the opportunity arises, we should be willing to give generously of our time, talent, and treasure. In First Kings 17:10-12 it says:
He [Elijah] called to her [the widow] and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?”  As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

This woman was living in a time where famine was throughout the entire land. She was counting sticks to prepare her last meal for herself and her child so they could eat and then die. And Elijah asked her to give him her final meal. What’s truly amazing is that she did it. She did it not because she had an abundance to give, but she had faith that God would provide.
Even more, the widow gave out of what she had. She was not asked to prepare a feast or feed a thousand people – even though God could have done that miracle. She was asked to give what she had. God will never ask us to be generous with what we don’t have – only with what we have. We are called to give generously. After all, all we have is not ours – it’s all God’s.
Let’s all live generously, giving to meet the needs of those in our community.

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