Generous, Day 21 - True Life

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Tim. 6:17-19

Love God. Live Simply. Live Generously.
This has been the challenge of every generation of believers since the time of Christ.

When God led the people of Israel into the Promised Land, Moses stopped outside the borders to have conversation.  Over the last forty years, God had faithfully led the people through the desert, protecting and providing for them every step of the way.  Their clothes had not worn out, their enemies were defeated and their future was secure. Everyone knew that they never would have made it a week without God.

And yet in his last sermon to the people of Israel, Moses expresses one concern:  the Israelites tend to be a forgetful people.  His concern was that once they settled in, they would forget who got them to where they were.  His concern was that they would forget God in their wealth. (Deut. 8).  Wealth tends to affect our memories as well as our priorities.

In Paul’s time, he gives the same type of warning in 1 Timothy 6.  The church at Ephesus, where Timothy was ministering ( 1 Tim. 1:3) was a strong church, a vibrant church and a wealthy church.  Timothy, who often struggled with boldness (2 Tim. 1:3, 2:1, 4:5), was given the task by Paul of challenging the rich to put their hope in God and not in their wealth.

According to Paul, they were to “do good”.  I believe when Paul gives this command to “do good”, it was a command to do good in such a way that only a rich person can do good.  He goes on and says “be rich in good deeds”.  Again I think his is talking about the kind of good deeds that only rich people can do… “to be generous and willing to share”.

Today Americans own over half the worlds wealth even though we only number about 6% of the worlds population.  By 2006, median family income in America reached $50,000, putting the average American in the top 1% of the richest people in the world.  Even those individuals who live in poverty level in America ($11,000 per year) are in the top 13% of the wealthiest people in the world.

The question for us today is the same question that every generation of Christians should ask: Why do we have all this wealth?  In this passage, Paul says that we have more than we need to help those in need.  We are to help in a way that only rich people can help – with our finances.  Financial investment in the kingdom is expected of every person who might be considered rich in this world.  All of us will face God one day and give an account of everything we’ve done in this world whether good or bad (2 Cor. 5:11).  It is not a judgment of salvation, but a judgment of rewards (1 Cor. 3:10-15).   In the end, God will accomplish his work, with or without us.  You and I have the privilege of being invited into the work of God (2 Cor. 5:18-20), to live our lives for something bigger than ourselves, to use our worldly wealth as a tool (Lk. 16:9), and to use our lives to display God’s love (Mt. 5:14-16) to a lost and dying world.  The determination of how we will live is shown by where we put our hope.  Wealth is not our hope. God is our hope. (1 Tim. 6:17)

Possessions are not our life (Lk. 12;15), Jesus is  (John 10:10, 14:6).  So we are to Love God.
Earth is not our home, heaven is  (Phil. 3:20). So we are to Live Simply.
Our treasure is not stored on earth, but in heaven (Mt. 6:19-21) . So we are to Give Generously.

Love God. Live Simply. Give Generously.
Take Hold of the Life that is Truly Life.

Generosity Challenge (Day 21) - Write a note of thanks to God for all he has provided for you.  Acknowledge him as the owner of all things and commit to be more generous.  Share your plan with your family – if single, with a friend.