Generosity

https://odb.org/MY/2022/05/24/generous-giving

One of the things we can never avoid as people of the faith is to emulate the character of our Heavenly Father. In other words, we cannot avoid becoming more Christ like if we truly love Christ as God’s goal for us is for us to be more Christ like – see Romans 8:29.

Thus if God is loving and compassionate, we cannot say that we don’t want to be loving and compassionate. Since God is forgiving and very patient, we likewise need to be patient and forgiving. If we are not, then we need to ask ourselves whether our acceptance of Christ is real? Whether our relationship with God is real or make believe? Is Christ really with us? Is God living in us through His Holy Spirit? Are we getting the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Are we being transformed by the renewing of our minds not to be conformed to the pattern of this world?

It is undoubtedly true that God is generous. It can clearly be seen in the law requiring farmers not to be too efficient in harvesting their crops so that the inefficiency may benefit the poor, the widow and the foreigner, basically, the under privileged segments of society then. The principle is that as the various clans and tribes are each given land, and fertile ones at that to cultivate at the Promised Land, no one that are living in their midst are to be left behind. This principle include the law for those given land to tithe their harvest to the Levites that are dedicated only to take care of the temple.

I think for our application we must likewise be not too efficient in managing our finances that we count every ringgit and sen. If our food order comes up to RM17.20, nothing wrong to give the Grab rider a RM20 note amd for him to keep the change. There is no need for us to be so efficient as to help him manage his finances by giving him the exact amount so that he has the exact amount to account to his bosses. It is OK to tip the waiter generously. It is OK not to bargain too much at the wet market. Let the vegetable seller earn a little more to feed his family. Being good stewards of God’s money means for us to be generous too.

Do we need to be well off to be generous? So long as we have income, we can be generous. In fact even a dog can be generous. I saw a video on YouTube recently where a dog when given a choice between a bigger and smaller piece of food, chose to take and give the larger portion to his friend while taking the smaller portion for himself.

Be generous whether as individuals or as a church. Because that’s a characteristic of the God we live, worship and serve. If He is generous and His heart is with the widows, the poor and the foreigners, why aren’t we the same? Giving is better than receiving and we know that God will always bless a cheerful giver! Those who preach the prosperity gospel manipulate this principle to their benefit but the principle remains. No matter how much we give, we can never outgive God. In fact I believe that if we are determined to help out others, I’m confident that He will make sure our pots are never dry. Look at how the widow could continue to feed Elijah and her son and herself with just a little flour and oil and for months!!!