Senior Living - November 25, 2016
How you can grow a generous heart
November 25
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
A man was walking one day when he heard a woman screaming hysterically. He looked over to see she was kneeling in front of her child. He was able to get the woman to calm down enough to discover the boy had swallowed a coin and couldn’t breathe. So the man picked him up by his ankles, gave him a few shakes, and a quarter dropped to the ground.
“Thank you, sir!” the woman said, “You seemed to know just want to do to get the coin out. Are you a doctor?”
“No ma’am,” replied the man, “I work for the IRS.”
Many people today would identify with that little boy… and not just when it comes to paying taxes. Many feel like when they go to church, their pastor is trying to shake every last coin out of their pockets. And at the same time, many pastors feel that’s what they have to do to get people to give!
But what if there was a better way… an attitude of generosity that didn’t make giving feel like coercion or robbery? There is, and it’s having a biblical idea of what money and giving is all about. You see, the resources we have are ultimately God’s anyway. So whether you’re a pastor or a churchgoer, it’s not your money!
Giving is done best with that kind of humble attitude on both the giver and receiver’s part. So give graciously… and receive humbly. That’s how you grow a generous heart in you and others!
Prayer Challenge
Ask God to give you the right attitude toward giving to His Kingdom purposes.
Questions for Thought
Why do you think so many people have such a hard time accepting biblical instruction on giving?
How do you personally feel when you’re asked to give money to a good cause?
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