Thursday, January 29, 2015

Generous through you

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.   2 Corinthians 9:7-8

If you want to measure how much you understand grace and how much you’re living by grace, look at your giving.

I wear 2 Corinthians 9:8 on a wrist band 24/7 because I need to be reminded constantly of where my source of life and strength comes from.  Notice the “alls” — “all grace,” “all things,” “at all times,” “having all that you need” — those are the promises related to the person who becomes like Jesus. What was Jesus like? He reflected God the Father; He was a giver.

The most famous verse in all the Bible, John 3:16, reflects this:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Until we train ourselves to be generous with our time, money, resources, and opportunities, we’re not going to be like Christ. Nothing is greater proof that you understand grace than being lovingly gracious and generous to other people and to God. If we can trust God enough for salvation, why can’t we trust Him in our finances?

The whole purpose of our Generous Living series is to equip the PCC community with teaching and tools to fuel other worldly generosity. Whether it is Financial Peace University, Discovery Bible Study, or some other aspect of this series, please know that our heart is for your freedom! 

Speaking of our hearts, this coming Sunday, in our Generous Living Series, we will get to the heart of generosity in a very practical way interacting around how to be generous. The truth is, we really don’t own anything. God has loaned resources to us for 70 or 80 years. It’s all His in the first place.

God gives to us generously. Then He says, “Now as I have been generous to you, allow me to be generous through you!”

I look forward to being with you on Sunday.

I love being your pastor!