Generous Living

Wilfrid Hyde White, the English actor who gained acclaim playing the role of Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady , died at age 87, having lived what most would characterize as a colorful and successful life.

The Daily Telegraph reported White's death as well as his confession on his materialism and its failure to satisfy his deepest longings. The paper quoted White as saying, “I’ve owned 12 horses, seven Rolls Royce’s, and I’ve had mistresses in Paris, London, and New York—it never made me happy.”

Raymond Brown describes three attitudes of individuals toward money and wealth. The first group needs it. They are poor and needy. The second group idolizes it. They seek to take advantage of others and do whatever necessary to get more of it. The third group shares it. They use their wealth to bless and be a blessing.

I shared yesterday with the Refuge Church family that I want my life to be characterized by generosity.  I want my life in all respects to bless and be a blessing to others.  And I'm not there yet. I may not even be close. God intends to fully fund the work of His mission with the giving of His people and I want to give generously of all that God has given to me.

Recently Sarah and I were reminded of such generous and compassionate living. As we prepare for Micah's second liver transplant, a group of our former students we had the privilege of serving in previous years, gave us a card. In addition to the encouraging words of prayer and support, they also gave financially for any needs, even one student giving all that she had made in a particular month, right down to the penny. To say the least, we were immensely blessed. We were blessed as much, if not more, by the act of generosity than the amount of that generosity. 

The problem for too many followers of Jesus is that their wealth has possessed them rather than them possessing their wealth. Jesus talked much about wealth and possessions. He warned us not to think our life consists of what we own, possess, or have stored in our bank account, garage, or safe.  He was far more concerned with His disciples allowing money to control them than money being within their control. 

True riches are not even stored here according to Jesus. They are secured in the vault of heaven where they are eternally safe and secure.

It seems that many have missed this, like Mr. White. And we have all read and heard countless stories of men and women who died lamenting that their worldly pursuits of possessions, positions, and pleasure left them empty. Rarely have I, if ever, heard of one person regretting the time they gave serving, the resources they spent meeting needs, and the life lived for the glory of God and the blessing of others.

How are you living? Would others say your pursuit is for the glory of you or the glory of God? What would you say about the way you use your time and resources? Are you generous or stingy? 

When you come to the end of life, assuming you are able to reflect in that moment, would what you are living for today leave you full or empty in that moment? Could what you are living for today cause great regret for you tomorrow?

He Gives and Takes Away

Over the years in ministry the most difficult circumstances have often been in regard to children. Seeing young children sick or die are especially hard. One that often we overlook are the scores of women who long to be mothers but their arms are still empty.

At times there are medical explanations and sometimes there's no explanation. Regardless, it doesn't change the heartache and longing in the heart of a woman who cannot conceive.

The Bible is dotted with the stories of women who found themselves childless. Sarai, Hannah, Rachel, Elizabeth, and others found their situation bitter and painful. A married woman who could not have children was viewed scornfully and even as one cursed by God.

Manoah was married to a woman who was unable to conceive. Yet God in his upper story was completely aware of this and would work through this not only to give her a son, but to give Israel a deliverer. And so it was that Samson was born and grew to be a man of incredible strength and courage, on whom the Spirit of the Lord rested powerfully.

The full story of Samson is quite tragic, reflecting a man who was often far more intent on living out his own desires than living out the will of God. But the beauty of his life was that he was a miracle. He was born to a father and mother who had probably come to think they may never have a child. And in spite of Samson's disobedience, God worked to deliver His people though it did not happen without Samson losing his power, his sight, his freedom, and ultimately his life.

God is the One who gives when the world has no power to give. He is the One who provides when there's no conceivable way to make it happen. Yet He is also the One who takes away, sometimes without explanation. Sometimes He withholds when we expected Him to pour it out on us.

God's power to give Manoah and his wife a child was a foretaste of His power to come on Mary so that she conceived to give birth to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God gave the world His Son. And God would take His Son from the world by nailing Him to the cross. But praise God that we know both why He gave and why He took away. As a result, we today are able to celebrate how God rescued us from sin and death by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Take a Daniel moment:

1. Praise God that He both gives and takes away.
2. Lift up to Him your request for what you need and the desires of your heart.
3. Pray that God would give you a content heart with what He gives, what He withholds, and what He takes away.
4. Ask God to demonstrate His power to open wombs, forgive sin, raise the dead, provide for every need in your life and the lives of those you know are in need.