Generosity

gen-er-ous, adjective

1.  (of a person) showing a readiness to give more of something, as in money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected.

synonyms: liberal, lavish, magnanimous, openhanded, bountiful, unselfish, ungrudging, prodigal.

Once a year in the Fall, I preach about money. As I have pondered this subject and sermon for the last few weeks, I realized something: money is just one aspect of the heartbeat of Jesus--deep generosity. Generosity is at the heart of the Blessed Trinity. If you think about, at the heartbeat of all of reality is deep generosity. Let me explain what I mean briefly, and hopefully whet your appetite for Sunday.

I take it for granted that we all want to be happy. I think that is a given. Where I think we get confused is how we achieve happiness. For most people, and sadly for most Christians, I think we pursue happiness through self-interest. We think that to be happy, we have to look out for Number One. Jesus, however, modeled and taught something radically different. Basically, Jesus' life is one movement of self-giving. Hebrews even said that his suffering on the cross was his highest joy! Why? Because his highest joy and happiness was brought about in making us happy--in seeing his people thrive and know blessedness. Jesus lives to bless us!

This Sunday, we will ponder the Apostle Paul's last words to the Ephesian church. Very simply, his parting shot to them was this: "[Remember] the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Do you believe that? Do I believe that? What might happen if, by faith, we lived that truth in our lives? Well, we will talk about it Sunday.

Also, let me mention a new study we are doing during the Adult Sunday School time. It is called The Gospel in Life, by Tim Keller. It is an eight-week study of the gospel and how it can be generously lived out in your everyday life. In week one, we will study the city--your home now, the world that is. Week eight closes with the theme of the Eternal City, your heavenly home, the world that is to come. In between, you'll learn how the gospel can change your heart, your community, and how you live in this world. I can honestly say that in the past fifteen years, no one has taught me more practical truth about living generously than Keller. If you have never attended Sunday School, I can't urge you enough to carve out time, get out of bed a little earlier, and attend this teaching and discussion time. See you Sunday!

Blessings,

Jim