Live Generously

09.07.10

Live Generously

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (New Living Translation)

 ⁶ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”^{[a] 8} And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say,

   “They share freely and give generously to the poor.
      Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”^[b]

 ¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity^[c] in you.

Seeds = efforts, money, resources, time, love, energy, ideas, will...   The more you sow, the more you'll reap in return!   

But here's the deal... We CANNOT plant these "seeds" expecting the return.  

Think of a non-dysfunctional Christmas morning, where family gathers to genuinely give gifts to one another... and no expectation of the same in return.  (perhaps your gargantuan family draws names, but Grandma still gives you a little somethin' somethin' in your stocking...) It becomes a matter of mutual generosity, NOT obligation.

The scriptures tell us to give generously.  Give joyfully.  Give because One GREATER has given unto us.  And because HE loves us (unconditionally) we will overflow with gifts from HIM.

Not only on Sunday morning, but in all walks of our lives.  

They go on to say, that God will generously provide all that we need. (8).  Not contingent, but because His ultimate love FOR us overflows into generosity WITH us.  

 

God has chosen to give us all that we have.  From our cars, to our houses.  From our families, to our neighbors.  From our jobs, to our money.  ALL are GIFTS from HIM.   

We didn't earn them.  We don't really even deserve them.  But HE gives them.

Pay that forward by joyfully, (not begrudgingly) giving to others!

Question:  what drives/motivates your generosity?  Is it obligation?  Is it recognition?  Is it an act of worship to the Good Giver of Gifts from above?  

Live generously, as the Father is... 

Matthew 25:40 (New Living Translation)

 ⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,^[a] you were doing it to me!’