Generous, Day 14 - Reality Check

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.  2 Cor. 8:1-5

Giving is not only the responsibility of the rich; it is also the privilege of the poor.  We see this in the writings of Paul as he tells of the amazing generosity of the Macedonian church.  And yet to the Macedonians it was business as usual.  In fact, the passage says that they “pleaded for the privilege” of giving.  What do they know that we need to know?  Here are a few thoughts:

1. The Macedonians knew that everything they had, they received as a gift from God (Psalm 24:1, 1 Chr. 29:11,14)
2. The Macedonians knew that their lives belong to God. God doesn’t want your 10%, he wants 100%.  He wants you. We are challenged to give 10% in the Bible because it shows that we follow God and that we trust God.
3. The Macedonians realized how much God had done for them and they could not help but want to pay it forward to others.  Generous givers understand grace on a level that the stingy person doesn’t.
4. The Macedonians knew that being involved in the ministry of giving was a privilege. They believed this so strongly that they gave “beyond their ability”– they sacrificed lifestyle for life-change!
5. The Macedonians knew that God’s supply was endless and that God’s character was unchanging.  They believed they could trust him to take care of their needs.  In fact Paul confirms that to them in Phil. 4:19  “And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

While most Americans live in an affluent poverty (having more than we need but not all that we want and therefore living a lifestyle that costs more than we make) which makes them slaves to debt, the Macedonians lived in simple liberty (living within your means so that you are free to do what God asks and what advances his work).   The resulting freedom and joy of being involved in God’s work more than compensates for the lack of things.

The simple life lives on less to give more.  In practical terms, people who live simply choose to 1) Be generous off the top 2) Increase savings 3) Decrease debt 4) Plan for emergencies 5) Pay with cash. If these are your practices, you are well on your way to building a foundation for a generous life.

Generosity Challenge (Day 13)- Invite someone over for Thanksgiving dinner (or just regular dinner) that you normally would not. If you have been invited to a friend’s house already, call them and ask them if you can bring a friend.