All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. Proverbs 21:26
“We as individuals, as part of the body of Christ, must challenge ourselves to give in a way that ensures that a hurting world is blessed beyond measure. We use words like grace and mercy all too glibly; we talk about experiencing these realities, but when we ourselves are in despair, we become depressed, wondering why others are not meeting our needs. The Scripture calls us, in giving money, and in giving ourselves, to live lives of such overflowing generosity that we give not from our excess but from our want.”
Ted Rivera in Reforming Mercy Ministry: A Practical Guide to Loving Your Neighbor (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014) 169.
My comments may ruffle some feathers.
We have been blessed beyond measure in Christ. Why, in turn, are we so miserly about blessing others? Furthermore, the more resources people have, the stingier they become. And, in a pandemic, things only get worse. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
What should we do and how should this situation shape our generosity?
Because of God’s grace (undeserved blessings we have received in abundance) and mercy (not getting the judgment we deserve) we should give of ourselves and resources with overflowing generosity not from excess but from our want. Is this reckless, irrational, and inappropriate? On the contrary. It reflects God’s generosity toward us.
Those who choose the way of scarcity, will never be satisfied and always crave for more. But those who give without sparing, are righteous in God’s eyes. They trust Him to look after them. He sees and is pleased. What would it look like for you to give from a place of want?