Partnering With God
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that is really life. - 1 Timothy 6:18-19
Every day we have the opportunity to partner with God in generous ways. We have the ability to share the resources God has blessed us with so that others can know God's mercy, grace and healing. We can also keep that to ourselves, thus cutting others off from the blessings of God.
In today's devotional reading, Carolyn says, "If God gives you the capacity and the passion to do something, why in God's name wouldn't you do it?" (16) And that is my question to you today...if you are passionate about something and God has given you the financial capacity to help make that passion become a reality, why not go for it?
We partner with God to be generous because God has been generous with us. He is the one who allows us to be generous and we are most like God when we live out our generosity. Schnase says, "Generosity is not a spiritual attribute someone acquires apart from the practice of giving" (17). Therefore we will never be generous if we never give anything away to others. No matter how hard you try, you will never become generous by sitting in your living room meditating on the concept of generosity - you have to get off your couch and go give something away! That's the only way it works. And it does work!
Questions for Reflection:
1) Have you ever given over and above your normal tithe or pattern of giving? If so, what was the experience like?
2) Do you find that the more you give, the more likely you are to give? Why or why not?
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