Grace-Filled Generosity
This month we have been discussing work and what God says about it. He has called us to create and the work we create matters to God. Our work is our act of worship to Him.
In his book, The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer states, “Let us practice the fine art of making every work a priestly ministration. Let us believe that God is in all our simple deeds and learn to find Him there.” We are called to make every work a priestly ministration. The work we create matters to God, and He desires to be into our day to day lives.
Friends, we have such a loving and generous God. He does not hold back from us. He gives abundantly more than we could think or imagine. Take a look at 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:
Beloved ones, we must tell you about the grace God poured out upon the churches of Macedonia. For even during a season of severe difficulty and tremendous suffering, they became even more filled with joy. From the depths of their extreme poverty, superabundant joy overflowed into an act of extravagant generosity. For I can verify that they spontaneously gave, not only according to their means but far beyond what they could afford. They actually begged us for the privilege of sharing in this ministry of giving to God’s holy people who are living in poverty. They exceeded our expectations by first dedicating themselves fully to the Lord and then to us, according to God’s pleasure.
So make sure that you also excel in grace-filled generosity. I’m not saying this as though I were issuing an order but to stir you to greater love by mentioning the enthusiasm of the Macedonians as a challenge to you. For you have experienced the extravagant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was infinitely rich, he impoverished himself for our sake, so that by his poverty, we could become rich beyond measure.
We are all recipients of God’s good gifts. The question becomes how are we stewarding these gifts?
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” (Eph. 1:3)
The Corinthians were filled with grace-filled generosity. They dedicated their lives to the Lord and knew exactly what this meant. They gave not merely according to their means but beyond their means. They gave beyond what was expected of them. It wasn’t to show any great wealth of their own. It was their way of dedicating themselves to the Lord. It was the way for them to tangibly give to God.
It was because of their willingness to participate with one another. Generosity is centered in participation. They desired to take part in this ministry. This was a sign of divine grace in their lives and an indication of Christian fellowship both with others who were giving and with future recipients. Paul did’t stir them on to do this. They were doing this out of genuine love for the ministry. This was a sign of their genuine love for God. This was their response to His generosity in their own lives.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme incentive for His people. Though he was rich, for your sake, he became poor. He humbled himself so that we might become rich. We are able to see the richness of this humility in Philippians.
Philippians 2:6:
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What does grace-filled generosity look like in your own life? How can you be brave in your generosity to others around you?
We are blessed with resources that we can extend to others. But, I want us to fully recognize how these resources go greatly beyond our money. We can use our money. But, what else has God blessed you with? What are your strengths? What are your gifts? How can these be used in your relationship with others? In discipleship with others?
We can be generous with our space.
We can be generous with our time.
We can be generous with our words.
In what ways is God asking you to be more generous with your life? Jesus poured himself out to us for the benefit of others. For you have experienced the extravagant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was infinitely rich, he impoverished himself for our sake, so that by his poverty, we could become rich beyond measure. May God’s generosity transform us to be generous in our lives, our words, our money, and our time.