As a father, pastor and former missionary, I have come up with the following observation: Sinfulness comes naturally. We did not have to teach our children to be selfish, self-centered or self-indulgent. Maybe their first word was “dada”, but their favorite word is “mine”!
Possession is very important when children are young since their world is transitioning from a “relationship world” (infants) to a “things world” (toddlers). Some people stay stuck in a “things world” (with bigger and better toys). Others mature to the “experiences world” (pre-teens/teens). Some get stuck here as well and live from one “experience” to the next. Hopefully we mature back to a “relationship world”. A time in our life when good relationships make us the most happy and broken relationships make us the most sad.
For those living in the “things world” GREED is as natural as breathing. As people age they learn to hide their greed a little better. “It’s mine”, develops into “I won it” or “I bought it”. The underlying attitude is “I deserve it”.
Funny thing about greed, the more you feed it, the bigger it gets. It is similar to ungratefulness. The more you enable ungratefulness, the worse it gets. Most of us have experienced helping a greedy person. The more you give the more they want. When you finally have to say “no”, they slime you with guilt and anger! Greed and ungratefulness go hand in hand. I wonder, which one comes first? I’m not sure, but it seems as if gratefulness is the cure to greediness AND the door to generosity.
What is so important about generosity? Well for Christians, their God is generous and they have a calling to be conformed into the image of Christ. Speaking of, our example on the earth was so generous, He was willing to give his life as a ransom for our sin. He has given us eternal life when all we deserved was judgment. The thought of that provokes gratitude. It also provokes action – mercy, justice, grace and love. But isn’t that what generosity embodies? … mercy, justice, grace and love. It is because we have experienced forgiveness of sins that we can forgive others. It is because God has treated us righteously that we can treat others righteously. It is because God has extended grace to us that we can extend grace to others. It is because God has loved us that we can love others.
The language of greed is “I want” and “I need”. The language of generosity is “I trust God” and “I believe”. Greed takes. Generosity gives. Greed is “self” focused. True generosity is “God” focused. Greed is an animal instinct and generosity is a fruit of the Spirit.
Today, our most valuable asset is our time. What will you do with your time? Will you spend it on yourself?… or on caring for others? Some work for the purpose of giving. However, most work to buy bigger and better “things” (house, car, toys, food, etc…). It makes good sense but it is not the New Testament model. If you look at Acts you see:
They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the apostles' teaching sessions and at the Communion services and prayer meetings. A deep sense of awe was on them all, and the apostles did many miracles. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other, selling their possessions and dividing with those in need. They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising God. The whole city was favorable to them, and each day God added to them all who were being saved. (Acts 2:41-47)
The early church gave their TIME, their PRAYERS, their POSSESSIONS, and their FOOD. They could do that because relationships were more important to them than things. It was not a community of “takers” but rather a community of “givers”.
Wholeness can be defined as giving more than you are taking. It is the fruit of gratitude and it produces generosity. God loves a joyful giver because God is a joyful giver. Trials and adversity are considered “joy” (James 1:2) because when you suffer and do without you appreciate “normal-everyday” things (appreciation is a form of gratitude). It changes your perspective. And a proper perspective it the key to joy. You cannot change your circumstances but your can change your perspective.
As believers, our transformation from “self focus” to “Christ focus” will begin with our confession of greed and our commitment to gratefulness. Wholeness and generosity will eventually follow, and we will enjoy the same fruit as the early church… revival in our midst.
Koinonia and Maranatha!!
Possession is very important when children are young since their world is transitioning from a “relationship world” (infants) to a “things world” (toddlers). Some people stay stuck in a “things world” (with bigger and better toys). Others mature to the “experiences world” (pre-teens/teens). Some get stuck here as well and live from one “experience” to the next. Hopefully we mature back to a “relationship world”. A time in our life when good relationships make us the most happy and broken relationships make us the most sad.
For those living in the “things world” GREED is as natural as breathing. As people age they learn to hide their greed a little better. “It’s mine”, develops into “I won it” or “I bought it”. The underlying attitude is “I deserve it”.
Funny thing about greed, the more you feed it, the bigger it gets. It is similar to ungratefulness. The more you enable ungratefulness, the worse it gets. Most of us have experienced helping a greedy person. The more you give the more they want. When you finally have to say “no”, they slime you with guilt and anger! Greed and ungratefulness go hand in hand. I wonder, which one comes first? I’m not sure, but it seems as if gratefulness is the cure to greediness AND the door to generosity.
What is so important about generosity? Well for Christians, their God is generous and they have a calling to be conformed into the image of Christ. Speaking of, our example on the earth was so generous, He was willing to give his life as a ransom for our sin. He has given us eternal life when all we deserved was judgment. The thought of that provokes gratitude. It also provokes action – mercy, justice, grace and love. But isn’t that what generosity embodies? … mercy, justice, grace and love. It is because we have experienced forgiveness of sins that we can forgive others. It is because God has treated us righteously that we can treat others righteously. It is because God has extended grace to us that we can extend grace to others. It is because God has loved us that we can love others.
The language of greed is “I want” and “I need”. The language of generosity is “I trust God” and “I believe”. Greed takes. Generosity gives. Greed is “self” focused. True generosity is “God” focused. Greed is an animal instinct and generosity is a fruit of the Spirit.
Today, our most valuable asset is our time. What will you do with your time? Will you spend it on yourself?… or on caring for others? Some work for the purpose of giving. However, most work to buy bigger and better “things” (house, car, toys, food, etc…). It makes good sense but it is not the New Testament model. If you look at Acts you see:
They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the apostles' teaching sessions and at the Communion services and prayer meetings. A deep sense of awe was on them all, and the apostles did many miracles. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other, selling their possessions and dividing with those in need. They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising God. The whole city was favorable to them, and each day God added to them all who were being saved. (Acts 2:41-47)
The early church gave their TIME, their PRAYERS, their POSSESSIONS, and their FOOD. They could do that because relationships were more important to them than things. It was not a community of “takers” but rather a community of “givers”.
Wholeness can be defined as giving more than you are taking. It is the fruit of gratitude and it produces generosity. God loves a joyful giver because God is a joyful giver. Trials and adversity are considered “joy” (James 1:2) because when you suffer and do without you appreciate “normal-everyday” things (appreciation is a form of gratitude). It changes your perspective. And a proper perspective it the key to joy. You cannot change your circumstances but your can change your perspective.
As believers, our transformation from “self focus” to “Christ focus” will begin with our confession of greed and our commitment to gratefulness. Wholeness and generosity will eventually follow, and we will enjoy the same fruit as the early church… revival in our midst.
Koinonia and Maranatha!!
:lol: