GRACIOUSLY GENEROUS!
Greetings church family!
(Preface: Before reading this, I first want to say thank you to each and every member of the Foothills Community Church for the generosity you display within our church family and beyond. It is greatly appreciated!)
The story is told that one day a beggar by the roadside asked for alms from Alexander the Great as he passed by. The man was poor and wretched and had no claim upon the ruler, no right even to lift a pleading hand. Yet the emperor threw him several gold coins. The emperor’s attendant was astonished at his generosity and commented, "Sir, copper coins would adequately meet a beggar's need. Why give him gold?" Alexander responded in royal fashion, "Copper coins would suit the beggar's need, but gold coins suit Alexander's giving."
I love that last line!! This is not to say that there is anything wrong with giving according to a person’s need. There’s just something inspiring and extraordinary about giving according to one’s graciously generous spirit rather than according to the recipient’s need!
When the 5000+ people listening to Jesus were hungry, Jesus multiplied a young boy’s lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to meet their needs. Yet Jesus didn’t just give according to their need. He gave according to his graciously generous heart. Scripture said that after the 5000+ people ate, “they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.” (John 6:13)
In Luke 15, when the prodigal son returned home from his rebellious exodus, the father could have met his need by providing him shelter and an opportunity to repay his debt. Instead, Luke 15:22-24 says, “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and was found!’ So they began to celebrate.” The father doesn’t give according to the son’s need, but according to his graciously generous heart.
All of these Scripture accounts point to our great and generous God. Ephesians 2:5b-7 says, “You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Praise God for the immeasurable riches He has lavished on us through Jesus!!
I also praise God for the opportunities He provides each and every one of us to practice gracious generosity in our everyday contexts. Here’s a question: by the power of the Spirit, where in our lives can we give, not according to the recipient’s need, but according to our graciously generous, Spirit-filled heart?
Blessings church family, and remember, God is for you, God is with you, and God loves you!
Pastor Chris
