THE GOSPEL GIVES GENEROUSLY
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
Luke 19:8-10 (NLT)
Generosity is not something that comes easily to most of us. The instinct to grasp and hoard for ourselves is deeply ingrained within us. Have you spent any time with toddlers lately? They didn’t have to be taught to say mine or fight over their possessions. And while we may learn to hide it a little better as adults, it’s still there. But a reality of living your life with fists clenched around what you have is that you miss out on what God wants to place in your hands when they’re open.
Zacchaeus learned this. He’d been a tax collector for the Roman Empire. This position allowed him to pass on the tax from the Romans to his fellow Jews, plus a little extra to line his own pockets. This was no secret, which didn’t exactly make him beloved in his community. He had a reputation for greed, but upon encountering Jesus, everything changed. There’s no room for greed in the Kingdom. So, he vows to give away half of his wealth and make restitution to those that he cheated.
Theologian and author J.I. Packer said this: The measure of all love is its giving. The measure of the love of God is the cross of Christ.
God has given generously to us, and He, in turn, calls us to give generously of ourselves. How can we give of ourselves for others? What might He be calling us to sacrifice for the advancement of the Kingdom? Who has He placed in our path that He desires for us to bless? Consider the picture of the early church in Acts 2:42-47. These early believers gave generously of their time, resources and comforts for the sake of the Kingdom and those around them. How can we do the same?
APPLICATION: Take stock of your giving. This is more than just financial, though certainly our money is part of this. How generous have we been with our time? Our money? Every other resource God has given us? Are we living with clenched, closed fists, grasping onto all we have? Or are our hands open, giving freely, willing and able to receive what the Lord dictates?
PRAYER: God, reveal to me the state of my heart. Help me to grow in generosity, blessing others as You have blessed me. Show me how I can give of myself for the advancement of Your Kingdom and the betterment of those created in Your image. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?