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What comes to mind when you think about generosity? For most of us, financial contributions to churches, ministries, or charities may be our first several thoughts. While God certainly calls us to give monetarily, He also calls us to devote our time and energy to service.
Reflect on Hebrews 13:16 with me. The writer says, “Do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
In 2024, we are living in a time where instant gratification and selfish preference can so often take precedence over servant leadership. Our iPhones meet our needs within seconds, and groceries are delivered directly to our door. While these conveniences are not bad in and of themselves, I do believe such things have tempted us to grow complacent. More than just tangible things, our minds have adapted to this way of living, and we are becoming less prone to think deeply about our faith and how it should shift our actions.
For the Christian individual, we must become aware of the intensifying battle with complacency. More than simply recognizing it, we are to wage war against it. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples to die to themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. Historically, a cross very plainly represented death. Dying to oneself is contrary to the message of our culture today. In fact, the world tells us to “live our own truth” and “do whatever makes us feel good.” Laying aside our preferences for the will of God is not only biblical, it is the only place where true freedom exists.
Jesus paid the ultimate price for mankind by accepting wrongful accusation and enduring an unthinkable death by crucifixion. Christ’s sole motivation for remaining obedient to God the Father was agape love. Reflecting back on the meaning of generosity, we can see throughout Scripture that biblical generosity and love coexist. In order to serve with authenticity, we must love unconditionally.
In Philippians chapter two, Paul encourages believers to consider others before and more often than themselves. There are times that the worries of our life consume every aspect of what we think, say, and act on. We become so inwardly focused and miss opportunities to serve our neighbor. While Paul is not saying that we neglect our personal needs, he is reminding us of the fruit in blessing others through both word and deed.
Pastor Stephen Cutchins spoke to the reality that God will often call us into deeper generosity during times of personal trial. As we grow more and more accustomed to pursuing our personal conveniences, we can easily miss the joy found in blessing those around us. Consider Paul’s circumstance upon writing the book of Philippians. He was chained to a dark prison cell in Rome with no real end in sight. Even still, Paul admonishes the Church at Philippi with the reminder to rejoice. Rejoice in worship. Rejoice in giving. Rejoice in serving. In all things, and within every season, we can rejoice. Though Paul was physically bound, he was spiritually free.
Can this be true for us? Does anxiety seem to cripple you? Are you burdened by the state of your marriage? Are your children in pain, and it seems impossible to get through to them? The temptation may be to wallow in our personal struggle, but the testimony will come in choosing to serve generously because we are loved unconditionally.
God is faithful to redirect our focus in times where complacency attempts to steal our zeal for serving Him and His Church. In whatever way He may do this, we can trust that there is beauty in serving, giving, and loving from an overflow of generosity within.
