21DOP: Day 15
Day 15: How does the practice of generosity factor in our faith foundation?
We’ve all heard stories on the news about generosity. A professional athlete donated thousands to a charitable organization. A famous movie star gave a restaurant server hundreds of dollars in tips. A multimillionaire financed a children’s wing in a local hospital. Hmmm, are rich people the only generous ones? Does generosity always mean financial blessings bestowed on others? In 1 Timothy 6, Paul clarifies other aspects of generosity. He admonishes the “rich” not to put their hope in money, but in God. Verse 18: “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life!”
In other words, generosity is more than just giving money away. It can be sharing any resource you have, without expecting anything back. It can be a gift of time, listening, or setting aside one’s own agenda, to meet the needs of others. Generosity firms up our faith foundation, not only in this life, but in the “coming age!” Future treasures await those who practice generosity!
Are you open-handed in your generosity to others? How can you be more generous?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your generosity to me, and thank you for the generous people you have placed in my life. Show me what I can do to be more generous, and by doing so, bring glory to your Name! Help this to be a daily discipline, as I build my faith foundation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
We’ve all heard stories on the news about generosity. A professional athlete donated thousands to a charitable organization. A famous movie star gave a restaurant server hundreds of dollars in tips. A multimillionaire financed a children’s wing in a local hospital. Hmmm, are rich people the only generous ones? Does generosity always mean financial blessings bestowed on others? In 1 Timothy 6, Paul clarifies other aspects of generosity. He admonishes the “rich” not to put their hope in money, but in God. Verse 18: “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life!”
In other words, generosity is more than just giving money away. It can be sharing any resource you have, without expecting anything back. It can be a gift of time, listening, or setting aside one’s own agenda, to meet the needs of others. Generosity firms up our faith foundation, not only in this life, but in the “coming age!” Future treasures await those who practice generosity!
Are you open-handed in your generosity to others? How can you be more generous?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your generosity to me, and thank you for the generous people you have placed in my life. Show me what I can do to be more generous, and by doing so, bring glory to your Name! Help this to be a daily discipline, as I build my faith foundation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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