Remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35b
“Where you and I live [in America], we have been assaulted by the exact opposite message: the road to happiness runs through financial independence. The higher your net worth, the happier you will be. As Christians we inherently know that’s a lie, but it’s an appealing lie, one that can seem to be true. Especially when compared to other biblical truths that suggest we will be happier if we give it all away than if we hold onto it or acquire even more.
Which is why it’s so important for you to join the conversation. I know that you don’t believe the lie, but I also know how hard it is to trust the words of Jesus in our “culture of more.” I also know that there are very few places where you feel safe enough to engage in an honest conversation about your wealth and your faith in Christ. We create that space for you and our only goal is to encourage you to trust Jesus with these issues of wealth and faith. That’s it.”
Todd Harper in Abundant: Experiencing the Incredible Journey of Generosity (Orlando: Generous Giving, 2016) 92.
I shot this new header photo earlier this week on one of my twice-daily walks with my wife and our dog. The horses were near the fence, and the light was shining just right through the clouds here in colorful Colorado. We have great conversations on our walks. Speaking of conversations, today a large group will gather at the Celebration of Generosity hosted by Generous Giving in Orlando, Florida. We will not be there but we pray that God will show up with power through the speakers and by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all who attend.
Throughout the year, I also know that amazing things happen when people attend their 24-hour Journey of Generosity (JOG) events. I have both attended and hosted a number of JOG events. If you are a ministry administrator or pastor, engage Generous Giving to host a JOG for those you serve. If you are reading this meditation outside the USA and you are interested in hosting a JOG, contact Generosity Path, as they are committed to hosting JOG events for groups of givers around the globe. Both these groups will come to you!
Why join this particular conversation? When we follow God’s design for living, we are blessed abundantly, and sometimes those blessings are spiritual and other times they take on material forms. Often wealth and riches fill our homes as a result (cf. Psalm 112:3). What we do with all that God gives us, starting with the gospel, defines our stewardship, shapes our families and our impact on earth as well as our greeting from God in eternity. In that light, this may be one of the most important conversations you could ever join.