One of My Own
2 Cor 9:11 The Message
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for our meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way . . .
How have those who have come before you planted the seeds of faith whose fruit you enjoy? And how are you paving the way for others who will follow you through your generosity?
My father was a very spiritual man. He, and by that also his family, were part of a fundamentalist church that had many rules. We are blessed to be members of a church with only 2 rules:
- Love the Lord with all your heart
- Love one another
Jesus, through Peter, built the church on earth so his disciples could support one another in living by those rules - as simple as they sound in theory they butt up against human nature in practice.
The church is a body made up of many parts (us !!!) but if all that body did was to gather and worship, it would be ignoring the second rule and ignoring the outside world. Our church doesn't do that! Rather we try to express God's love for us by expressing our love in the world. There are many ways to be generous - with both what you possess and what you are. Can you and I be generous even if we don't have a lot of money? Yes !!! Your talents in service to others are a valuable contribution and another way to express the love you feel. Because whether you are generous with your money or your time or both, it should come not from pressure, not from guilt, but from a place of love in your heart.
Prayer: Dear God, as I have felt your love for me let me share that wondrous gift with those around me with my time, my talent, and my treasure.
~Lida and Brian Kreidich
