From: September 5, 2024
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV).
The example of Christ’s generosity should inspire and empower our own. He took on the poverty of our separation, sin and death, that we might receive the riches of His sonship, righteousness and eternal life. Having received this grace of Christ, we also have received His generous character. We can live the life of the open hand, one hand open to God receiving, the other hand open to others giving. As Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8).
How are you known? Are you miserly with your money? Misers are miserable, but the life of generosity is marked by joy. The heart of generosity is love. As Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). Are you known for your heart of generosity?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to be like Jesus. We want to be known for our love and joy and generosity. Forgive us for our fear and greed. We worry that we won’t have enough. Yet all that we have we have received from You. Fill us with your Spirit of generosity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 5, 2023
“Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.” (Ecclesiastes 10:10 NLT).
Take time to sharpen your saw. One of Solomon’s habits long before Covey’s seven. My maternal grandfather knew this habit. Before the invention of weed-eaters, he used a large sickle to clear the creek bank. He always kept a sharpening stone in his pocket and would pause from time to time to keep an edge on his blade. He also had a mesmerizing method to his motion, using his strength to lift the long blade and then allow its weight to drop and fall through the weeds. I never mastered this, hacking away at the brush, often with a dull blade, I would spend my young man’s energy in under an hour, while Papaw could continue all day even in his 70s.
Papaw would say, “Son, you’re just beating yourself to death. Let the weight of the blade do the work. And stop to sharpen it once in a while.” He had the wisdom that I lacked. You can actually get more done by taking a break to sharpen your saw.
Remember what Jesus told His disciples, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).
Slow down to speed up. Retreat to advance. Take a sabbath one day out of seven to sharpen your edge.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the blessing of rest. We often think working harder is the answer, when taking time to be alone with You is better. For our true rest is in You. And our best work is accomplished by Your Spirit working in us. Sharpen us for today that we might join You in Your work. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 5, 2022
FINANCIALLY POOR YET RICH IN JOY AND GENEROSITY!
Paul commended the churches of Macedonia for their amazing generosity. For although they were very poor, they were very joyful and insisted on giving generously to the offering Paul was collecting for the saints in Jerusalem.
God often chooses the poor to accomplish great things. For they readily depend on Him and easily give Him all the credit. When people gain even a little wealth, they tend to depend on it, rather than God. Of course, being poor does not automatically make one more spiritual. A poor person can be as grumpy and miserly as a rich one. Yet, riches of any amount, can become idolatrous to the one who depends on them.
Generosity is the mark of one who recognizes God as the source of all they have and depends on Him for all they need. Joy and generosity go together.
PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we depend on worldly wealth rather than You. Help us to be like Paul who was content in plenty and in lack. And help us to always be filled with joy and generosity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 5, 2017
A saying of Solomon that has had many interpretations. Yet, the principle of sowing and reaping seems to be at the heart of it with an emphasis on generosity and faith. Consider the word “bread.” It may be seen as “seed.” So, it might mean, instead of eating your seed, sow it liberally upon the waters of Spring that when the waters recede, you will find a crop growing there. It may be about sharing with the poor, only to find that we have been rewarded by God later. It may be about taking a risk with our time/talent/treasure, letting it leave our hands (our control), and casting it out to see where God might cause it to prosper. It is certainly about living a life of the open hand. Open to God to receive and open to others to give.
From: September 5, 2016
The example of Christ’s generosity should inspire and empower our own. He took on the poverty of our separation, sin and death, that we might receive the riches of His sonship, righteousness and eternal life. Having received this grace of Christ, we also have received His generous character. We can live the life of the open hand, one hand open to God receiving, the other hand open to others giving. As Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8).
From: September 5, 2015
Take time to sharpen your saw. One of Solomon’s habits long before Covey’s seven. My mother’s father, my Papaw, knew this habit. Before the invention of weed-eaters, he used a large hand scythe to clear the creek bank. He always kept a sharpening stone in his pocket and would pause from time to time to keep an edge on his blade. He also had a mesmerizing method to his motion, using his strength to lift the long blade and then allow its weight to drop and fall through the weeds. I never mastered this, hacking away at the brush, often with a dull blade, I would spend my young man’s energy in under an hour, while Papaw could continue all day even in his 70s. Papaw would say, “Son, you’re just beating yourself to death. Let the weight of the blade do the work. And stop to sharpen it once in a while.” He had the wisdom that I lacked. You can actually get more done by taking a break to sharpen your saw. Slow down to speed up. Retreat to advance. Take a sabbath one day out of seven to sharpen your edge.
From: September 5, 2014
Paul commended the Corinthian church for its excellence in many areas. Yet, they were woefully lacking in one important place, the practice of giving. They were not a giving church. He brought this to their attention so that they might “excel” in it. Paul didn’t just challenge them to become occasional givers or sentimental givers, but excellent and gracious givers. Are you practicing the act of giving, so that you excel in this grace?