I live in one of the wealthiest nations in history. It is the “land of opportunity.” And yet, for most Americans, including myself, our culture is governed by financial insecurity rooted in fear about the future. This insecurity is a major hurdle to living a life from a disposition of generosity. My financial posture hinges on this question: Is there enough? My observations of my own life and culture lead me to the conclusion that in a nation with such wealth, our operating system says, “No, there is not enough.”

This is not the worldview that the often-homeless Jesus operated from (Matthew 6:25-34). And, as we read in the verses above, this is not the worldview Paul operated from either. As Paul appealed to the Corinthians to give to their brothers and sisters lacking in Jerusalem, one might expect Paul to have said, in effect, “If you don’t give, there won’t be enough.” But Paul’s appeal was quite the opposite.

Paul’s operating system, downloaded from God’s perspective, says that the Corinthians were free to give precisely because there was enough. God always provides, as conveyed in Exodus 16:1-4.

What might our communities look like if the church truly believed there is enough? What if we believed it is okay to lean on others for help? These are just a few of the questions I wrestle with regarding generosity. What questions do you wrestle with?

Father, you know our needs. You created a world that has more than enough. You give even more generously as demonstrated in the ultimate gift of your Kingdom and our King, Jesus Christ who gave all for us. Break our bonds of insecurity and teach our hearts generosity. Amen.

Go Deeper — Do you fear that if you dare to give more, there won’t be enough left over for you? Study the three passages mentioned in today’s lesson from Matthew, Exodus and 2 Corinthians and see if they help squelch that fear.

Feel free to connect with one of our free, online mentors if you want to talk with someone about this.



Tags: 1 & 2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 8
Photo Credit: Ümit Bulut