“Generosity = Refreshment”

“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.”  Those words are credited to President Theodore Roosevelt, and I think he’s on to something.  But it takes work to “get there.”  Why?  Because no matter how much you have, you can always find someone who has more than you.  Then the temptations of envy, greed and impatience are alive, well and kicking.  Admit it.  Sometimes you give in.  You are capable of being awfully stingy with your money, with your possessions and with your time.

But is that the best path forward?  Here’s the Scripture verse for today:  “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25).” 

Every dollar in your account and every item you’ve ever purchased – whose is it, really?  Every day that passes by in your life – did you decide consciously today to breathe enough times in order to stay alive?  And did you arrange for God to come from heaven, die on a cross and rise from the dead to assure you of a peaceful eternity?  

No.  Everything in our hands and hearts is only because of one reason: God has been astonishingly generous to us.  You simply wouldn’t have one dime, one item, one day, or one ounce of forgiveness without his generosity to you.  How can you think about that, move forward and still be stingy?

Rejoice with a refreshed mind!  While you can never outgive God, you can still generously do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are!  Thank God for everything he’s given to you.  Give decisively to his work, so that others can have the same peace you’ve found in Christ.  Give plenty of time to someone, that in the end you might help them get to know Jesus better and better.  Slowly drink in all of God’s forgiveness in Christ, and look for ways to serve.

You have been given a lot!  You have important work to do!  Give generously, and be refreshed, so that you can give generously, and be refreshed.  

Dear Savior, every single morning, your love is brand new.  All day long, you are working for good in our world.  Help us to honor your holy name above all.  Come and rule in our hearts, so that we treasure how generous you have been to us.  Refresh us with your forgiveness, and bless us as we are also refreshed.  When we think about your eternal blessings, it’s easy to be generous as we reflect your astounding generosity to each of us.  It’s in your holy name that we pray, Amen.