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?

The Only Way to Please Him

There is only one way to please God the Father. Spending time in Hebrews makes this one way abundantly clear. The write says that faith is the only way to please God. Whoever draws near to God must believe the He is and that He rewards those who seek after Him.

Faith is the unwavering, unflinching, unreserved trust in God. It is a trust built on the confidence of God's character and God's track record of deeds. 

Faith that pleases God chooses Christ's sacrifice for our sin over my feeble attempts to earn salvation.

Faith that pleases God leads us to obey His perfect will rather than follow our own wisdom.

Faith that pleases God spurs us on to seek Him daily instead of seeking Him at our convenience.

Faith that pleases God focuses our eyes on the reward stored in heaven as opposed to earthly treasures.

Faith that pleases God dares to live a life of impact for God's glory over living for safety and my glory.

How will we live today? 

It is by faith that the people of old have received their commendation. Noah, Moses, Rahab, David, Joseph, Joshua, Seth, Enoch, Samson, and more have all received their commendation because of a faith fixed upon the unchanging, unmovable, unstoppable God of heaven.

How should we expect to receive the commendation of Christ our Savior and King any other way?

We either live by faith in the One who sees all things perfectly or we live by the sight of what we can see, grasp, and figure out.

Will we live today a life of faith that pleases God? Will we live today pursuing hard after a God who has rescued us from darkness into His marvelous light.

Take a Daniel moment:

1.  Celebrate God seeking after us that we would be found in Him.

2.  Thank God for giving us faith to believe in Jesus Christ.

3.  Ask God to enlarge your faith in Him.

4.  Pray for strength to live every moment, every situation, every decision, and every day by faith.

Relentless Pursuit

Our final message in the Encounter Series at Refuge Church took a much needed look at Peter.  You can listen to the audio of the message here.

Peter experienced an epic failure. His was a denial and abandonment of Jesus Christ at the time of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion.  What made Peter's failure even more pronounced was his self-declaration that he, unlike the other disciples, would never fall away.  He stuck out his chest and asserted himself as the courageous and lone, devoted follower of Jesus.

On the same night before the rooster had crowed, Peter had denied Jesus three times. Remembering the words of Jesus, Peter ran away with a heart full of bitter sorrow.

Declaring our allegiance in times of peace is far easier than declaring our allegiance in times of war.  When the heat is turned up, we often turn the allegiance down. This is our act of self-preservation.  Peter boldly confessed his intent to die with Jesus and stand beside him until the end, only to then deny and abandon Jesus a few hours later.

For me and many others, when a friend or family member abandons us like Peter did to Jesus, our last thought and act is to relentlessly pursue them for the purpose of restoring the relationship we had with them.  We find it more convenient to hold them guilty for life, as our hearts seethe with anger toward them.

This was not the way Jesus responded, nor should it be our way either.  Jesus pursued Peter.  At the tomb following His resurrection, an angel instructed the women who first discovered the tomb's emptiness to go tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus was alive and planning to meet them in Galilee.  Then, in John 21, Jesus comes to the shore of the Sea of Tiberias where Peter has returned to his life before following Jesus.  

Here a most beautiful encounter occurs as Jesus demonstrates such amazing affection and grace toward Peter.  

Our past does not determine our future unless we allow it to do so.  Our destiny is not directed by our failures when our lives are surrendered to Jesus Christ.  

Jesus relentlessly pursued Peter for the purpose of restoring their relationship through grace. Peter was never the same again. His love for God would demand his love for others (feed my sheep).  His obedience to Christ would lead him into a situation where he would die for Christ rather than deny Christ as he had done previously.  

Can you see Jesus Christ relentlessly pursuing you over the course of your life?  He has been, He is, and today He wants to encounter you in a way that leaves you forever changed.